Andre Ethier Stats & Scouting Report

AB	4800
AVG	.285
OBP	.359
SLG	.463
HR	162

Full name Andre Everett Ethier
Born 04/10/1982 in Phoenix, AZ
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Arizona State
Debut 05/02/2006
Drafted in the 2nd round (62nd overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2003 (signed for $580,000).

View Draft Report

Ethier projects as a third- or fourth-round pick, but a team that saw him on the right day or values on-base percentage could bump him up to the second round. The Yankees, for one, have been on the 6-foot-3, 175-pound right fielder all season. Ethier works counts well, resulting in a 2-1 walk-strikeout ratio. He will have to fill out his slight frame for his other tools to mature; once they do, he could become a Shawn Green kind of player. A solid contact hitter now, his power will come down the road. He has good outfield instincts with an accurate arm, but will be limited to a corner position because below-average speed prevents him from playing center field.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Ethier was having a breakout season in 2004 when a stress fracture in his back cut him down in July. He spent the offseason working on his conditioning and earned Double-A Texas League MVP honors in 2005. He hit .361-9-39 in the first two months before pitchers stopped throwing him strikes. A gifted hitter, Ethier has simple swing mechanics, getting the bat into the zone quickly and keeping it there for a long time. He has average power, and he's a good corner outfielder with a solid arm. One of the keys to his breakout season was a change in attitude. Once considered a hothead who was easily flustered, he showed a more mature approach and consistent effort in 2005. He also won an award for his sportsmanship in the Arizona Fall League. Ethier doesn't have the speed to play center field and may not have the power teams desire from an everyday corner outfielder. He can become enamored with his power at times, causing him to overswing. A walk machine in college, Ethier has yet to show the same plate discipline as a pro. There's no clear opening for Ethier in a crowded Oakland outfield, so he likely will spend the majority of 2006 in Triple-A. Coming off a career year, he also could be useful as trade bait.
Until a stress fracture in his back shut him down at the end of July, Ethier ranked among the California League leaders in batting and hits during his first full pro season. The A's drafted him twice for his batting prowess, in the 37th round out of Chandler-Gilbert (Ariz.) CC in 2001 and in the second round out of Arizona State two years later. Ethier uses the entire field and should continue to hit for average. He has yet to show much power in games, but club officials and most scouts still see him hitting 20-plus homers annually once he learns how to drive the ball. While he drew 52 walks in 68 games in his final year at Arizona State, he has yet to show that kind of discipline as a pro. Ethier has average speed and fine outfield instincts, but he's not quick enough to play center field in the majors and his arm is a tick below average. He takes well to coaching, works hard and is driven to succeed. Ethier's back injury is not expected to have any long-term effects, and he'll advance to Double-A to begin 2005.
The A's drafted Ethier in the 37th round out of Chandler-Gilbert (Ariz.) Community College in 2001 and signed him out of Arizona State as a second-round pick two years later. In between, he earned all-Pacific-10 Conference honors in both years with the Sun Devils and finished his college career with a 23-game hitting streak. Ethier has tremendous hand-eye coordination, the basic natural ability that can make for a great hitter. Some scouts say he could compare with Shawn Green once he fills out. He has the patience at the plate that Oakland likes. He also has average speed and arm strength, and his excellent instincts allow him to play all three outfield positions. He's highly motivated. Ethier has a tendency to guide the ball with the bat, slightly pulling off rather than attacking it. He made outstanding progress learning to drive pitches in instructional league. He doesn't cover a lot of ground for a center fielder and might fit best in left. Ethier is ticketed for high Class A, and Oakland is eager to see what develops. Some club officials say he has the highest ceiling among their farmhands.

Minor League Top Prospects

The Athletics may have ended up with two of the better hitters from the 2003 draft in Barton, a first-rounder acquired from the Cardinals, and Ethier, a second-rounder. Ethier broke out in 2005, winning the league's player-of-the-year award while finishing first in runs and third in batting. Observers praised his quiet approach at the plate, where he's short to the ball and hits to all fields, earning comparisons to Shawn Green and Garret Anderson. "He never gets fooled, is never out in front, never gets jammed," one scout said. Scouts expect the muscular Ethier to be good for at least 15-20 home runs a year, and possibly 20-30. He's an above-average defensive outfielder and gets good reads on balls. He has enough arm for right field, but managers were divided over left or right as his best long-term position. "If he stays with the line-drive approach, he will be a great big leaguer," Midland manager Von Hayes said. "He gets into trouble when he starts trying to hit home runs."