Tyler Townsend Stats & Scouting Report

AB	390
AVG	.246
OBP	.321
SLG	.464
HR	17

Full name Tyler Pierson Townsend
Born 05/14/1988 in Lewes, DE
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Florida International
Drafted in the 3rd round (85th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2009 (signed for $417,600).

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Among hitters who improved their cause this spring, the fastest riser was Florida International's Tyler Townsend, who had a monstrous performance, batting .434/.512/.858 with 24 home runs and 77 RBIs. He hit with wood last summer in an MVP performance in the Valley League, and FIU coach Turtle Thomas compares him favorably to Brad Hawpe, whom he coached at Louisiana State. Scouts agree that Townsend has a smooth lefthanded swing that should translate to wood. The debate comes in whether Townsend can hold down right field, as Hawpe has as a pro. More likely, Townsend will be a fringy left fielder or first baseman, as he's a below-average runner with average arm strength. Teams looking for college hitters with a track record of performance could take Townsend in the first five rounds.

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Townsend continues to impress the Orioles with his performance, but at the same time he creates frustration because he has struggled to stay on the field. He has been bothered by hamstring problems in each of his two full pro seasons, and he missed more than a month in high Class A last year. He tried to return at the end of 2011 but went back on the disabled list before Frederick's run to the Carolina League title. Townsend has some of the system's best power, generating it with a smooth, lefthanded swing that allows him to hit for average as well as put the ball over the fence. He played mostly in the outfield in college, but works better at first base because he's a below-average runner with an average arm. He'll be average defensively, though he needs more repetitions to refine his skills. Baltimore worked with Townsend on his offseason conditioning to make sure his hamstring issues are resolved once and for all. He'll compete with Aaron Baker for the first-base job in Double-A, and the loser might head back to high Class A unless Townsend gives the outfield another try.
The Orioles love what they have seen of Townsend. The problem is that they just haven't seen enough. Townsend had a left wrist injury that limited him after he signed as a third-round pick, and then he pulled his hamstring in spring training in 2010. The hamstring injury bothered him all season, so the Orioles sent him to the Arizona Fall League--and he had to leave after one game to have a cyst removed from his hand. Townsend shot up draft boards with an MVP performance in the Shenandoah Valley League in the summer of 2008, followed by a .434/.512/.858 performance with 24 home runs at Florida International. He has shown the same smooth, lefthanded stroke as a professional, with a swing and set-up that have drawn comparisons to Mark Grace. He should have more power than Grace did. Townsend played mostly in the outfield in college, but because he's a below-average runner with an average arm, Baltimore moved him to first base. He should be an average defender in time. Townsend may return to high Class A to start 2011, but the Orioles believe he'll move quickly if he can stay healthy.