Shelby Ford Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1742
AVG	.253
OBP	.316
SLG	.397
HR	33

Full name Shelby Michael Ford
Born 12/15/1984 in Fort Worth, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School Oklahoma State
Drafted in the 3rd round (80th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2006 (signed for $450,000).

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Ford hit 16 homers as a freshman and .370 as a sophomore at Texas Christian, but he slumped horribly in the first half of the season after transferring to Oklahoma State. He snapped out of it in time to re-establish himself as the top college position prospect in the state. He's a switch-hitter who has a good stroke from both sides of the plate (especially lefthanded). He has loft in his swing and could add power if he can bulk up his 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame. A former shortstop, he's dependable if not flashy with the glove. He profiles as an offensive-oriented second baseman or utilityman as a pro.

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Organization Prospect Rankings

Ford has been productive as a pro when he's been able to stay healthy. He sat out the final month of 2007 with a strained lower back and missed the first six weeks of 2008 with a strained hip flexor. He went on the disabled list again for two weeks in late July with a high ankle sprain. Ford is an offense-first second baseman with good gap power from both sides of the plate. While he's not a burner, he runs well and uses above-average instincts to steal bases or stretch extra-base hits. He has shown improvement defensively at second base. Ford still is mastering the nuances of second base, such as the double-play pivot, after playing on the left side of the infield in college. He needs to do a better job of turning on fastballs on the inner half of the plate. He makes good contact but doesn't walk enough. Ford will begin this season in Triple-A, one step away if the Pirates decide to trade Freddy Sanchez, who can become a free agent at the end of 2009 if he doesn't trigger playing-time clauses in his contract. Ford is clearly the heir apparent at second base.
Ford was a three-time all-state selection as the son of a high school coach in Fort Worth, then stayed home to begin his college career at Texas Christian before transferring to Oklahoma State. He put together a strong first full pro season in 2007 before missing the final month with a strained muscle in his lower back. Ford has good pop for a middle infielder and the ability to hit for power to the opposite field. While he has a slightly better swing lefthanded, there's virtually no dropoff when he bats from the right side. He's a good second baseman with decent range and an above-average arm. If he winds up as a utilityman, he already has experience at shortstop from high school and third base from TCU. His speed is average. Ford can be made to chase pitches out of the strike zone, though he showed better plate discipline last season. His footwork is a bit shaky on the double-play pivot, though he has improved in pro ball. Ford will begin 2008 in Double-A, and he's advanced enough that he could make his major league debut at some point in 2009. However, he's blocked by all-star second baseman Freddy Sanchez, who has two more years before he can become a free agent.
Ford was a three-time all-state selection as a high school player in Fort Worth and decided to stay home to play at Texas Christian. He transferred to Oklahoma State following his sophomore season, however, and played one year with the Cowboys before being drafted in the third round. Signed for $450,000, he spent just seven games at Williamsport after signing before he was promoted to low Class A. He has good power potential for a middle infielder. He hit 35 home runs in three college seasons, including 16 as a freshman, then slugged .452 in his pro debut. More experienced pro pitchers were able to get Ford to chase pitches, though plate discipline wasn't an issue in college. Ford converted to second base as a junior at Oklahoma State after playing third base at Texas Christian and shortstop in high school, and the Pirates plan to keep him there. He has his share of rough edges at second, particularly with footwork and turning the double play, but he has a plus arm. Ford has decent speed but isn't a burner. Ford will begin this season in high Class A, and if he continues to improve defensively and cut down on his strikeouts, he could move quickly through the system.

Minor League Top Prospects

Though Ford started off slowly and never unlocked the home run power he showed while hitting 35 homers in three college seasons, most scouts liked his offensive potential. He's a switch-hitter who sprays line drives from either side, stays inside the ball and uses the opposite field. He led CL second baseman with a .989 fielding percentage, and managers rated him the league's best defender at his position. He's an average runner with a slightly above-average arm for second base, and he turns the pivot on double plays well. "He might not hit enough for what you want in a second baseman in the big leagues these days, but the track record is there," one of the NL scouts said. "But I like his approach as a hitter from both sides of the plate. Nothing is real pretty about what he does defensively, but he's a grinder who gets it done."