Jake Gautreau
| AB | 2263 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .255 |
| OBP | .326 |
| SLG | .425 |
| HR | 80 |
- Full name Jacob Nelson Gautreau
- Born 11/14/1979 in Mcallen, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Tulane
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Drafted in the 1st round (14th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2001 (signed for $1,875,000).
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With Georgia Tech's Mark Teixeira sidelined for most of the spring, Gautreau emerged as arguably the best all-around hitter in college baseball. He entered NCAA tournament play as the Division I leader in RBIs (84) and the Conference USA leader in homers (20). He has passed the wood-bat test, hitting .348 with power as Team USA's first baseman last summer. That might be Gautreau's position as a pro as well, though Tulane coaches can't figure out why scouts knock his third-base defense. He lacks speed, but he has the hands and arm for the hot corner. The two-time Conference USA player of the year could go in the first five picks, but he's more likely to be a mid-first-rounder.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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San Diego gave Gautreau $1.875 million as the 14th overall pick in 2001, but his career has been sidetracked by ulcerative colitis. After moving him from third to second base, the Padres envisioned Gautreau as another Jeff Kent, but his bat has been a disappointment. The colitis, diagnosed in July 2002, has sapped him of strength and bat speed. He's also pull-conscious and has holes in his swing, which prevent him from making consistent contact. Gautreau also puts too much pressure on himself, making it even harder to snap out of his doldrums. While he has stayed at second base for two years and has improved, he still is just adequate and doesn't make all of the routine plays. His double-play pivot needs work. Second base has become a position of strength in the organization, and Gautreau likely will return to the hot corner in 2004. That will require more offense, and his agility will be an issue at third. The Padres left Gautreau off their 40-man roster, something inconceivable when they drafted him, but he went unchosen in the major league Rule 5 draft. -
The Padres thought Gautreau might tear up the California League like Xavier Nady had in his first full season. Instead he found his strength sapped by ulcerative colitis, which was diagnosed in early July. Gautreau batted just .263-1-4 in his final 20 games and .225 in the Arizona Fall League. A national raquetball champion at ages 8 and 10, Gautreau says that sport helped him hone his swing and agility. After moving him from third base to second in instructional league in 2001, San Diego projected him as a lefthanded- hitting Jeff Kent. Now that he has his colitis under control, Gautreau may tap into his raw power. While he has been better than expected at second base, he's still making the transition. He needs to charge grounders more aggressively, and he has an unorthodox release on his throws. He won't ever be a Gold Glover, but he should become at least adequate. Considering his pretty line-drive stroke, he strikes out more than he should. Gautreau will move up to Double-A in 2003. Though he's the organization's top second-base prospect, he faces stiff competition with Bernie Castro ahead of him and Josh Barfield behind. -
A two-time Conference USA player of the year, "Jake the Rake" led NCAA Division I with 96 RBIs and carried Tulane to its first College World Series appearance in 2001. Gautreau showed he was proficient with wood bats while with Team USA the previous summer, so his initial success at the plate was no surprise. Like Burroughs and Nady, Gautreau should hit for power and average; no system has three pure hitters as good as San Diego's. Moved to second base in instructional league because of the organizational glut at third, Gautreau was a revelation. He showed agility, hands and arm strength, and he even was fine on the double-play pivot. Gautreau doesn't have great first-step quickness, though he gets to balls and make plays. He struck out a bit too much in his debut. The Padres knew they were getting a premium bat in Gautreau, and now they're envisioning a lefthanded Jeff Kent. He's ticketed for Lake Elsinore and could reach Double-A this year.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Drafted as a third baseman after an All-America junior season at Tulane, Gautreau spent his first summer at the hot corner before moving to second base last fall in instructional league. The Padres continue to believe he can handle the more difficult position. Some scouts were concerned about Gautreau's defense in college. And while he might never develop into a Gold Glove candidate, his defense at second base is playable. His bat will be his calling card, though his first full season didn't exactly evoke the Jeff Kent comparisons that were floating around after his move. "His bat plays, but he still needs a little work over there at second base," Morales said. "It's a pretty easy position to play average." Gautreau has a line-drive stroke with power to the gaps. He plays with intensity and displays a natural feel for the game. -
A first-team All-American for Tulane, Gautreau was drafted 14th overall in June based on his above-average power and hitting stroke. He developed his sweet lefthanded swing in part by playing racquetball extensively as a youngster, and that sport also helped him develop the reactions and agility needed at third base. Gautreau hit safely in his last 15 games at Eugene and had two hits (including a homer) in seven at-bats in a two-game Triple-A callup in September. The Padres have a logjam of corner-infield prospects, but he has the athletic ability to be a left or right fielder. "His bat is live," Eugene manager Jeff Gardner said. "He will have some power, though he has a ways to go. He comes in on bunts well and has good hands for third, but he has enough athleticism that he could move if need be."
