Chase Fontaine Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Robert Chase Fontaine
Born 10/22/1985 in Albany, GA
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Daytona State
Drafted in the 2nd round (72nd overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2006 (signed for $500,000).

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Fontaine's route has been a circuitous one. He slumped badly late in his senior season at Nease High in St. Augustine, Fla., in 2004, went undrafted and headed to Texas. He never played for the Longhorns and transferred to Dayton Beach when Seth Johnston decided to return for his senior season. The Rangers drafted Fontaine in the 18th round in 2005, but after he spent the summer in the Cape Cod League he returned for his sophomore season. He was among the state's top five juco hitters in average (.407), runs (57) and homers (10) and capped his sophomore season with an impressive display of hitting in the state tournament. He has committed to Florida, and reportedly was seeking at least $500,000 to sign with the Rangers. He is a good all-around player without a plus tool. He generates good bat speed with a short, compact swing. He will use the whole field and shows good plate discipline. Fontaine has good hands and an above-average arm, but lacks the range to profile as a true shortstop. Scouts doubt he'll develop more than average power, making third base a difficult spot for him to profile, too.

Top Rankings

The sixth of six Braves picks in the first two rounds last June, Fontaine made the Appalachian League all-star team in his pro debut. His career path didn't always look so promising, however. A slump as a high school senior in 2004 caused him to go undrafted and head to Texas, but he transferred to Daytona Beach (Fla.) Community College before he ever took the field for the Longhorns. After the Rangers drafted him in the 18th round in 2005, he hit .407 with 10 homers and starred in the Florida state community college tournament this spring. Fontaine sought $500,000 as a draft-and-follow, and while the Rangers wouldn't meet his price, Atlanta did. He's a line-drive hitter who's aggressive at the plate. His bat does not have a lot of pop at this point, but some scouts believe he could develop power as he gets stronger and adds some loft to his swing. Though he has slightly above-average speed and a strong arm, Fontaine doesn't profile defensively as a shortstop. His stiff hands, mechanical actions and modest range should force him off shortstop, especially with superior defenders such as Elvis Andrus ahead of him in the system. Fontaine eventually will move to second base, but he'll stay at shortstop for now as he advances to low Class A.

Fontaine went undrafted in 2004 after he slumped as a high school senior. He turned down the Rangers as an 18th-round draft-and-follow this spring, a move that paid off when the Braves selected him in the second round. Fontaine is a solid all-around player whose bat stands out the most. He hits to all fields with a short, compact swing and he'll develop more power once he adds some loft to his stroke. While he has a plus arm, he's a below-average runner with stiff hands, so his future might be at second or third base rather than shortstop.

The sixth of six Braves picks in the first two rounds last June, Fontaine made the Appalachian League all-star team in his pro debut. His career path didn't always look so promising, however. A slump as a high school senior in 2004 caused him to go undrafted and head to Texas, but he transferred to Daytona Beach (Fla.) Community College before he ever took the field for the Longhorns. After the Rangers drafted him in the 18th round in 2005, he hit .407 with 10 homers and starred in the Florida state community college tournament this spring. Fontaine sought $500,000 as a draft-and-follow, and while the Rangers wouldn't meet his price, Atlanta did. He's a line-drive hitter who's aggressive at the plate. His bat does not have a lot of pop at this point, but some scouts believe he could develop power as he gets stronger and adds some loft to his swing. Though he has slightly above-average speed and a strong arm, Fontaine doesn't profile defensively as a shortstop. His stiff hands, mechanical actions and modest range should force him off shortstop, especially with superior defenders such as Elvis Andrus ahead of him in the system. Fontaine eventually will move to second base, but he'll stay at shortstop for now as he advances to low Class A.