David Lough

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #24 prospect in 2013
  After six years and 640 games in the minors, Lough finally reached the majors last September. The highest-drafted Mercyhurst player ever, Lough began his college career as a football wide receiver and baseball walk-on before signing for $49,500 as an 11th-round pick in 2007. He became the program's third big leaguer, following John Costello and David Lee. Lough profiles as a tweener in the outfield but has enough tools to serve as a useful backup. He can hit for average and possesses above-average speed and the ability to play all three outfield positions. He makes consistent line-drive contact and employs an all-fields approach. Lough's 35 power on the 20-80 scouting scale isn't enough for him to be a regular on a corner, and he's not good enough defensively to play center field on an everyday basis. His below-average arm is overtaxed in right field. After hitting safely in his final six starts in September, Lough will compete for a reserve role in spring training.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #30 prospect in 2012
  Lough is one of the few players who has been around long enough to see the system go from among the game's worst to among the best. Unfortunately for him, the system's improvement has slowed his climb. Added to the 40-man roster after the 2010 season, he spent 2011 repeating Triple-A. He never got very close to making his big league debut, as the arrival of Lorenzo Cain in the Zack Greinke trade and the development of Jarrod Dyson moved Lough down Kansas City's depth chart. A career .299 hitter in the minors, he hits for average, shows average power and is a plus runner. Lough doesn't play center field well enough to be more than an occasional fill-in, and he doesn't hit for enough power to be a regular corner outfielder. His below-average arm makes him best suited for left field. Lough's profile and minor league track record is quite similar to current Royal Mitch Maier's, and his hope is to have a similar career. Lough's path to the big leagues in 2012 still seems blocked by Cain and Dyson.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #25 prospect in 2011
  The Royals not only have had success drafting players with signability concerns, but they've also found their share of bargains as well. A former baseball walk-on who was also a wide receiver at NCAA Division II Mercyhurst (Pa.), Lough cost them only an 11th-round pick and $49,500. Thought to be a somewhat raw athlete with above-average speed, he quickly proved to be a more advanced hitter than expected. Lough has a short, quick stroke that allows him to hit for average with doubles power and solid on-base ability. He traditionally has struggled to hit lefthanders, but he did do a better job of staying in against them in 2010. His above-average speed helps make up for his so-so reads of the ball off the bat, but he's only an average center fielder at best and his below-average arm plays better in left field. Lough isn't far away from the big leagues but profiles as a reserve rather than as a regular. Added to the 40-man roster in November, he'll have to beat out Mitch Maier for a spot as a fourth outfielder in 2011.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #10 prospect in 2010
  Lough played soccer and football as well as baseball in high school, and he accepted a football scholarship at NCAA Division II Mercyhurst (Pa.), where he caught scout Jason Bryans' eye as a baseball walk-on. Since signing for $49,500 as an 11th-round pick, Lough has hit better than .320 at three of his four stops, and he led all Royals minor leaguers with a .325 average last year. Lough's above-average speed is his best tool, but what stands out most is his lack of a clear weakness. The rest of his tools all project to be right around major league average. He showed a more advanced approach at the plate in 2009. His swing is short and direct, which allows him to hit for average and rarely strike out. Thanks to his strong wrists, he projects to hit for average power, though he's most comfortable lining doubles into the gaps. He's an average defender in center field who usually has played in left because he has been alongside quality center fielders. Considering his speed, Lough should be a better basestealer. He's not particularly aggressive on the bases and doesn't get good jumps. His arm is a tick below-average but accurate. He has yet to show that he can hit lefties, with a .627 career OPS against them compared to .901 versus righthanders. Kansas City limped through much of the 2009 season without a true center fielder. Lough won't win any Gold Gloves out there, but his offensive potential could make up for it. If he can't handle center, he could be David DeJesus' eventual replacement in left. For now, he'll head to Triple-A Omaha for more seasoning.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #15 prospect in 2009
  Lough was a baseball, football and soccer star in high school. He decided to focus on football as a wide receiver and kick returner at Mercyhurst (Pa.) College, and also opted to walk-on to the baseball team as well. He was an instant starter in center field as a freshman and quickly realized that at his size, he had a much brighter future in baseball. It was a wise choice as the Royals made him the highest draft pick (11th round) ever from Mercyhurst, which also produced big leaguers John Costello and David Lee. Despite his lack of stature, Lough has some impressive physical tools. He has a very muscular frame and has impressive raw power thanks to a quick bat and solid swing that comes with an exaggerated high finish. He's still unrefined at the plate, which partly can be attributed to the fact that he has spent only two years as a full-time baseball player. He did show steady improvement in 2008, with 31 of his 48 extra-base hits coming during the second half. Lough has plus speed and is average defensively in center field and above-average in left. His arm is a tick below-average, which prevents him from playing in right. Despite his speed, Lough isn't a very good basestealer because he doesn't get good jumps and still is learning how to read pitchers. He'll move to high Class A in 2009, and may have to play a lot of left field on a Wilmington club with multiple center fielders. Lough has one of the highest ceilings in the system, though he has a long way to go to turn his potential into big league production.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #22 prospect in 2008
  The athletic outfielder doubled as a wide receiver/kickoff return specialist for Mercyhurst's football team before matching the school's single-season hits record (74) while slugging .689 in the spring. One of several speedy outfielders selected by the Royals in the 2007 draft, Lough went in the 11th round and signed for $49,500. He's a well-above-average runner with a promising, though raw, approach at the plate. His impressive pro debut was slowed by a hamstring strain that factored in his stealing just six bases in seven attempts. He showed a consistent lefthanded swing path with raw power potential. He was a little too pull-conscious, but when he stayed back on the ball he showed power to the opposite field with backspin and carry. Lough has the speed to bat leadoff but could move down the lineup as his power develops. He was more polished in center field, where he showed plenty of range and an above-average arm. Lough will compete with fellow rookie outfielders Patrick Norris and Adrian Ortiz for a spot in the high Class A lineup.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Carolina League #16 prospect in 2009
  An unheralded 11th-round pick in 2007, Lough originally attended Mercyhurst (Pa.) College on a football scholarship. He easily outperformed first-round picks Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas at Wilmington, showing five tools that all grade out as average or better. At 23, Lough was older than most CL prospects, but he continued to perform well after a promotion to Double-A in July. Lough has a short, quick swing and the strength to hit for average power. He's not particularly patient, but he doesn't strike out much and can take advantage of his strength and speed on balls in play. With Derrick Robinson in center field, Lough played left field for the Blue Rocks, but he's a plus runner and a good defender who can handle center. He has a strong, accurate arm as well.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Lough is one of the few players who has been around long enough to see the system go from among the game's worst to among the best. Unfortunately for him, the system's improvement has slowed his climb. Added to the 40-man roster after the 2010 season, he spent 2011 repeating Triple-A. He never got very close to making his big league debut, as the arrival of Lorenzo Cain in the Zack Greinke trade and the development of Jarrod Dyson moved Lough down Kansas City's depth chart. A career .299 hitter in the minors, he hits for average, shows average power and is a plus runner. Lough doesn't play center field well enough to be more than an occasional fill-in, and he doesn't hit for enough power to be a regular corner outfielder. His below-average arm makes him best suited for left field. Lough's profile and minor league track record is quite similar to current Royal Mitch Maier's, and his hope is to have a similar career. Lough's path to the big leagues in 2012 still seems blocked by Cain and Dyson.