Matthew Brown Stats & Scouting Report

Top Rankings

Brown's eighth season in pro ball was his best. He hit .320/.373/.580 at Salt Lake, collected his first big league hit, earned Pacific Coast League MVP honors at the Triple-A all-star game and won an Olympic bronze medal. Brown was Team USA's most dangerous hitter in Beijing, leading the squad with two homers (including a key three-run shot in the bronze medal game) and 10 RBIs. Power is his calling card, and Team USA batting coach Reggie Smith thinks Brown could be a bigger threat if he did a better job of incorporating his lower half into his swing. He made more consistent contact in 2008, which could allow him to compete for the Angels' third-base job if they decide to deploy Chone Figgins elsewhere this season. If he gets that opportunity, Brown must fight a tendency to try to do too much, which has contributed to his 1-for-24 performance with 11 strikeouts in three brief big league stints. His bat is his ticket to the big leagues, as he's a below-average runner who's merely an adequate defender. Brown has played all four infield positions and both outfield corners during his pro career, and he fits best at first or third base. He has the arm for the hot corner but his range is just passable.

Brown, an Idaho high school product, hit a meager .163 in his introduction to the AZL last year. His .361 average over the first half of this season showed the strides he made and also led to a promotion to the Rookie-level Pioneer League in the second half. "He really matured as a hitter this year," Harper said. "He handled the breaking stuff much better, but he'll still need to develop power for the hot corner." Brown, a second baseman in his first stint in the AZL, hit only two homers in 97 at-bats, thought that was partially because he played his home games at Mesa's spacious Gene Autry Park. He should be good for 15-20 homers a year down the road. He also shone defensively, committing only one error in 23 games at the hot corner.