Devon Torrence Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Devon M. Torrence
Born 05/08/1989 in Canton, OH
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School Ohio State
Drafted in the 16th round (501st overall) by the Houston Astros in 2007 (signed for $123,000).

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Devon Torrence is one of the nation's top defensive back recruits and has a football scholarship from Ohio State, but he may be signable if he goes as high as the third to fifth round. He's a 6-foot-1, 190-pounder with 4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash, and there's no question he's the best Ohio athlete in this draft. His football instincts are ahead of his baseball instincts, though he did hit 14 homers as sophomore two years ago. He has gotten homer-happy since and will need to refine his approach. While he'll need time to develop, his only below-average tool is his arm. Torrence's younger brother Devoe, who already has verbally committed to the Buckeyes, is a premier running back prospects in the 2008 high school class.

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Torrence has spent this fall as a reserve wide receiver and punt returner for Ohio State. While Ohio State was marching toward the national championship game, Torrence was calling farm director Ricky Bennett and area scout Nick Venuto, asking about a baseball training regimen and the organization's plans for him this summer. After falling to the 16th round of the 2007 draft because of his commitment to the Buckeyes, Torrence turned pro in baseball for $123,000. He emerged as a baseball prospect when he hit 14 homers as a high school sophomore, though that has led him to sell out for power ever since. He'll have to overhaul his approach after striking out 48 times in 87 at-bats in his pro debut. The best athlete in the system, he has well-above-average speed but still is learning to use it on the diamond. He's definitely quick enough to play center, though he'll have to improve his reads and jumps. His arm is below-average. When he rejoins the Astros in mid-2008, he'll head to either Rookie-level Greeneville or to Lexington.