Ryan LaMarre Stats & Scouting Report

AB	246
AVG	.232
OBP	.286
SLG	.35
HR	6

Full name Ryan M. LaMarre
Born 11/21/1988 in Royal Oak, MI
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: L
School Michigan
Debut 08/22/2015
Drafted in the 2nd round (62nd overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2010 (signed for $587,700).

View Draft Report

Since breaking his thumb diving for a fly ball in the third game of the season and missing the next 18 games, LaMarre has returned with a vengeance and played himself into first-round consideration. He's one of the best college athletes available, a 6-foot-2, 206-pounder with plus-plus speed. Though the injury has cost him some strength in his wrist and left him basically swinging with one hand, he has consistently squared balls up and batted .424/.455/.660. He has enough bat speed and lift in his righthanded stroke to project as a plus hitter with slightly above-average power. His tools and performance have erased memories of a weak summer in the Cape Cod League in 2009. While he drew just four walks in 35 games this spring, he has shown solid plate discipline in the past. Though the Wolverines eased LaMarre back into their lineup as a left fielder, he's a legitimate center fielder with a decent arm. Area scouts love his makeup, raving about his gamer mentality, work ethic and value as a teammate.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

A four-year starter in hockey, football and baseball in high school in Jackson, Mich., LaMarre wasn't drafted out of high school and went to Michigan to play baseball. He didn't let a broken thumb ruin his draft status as a junior, hitting .419 upon his return and climbing into the second round. LaMarre is one of the safer bets to be a big leaguer in the system because he has a pair of big league skills. He's a 65 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale, and a 65 defender in center field, where his average arm is more than enough. On the basepaths, he reads pitchers well, though after stealing 52 bases in 2011 he slowed down last year thanks to plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Because he couldn't injure it further, he decided to play through the injury and had surgery after the season. LaMarre strikes out a lot, but he also shows the ability to draw walks, which is important considering he profiles as a top-of-the-order hitter. His power is limited to hitting doubles to the gaps. He's expected to be healthy for spring training, and if so LaMarre is nearly ready for a major league backup role. He'll probably open the season in Triple-A, just a phone call away.
In any other season, LaMarre's 55 stolen bases would have stood out among Reds farmhands. No one in the system had swiped that many since 1994, but he took a back seat to Billy Hamilton, who led the minors with 103. LaMarre might have been even more prolific if not for a series of minor hamstring injuries. An outstanding athlete, he was the leading tackler on consecutive state-championship football teams in high school and was also a hockey star. He has well above-average speed and shows a feel for getting leads and reading pitchers. LaMarre had a quick bat and shows solid raw power in batting practice, but it hasn't come through in games. Instead he uses a top-of-the-order approach with good selectivity and an all-fields mentality. He also has a knack for laying down bunts. In the field, LaMarre is average defensively in center field with an arm that's strong enough to let him handle right field as well. He got a taste of Double-A at the end of the season, and will head to Pensacola to begin 2012. His bat will determine whether he ends up as a regular or a useful fourth outfielder.
LaMarre's junior season at Michigan got off to an awful start, as he broke his thumb while diving to make a catch in the outfield. He ended up missing 20 games, but showed few problems upon his return as he led Michigan in batting, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He was considered quite signable, which he proved by signing for $587,700 almost immediately after the draft. LaMarre is an excellent athlete. He was the leading tackler on back-to-back state championship football teams in high school and was an all-star hockey player. His best tool is his speed, and he's a well above-average runner who has been timed at 4.05 seconds from home to first. He also showed a knack for stealing bases in low Class A--something he hadn't been asked to do much at Michigan. LaMarre should hit for average because of a smooth stroke and plenty of bat speed. He has average power as well. He profiles as an average center fielder defensively, and his arm is a tick above average, easily enough for center. He struggled at times with his reads off the bat in center. LaMarre isn't particularly polished for a college draftee, but he has more power and hitting ability than most center fielders. He'll head to high Class A in 2011.