Alex Yarbrough

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #8 prospect in 2015
  The Mississippi product and first-team All-American in 2012 has risen steadily through the organization on the strength of his natural hitting ability and hard-nosed style of play since being taken in the fourth round in 2012. Yarbrough earned the Texas League MVP award in 2014 after leading the league in hits (154) and doubles (38) and ranking second in RBIs (77). Yarbrough is a pure hitter from both sides of the plate, though he has a better stroke from the left side. He's got more doubles power to the gaps than over-the-fence pop. His bat would have even more value if he was more selective at the plate and cut down on strikeouts, for he fanned 21 percent of the time in 2014. Yarbourgh's value comes mostly from his hitting ability, though his gamer mentality helps his team in many ways. He's just fair defensively at second base, with slow actions around the bag and below-average range and arm strength. He has become more efficient at turning the double play but projects as a fringy defender. He's a below-average runner. Yarbrough and double-play partner Eric Stamets will again move up together, this time to Triple-A Salt Lake. The Angels' 2014 trade of Taylor Lindsey removes one potential roadblock for Yarbrough, who projects as a starting second baseman in the big leagues and could allow the club to use Howie Kendrick as trade bait.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #8 prospect in 2014
  A first-team All-American in 2012 at Mississippi, where he hit .380 while committing just three errors as a junior, Yarbrough has been similarly productive as a pro, hitting .313 in 2013 while leading high Class A California League second basemen in fielding percentage. He's a natural switch-hitter who has been hitting from both sides since he was nine, showing nearly identical swings. Yarbrough has excellent barrel control, which allows him to hit comfortably at any point in the count. He can spoil pitches when he's working with two strikes, but he too often swings until he puts the ball in play rather than taking ball four. Yarbrough's hitting ability is his only plus tool. He's unlikely to hit more than 10 home runs a year in the big leagues. Defensively, he's sure-handed but below-average at second, lacking fluid actions and range. He has a below-average arm that's challenged even at second. He's aggressive on the bases and picks his spots well, which allows him to swipe bases even though he's a below-average runner. Yarbrough edges C.J. Cron as the best pure hitter in the organization, and he exceeds expectations because he gets the most out of his tools. He only profiles as a regular if he can handle second base, because he isn't athletic enough to be a utility man. Yarbrough will move up to Double-A Arkansas in 2014.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #10 prospect in 2013
  The Angels system is littered with free swingers, so it was notable that the first position player drafted under GM Jerry Dipoto has the patient approach the organization is trying to emphasize. After hitting .380 as a Mississippi junior, Yarbrough went in the fourth round in June and signed for $302,800. Yarbrough's barrel stays in the hitting zone a long time and he has excellent hands at the plate, which results in a high contact rate. He showed modest pop in college and didn't homer in 63 pro games, so he'll have to get stronger. He likes to use the opposite field, even on inside pitches, and some scouts are concerned that his lack of bat speed could get exposed at upper levels against good fastballs on the inner half. Yarbrough is a modest athlete and there's nothing flashy about his defense. He's a fringy runner who doesn't have great range or arm strength, but his hands are clean and he's reliable on the balls he reaches. He needs to improve his double-play pivot but he shows aptitude for receiving instruction. Yarbrough reached Double-A at the end of 2012, but he might start his first full pro season in high Class A. He profiles as an offensive second baseman, albeit not as talented as Howie Kendrick, who's signed through 2015.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #124 prospect in 2012 draft
  Yarbrough hopes to join a parade of Mississippi infielders who have reached the majors in recent years, from Matt Tolbert to Cam Coghlan to Zach Cozart. He's closer to Coghlan as an offense-first infielder with modest athleticism and excellent hands, and he's hit his way into consideration for the first five rounds. His hands play on both sides of the ball; Yarbrough has excellent bat control and manipulates the barrel well. He has natural hand-eye coordination and a patient approach that helped him hit .389 through mid-May in Southeastern Conference play, second-best in the conference. Coaches consider him a calming presence defensively. He doesn't get to a ton of groundballs but makes the plays on balls he gets to, with no errors in league play and just two overall. He also showed solid pop in the Cape Cod League last summer, ranking second on Cotuit behind Victor Roache in home runs and doubles, and figures to hit his share of doubles. Yarbrough's arm strength is sufficient for second base and turning the double play; he's a fringy to below-average runner. He'll have to hit to be a regular, but plenty of scouts think he'll do just that.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Texas League #14 prospect in 2014
  Yarbrough earned Texas League MVP honors after leading the circuit in hits (154) and doubles (38) and placing second in RBIs (77). Though he has a better stroke from the left side, Yarbrough can barrel balls consistently from either side of the plate. He's a hard-worker who takes his craft seriously and drew raves around the league for his ability to drive the ball to any part of the ballpark. He's got mostly gap power but can put a charge into a ball over the plate. He would get more pitches to hit with a more disciplined approach, but he struck out 21 percent of the time. He would often work counts, only to be lured by a pitch in the dirt. Yarbrough's bat, however, is his only above-average tool. He lacks foot speed and range at second base, but his hands work fine and he fields what he can reach. His arm is average at best but serviceable. He's a below-average runner on the bases. "He doesn't blow you away," Springfield manager Mike Shildt said, "but he's the kind of guy you win with."
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  Ranked California League #9 prospect in 2013
  Yarbrough?s pure hitting ability stood out as much as anyone in the league. Playing his first full pro season in high Class A, Yarbrough was Inland Empire?s most consistent hitter, finishing fifth in the league batting race at .313 and first in the minors with 182 hits. His swing keeps the bat in the zone a long time and he?s comfortable hitting in any count. Some scouts would like to see him draw more walks, but he?s a good situational hitter and maintains a gap-to-gap approach. He won?t hit a lot of homers, but he does have enough pop in his bat to make pitchers pay for mistakes. Yarbrough?s defense is solid if unspectacular. He?s a reliable defender, leading all league second baseman with a .982 fielding percentage after making just 10 errors in 127 games. His arm works at the keystone and he does a nice job turning double plays, but he?s not especially athletic or fleet afoot. As one manager put it, he?s more quick than fast. He?s an intelligent baserunner who does the little things, like taking extra bases when possible and getting good secondary leads.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The Angels system is littered with free swingers, so it was notable that the first position player drafted under GM Jerry Dipoto has the patient approach the organization is trying to emphasize. After hitting .380 as a Mississippi junior, Yarbrough went in the fourth round in June and signed for $302,800. Scouting Report: Yarbrough's barrel stays in the hitting zone a long time and he has excellent hands at the plate, which results in a high contact rate. He showed modest pop in college and didn't homer in 63 pro games, so he'll have to get stronger. He likes to use the opposite field, even on inside pitches, and some scouts are concerned that his lack of bat speed could get exposed at upper levels against good fastballs on the inner half. Yarbrough is a modest athlete and there's nothing flashy about his defense. He's a fringy runner who doesn't have great range or arm strength, but his hands are clean and he's reliable on the balls he reaches. He needs to improve his double-play pivot but he shows aptitude for receiving instruction. The Future: Yarbrough reached Double-A at the end of 2012, but he might start his first full pro season in high Class A. He profiles as an offensive second baseman, albeit not as talented as Howie Kendrick, who's signed through 2015.