Brett Hayes Stats & Scouting Report

AB	434
AVG	.205
OBP	.25
SLG	.359
HR	13

Full name Brett Gregory Hayes
Born 02/13/1984 in Pasadena, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Nevada - Reno
Debut 05/22/2009
Drafted in the C-2 round (79th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2005 (signed for $450,000).

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Hayes is one of the best pure baseball players in the country, with makeup and a feel for the game that scouts already say could make him a future manager. He has a baseball background, as his father Tim was a draft pick of the Royals and his great-grandfather once played for the Indians. Hayes is so versatile and athletic that one scout predicted he could play all nine positions for Nevada and be the best defender at every one, with the possible exception of shortstop--though he has played there in a pinch. As a member of Team USA last year, he played seven different positions. Built along the lines of Craig Biggio and Mike Lieberthal, smaller-framed catchers who were first-round picks, he profiles best behind the plate, where he can make best use of his savvy and take-charge ability. He has sound catch-and-throw and blocking skills, with a pop time normally below 1.9 seconds. He has a good approach to hitting, with quick hands. He stays inside the ball well but doesn't show much present power. He's wiry strong and could eventually hit 10-15 home runs a season. He's been remarkably steady at the plate in three years at Nevada, hitting .365-8-63 as a freshman, .337-8-48 as a sophomore and .318-6-40 this season. Hayes' tools don't grade out as a first-rounder, but his position and his intangibles will tempt teams nonetheless.

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Baseball runs in Hayes' blood. His grandfather Tim played in the minor leagues, and his father (also named Tim) was a Royals fourth-round pick in the January 1975 draft, though he never played pro ball. Brett has received cups of coffee in Florida the last two seasons, and he got national attention last August when Nyjer Morgan steamrolled him at the plate, setting off a brawl. Hayes held onto the ball for the out, but he separated his shoulder, ending his season. Defense is his strength and should carve him a niche as a backup catcher. He nabbed 32 percent of basestealers in his big league trial and has a strong, accurate arm. His footwork has improved over the past couple of seasons, and he does a solid job of blocking balls in the dirt. His hitting ability, power and speed are all below average, though he has made strides with his pitch recognition. With John Baker on the mend from Tommy John surgery, Hayes once again will be in the Marlins' catching mix in 2011.
Hayes attended the same Notre Dame High (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) program as top Marlins prospect Mike Stanton, then attended Nevada before signing for $450,000 as a supplemental second-round pick. He doesn't carry nearly the same potential impact as Stanton, but Hayes continues to make steady progress both at the plate and behind it. Plagued by nagging injuries early in his career, he has worked hard with catching coordinator Tim Cossins to improve his game-calling and footwork. Blocking balls in the dirt is no longer the weakness it once was, and his fiery touch with pitchers remains impressive. His arm is average and accurate, and he threw out 27 percent of basestealers in Triple-A last year. With the help of hitting coordinator John Mallee, Hayes has learned to avoid overstriding and stays behind the ball much better. This also has helped improve his pitch recognition. His power is below-average, but he's intelligent and competitive enough to hold his own at the plate. He's a below-average runner. Brought to the majors for the first time in 2009, Hayes served mainly as a pinch-hitter and delivered a homer off Victor Garate.
As hoped, a catcher emerged from the Marlins system in 2008 and took over starting duties. However, it was John Baker who did so, not Hayes, who entered the year as Florida's best catching prospect. Now he must hustle to re-establish himself, but time could be running out with first-rounder Kyle Skipworth now in the pipeline. Hayes' continued problems with strike-zone judgment have frustrated some club officials who wonder if he'll ever be more than another Matt Treanor with strong defense but low production. A career .252 hitter in pro ball, Hayes offers decent gap power. No one questions his intelligence or desire to improve. A fiery leader who isn't afraid to push pitchers, he calls a strong game but struggles at times with blocking balls in the dirt. He has worked tirelessly with catching coordinator Tim Cossins on his footwork and throwing mechanics, improving his success rate against basestealers to 35 percent last year. Hayes has below-average speed but isn't bad for a catcher. A product of the same high school (Notre Dame High in Sherman Oaks) as Marlins No. 2 prospect Mike Stanton, he was added to the 40-man roster in November. He'll go to big league camp as a longshot to make the club.
The Marlins haven't drafted and developed an everyday catcher since selecting Charles Johnson with the very first pick in franchise history in 1992. There's hope that Hayes could soon end that drought. He reported to the Arizona Fall League at season's end, which gave him a chance to make up for some of the experience he's missed due to nagging injuries and health setbacks. A broken thumb and broken hamate bone cost him valuable time during his first two full seasons, and an infected tooth slowed him over the final six weeks in 2007. He wound up dropping close to 15 pounds and struggled to maintain his strength and bat speed. Offense is the primary question mark with Hayes, who profiles as a Brad Ausmus type in terms of his glove-first toolset. Hayes never has hit higher than .254 in three pro seasons, though Florida believes he would hit for a higher average with more gap power if he could stay healthy. He's an excellent receiver and has a stronger arm than his success rate catching basestealers (21 percent last year) would indicate. Intelligent and fiery, he isn't afraid to knock a pitcher back into line when necessary. More athletic and a better runner than most catchers, Hayes played seven positions for Team USA's college team in 2004. He'll probably repeat Double-A at the start of 2008, but he might not be much more than a year away from the majors.
Hayes loves to play and has the bloodlines to prove it. His father Tim was drafted by the Royals and his great-grandfather Tim Hayes played in the Indians organization. Signed for $450,000, Hayes has struggled with injuries as a pro. His first season was hampered by a broken left thumb, and year two included a broken hamate bone and a stress fracture in his shin. When healthy he has been impressive. Hayes has great versatility and athletic ability and played seven positions for USA Baseball's college national team in 2004. While his body evokes comparisons to Craig Biggio and Mike Lieberthal, his bat projects as more in the Brad Ausmus or Jason Kendall mold. His catch-and-throw skills are evident, as he regularly gets the ball down to second base in 1.9 seconds when challenged. An intelligent and savvy player, he has good leadership skills and shows the ability to handle a pitching staff. In a system without much in the way of catching prospects, Hayes is already the best. He'll open the season in high Class A and could move quickly if he can stay healthy.
Hayes loves to play and has the bloodlines to prove it. His father Tim was a fourth-round pick of the Royals in the January 1975 draft, and one of his great-grandfathers once played for the Indians. Hayes has great versatility and athletic ability, playing seven positions for Team USA in 2004. Some compare him to a young Mike Lieberthal or Craig Biggio in terms of stature and body type. Signed for $450,000 as supplemental second-round pick last June, Hayes struggled early on as he recovered from a broken left thumb. As he got healthy, his performance improved. Smart and savvy, he handled all aspects of game-calling at short-season Jamestown. More often that not, Hayes' instincts were on the mark. His catch-and-throw skills are evident, as he regularly gets the ball down to second base in 1.9 seconds when challenged. At season's end, he headed to the Arizona Fall League even though he wasn't eligible to play. He caught bullpens and spent mornings working with Marlins hitting coordinator John Mallee. Hayes improved his rhythm and stance at the plate, and he did a better job of using his lower half. In a Marlins system without much in the way of catching prospects, Hayes is already the best. He'll probably begin 2006 at low Class A Greensboro but could finish the season at high Class A Jupiter.