Mike McBryde

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #25 prospect in 2010
  If McBryde puts everything together, he could have a career like Steve Finley's as an athletic, Gold Glove center fielder with the ability to beat opponents in several ways. McBryde remains an unfinished product at the plate, however, which is why the Giants chose not to protect him on their 40-man roster this offseason. He hit a careerhigh .308 in Double-A last year, but it was a mostly empty average and he tended to disappear for stretches. He also fared poorly when San Francisco sent him to Triple-A for the first month of the season. McBryde hits balls far in batting practice, but he often takes tentative swings in games. Coaches told McBryde that instead of trying to direct the ball and use his speed, he should turn it loose more often in hitter's counts. He still produced little power, and while he cut down his strikeouts in 2009, he didn't draw many walks. McBryde isn't an efficient basestealer despite his speed, which is breathtaking when he's running down balls in the gaps. A former two-way player at Florida Atlantic, he has the best outfield arm in the system. Ticketed for another shot at Triple-A this year, McBryde would be a perfect fit in the wide expanses of AT&T Park if his bat allows him to get there.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #19 prospect in 2009
  Scouts weren't sure whether McBryde would make a better hitter or pitcher coming out of Florida Atlantic, as he had served as the Owls' closer at times during his college career. The Giants bet on his plus-plus speed and are encouraged by the results so far. McBryde is a dynamic presence in center field with his speed and arm strength. Physically, he's a stronger version of a young Steve Finley. McBryde improved several aspects of his offensive game last season, cutting down on strikeouts and using his speed to get on base with a flurry of bunt singles and infield hits. He also improved his baserunning skills, stealing 31 bases in 41 attempts after going just 14-for-25 in 2007. The downside was that just 21 of his 124 hits went for extra bases in 2008, and club officials thought he got a little too slap-happy. McBryde hit a few tape-measure home runs, including one at Visalia that went almost 500 feet. But he'll need to drive the ball with more consistency and hit breaking pitches to turn the corner in Double-A this season.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #13 prospect in 2008
  McBryde committed 15 errors in low Class A, but it didn't reflect on his ability to play center field. He picked up most of those errors because of his cannon arm, which is well above average and is easily the strongest among outfielders in the system. "He tried to throw out everyone trying to go first to third," one Giants coach said. "If he hit the runner or short-hopped the third baseman, that was his error." Fully recovered from a hamstring injury that short-circuited his junior year at Florida Atlantic, McBryde also grades out as a plus-plus runner, ranking behind Emmanuel Burriss, Eugenio Velez and Antoan Richardson as the fastest players in the system. Yet he stole just 14 bases and was caught 11 times last year, suggesting that he hasn't learned to use his speed yet. The big question with McBryde is his bat. He shows signs of 15-20 homer potential and is also a good bunter, but he needs to make better contact. Once he develops better strike-zone awareness, he could turn a corner quickly. McBryde, who has the tools to become an elite prospect, will take the step up to high Class A in 2008.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #12 prospect in 2007
  McBryde missed all but three games in his junior season at Florida Atlantic because of a strained hamstring, but the Giants had heavily scouted him in 2005. They were delighted to snap him up in the fifth round last June and sign him for $180,000. He previously had turned down the Red Sox as a 38th-rounder out of high school. A center fielder and closer for the Owls, he hit .370 in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. He also threw in the low 90s with a plus curveball, but the Giants kept him in the outfield. He showed off his arm strength by recording eight assists in his first three weeks for Salem-Keizer. The Giants say McBryde is already an above-average major league center fielder defensively, and most consider him the fastest player in an organization with several top sprinters. The organization knows it will have to work hard to make McBryde a legitimate hitter, but he surprised people by staying afloat in the Northwest League in spite of his injury layoff. While not a power-hitting prospect, McBryde is a threat to take extra bases because of his wheels. He'll move up the ladder quickly if he's not overmatched at the plate, and could be pushed as high as high Class A to start the season.