Michael Hollimon Stats & Scouting Report

AB	23
AVG	.261
OBP	.28
SLG	.565
HR	1

Full name Michael Travis Hollimon
Born 06/14/1982 in Dallas, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School Oral Roberts
Debut 06/09/2008
Drafted in the 16th round (480th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2005.

View Draft Report

SS Michael Hollimon was a potential first-round pick out of a Texas high school in 2001, but his reported $2 million price tag scared clubs off. He struggled both offensively and defensively in three years at Texas, and his biggest problem may be that he's too hard on himself. He has solid tools across the board and the ability to be an above-average defender, but it hasn't happened for him.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

After an uneven college career, Hollimon has exceeded expectations as a 16th-round pick in the 2005 draft. He has made a steady climb through the farm system, earning high marks for his offensive tools and makeup. An injury to Ramon Santiago brought Hollimon to the majors last year, and he homered off Mark Lowe during his brief stint with the Tigers. But issues with his left shoulder, which he dislocated in spring training, sidetracked Hollimon after that. The pain returned in June and was so severe that he had to change his batting stance. He slumped badly at Triple-A in the second half and underwent surgery in September to repair a torn labrum. He's expected to miss roughly half of the 2009 season. That will make it challenging for him to return to the majors in 2009, but there's little doubt that Hollimon has big league talent. His body is strong and compact, and he offers raw power and average speed. His swing can get long, however, leaving him vulnerable to inside fastballs and resulting in an abnormally high number of strikeouts for a switch-hitter. Hollimon has seen time at second base, third base and shortstop, and he fits best at second with his average range and fringy arm. He's already 26 and unlikely to get much better, but he could provide value as a super-utility player capable of moving around the infield and outfield.
Since signing for $5,000 as 16th-round pick in 2005, Hollimon has demonstrated the early-round ability he showed in high school. The Tigers love his makeup, and he has performed at every stop he has made in the system. Hollimon was an all-star in the Double-A Eastern League last year, finished the season at Triple-A Toledo and served as a backup as Team USA won the World Cup in November. Hollimon is a patient hitter whose at-bats often culminate with walks, strikeouts, or extra-base hits. He swings well from both sides of the plate and could have double-digit totals in doubles, triples, homers and steals if he plays everyday in the majors. He's an average runner with decent range as an infielder. Though he's adept at hitting outside fastballs, Hollimon can be pitched to inside. The Tigers lack depth on the left side of the infield, but it doesn't appear that Hollimon has the arm to play at shortstop or third base on an everyday basis. Second base would be his best position, but the Tigers have Placido Polanco under contract through 2009. Hollimon is athletic enough to play in the outfield, but Detroit has no plans to move him there this year in Triple-A.
Though he has been old for his leagues in two years as a pro, Hollimon has a chance to hit his way to the big leagues. A potential first-round pick out of high school, he went undrafted because he reportedly wanted a $2 million bonus. After a lackluster three years at Texas, he transferred to Oral Roberts and had a solid senior season, signing with the Tigers for $5,000 as a 16th-rounder. Hollimon topped the Midwest League in triples and ranked in the top five in walks, extra-base hits, total bases and slugging last season. West Michigan manager Matt Walbeck was so impressed with Hollimon's makeup that he named him as the team's captain. He repeats his swing well from both sides of the plate, though he's much more effective hitting lefthanded. The tradeoff for Hollimon's power and patience is strikeouts, as he has fanned 200 times in 200 pro games. He's an adequate defender at shortstop, though not as good as Tony Giarratano, who could be his double-play partner if Hollimon skips a level and goes to Double-A. In that case, Hollimon would move to second base, a better fit for his range and arm strength. In the long run, he could wind up as an offensive-minded utilityman. He'll be 25 this year, so the Tigers will try to accelerate his development.
Four years ago, Hollimon was a freshman at Texas, undrafted after a ballyhooed high school career. He was considered a potential first-round pick, but went undrafted amid reports that he wanted a $2 million bonus. Hollimon was the Longhorns' top recruit, roomed with 2005 Rookie of the Year Huston Street, and was expected to be a college star. He started most of the 2002 season at shortstop but hit just .276 and lost his job to junior college transfer Brandon Fahey as Texas won the College World Series. Hollimon's confidence plunged as he struggled defensively on Texas' artificial-turf infield and offensively with a steady diet of breaking balls. After two more seasons of part-time duty, he transferred to Oral Roberts, where he had a solid senior season in 2005. Area scout Steve Taylor stuck with Hollimon, and the Tigers are glad he did after signing him for $5,000 as a 16th-round pick. He led the short-season New York-Penn League in runs and triples in his pro debut, showing solid tools across the board. Hollimon is athletic enough to repeat his swing from both sides of the plate, though he has more leverage and power from the left side. He has the speed and arm to be an average defender at shortstop in the big leagues. He's not overly physical and will need to work to keep his strength up over the course of an entire season. Hollimon is already 23, so the Tigers probably will accelerate his timetable to see if he can be an everyday player. More likely, he profiles as a utilityman, still excellent value for where he was drafted.

Minor League Top Prospects

Hollimon was a potential first-round pick coming out of high school in 2001, but his $2 million price tag scared teams off. He struggled for three years at Texas, then transferred to Oral Roberts as a senior before signing as a 16th-round pick in June. Hollimon hit better in the NY-P than he did in college, though he was old for the league at 23. He led the league in runs and triples while finishing second in homers, slugging percentage and extra-base hits. He can get anxious at the plate and could refine his two-strike approach, but while he struck out too frequently he also finished second in the league in walks. Hollimon has good range and an above-average arm. While he can get too hard on himself and has a spotty track record, Langbehn summed him up best by saying, "He has all the tools you look for."