Joey Pankake
| AB | 1312 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .244 |
| OBP | .317 |
| SLG | .36 |
| HR | 27 |
- Full name Joseph Gale Pankake
- Born 11/23/1992 in Easley, SC
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School South Carolina
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Drafted in the 7th round (220th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2014 (signed for $165,000).
View Draft Report
The Rangers went into South Carolina for two late picks in 2011, unable to sign Pankake in the 42nd round but signing righthander C.J. Edwards in the 48th. Edwards quickly emerged as a prospect and wound up headlining a trade with the Cubs for Matt Garza. Pankake went to South Carolina, helping the Gamecocks to the 2012 College World Series as a freshman shortstop. He has stepped back as a junior, having dipped from 11 home runs last year to five entering the Southeastern Conference tournament. Scouts never thought he would stick at shortstop as a pro, but he played plenty of left field in 2014 as well as third base, and scouts aren't convinced he can handle the hot corner. His arm strength has backed up a bit as well, now rating as average. Pankake has strength in his 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame and solid-average hitting and power tools, with polish to his approach. He's solid across the board but doesn't appear to have a consistent carrying tool.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Pankake signed for $165,00 as a seventh-round pick in 2014 and had a solid first full season at low Class A West Michigan, where he showed a polished offensive approach. Pankake is a patient hitter who works the count, waits for a good pitch to hit and can walk to get on base. He has to tighten up his swing, but the barrel stays through the hitting zone, which helps him make consistent contact. Pankake is adept at using the middle of the field and going the opposite way. He has average raw power that he should be able to tap into more once he learns to do more damage when he does pull a pitch rather than rolling over on those balls for grounders to the left side, though his game will be more about line drives and getting on base than power. A shortstop in college, Pankake played some third base after signing but was a second baseman in 2015 with Zach Shepherd at third in West Michigan. His average arm is fine there, but his inexperience at the position showed, so he will need time for his defense to catch up to his hitting. His next stop is high Class A Lakeland, with a chance to eventually become an offensive-oriented utility man. -
Pankake, who signed for $165,000 as a seventh-round pick in 2014, has close to average tools across the board. He is a smart hitter with a good approach, working counts and understanding how pitchers attack him. His barrel stays in the hitting zone, which helps him make consistent contact to all fields and stay on good breaking pitches. He's strong and has average raw power, though his offensive game will be more about hitting line drives and getting on base. The Tigers flipped Pankake between shortstop and third base in his debut at short-season Connecticut, but he's expected to see more time at third base going forward, since he doesn't project as a shortstop. He's still adjusting to the hot corner, where he has an average arm.
Draft Prospects
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The Rangers went into South Carolina for two late picks in 2011, unable to sign Pankake in the 42nd round but signing righthander C.J. Edwards in the 48th. Edwards quickly emerged as a prospect and wound up headlining a trade with the Cubs for Matt Garza. Pankake went to South Carolina, helping the Gamecocks to the 2012 College World Series as a freshman shortstop. He has stepped back as a junior, having dipped from 11 home runs last year to five entering the Southeastern Conference tournament. Scouts never thought he would stick at shortstop as a pro, but he played plenty of left field in 2014 as well as third base, and scouts aren't convinced he can handle the hot corner. His arm strength has backed up a bit as well, now rating as average. Pankake has strength in his 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame and solid-average hitting and power tools, with polish to his approach. He's solid across the board but doesn't appear to have a consistent carrying tool.
