David Kelton Stats & Scouting Report

AB	22
AVG	.136
OBP	.136
SLG	.227
HR	0

Full name David Wayne Kelton
Born 12/17/1979 in Dothan, AL
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Troup County
Debut 06/08/2003
Drafted in the 2nd round (46th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 1998 (signed for $400,000).

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Signed as a third baseman, Kelton had mental and physical problems making throws from the hot corner, prompting his move to first base in 2002 and the outfield in 2003. Chicago thought fewer defensive responsibilities would help him develop an already promising bat, but Kelton has regressed. He has good bat speed and raw power, but he undermined himself last year by trying to hit homers. He developed an uppercut and got under too many pitches. Controlling the strike zone never has been Kelton's strong suit and he regressed last year. He has average speed and has made progress in the outfield, where he can handle either corner and serve as a fill-in in center field. Kelton is coming off a productive winter in Venezuela, where he finished fourth in homers (12) and RBIs (44), but he's still a long-shot in the Cubs' left-field derby. He's also out of options, so if he can't stick on the major league roster he may find himself with a different organization.
The Cubs finally gave up on Kelton filling their perennial void at third base. Since having shoulder surgery in high school, he repeatedly had mental and physical struggles making throws from the hot corner. After committing 11 errors in 33 games there to start 2003, he asked to move to the outfield and got his wish. Kelton has the tools to handle his new position. His bat speed and plate coverage should make him a .275 hitter with 20-25 homers annually. He has the athleticism and arm strength to play on either corner and could fill in as a center fielder in a pinch. Kelton has been steady but rarely spectacular in the minors, and he'll have to step up his production to gain playing time in the outfield or at first base, where he played extensively in 2002. Doing a better job of controlling the strike zone would help. He would have been a natural fit as a platoon partner had the Cubs chosen to stick with Hee Seop Choi or Randall Simon at first base, but the Derrek Lee trade leaves Kelton vying for a backup role at best this year. To do that he'll have to prove himself to manager Dusty Baker in spring training.
How Kelton fared in 2002 is in the eye of the beholder. In his sixth pro season, he still didn't make it to Triple-A and had continued difficulty playing third base. On the other hand, at 22 he wasn't old for Double-A, led the Southern League in homers, RBIs and extra-base hits, and managers rated him the league's best batting prospect. Kelton owns a pure swing and there's little doubt that he can hit .275 with 20-25 homers in the majors. He has the hands, range and quickness for third base, and perhaps to become an average outfielder. Kelton never has looked comfortable at third, where his bat would fit best. He had shoulder surgery in high school, and he has had mechanical and mental problems throwing from the hot corner as a pro. He played just six games there in Double-A last year, and committed 11 errors in 43 games at third in Mexico this winter. Offensively, he needs to tighten his strike zone. The Cubs plan to send Kelton to Triple-A to play third base, his clearest path to the big leagues. If he can't cut it defensively or Brendan Harris is ready for a promotion, Kelton may have to move again.
Kelton seemed like Chicago's latest best hope to fill the void at third base that has existed since Ron Santo departed in 1973. After he made 15 errors in 54 games at West Tenn, he was set to move to the outfield before he popped something in his left hand on a checked swing, ending his season. He came back to play some outfield in the Arizona Fall League, where he batted .340. The best pure hitter in the system, Kelton was on pace to bat .300-30-100 in Double-A at age 21 when he got hurt. His swing is so pure the Cubs forbade their instructors from tinkering with it. He also has become more patient at the plate. Defensively, his speed and hands are fine. Kelton had shoulder surgery in high school, leaving him with modest arm strength. His release point got out of whack last year, resulting in throwing errors. He still needs work in the outfield, though the Cubs believe he can be at least an average defender. The initial plan for 2002 was to send Kelton to Triple-A and give him time at both third base and left field. But after the Cubs signed Moises Alou as a free agent, that closed off any opportunity in left field. They want to get Kelton's bat to Wrigley Field in the near future, so they'll hope he can handle the hot corner.
Which will happen first: Ron Santo makes the Hall of Fame or the Cubs find their first long-term replacement for him since he left following the 1973 season? The veterans committee is running out of time to win the race because Chicago has a deep crop of third-base prospects. The most promising is Kelton, who rebounded from a slow start to lead Class A Daytona to a second-half division title and playoff championship in the Florida State League last year. Kelton has legitimate 30-homer power and ranked sixth in the FSL in longballs in 2000. His swing is so pure that the Cubs forbade their minor league instructors from messing with it. He has average speed, good hands and an arm strong enough for third base. Kelton had periodic problems with his right shoulder, which required surgery before his senior year of high school. His shoulder acted up at the start of last season, limiting him to DH duty for a month. He has a 299-100 strikeout-walk ratio as a pro, something that more advanced pitchers may exploit. Kelton is ready for Double-A and is 18-24 months away from Wrigley Field. He'll have to keep producing to hold off players such as Eric Hinske, Ryan Gripp, Brandon Sing and J.J. Johnson, and the Cubs are confident he will.
Background: Kelton was considered a premium infield prospect after his junior year in high school but he severely separated his right shoulder in a summer tournament. Teams shied away after Kelton's surgery but he had only minor episodes of discomfort in his shoulder last summer. Strengths: Kelton has above-average bat speed and the power to reach the fences to all fields. His hitting mechanics are ideal for a wood bat and he had little trouble adapting to professional pitching. A shortstop in high school, Kelton has excellent range and soft hands at third. He has average speed but good baserunning instincts. Weaknesses: Doctors say Kelton is far ahead of schedule in his recovery from shoulder surgery. His arm strength should gradually grow, along with his confidence. The Future: Over the course of his Rookie-level season, Arizona League managers said Kelton improved the most of any of the players they saw. He has a chance to be an above-average offensive third baseman.

Minor League Top Prospects

Kelton's chances of ending the Curse of Ron Santo officially ended in late May. Since having shoulder surgery in high school, he had trouble mentally and physically making throws from the hot corner. After making 11 errors in 33 games to start 2003, he asked to be moved to the outfield and the Cubs granted his request. He has enough athleticism and arm strength to be a decent corner outfielder, probably in left because the parent Cubs have Sammy Sosa in right. Kelton should provide enough offense for the position as well. He has a quick bat, good plate coverage and budding power. "He has a chance to hit better than Ludwick," the NL scout said. "Ludwick does other things, so he's a better player. I do think Kelton can go 25 or 30 homers, and he may exceed that."
Because Hee Seop Choi is set as the Cubs' first baseman of the future, they need Kelton to establish himself at third base. But repeated throwing problems led Chicago to move Kelton to first base in 2002, which meant he had to return to West Tenn because Choi was in Triple-A. Kelton wasn't as productive as he was last year, when he hit .313-12-45 in 58 Double-A games before injuring his left hand. He was up and down all year, but he still led the SL in homers and RBIs. "He's got potential for power and average," one scout said, "and few players in this league have that." Kelton's short, quick swing still stood out in a league short on legitimate hitting prospects. Managers also liked his approach. He'll give the hot corner another try this winter in Mexico.
Kelton began living up to his reputation as a pure hitter in 2001. Managers raved about his compact swing, ability to make contact and developing power. Had it not been for a hand injury, he probably would have been promoted to Triple-A. "He has power to all fields and has a good feel for hitting," Bialas said. "He can handle offspeed pitching. He's a power guy who is going to hit some home runs." Yet for every positive thing said about Kelton's hitting, there was a negative comment about his defense. He hurt his shoulder in high school and it has bothered him ever since. He has modest arm strength and poor accuracy because of an inconsistent release point, and the Cubs plan to move him to left field.
Lansing had a winning season in its first year as a Cubs affiliate, and produced the most players on this list. With the Cubs' sorry history at third base, Kelton's season was especially welcome. Kelton, at 19 one of the youngest players in the league, caught fire early with a .287 average in April and a .347 average in May. He faltered later in the season, but his potential and solid play at third base overshadowed his late offensive slide. Lansing hitting coach Steve McFarland said the young slugger still needs to learn how to adjust better at the plate. "He has a great knack of staying inside the ball and hitting nice line drives with gap power," McFarland said. "That's impressive for someone his age. He has pretty good balance at the plate. He's going to hit for power and with average."