Evan Chambers
| AB | 1141 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .223 |
| OBP | .356 |
| SLG | .346 |
| HR | 25 |
- Full name Evan Michael Chambers
- Born 03/24/1989 in Miami, FL
- Died 12/01/2013 in Lakeland, FL
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Hillsborough CC
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Drafted in the 3rd round (84th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009 (signed for $423,900).
View Draft Report
Originally committed to Florida after prepping in the Lakeland, Fla., area, Chambers wound up at Hillsborough CC after getting just eight at-bats in 2008 for the Gators. At 5-foot-9, 215 pounds, he has been getting compared to Kirby Puckett and Kevin Mitchell since his high school days for his short, thick, strong body. He's athletic and an above-average runner, which explains in part why he was a 19th-round pick of the Rockies out of high school in 2007. Chambers' thick frame helps him generate surprising raw power, which played with wood last summer, when he hit seven homers in the New England Collegiate League with Keene (N.H.). His speed helps him play a passable center field, and his arm is below-average but good enough for center. The whole question with Chambers is how he'll hit as a pro, as he has bat speed and has shown the ability to hit good velocity. He also has a choppy swing and some issues with pitch recognition. Scouts that think Chambers will learn to lay off breaking balls out of the dirt could push for him in the first five rounds, leaving those who doubt his bat--and have him turned in as a sixth-to-10th rounder--missing their chance.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Chambers has one of the highest offensive ceilings in the system, but whether he can reach it remains in question after he has hit .238 in three pro seasons. Built like Kirby Puckett, he packs plenty of strength and raw power. He has quick wrists and generates good backspin on the ball. His patience is evidenced by his 212 walks in 299 pro games. However, Chambers also has several issues at the plate. He sits on fastballs and is too pull-conscious, leaving him vulnerable to breaking balls or pitches on the outer half. He has no twostrike approach and hasn't shown any ability to make adjustments. He also can become overly selective and let too many hittable pitches pass by. The stocky Chambers has deceptively good speed and even better first-step quickness, which enables him to steal bases and get good jumps in center field. His arm also rates above-average. Chambers has been moving up one step at a time and will face a telling challenge in Double-A this year. -
Chambers began his collegiate career at Florida but got just eight at-bats as a freshman in 2008. After hitting seven homers in the summer New England Collegiate League, he transferred to Hillsborough (Fla.) CC, making him eligible for the 2009 draft. The Pirates saw enough in his all-around game to select him in the third round and sign him for $423,900. He's a short, stocky center fielder with good speed and home run potential, so he has drawn inevitable comparisons to Kirby Puckett. While it takes quite the optimist to project Chambers as a future star, he showed good offensive potential late in his first pro season. He has a quick bat, though his swing can get choppy and he struggles with pitch recognition. He works so hard to take pitches and show good discipline that he lets too many hittable offering go by. Chambers has the tools to become an above-average defender with good range and a playable arm. He'll begin his first full season in low Class A and try to push his way through an increasingly deep pool of center-field prospects in the system.
