David Nick
| AB | 2517 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .271 |
| OBP | .323 |
| SLG | .403 |
| HR | 49 |
- Full name David T Nick
- Born 02/03/1990 in Newport Beach, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Cypress
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Drafted in the 4th round (126th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009 (signed for $225,000).
View Draft Report
Cypress High in Orange County is a top-notch program that has recently produced first-rounders Scott Moore (2002) and Josh Vitters (2007). Nick doesn't figure to be drafted quite that high, but he is an outstanding player nonetheless. A 6-foot-2 high school shortstop, Nick will probably move to second base in pro ball. He doesn't have the arm, hands or actions to hold down shortstop beyond college, but second should be a perfect fit. Nick is an excellent all-around athlete, with one of the most interesting batting stances seen in years. Eschewing modern hitting theory, he stands dead still at the plate, with his feet spread and the bat held above his back shoulder. Motionless as the pitch comes in, he turns on the ball by whipping the bat and snapping his wrists violently at the last instant. No one would be foolish enough to compare a high schooler to Joe DiMaggio, but Nick's swing is a near copy. And it gets results. Nick is a line-drive hitter, and the ball screams off his bat when he squares a pitch up. The only concern with Nick is that his terrific quickness will at times cause him to pull off the ball too soon, imparting topspin to the ball. As a professional, Nick profiles as an offense-oriented second baseman with average defensive skills, above-average speed, average power, and potentially well-above-average hitting skills.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Another product of Arizona's deep 2009 draft, Nick switched from shortstop to second base after coming out of the Cypress (Calif.) High program that has produced four big leaguers and recent top-10 picks Scott Moore (Tigers, 2002) and Josh Vitters (Cubs, 2007). Nick has been overshadowed by the six position players the Diamondbacks selected ahead of him, but he put himself on the prospect map with a strong season in high Class A last year. He's a hard-nosed kid who wants to be good. He's an aggressive hitter who puts the ball in play, drilling line drives and providing good pop for a middle infielder. His on-base skills and his speed are both fringy. Nick is a steady defender who makes the routine play and turns the double play well. He has cleaned up his arm stroke, but his arm strength limits him to second base and prevents him from playing on the left side of the infield in a utility role. Nick's best attribute is his makeup, which is off the chart. Ticketed for Double-A in 2012, he'll have to continue to overachieve to make it to the big leagues. -
Nick came out of the same Cypress (Calif.) High program that produced former big leaguer Troy O'Leary and first-round picks Scott Moore and Josh Vitters. A fourth-round pick in June, Nick received a $225,000 bonus. He has unorthodox hitting and throwing mechanics, but he gets the job done. At the plate, he uses a wide stance with little load or movement, then flicks violently at the ball to create pop. He stays inside the ball well and sprays the ball to all fields with decent authority. Nick moved from shortstop in high school to second base as a pro, in large part because of his below-average arm strength and unusual throwing motion. He does make accurate throws, but he needs to improve his footwork to get rid of the ball more quickly. Nick was old for a high school signee at 19, but he's well ahead of his years in baseball intelligence. He's a pesky, instinctive player who can steal a few bases with his average speed. None of his tools projects as better than average, but he profiles as an offensive-minded second baseman. He'll start the year in low Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
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None of Nick's tools projects to be better than average, but he's a pesky, instinctual player who could grind his way up the ladder. A fourth-round pick as a prep shortstop, he signed almost immediately and transitioned to second base. Nick trusts his hands and has plenty of bat speed, but he opts to snap his bat through the zone instead of loading it first. This unorthodox approach turned off some observers. Regardless, he stays inside the ball well and lines it to all fields, and he has enough strength to hit for fringe-average power for a middle infielder. An average runner who led the Osprey with 16 steals, Nick makes the routine plays at the keystone. Observers rated his defense from below-average to average. He turns the double-play pivot well, but his arm strength is nothing special and his footwork and arm action need refinement. Too often, he floats the ball to first base on throws.
