Xavier Avery

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #7 prospect in 2013
  Avery was slated to play running back at Georgia until the Orioles signed him for $900,000 as a second-round pick in 2008. Though raw, he reached the majors in his fourth full pro season, with three stints with Baltimore after first getting the call in early May. Consistently rated as the system's top athlete, Avery is still figuring things out at the plate. He has strong hands and good bat speed, though his power is below-average. He doesn't recognize pitches well, gets overly aggressive and chases pitches out of the strike zone. Some scouts wonder if he understands the type of hitter he should be, which is a top-of-the-order catalyst who gets on base. Avery is a plus-plus runner who's still learning the nuances of basestealing after getting caught 10 times in 38 tries in 2012. His speed translates to the outfield, where he's a solid defender in center with a fringy arm. Depending on Avery's ability to make adjustments, he could be an everyday center fielder, though Adam Jones is signed through 2018. He may work better as a quality fourth outfielder, though his bat must improve for him to serve in that role. Though he'll be in big league camp, Avery would benefit from additional development time at Triple-A Norfolk.
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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #9 prospect in 2012
  Baltimore signed Avery away from a Georgia football scholarship for $900,000 in 2008. He earned a promotion to Double-A at age 20 in 2010, but he didn't build on that success in his return to Bowie last season. He did play better in the Arizona Fall League, batting .288/.378/.414. Avery's tools stand out in an organization short on premium athletes. He shows bat speed and strong hands at the plate, and he's an above-average runner who has become a good defender in center field. He has improved his bunting to make better use of his speed and continues to work on hitting the ball on the ground. The key to Avery's success will be whether he can develop a better approach at the plate. His swing mechanics are sound, but he doesn't recognize pitches well. As a result, he's often slow to get his swing started, leading not only to strikeouts but also to fewer solid hits and more weak contact. For all his athleticism, he has below-average power and arm strength. Avery has a tremendous work ethic, making the Orioles think he can develop into a leadoff hitter. It will all come down to his approach, which he'll try to refine when he goes back to Bowie to begin 2012.
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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #3 prospect in 2011
  The Orioles knew Avery was a development project when they signed him away from a Georgia football scholarship for $900,000 in 2008. He started to translate his tools into performance in 2010, reaching Double-A as a 20-year-old. A premium athlete, Avery stands out most with his well above-average speed. It already translates into plus defense in center field even though he's polishing his routes and instincts. He's learning the nuances of basestealing as well, and went 10-for-10 stealing bases at Double-A Bowie. Avery batted leadoff all season and knows his game is to put the ball in play and put pressure on the defense. He showed better plate discipline and pitch recognition in 2010. He still struggles against breaking stuff, however, and particularly against lefhanders, batting .193 against them. He's strong enough to sting the ball on occasion but will never be a power hitter. His arm has improved, though it still rates as fringe-average. He gets by on his pure tools more often than not, but he has a thirst for instruction and is making up his deficiencies in baseball polish. Avery has made progress but still has refinements to make to become a consistent hitter. He'll return to Double-A to open 2011.
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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #13 prospect in 2010
  Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan loves athleticism and strong makeup, and Avery offers plenty of both, which is why he received a $900,000 bonus as a second-round pick in 2008. Also a standout football player in high school, he didn't put up good numbers in his first full season, but Baltimore was impressed with how hard he worked all season and started to see flashes of his ability translate into baseball performance. He's a tough young man who wants to be successful, and he told one Orioles official during the season, "I love baseball because it's so hard to be good." He's an exciting player who drew comparisons to Carl Crawford as an amateur and got Kenny Lofton comps last season because of his body and his speed. Avery's speed is at the top of the baseball scale, though he's still learning how to use it. His routes and angles are a bit shaky but he covers a lot of ground in center field. His arm is slightly below average now, though it could be average as he gets more baseball experience. He's also learning the technique of stealing bases, though he swiped 30 in 40 tries last year just on pure speed. Avery doesn't understand how to hit yet, with pitch recognition his main challenge. He swings defensively for now, though as his approach improves, his strong hands and bat speed could produce power. His ideal role is as a top-of-the-order hitter, where any pop would be a bonus. Baltimore says Avery exceeded its expectations by jumping to low Class A and holding his own last year. He'll take the next step to Frederick this season.
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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #13 prospect in 2009
  Baltimore went heavily on athleticism in the 2008 draft, and Avery was the best pure athlete of the bunch. He committed to Georgia as a football player--viewed primarily as a running back though he also played cornerback in high school--but signed with the Orioles for $900,000 as a second-round pick. His best pure tool is speed, which rates a legitimate 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale. Pretty much everything beyond that is open to interpretation because Avery is so raw as a baseball player. He not only split his time between baseball and football but also faced inferior competition in high school, so while he has a feel for the game, the application of his skills isn't quite there yet. Avery held his own in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and worked on the basics of his batting stance in instructional league, standing taller and focusing on bunting and taking the ball the other way. He has a knack for putting the bat on the ball and shows explosive hands, which could lead to some power. With his tools, he should be an above-average defender in center field with an average arm. The Orioles have lauded his aptitude and eagerness for instruction, and while he has a long way to go, he's often compared to Carl Crawford. Avery will take a slower path than Craword, though, and could open the year in extended spring training before heading to short-season Aberdeen.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Carolina League #12 prospect in 2010
  An exceptional athlete who was recruited to play running back at Georgia, Avery has the potential to become a Carl Crawford or Kenny Lofton type of player. He still needs a lot of refinement to get there, but he showed improvement and had his best pro season in 2010, including a stint in Double-A. "He has well above-average foot speed and has really worked on his routes," Kinston's Holbert said. "I'd say he has slightly above-average arm strength and accuracy. He can bunt, hit ground balls to the 6 hole and beat them out and get soft hits to the outfield. He's a smart hitter, and that's what got him to Double-A." Speed is Avery's game, though he does have some strength and a quick bat that can produce some pop. He's still working on his strike-zone judgment and figuring out how to solve lefthanders, who held him to a .217 average in the CL. He steals bases and makes plays in the outfield, though his quickness still outshines his instincts.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Avery was slated to play running back at Georgia until the Orioles signed him for $900,000 as a second-round pick in 2008. Though raw, he reached the majors in his fourth full pro season, with three stints with Baltimore after first getting the call in early May. Scouting Report: Consistently rated as the system's top athlete, Avery is still figuring things out at the plate. He has strong hands and good bat speed, though his power is below-average. He doesn't recognize pitches well, gets overly aggressive and chases out of the strike zone. Some scouts wonder if he understands the type of hitter he should be, which is a top-of-the-order catalyst who gets on base. Avery is a plus-plus runner who's still learning the nuances of basestealing after getting caught 10 times in 38 tries in 2012. His speed translates to the outfield, where he's a solid defender in center with a fringy arm. The Future: Depending on Avery's ability to make adjustments, he could be an everyday center fielder, though Adam Jones is signed through 2018. He may work better as a quality fourth outfielder, though his bat must improve for him to serve in that role. Though he'll be in big league camp, Avery would benefit from additional development time at Triple-A Norfolk.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Baltimore signed Avery away from a Georgia football scholarship for $900,000 after drafting him in 2008's second round. He earned a promotion to Double-A at age 20 in 2010, but he didn't build on that success in his return to Bowie last season. He did play better in the Arizona Fall League, batting .288/.378/.414. Scouting Report: Avery's tools stand out in an organization short on premium athletes. He shows bat speed and strong hands at the plate, and he's an above-average runner who has become a good defender in center field. He has improved his bunting to make better use of his speed and continues to work on hitting the ball on the ground. The key to Avery's success will be whether he can develop a better approach at the plate. His swing mechanics are sound, but he doesn't recognize pitches well. As a result, he's often slow to get his swing started, leading not only to strikeouts but also to fewer solid hits and more weak contact. For all his athleticism, he has below-average power and arm strength. The Future: Avery has a tremendous work ethic, making the Orioles think he can develop into a leadoff hitter. It will all come down to his approach, which he'll try to refine when he goes back to Bowie to begin 2012.