Jemile Weeks
| AB | 955 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .254 |
| OBP | .316 |
| SLG | .352 |
| HR | 4 |
- Full name Jemile Nykiwa Weeks
- Born 01/26/1987 in Orlando, FL
- Profile Ht.: 5'9" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: S / Throws: R
- School Miami (FL)
- Debut 06/07/2011
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Drafted in the 1st round (12th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2008 (signed for $1,910,000).
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The brother of Brewers second baseman Rickie, Weeks is an accomplished middle infielder with above-average athleticism. Drafted out of high school by the Brewers in the eighth round in 2005, Weeks elected to attend Miami instead. He competed on the U.S. college national team following his freshman and sophomore seasons and was named as a preseason All-American by BA coming into the year. A switch-hitter and plus runner, Weeks has the unique ability to put pressure on the defense with his speed on the basepaths. Although he is just 5-feet-9, 180 pounds, he is not limited to small ball as he has quick wrists and plus bat speed, allowing him to hit for power as well. Defensively, Weeks has shown flashes of making the spectacular play but needs to become more consistent with the routine play. Also, his ability to turn the double play needs improvement. In the pros, Weeks profiles as an offensive second baseman with less power than his brother but a better chance to stay in the middle of the diamond. He and Gordon Beckham are the most athletic college position players expected to be drafted in the first 50 picks.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Weeks (the 12th pick in 2008) and his brother Rickie (second in 2003) are the eighth pair of siblings to be drafted in the first round. Jemile has been unable to stay healthy as a pro, with repeated hip and leg injuries preventing him from playing a full season. Hip soreness knocked him out for two months during the 2010 regular season and again during the Texas League playoffs. When healthy, Weeks shows promising tools. He has a quick, explosive swing and can do damage from both sides of the plate. His strength and outstanding bat speed give him the capability to hit for more power than his body type would suggest. He's a good situational hitter who hangs in against tough pitches and rarely gets fooled. Weeks has above-average athleticism and speed, though the injuries have diminished his ability to steal bases. He's not the smoothest second baseman, but he has worked hard to improve his throwing and double-play pivot. Weeks draws some Ray Durham comparisons and has the potential to be a top-of-the-order catalyst. The A's expect him to be ready for spring training and advance to Triple-A in 2011. If he can avoid the disabled list, he could make his big league debut by the end of the year. -
Weeks and his brother Rickie, the No. 2 choice in the 2003 draft, are the eighth pair of siblings to become first-round picks. Jemile signed for $1.91 million as the 12th overall selection in 2008. A hip-flexor injury cut short his pro debut and lingered into the spring, delaying his arrival at Stockton until late May. He struggled after an August promotion to Double-A but recovered to hit .290 with two homers in the Texas League playoffs. Weeks has good pitch recognition and a line-drive swing that produces surprising power for a player his size. He has the speed to steal bases, though leg injuries cut into his ability to run last year. He's athletic enough for the middle of the diamond and has a strong arm. Injuries have been Weeks' biggest obstacle going back to his college career, when hamstring and groin woes derailed his sophomore season. In addition to his hip, he had hamstring and Achilles problems in 2009. His hands aren't always smooth at second base and he sometimes rushes himself turning double plays, though that should improve with experience. He can fall in love with his power and try to hit home runs, lengthening his swing. Staying healthy will be Weeks' top priority in 2010. The A's are grooming him to be their leadoff hitter of the future, so it will be important for him to maintain a disciplined approach. He'll return to Midland to open the season. -
The A's drafted Weeks with the 12th overall pick in June, their highest selection since they took Barry Zito ninth overall in 1999. That made Weeks and his brother Rickie, the No. 2 overall choice in 2003, the eighth pair of siblings to become first-round picks. An All-American at Miami, he signed for $1.91 million but had his pro debut cut shot by a hip flexor injury. Weeks is a quick-twitch athlete with plus speed. A switch-hitter, he has a slashing line-drive stroke, and his strong wrists and plus bat speed help him generate surprising power for a player his size. He has a good feel for the strike zone and profiles as a leadoff man. He has the ability to make spectacular defensive plays at second base. Weeks needs to put in more work to make routine plays at second and to turn the double play. He has battled leg injuries the last two years, with repeated hamstring and groin problems hampering his sophomore season. His hip injury kept him out of instructional league. Weeks' bat is advanced enough for him to make his full-season debut in high Class A. He doesn't have his brother's offensive upside, but he's no lightweight as a hitter and is a better defender.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Plagued by injuries, Weeks played in just 176 games in his first 2 1/2 pro seasons. Finally healthy in 2011, he starred in the leadoff spot for Sacramento and then did the same for Oakland. He led all major league rookies (minimum 400 plate appearances) in hitting with a .303 average. Weeks' plus speed and his hitting ability make him a top-of-the-order hitter, and he plays with good energy. He doesn't have as much power as his older brother Rickie, but Jemile has a quick, slashing bat and surprising pop for his size. He makes consistent contact but needs to draw more walks. Weeks has worked to improve his defense and become a steady defender at second base. He has the quickness and athleticism required for the position, but his throwing can get erratic. -
Though he's very athletic, Weeks lacks the physicality of his older brother Rickie, the Brewers' oft-injured second baseman. Like his older brother, Jemile was a first-round pick and has dealt with injuries as a pro. He began the season in extended spring training, rehabbing a hip injury that cut his 2008 pro debut short after 74 at-bats. Weeks immediately showed he belonged in the Cal League, hitting safely in his first 22 games and impressing league observers with his ability to turn the double-play pivot. A switch-hitter who was more effective from the left side with Stockton, he has a line-drive swing with the potential for some power as he develops. He has plus speed, though he stole just five bases as he recovered from the hip injury. "He is very athletic with lots of fast-twitch muscles," Weinstein said. "He has good speed, despite the fact he had some leg problems early on. He's a very athletic second baseman, though he didn't throw well when we saw him."
