Jio Mier Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2712
AVG	.236
OBP	.321
SLG	.331
HR	35

Full name Jiovanni James Mier
Born 08/26/1990 in Pomona, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 204 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Bonita
Drafted in the 1st round (21st overall) by the Houston Astros in 2009 (signed for $1,358,000).

View Draft Report

Mier is supported by a large and enthusiastic family. At the 2008 Aflac Classic they made up a sizeable cheering section, complete with artfully constructed banners and signs. His mother Leticia is a fixture at his games, with her ever-present video camera, and has seen plenty of highlights this year. Mier is the rare prep shortstop who projects to remain at that position in pro ball. He has above-average speed and a powerful arm that grades out to well-above-average. He occasionally pitches for his high school squad, and scouts have gunned his fastball in the 91-93 mph range. He has an athletic and projectable 6-foot-2 170-pound frame. Mier has decent hands, though his actions need to be smoother, which should come with experience. He has been inconsistent with the bat, struggling last summer during showcases but looking sensational last fall at the World Wood Bat Championship and the Southern California scout ball all-star game. Overstriding threw off his timing earlier in the spring, but of late he shortened his stride, though he still has a tendency to lunge at the ball and get his weight out on his front leg. When Mier squares a pitch up, the ball flies off his bat. He has the natural quickness and hand-eye coordination to be an excellent hitter. He projects as a line-drive singles and doubles hitter, with slightly below-average power.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Astros selected Mier 21st overall in the 2009 draft, four spots ahead of Mike Trout. Considered the top prep shortstop on the board, Mier signed for $1,358,000 and posted an .864 OPS at Rookie-level Greeneville. But he never has matched that performance, struggling mightily in 2010 and 2011 before benefiting last year from a second stint at high Class A Lancaster, a notorious hitter's haven. A hamstring injury sidelined him early in May and wound up costing him three months, but he returned in August to help the JetHawks win the California League championship. Mier made real strides in improving his swing path by working with hitting coordinator Ty Van Burkleo. Mier lowered his hands, making him quicker to the ball and on time more often. His .805 OPS represent a 164-point improvement over what he did at Lancaster in 2011, and he posted similar numbers in the Arizona Fall League. The power he showed in his pro debut appears illusory, however, as he won't do more than drive an occasional ball into the gaps. Mier doesn't have a tool that stands out. He's a solid defender at shortstop with soft hands and an accurate, strong arm. His speed and range are less than ideal for shortstop and weren't helped by his hamstring pull. He played mostly third base in the AFL and could be setting up for a utility role, especially after Houston drafted shortstops Carlos Correa and Nolan Fontana in the first two rounds last June. Mier will compete with Fontana to be Double-A Corpus Christi's starter at shortstop in 2013, with the loser heading to Lancaster.
The first high school shortstop drafted in 2009, Mier has progressed slowly since going 21st overall and signing for $1,358,000. He entered pro ball with a reputation as a smooth defender at shortstop and raised expectations by slugging .484 while ranking as the No. 1 prospect in the Appalachian League. He hit seven homers in 192 at-bats in his debut but has added just nine more in 915 at-bats since. A good athlete with fringy speed, Mier has above-average defensive tools with soft hands and an accurate, average throwing arm. He improved at making the routine play in 2011, cutting his errors to 22 after making 34 the previous season. He made better decisions and avoided high-risk plays. Mier encouraged the Astros by hitting .280/.392/.453 in the first seven weeks last season, but then he went into a 3-for-31 slump and continued to struggle even after a promotion to extremely hitter-friendly Lancaster. His swing gets long and mechanical, and good fastballs get by him. His best asset at the plate is his patience, as he has drawn 129 walks the last two seasons. He isn't as explosive or athletic as minor league teammates Jonathan Villar or Delino DeShields Jr., and Mier's lack of offensive upside likely limits him to a future utility role. Mier will head back to high Class A to try to shorten up his swing.
The first prep shortstop drafted in 2009, Mier signed for $1.358 million, then ranked as the top position prospect in the Rookie-level Appalachian League after hitting .276/.380/.484. His first full pro season was rougher, as he was hitting .199 as late as June 17. He grinded his way through the season, however, batting .260 in the second half and ranking sixth in the low Class A South Atlantic League with 63 walks. Mier draws J.J. Hardy comparisons as a solid athlete with smooth actions and sound fundamental skills at shortstop. He's fairly consistent and projects as a possible plus defender with soft hands and a slightly above-average arm. He controls the strike zone and has average raw power. He has a frame capable of carrying more weight and will have to eat better and get stronger after losing 15 pounds during last season. While Mier has a quick bat when he's right, his slow start led to pressing and a stiff, robotic stroke as he worried about his swing mechanics. He struggled at times with his first serious bout of adversity. He has average speed. The acquisition of Jonathan Villar pushed Mier down the organization's depth chart. Villar is younger but has played at a higher level, and the Astros will separate them in 2011. Mier figures to start the season in high Class A
Mier was the first prep shortstop drafted in 2009, going 21st overall and signing for $1,358,000. He signed quickly and impressed pro scouts with a strong showing in the Rookie-level Appalachian League, where he ranked as the top position prospect. Mier has an advanced feel for the game at the plate and in the field. He has a good eye, works deep counts and shows good pitch recognition. He has a smooth, loose, line-drive stroke with quick hands and solid bat speed. He projects to stay at shortstop with a plus arm, great actions, good hands and above-average range to both sides. He's an average runner, and he'll show faster times from home to first because he gets out of the box quickly. Mier has below-average power, though some think he could eventually hit as many as 15 homers a season because he shows some ability to lift the ball. Shortening his stride has helped his timing at the plate, though on occasion he'll still lunge and get out on his front leg. He needs to improve his basestealing and tone down his aggressiveness on the basepaths. Like many young shortstops, he has a tendency to rush his actions in the field. Though Mier has yet to play full-season ball, he has a higher ceiling than Jason Castro and could be a perennial all-star who provides value in both run creation and prevention. He should start 2010 at low Class A Lexington.

Minor League Top Prospects

The 21st overall pick in June, Mier is a classic shortstop defender who shows great instincts and maturity on the field to go with above-average range and arm strength. His quick feet and impressive technique, combined with average speed, make him a rare high school shortstop who projects to stay at the position as a pro. A need for more consistency in turning double plays and in making strong throws on routine plays were the only critiques of Mier's defensive play, but they're not long-term concerns. A righthanded batter, Mier has the quick hands and the coordination to hit for average, though his bat slowed noticeably as the summer wore on. He'll improve offensively as he learns to use the opposite field. With knowledge of the strike zone and few other threats in the Greeneville lineup, he took his walks when pitchers worked him carefully. Though he projects as more of a gap-to-gap hitter, he did show home run juice to left and center field. He tied for the league lead with six triples, and once he fills out, he could deliver 10-15 homers per year. Mier models his game after Derek Jeter's, and his natural leadership skills and energy reminded observers of the Yankees captain. And despite his youth and first-year status, Mier served as a vocal leader for Greeneville. Princeton manager Jared Sandberg took note, saying, "I told him, 'You're always smiling. Don't ever stop smiling and having fun playing this game.' "