Brent Clevlen Stats & Scouting Report

AB	77
AVG	.234
OBP	.28
SLG	.429
HR	3

Full name Brent Aaron Clevlen
Born 10/27/1983 in Austin, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Westwood
Debut 07/30/2006
Drafted in the 2nd round (49th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2002 (signed for $805,000).

View Draft Report

Clevlen is a possible signability pick for the Marlins at No. 11 and should go no later than the sandwich round. He was the star of the 2001 Area Code Games, impressing with his bat speed, power potential, arm strength and 6.75-second time in the 60-yard dash. He hasn't quite performed at that level this spring, which, granted, would have been a nearly impossible task. He outdueled Everts with a 3-2 complete-game victory in the Texas 5-A regional semifinals. A rock-solid 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, Clevlen is a fine athlete who was an all-district quarterback for his high school football team. Like Kazmir, he's a Texas recruit who doesn't figure to make it to college.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Clevlen's performance fell decidedly short of his tools again last year, the continuation of a disappointing trend. His shortcomings are almost exclusively at the plate, as Detroit manager Jim Leyland has said Clevlen might be the best outfield defender in the organization. Clevlen has tremendous raw power but has struggled with plate discipline and pitch recognition for much of his pro career. He has good speed but doesn't steal many bases. He can play all three outfield positions, and his strong, accurate arm plays well in right. Clevlen's window to earn playing time may have reopened a bit after top prospect Cameron Maybin went to the Marlins in the Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis deal, as his defense could make him a valuable reserve. Unless he learns to make more consistent contact, a reserve role is his ceiling.
The 2005 high Class A Florida State League MVP, Clevlen batted just .230 in Double-A but stood out in two late stints with Detroit. He attributed the difference in his performance to better lighting in the majors. A natural athlete, Clevlen has above-average power and arm strength. He has the speed and instincts to handle center field, though he fits better in right field. Clevlen's defensive ability impressed Tigers manager Jim Leyland during his major league stint. Double-A pitchers learned quickly that Clevlen will chase pitches out of the zone, both up and away, so he saw few good pitches to hit and struck out often. He probably won't ever hit for a high average, but he'll need to have better command of the strike zone in order to sustain success in the big leagues. Though he has slightly above-average speed, he's not much of a basestealing threat. Clevlen could see time in Detroit again, though it's more likely that he'll at least begin 2007 in the minors with an eye toward improving his plate discipline.
After playing well in his first full season, Clevlen struggled for most of 2004, never finding a groove in high Class A. He repeated the level in 2005, however, and rarely slumped on his way to the Florida State League MVP award while helping Lakeland post the best record in the minors among full-season clubs. Clevlen learned how to grind out a season and avoid protracted slumps, allowing his confidence to remain high and his tools to come out. He fits the profile for a big league right fielder. He's athletic, has above-average power potential, runs a tick above-average and has a plus throwing arm. During his cataclysmic 2004 season, Clevlen pressed when good at-bats didn't yield good results. He needs to remember to let the game come to him. He can get pull-conscious, though like most hitters, he's best when he uses the whole field. If Clevlen makes consistent contact like he did last season, the next league he'll repeat is the American. The Tigers already are paying their right fielder (Magglio Ordonez) handsomely, so they won't rush Clevlen. He'll spend 2006 in Double-A and projects to become a full-time big leaguer in 2008.
The top position player and the No. 2 prospect on this list a year ago, Clevlen's star dropped as he struggled mightily in high Class A. He had far more strikeouts than hits, didn't show his anticipated power and topped Florida State League outfielders with 15 errors. Coming off two solid seasons as a pro, he hit .283 in the first two months last season but just .187 the rest of the way. Pitchers repeatedly got him out by working him on the outer half of the plate. A solid all-around athlete who had college potential as a quarterback, Clevlen still endeared himself to scouts by playing hard throughout his slump and showing aptitude in other areas of the game. His speed and arm are above-average tools, and he should hit for at least average power. He controlled the strike zone well in 2003, so there's hope he can recover. Clevlen will return to Lakeland to start the 2005 season.
Clevlen was a versatile high school athlete who could have played college football as a quarterback if not for his prowess on the diamond, where he starred as an outfielder and pitcher. He outdueled Expos 2002 first-rounder Clint Everts in the Texas 5-A playoffs shortly before signing for $805,000. A second-round pick, he has outperformed No. 8 overall selection Scott Moore, his teammate in each of his first two pro seasons. Clevlen is a fluid, natural athlete with a terrific swing. He's a selective hitter who uses the entire field. Low Class A West Michigan's notoriously pitcher-friendly Fifth Third Ballpark hurt his numbers last year, but he revealed his power potential on the road, hitting .290 with 10 homers in 70 games. He has good instincts, solid speed and a strong right-field arm. Clevlen's biggest fault as a hitter is that he can be too passive and fall behind in the count. He sometimes takes questionable routes on fly balls and has trouble with balls hit directly over his head. He'll begin this year in high Class A, where he'll again team up with Moore. Clevlen is on course to reach Detroit in mid-2006.
Clevlen tore up the 2001 Area Code Games but couldn't quite live up to that performance as a high school senior. Mentioned as a possible pick in the middle of the first round, he lasted until the second and agreed to an $805,000 bonus. An all-district quarterback, he also pitched and out-dueled No. 5 overall pick Clint Everts (Expos) in the Texas 5-A playoffs. For a high school player, Clevlen is a polished hitter. He can hit the ball to all fields and battles pitchers throughout the count. He can turn on a ball with power. A right fielder, he has sure hands and a strong arm. Clevlen has average speed at best. His range in the outfield is limited because he sometimes gets bad jumps and takes poor routes to balls. He's a good but not great athlete, so his bat will have to carry him to the majors. Like Scott Moore, Clevlen will make the jump to low Class A in 2003. West Michigan's Fifth Third Ballpark is tough on hitters and they'll both be young for the Midwest League.

Minor League Top Prospects

In 2004, Clevlen suffered through a nightmarish season in the FSL, hitting .223 with little power. Returning to Lakeland this year, he bounced back to lead the league in RBIs and on-base percentage and win the MVP award. Clevlen has good balance, decent bat speed and a discerning eye. He tightened his strike zone in 2005, showing the ability to foul off tough pitches and work for ones he could hit. His power also took a step forward. He also showed significant improvement defensively. Shaky in 2004, he got better jumps this year and showed off a plus arm. His 16 outfield assists ranked second in the league.
The Tigers sent their first two picks from the 2002 draft to West Michigan, and second-rounder Clevlen impressed MWL observers more than first-rounder Scott Moore, a third baseman. Like most hitters, Clevlen was punished by West Michigan's Fifth Third Ballpark (.227-2-26 in 68 games), but he showed his true colors on the road (.290-10-37 in 70 contests). "The two best position players in the league were Fielder and Clevlen," the NL scout said. "He's a hell of a player with serious pop. He's an all-star right fielder with a plus arm, plus speed and a great swing." Clevlen also showed refined instincts for an outfielder. He already has an aptitude for drawing walks, and he ranked fifth in the league with 16 outfield assists.
Detroit was the only team to send its top two draft picks to the GCL and the general consensus was that Clevlen, a second-rounder, was better than Moore. "He looks like a young Al Kaline," said Amaro, who broke into the game with the Tigers Hall of Famer in the 1950s. "He's strong with a good-looking swing and he has a good, accurate right-field arm." "He's got a beautiful righthanded swing," Tigers manager Howard Bushong said. "The ball jumps off his bat and it's the same swing every time. I think he's got a chance one day to hit .300 with 35-40 home runs." Defense is Clevlen's weakest tool. A center fielder and pitcher in high school, he switched to right field in the GCL and had trouble getting to balls. He needs work on his routes and positioning.