Gerald Laird Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2452
AVG	.243
OBP	.305
SLG	.353
HR	38

Full name Gerald Lee Laird
Born 11/13/1979 in Garden Grove, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Cypress CC
Debut 04/30/2003
Drafted in the 2nd round (45th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 1998 (signed for $1,000,000).

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Scouting director Grady Fuson held the same position with the Athletics when they signed Laird for $1 million as a draft-and-follow in 1999, then targeted him in a six-player deal after joining Texas in 2001. He got a surprising start over Joe Mauer for Team USA in the quarterfinal loss to Mexico during the Olympic qualifying tournament in November. While Laird has come along with the bat, he's more advanced as a defender. He erased a Pacific Coast League-best 39 percent of basestealers last year, combining plus arm strength with accuracy. At the plate, he shows raw power and the ability to drive the ball by getting good extension through his loose swing. Laird tends to be overaggressive and needs to lay off fastballs up in the strike zone. He's working to shorten his stroke. He runs like a catcher. Coming off a brief but impressive stint in the big leagues, Laird heads into spring training as the No. 2 catcher behind Einar Diaz. He should be the starter by no later than 2005.
Following an injury-plagued 2001, Laird was considered the least promising of the four players the Rangers netted from the Athletics in the Carlos Pena trade. He got healthy and had a breakout season, just in time for the Rangers to cut ties with Ivan Rodriguez. Laird got a then-record $1 million bonus as a draft-and-follow primarily because of his catch-and-throw skills, and they remain his strong suit. He's an above-average receiver with good balance and a solid, very accurate arm. With a quick release, he led the Texas League by throwing out 44 percent of basestealers in 2002. Laird's athletic ability allowed him to start 13 games in the outfield, including one in center. Laird is more of a grinder offensively, though he has started to develop power. He lacks the patience customary for a premium prospect who played in the A's system. He also has durability questions, as his 101 games at Tulsa marked a career high. Laird needs at least one season in Triple-A before challenging for the big league job, and the trade for Einar Diaz buys him that time. Laird eventually should relegate him to a backup role.
The least advanced player among the four the Rangers acquired in the Carlos Pena trade, Laird still has plenty of tools. The problem is that a series of injuries have limited him during his first two full years as a pro. He played just 47 games in 2000 because of hamstring and arm troubles. After he appeared in 119 regular-season games in 2001, the Athletics thought a stint in the Arizona Fall League would be good for his development. But Laird took a foul ball off his throwing hand, leaving a hairline fracture, and exited Arizona after eight games. When he's healthy, Laird he has a strong arm, good hands behind the plate and surprising speed for a catcher--enough that he has visions of becoming a leadoff hitter. Though he hasn't hit much in the minors, the A's believed he had significant offensive potential. An offseason weight program has helped Laird build upper-body strength, which should help him to produce at the plate and to stay in the lineup. He's slated for Double-A in 2002.
A second-round pick in 1998, Laird didn't sign until the following spring as a draft-and-follow. He's athletic and even played center field for Cypress (Calif.) Community College when he wasn't catching during the 1999 season. Once he joined the A's, he made an immediate impression, earning a position on the Northwest League all-star team. He has matured greatly since signing, developing from a kid who wanted to have fun into a serious worker. Injuries sidetracked his progress during 2000, but he still managed to show distinct improvement, particularly with his defense. He still has much development ahead and needs to refine his swing with a wood bat. The A's consider him a solid defensive catcher with legitimate offensive potential. He has shown signs of the ability to work with pitchers and handle a pitching staff.

Minor League Top Prospects

Laird signed with the Athletics as a draft-and-follow out of the 1998 draft, but his progress was stunted by a series of injuries. A's-turned-Rangers executive Grady Fuson still saw his potential, though, and Laird was included in the six-player deal that sent Carlos Pena to Oakland in January. That's looking like a good move after Laird's season in Tulsa. He put up the best offensive numbers of his career, but more important than that he stayed healthy all season. And his catch-and-throw skills were as good as ever: He threw out 52 of 117 basestealers, or 44 percent. Managers said he clearly rated as the best defensive catcher in the league, and he has uncanny accuracy on his throws. "Catching in the Texas League is no easy task," Brundage said. "Laird is ahead of Buck on defense and he held up better throughout the season. They both should play in the big leagues."
The catching-rich A's organization inked Laird to a $1 million contract as a draft-and-follow shortly before he was to reenter the 1999 draft. He quickly established himself as the best catch-and-throw prospect in the league. Laird's arm strength is above-average and he moves quickly and easily behind home plate. Like Christianson, Laird is a Southern California native whose hundreds of games of youth experience have refined his ability to handle pitchers and call a game. One area that Laird needs to improve on is his upper body strength. He had just 11 extra-base hits in 224 at-bats for Southern Oregon and lacks the strength to drive the ball consistently to the gaps. Laird's plate discipline and surprising speed for a catcher help his overall offensive game. "He'll figure out the bat eventually," one manager said, "but he does everything so easily behind the plate defensively. He can really catch."