Aaron Westlake Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Aaron James Westlake
Born 12/27/1988 in Redding, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Vanderbilt
Drafted in the 3rd round (106th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2011 (signed for $310,000).

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At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, Westlake is physically ready for pro ball and was strong enough to have a strong season despite the powered-down bats in college baseball this season. He was forced to redshirt in 2008 due to a blood clotting issue, and he was drafted in the 22nd round as a sophomore last year. The Blue Jays followed him in the Cape Cod League, where he hit .292 with five homers. He had career-best numbers this spring for Vanderbilt as the team's offensive anchor, murdering mistakes, and his eight home runs in league games led the Southeastern Conference. He's patient and strong, generates solid bat speed and is an adequate defender. A gamer, he played catcher (albeit poorly) for an injury-ravaged Vandy team in 2009. He's 22, so he'll probably be pushed through the minors quickly.

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A blood-clotting issue forced Westlake to redshirt at Vanderbilt in 2008 and made him draft-eligible as a sophomore two years later. He starred in the Cape Cod League that summer but ultimately didn't sign with the Blue Jays as a 22nd-rounder. He returned to Vandy in 2011 and helped the Commodores to their first-ever College World Series appearance by hitting .344 with a team-high 18 homers. He had a modest pro debut after signing for $310,000 in the third round, missing time late in the summer with a concussion. The Tigers believe Westlake will develop into a power-hitting first baseman. He has a large frame, good strength and can hit the ball out to all fields. He has a smooth stroke, though it gets long at times when pitchers disrupt his timing. He's a patient hitter who would benefit from being more aggressive against fastballs when he's ahead in the count. Westlake is a below-average runner and an adequate defender at first base. He has solid hands, though his glovework needs improvement. He'll play the 2012 season at age 23, so he could get fast-tracked and sent to high Class A.

The physically mature Westlake hit .349 with 14 homers to earn second-team All-America honors as a fourth-year junior this spring, helping Vanderbilt make its first-ever College World Series appearance. His pro debut was quieter, and he missed some time late in the season with a concussion, but his offensive potential is undeniable. "He's going to be a big-time prospect for us," Graham said. "He can hit it out of the ballpark to any part--to the opposite field or center field as well as right." Westlake has a smooth lefthanded swing and solid control of the barrel for a power hitter. He generates easy home run power, but the Tigers would like him to be more aggressive going after fastballs in hitters' counts. A below-average runner but a decent athlete, he projects as an average defender at first base.