Chris Rahl Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Christopher Miller Rahl
Born 12/05/1983 in Morristown, NJ
Profile Ht.: 5'10" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School William & Mary
Drafted in the 5th round (141st overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2005 (signed for $200,000).

View Draft Report

William & Mary OF Chris Rahl hit 20 home runs and stole 42 bases as a sophomore, showcasing a power-speed combination that earned All-America honors and put him in position to get drafted in the first five rounds. While he hit 12 homers, slugged .554 and stolen 21 bases (in 30 tries) as a junior, Rahl's .297 average and 27-37 walk-strikeout ratio show how he's tried to do too much in his draft year. Opponents have filled his plate appearances with offspeed pitches, and he has struggled against breaking balls while chasing the rare fastballs he sees--often out of the zone. Still, Rahl's plus speed should put him in the first 10 rounds, and history says he will hit better if he stops trying to impress with his power. A high school second baseman, Rahl doesn't show true outfield instincts, but he works hard and is helped by his speed and plus arm. He could play center field, but likely settles into a corner.

Top Rankings

Rahl earned All-American honors in his sophomore season at William & Mary, but he pressed as a junior and fell to the Diamondbacks in the fifth round. He showed his ability in his first full season by winning the California League batting title and leading the league in hits, extra-base hits and total bases. He has a quick bat, controls the strike zone and has a good feel for the bat head. He drew a comparison with Paul Molitor for his quickness inside--it's hard to throw a fastball by him. He needs to improve his recognition of breaking balls and get less aggressive to cut down on his strikeouts. Playing in Lancaster probably boosted his power numbers, as he's regarded as more of a gap to gap hitter who could hit 10-15 home runs a year. He has good speed and a plus arm and plays mostly in center field, though some wonder if he could play there every day in the big leagues. That's the biggest knock on Rahl overall. He's a true baseball player with good makeup and no glaring weaknesses, but he also doesn't have an impact tool and might profile best as an extra outfielder. It's too early to pigeonhole him, though, and he'll go to Double-A to open 2007.