Chad Tracy Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2706
AVG	.274
OBP	.333
SLG	.439
HR	86

Full name Chad Austin Tracy
Born 05/22/1980 in Charlotte, NC
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School East Carolina
Debut 04/21/2004
Drafted in the 7th round (218th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Tracy won the Double-A Texas League batting title with a .344 average in 2002, then led the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in hits and all minor league third basemen in batting as an encore. He's starting to remind scouts of Wade Boggs, whom Tracy had lunch with last summer while at the Futures Game. Tracy rivals Scott Hairston as the organization's best hitter. He should hit .300 in the majors because he's so quick at getting the barrel to the ball and adept at making adjustments. He hits laser-beam doubles to the gaps with regularity. A first baseman for two years in college, Tracy has made tremendous defensive strides over the last year. His footwork has improved and his arm rates average to above. Tracy never has demonstrated enough power for a corner infielder. He worked on lifting the ball better in the Dominican League this winter. He doesn't walk much because he makes contact with such ease. Before the Richie Sexson trade, Tracy had a chance to win the third-base job and keep Shea Hillenbrand at first base. Now Tracy will probably settle for a reserve job behind Hillenbrand in 2004.
The Diamondbacks had inside information on Tracy, because area scout Howard McCullough's son Clayton played with him at East Carolina. In his first full season, Tracy stayed above .400 in Double-A through early June. He tailed off because of a shoulder injury, but still led the Texas League in batting, hits and doubles and was the league's player of the year. Tracy is a classic line-drive hitter. He has a short, compact swing and takes the ball where it's pitched. He makes contact with ease and can fight off pitches until he gets one to his liking. With his stroke and knowledge, he should add more home run power in time. A first baseman in his first two years of college, Tracy remains a work in progress at the hot corner and made 26 errors last season. He puts the bat on the ball so effortlessly that he cuts into his walk totals. He didn't need surgery, but his shoulder problem cost him a chance to play in the Arizona Fall League. Tracy will begin 2003 in Triple-A as Matt Williams plays out the end of his five-year contract. Craig Counsell may provide competition, but Tracy could be Arizona's starter in 2004.
Tracy capped his college career last June by hitting .435 with five homers in five NCAA playoff games for East Carolina, winning MVP honors as the Pirates defeated Winthrop in regional play before losing to Tennessee in the super regionals. His picturesque swing was regarded as one of the prettiest in the draft and even evoked memories of Robin Ventura's in his heyday at Oklahoma State. Tracy had been one of the best all-around hitters in the Cape Cod League in 2000 and looked good with wood bats again after signing. He hit .340 in low Class A, including a streak of seven consecutive multihit games, while walking as much as he struck out. At third base, he displays first-step quickness, soft and quick hands and a strong arm. In fact, before the draft his defensive tools even led some scouts to speculate that he could move to catcher. For now, the Diamondbacks will keep Tracy at the hot corner and challenge him with a move to Double-A. Given his pure hitting ability and disciplined approach, he could become an offensive menace when he adds upper-body strength.

Minor League Top Prospects

Managers named Garrett Atkins the PCL's top hitter at midseason, yet Tracy surpassed him as the league's premier hot-corner prospect by the end of the year. He led all minor league third basemen in batting, topped the PCL in hits and worked hard to make himself into the league's best defender at his position. Tracy doesn't have typical power for his position and might top out around 15 homers. But he hits for average and gets on base by using a short stroke that allows him to make contact and lace balls into the gaps. He spent hours doing drills to improve his range and footwork, though he needs to avoid dropping his elbow, which leads to errant throws.
Tracy hit so consistently early in the season that "Red-hot" just became part of his name. He didn't fall below .400 for good until June 8, and from there he cruised in with the TL batting title, beating his closest competitor by 22 points. Tracy has been noted for his sweet swing since he was drafted out of East Carolina, and he has raked from day one for the Diamondbacks. He is a polished hitter who knows how to get the barrel on the ball, and he hits lefthanders and righthanders equally well. Standout offensive years in El Paso always draw skepticism, but Tracy hit on the road, too. He doesn't profile as a prototype third baseman because he lacks power, though some managers think he'll develop enough for the middle of the order. He's adequate defensively, and managers did not think he would need to change positions.