Ty Linton Stats & Scouting Report

AB	420
AVG	.233
OBP	.285
SLG	.367
HR	10

Full name Tyler James Linton
Born 01/17/1991 in Scottsdale, AZ
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Charlotte Christian
Drafted in the 14th round (421st overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010 (signed for $1,250,000).

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Linton is both a football and baseball recruit for North Carolina, signed to a football scholarship but needed by a baseball program woefully short on his best tool--righthanded power. Strong and physical at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Linton was an all-state linebacker known for jarring hits in football and would likely play safety for the Tar Heels' football team. He has run 60 yards in 6.5 seconds. Linton's arm rates as average, and he's athletic enough to fit the right-field profile. The biggest questions are with his hitting ability and his signability. Buying him out of his college commitment likely will require a seven-figure signing bonus, and scouts aren't convinced his bat is worthy of such a commitment. Linton's offensive approach remains raw, and at times he's a front-foot hitter who jumps at the ball and doesn't trust his hands. He has struggled at times against modest high school competition, flailing at breaking balls well below the quality he'd see even in Rookie ball. It takes only one team, though, to believe in his raw ability and sign him away from North Carolina.

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The Diamondbacks swayed Linton from a North Carolina football scholarship to play safety just before the 2010 signing deadline with a $1.25 million bonus, knowing he was an extremely raw if talented athlete. He got just one plate appearance at Rookie-level Missoula that summer, then returned there in 2011 after beginning the year in extended spring training. He missed nearly half of the schedule with a variety of minor injuries, making it a frustrating season and difficult to evaluate his progress. Linton had a reputation for hitting off his front foot in high school, but he did a better job of staying back and driving the ball with authority in his first real taste of pro ball. However, he swung and missed too frequently, striking out in 36 percent of his plate appearances. His bat speed, raw power and foot speed all rate as above average, though it remains to be seen if he can maximize them. Linton may lack the arm strength to play anywhere but left field, so he'll have to hit. One scout commented that he still looks like a football player learning to play baseball. At this point, his main concern is to get at-bats against higher-tier pitching. Linton still isn't ready for full-season ball, so he'll open 2012 in extended spring training and report to short-season Yakima in June.
After the Diamondbacks withdrew their offer to first-round pick Barret Loux last summer due to concerns with his shoulder and elbow, they pursued two later picks with the extra money. They were unsuccessful in steer-ing lefthander Kevin Ziomek away from Vanderbilt but signed Linton for $1.25 million at the Aug. 16 deadline, after he had already started football practice at North Carolina. He's extremely athletic and is an above-aver-age runner, with plus bat speed and raw power. He draws Matt Holliday comparisons for his physicality. The Diamondbacks still aren't sure exactly what kind of player they're getting because, as a two-sport athlete, Linton never dedicated himself completely to baseball. It was obvious in instructional league that he was still in football shape. The big question mark with Linton is his swing, as some scouts saw him as a front-foot hitter in high school. During instructional league, coaches worked with him to improve the rhythm of this swing in order to get the lower half and the upper half working together. His arm strength has already improved, from below-average when he signed to average in instructional league. He profiles as a corner outfielder and is learning the nuances of defensive play as well. Linton will start the year in extended spring training before heading to one of the Diamondbacks' short-season teams for his official pro debut.