Paul Janish Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1172
AVG	.212
OBP	.28
SLG	.284
HR	7

Full name Paul Ryan Janish
Born 10/12/1982 in Houston, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Rice
Debut 05/14/2008
Drafted in the 5th round (138th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2004 (signed for $210,000).

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Janish has lived up to his reputation as a standout defender at shortstop this spring, making just three errors in his 52 games while continuing to show a strong arm, soft hands and solid range. After batting just .296 with six homers in his first two seasons at Rice, then .105 with wood bats for Team USA last summer, Janish improved significantly at the plate. He was hitting .358 with nine homers in late May, doing a better job of using the whole field. He still could use more strength and a shorter stroke. There are few true shortstops available in the draft, so he could go as high as the third round to a team that believe he'll hit enough. If he returns to Rice--and Owls juniors are often difficult to sign--he could get a chance to pitch in 2005. His fastball tops out at 93 mph, and his slurve and changeup are promising.

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Organization Prospect Rankings

Janish was the system's best defensive shortstop from the day he signed in 2004 until Zach Cozart joined the organization last June. As with Cozart, no one questions Janish's glove, yet questions about his bat have followed him since he turned pro. He was supposed to spend 2007 in Double-A, but injuries led to a July promotion to Triple-A, where he looked over-matched. His 14 homers the season before were an aberration, as he doesn't profile as anything more than a contact hitter at best. His strikeout rate rose last year, and he also looked helpless against righthanders, batting just .204 against them. He does draw some walks and can steal an occasional base with his savvy and average speed. Janish has only average first-step quickness and range, but he plays well at shortstop because he almost never takes a false step, reads balls off the bat, has solid footwork and uses his plus arm well. In addition to above-average pure arm strength--he has made a full recovery from Tommy John surgery in 2005--he has a quick release and good accuracy. But his defensive prowess will go for naught if he can't improve offensively. He figures to return to Double-A in an attempt to get his bat going.
A member of Rice's 2003 College World Series champions, Janish was just starting to get his bat going in pro ball in 2005 when he blew out his throwing elbow and needed Tommy John surgery. He picked up where he left off when he returned last year, hitting .304 with 14 homers while reaching Double-A. Janish is a major league caliber shortstop. His range and quickness are average but play up because he's an expert at positioning and has nearly flawless footwork, soft hands and a plus arm. He has made strides at the plate, learning to use the entire field and to drive the ball for occasional power. He always has controlled the strike zone well. He's a natural leader who inspires his teammates. Janish will go as far as his bat allows him. He may not do much more than make contact and likely always will be a bottom-of-the-order hitter, but that should be sufficient considering his defense. Set to return to Double-A, where he finished 2006, Janish once again will need to prove that his bat can handle the jump to a higher level. The Reds need a long-term shortstop, and they suddenly have three candidates in Janish and 2006 signees Milton Loo and Chris Valaika.
Janish probably wishes he could have skipped 2005 altogether. He got off to a slow start in low Class A, and just as he started to come out of it with a 17-for-43 stretch, he tore an elbow ligament in a collision at first base on June 5. He was shut down for the remainder of the year and had to have Tommy John surgery. Before the injury, Janish's arm strength was one of his best tools--he hit 93 mph off the mound in the past--and he also had great hands and good actions at shortstop. If his arm bounces back as expected, Janish has few questions about his ability to handle shortstop. He also has outstanding leadership ability. The questions start at the plate. Janish never will be a top-of-the-order threat, but he has to get stronger to be even a useful No. 7 or 8 hitter. He has a long swing and lacks power. To his credit, he'll take pitches the other way and he has a good understanding of the strike zone. He's an average runner. The natural progression would be for Janish to move up to high Class A, but Adam Rosales also is ready for that level after an outstanding pro debut.
The shortstop on Rice's College World Series championship team in 2003, Janish would have gotten a chance to pitch in 2005 had he not turned pro for $210,000. He has hit 93 mph off the mound, but his defensive prowess will keep him at shortstop. He was the Reds' MVP in instructional league. Janish is a fluid athlete and a polished defender. He has tremendous hands, and his arm combines above-average strength with accuracy. One club official compared him to Adam Everett. Janish made major offensive strides in 2004, shortening his swing and showing a willingness to go the other way. He has the patience to draw walks and is an average runner. While he held his own in his pro debut, Janish's bat will never be his best tool. He lacks strength and has a sweepy swing that can get long, resulting in below-average power and too many strikeouts. If Janish continues to get on base, he should move quickly in an organization lacking shortstop depth. A jump to Cincinnati's new high Class A Sarasota affililate is possible for 2005.