Cody Ross Stats & Scouting Report

AB	3453
AVG	.262
OBP	.322
SLG	.445
HR	132

Full name Cody Joseph Ross
Born 12/23/1980 in Portales, NM
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: L
School Carlsbad
Debut 07/04/2003
Drafted in the 4th round (117th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 1999.

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LHP/OF Cody Ross is the best player by a wide margin in sparse New Mexico. As a pitcher, he overpowered weak high school competition in the eastern part of the state with a 90-91-mph fastball. His talents are geared more for everyday play in the future--in either pro ball or at Arizona State. He has a live body, good speed and good power potential. He also plays aggressively. In time, Ross should have solid hitting mechanics, but his bat is the weakest part of his game now. He's one of the few players who switch-hits and throws left.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

There's a lot of debate among scouts and baseball officials when it comes to Ross' tools. Yet there's no denying his solid, consistent production throughout the minor leagues. He made his major league debut last July, and after a September callup he hit a grand slam off Cleveland's Cliff Lee. Later in that game he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while legging out a bunt. Scouts who like Ross see him as a poor man's Craig Biggio or Bobby Higginson. He's tough and has surprising power for someone his size. Scouts who aren't high on him see a smallish player with more heart than tools. He doesn't run like Biggio did in his prime or have Higginson's pull power. He has good outfield instincts and can play in center, but he fits better in right with his strong, accurate arm. Ross isn't selective and will have to tighten his strike zone against big league pitchers. His grit has helped him during his rehabilitation, which has gone well. Ross will get a shot to make the Tigers during spring training but likely will begin the season in Triple-A.
The question about Ross is not whether he's a future major leaguer, but how high his ceiling is. He has been productive and had his best season last year in Double-A. From a tools standpoint, he has power and runs the bases well. His arm is strong and accurate enough that the Tigers considered making him a pitcher when they drafted him. At the same time, Ross doesn't have one overwhelming tool. He's not big and his listed height is generous. Some scouts say Ross is as good as he's going to get. Others think his Craig Biggio intensity will allow him to become a big league regular. His future probably lies at a corner outfield spot, though Ross did help his cause by showing he can play center field last season. Ross will open 2003 in Triple-A but could push for major league playing time in the second half.
Some scouts liked Ross better as a lefthanded pitcher coming out of high school, but the Tigers zeroed in on him as an outfielder. He started to display power in 2001, hitting 15 home runs in the spacious stadiums of the high Class A Florida State League. Twelve of those 15 longballs came in the second half of the season. A competitive player, Ross never takes at-bats off, runs the bases hard and hustles as a corner outfielder. His bat is surprisingly live and he consistently drives the ball. Ross doesn't strike out as much as most power hitters. His arm is both strong and accurate. His size is a concern, especially given that he has only average speed. His power is good but not great, and he doesn't have one tool which stands out. He'll need to show a little more patience at the plate as he advances. Ross could be in for a big Double-A season in 2002. Erie's Jerry Uht Park is friendly to righthanded hitters and could magnify his numbers.
Ross isn't particularly big or fast, but he's a scrappy player with a strong arm and power potential. Playing right field last season, Ross was consistent with his effort and production. He hit seven home runs playing in one of the bigger home parks in the Midwest League, and had nine triples. He's a rare player who bats righthanded and throws lefthanded. He has a good, compact stroke and a clue about the strike zone. Ross pitched in high school and some Tigers scouts still believe his future would be brighter on the mound. Ross has thrown on the side for minor league pitching coaches but hasn't shown the same potential as a pitcher he did before he was drafted. He's ticketed for Lakeland in 2001.

Minor League Top Prospects

Small in stature, Ross plays with the hard-nosed intensity befitting a Napoleon complex. Several managers called Ross a little man trying to play a big man's game. Ross has shown above-average power, but sometimes at the expense of trying to do too much as his swing gets long and pull-conscious. He might be a better hitter if he went the other way more and didn't lift as many balls into the air. If the power comes through, Ross has the arm strength and athleticism to serve as an average or better right fielder. "There's going to be some people that really like him and some that don't," Parrish said. "Will he have enough pop to be a corner outfielder? We're torn between labeling him an extra outfielder and a regular. He plays the outfield well, but he's a little guy who might not have power if you keep the ball away from him."