Marcus Sanders Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1165
AVG	.269
OBP	.378
SLG	.36
HR	8

Full name Marcus Trumaine Sanders
Born 08/25/1985 in Sarasota, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 160 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School South Florida State College
Drafted in the 17th round (513th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2003.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Giants had high hopes for Sanders after surgery on his right shoulder following the 2005 season. The surgery reversed a procedure he had in high school to tighten his shoulder capsule after he dislocated it in a football game. But Sanders struggled with his arm more than ever last year, leaving his prospect status in serious doubt. Once considered a plus defensive shortstop with some of the best hands in the system, Sanders had to play DH just to get at-bats. For the first time, his shoulder also affected him at the plate and he lost both his ability to make contact and any pop he had in his bat. Sanders was healthy enough to play in instructional league, but he couldn't move to second base because it was too taxing for him to throw across his body. The Giants were planning to seek more medical opinions on Sanders this winter. If he can get past his shoulder issues, he remains a terrific athlete with plus speed, above-average baseball smarts and surprising power. The Giants are hoping he will be ready when full-season affiliates begin play. If so, he'll probably return to high Class A.
Sanders' older brother Frankie reached Triple-A in the Indians system and played with Giants scout Paul Turco Jr. as an amateur. Turco knew Marcus had a high school football injury to his right shoulder but also knew he had athleticism, speed and savvy. The Giants took Sanders in the 17th round in 2003 and signed him a year later as a draft-and-follow. Sanders has game-changing speed. He has excellent instincts on the bases and ranked fifth in the minors in steals while being caught just nine times. When healthy, he has excellent hands and wiry strength, allowing him to drive the ball to all fields. Sanders' bad shoulder didn't make it through the 2005 season. Weakened in the second half, he didn't hit with any power and struggled defensively with 20 arm strength on the 20-80 scale. He had surgery again after the season to clean out the joint. Some scouts see Sanders' arm limiting him to center field, but the Giants want to keep him in the infield--possibly at second base, where he made his pro debut. If he can stay healthy, he should be an impact leadoff hitter. He'll open 2006 at high Class A San Jose.
The Giants haven't had a middle-infield prospect of note since trading Mike Caruso to the White Sox in 1997. They have high hopes for Sanders, whose athletic ability and offensive potential make him a different animal from the likes of Cody Ransom, Jamie Athas and Angel Chavez, failed San Francisco infield prospects of the recent past. Sanders was a shortstop until he injured his right shoulder playing wide receiver at Sarasota (Fla.) High. Though he had shoulder surgery, San Francisco drafted him in the 17th round in 2003. He signed as a draft-and-follow after leading Florida juco players with 44 steals at South Florida Community College last spring. In his pro debut, Sanders was the igniter and best prospect on the Giants' Rookie-level affiliate that won the Arizona League title. He led the AZL in runs and steals and is the fastest runner in the organization, with 80 speed on the 20-80 scouting scale. More than just a speedster, Sanders has enough bat speed and strength in his wiry frame to make him a dangerous line-drive hitter with enough power to keep pitchers honest. He's a patient hitter who also knows when to be aggressive. He has some smoothness to his infield actions as well, though his hands could be softer. He'll head to low Class A for his first full season.

Minor League Top Prospects

In his first full pro season, Sanders earned admirers across the league for differing reasons. His athletic ability drew raves, as he was the league's fastest player and his wiry strength helped him sting line drives throughout the first half. His savvy allows him to put his tools to use, as he was the league's most accomplished basestealer and best leadoff man. Sanders also earned plaudits from managers and scouts for playing in pain. His right shoulder, troublesome since a high school football injury, faltered again in late June. It forced him to pull out of the Futures Game, short-circuited his power and also affected his fielding in the second half. The Giants wanted to see if Sanders could handle shortstop, and he has the feet and hands for the position. But he may never have the arm strength for short. While his arm was fringy in the first half, it was well below average after he reinjured his shoulder.
Sanders was a catalyst at the top of the lineup for the champion Giants, leading the league in runs (54) and stolen bases (28). "He really ignited our offense," Giants manager Bert Hunter said. "And while he's not very big, he's got good pop. He hit three home runs out of big league stadiums." Sanders has true leadoff skills. He can run, bunt and drive balls to the opposite field, and he had an impressive .415 on-base percentage. He lacks polish at second base, where he moves well but lacks soft hands.