Curtis Granderson Stats & Scouting Report

AB	7236
AVG	.249
OBP	.337
SLG	.465
HR	344

Full name Curtis Granderson
Born 03/16/1981 in Blue Island, IL
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Illinois-Chicago
Debut 09/13/2004
Drafted in the 3rd round (80th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2002 (signed for $469,000).

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Granderson contended for the NCAA Division I batting title all season long, leading Illinois-Chicago to a school record for victories and its first-ever conference title. He doesn't have a major weakness or strength. His bat is his best tool, but it projects as more solid than spectacular, and he's a good all-around athlete with an above-average arm and average speed. Some scouts don't like his power potential, while others do. He has closed holes in his swing and quickened his bat this spring. He'll likely be selected in the third or fourth round.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Granderson proved he could hit in 2002. He finished second in the NCAA Division I batting race with a .483 average, trailing only Rickie Weeks (.495)--who would become the No. 2 overall pick the following year. After signing for $469,000 as a third-round pick, Granderson again finished runner-up for a hitting crown, this time with a .344 average in the short-season New York-Penn League. But for all his hitting ability, scouts weren't impressed by the rest of his game. Though he skipped a level and had a solid if unspectacular performance at high Class A Lakeland in 2003, he still didn't win scouts over. Even some Tigers officials began to lose faith in him. But Granderson quickly gained believers with his breakout year at Double-A Erie in 2004. He ranked fourth in RBIs and eighth in batting in the Eastern League, and his other tools all seemed to climb a notch. His September callup made him the first Illinois-Chicago player to reach the majors. Granderson is a classic line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter. He has a quick and compact batting stroke, a good grasp of the strike zone and identifies pitches early. He made an adjustment to become more selective upon reaching Double-A, as reflected in his career-best 80 walks. His gap-hitting approach seems tailor-made for Detroit's spacious Comerica Park. Once labeled as a corner outfielder who wouldn't have enough power to play every day in the majors, Granderson nearly doubled his previous career high in homers and made defensive strides in center field. He gets good jumps and takes correct routes to the ball. His range is average for center and above average on the corners. Granderson's arm is accurate, and he's a smart player who throws to the right base. His makeup and work habits are outstanding, as evidenced by his decision to complete his college degree after signing as a junior. He shows the potential to be a clubhouse leader if he continues to perform on the field. Granderson isn't going to produce big-time power. He benefited from playing his home games at Erie's cozy Jerry Uht Park, though 13 of his 21 homers and 27 of his 48 extra-base hits came on the road. Another rap on Granderson was that many scouts considered him a fringe-average runner who lacked the speed of a true center fielder. Now there are just as many scouts who say that knock is overstated, however, and that his speed may actually rate a tick above average. If the Tigers had decided to nontender Alex Sanchez, Granderson would have been the frontrunner to take over in center field. But Detroit re-signed Sanchez for one year, allowing Granderson to begin 2005 at Triple-A Toledo. He still could push for Sanchez' job by midseason.
Granderson finished runner-up in the NCAA Division I (.483) and New York-Penn League (.344) batting races in 2002. After continuing to impress during spring training last year, he skipped a level and jumped to high Class A. Though his numbers weren't as good, he maintained his consistency against significantly better competition. Granderson has no trouble hitting for average with his short stroke, ability to make contact and willingness to use all fields. He has no glaring weakness in his game. He has gap power, runs OK and can play all three outfield positions. Though Granderson doesn't have any big holes, his only standout tool is his hitting. He's not a big home run or stolen base threat, and he fits best in left field, where he'll have to do more than hit for average. Because he puts the bat on the ball with ease, he doesn't draw a lot of walks and doesn't always wait for the best pitch to hit. Granderson will advance to Double-A in 2004 and could reach Detroit sometime next year. It remains to be seen whether he'll be a solid big league regular or just a good fourth outfielder.
After finishing second in NCAA Division I in hitting with a .483 batting average at Illinois-Chicago, Granderson did the same in the short-season New York-Penn League. He finished runner-up with a .344 average and won league MVP honors. Granderson has a quick, compact batting stroke and drives the ball hard from gap to gap. He has yet to flash a lot of power, but organization officials see that coming. The Tigers love Granderson's makeup. He's a hard worker and a team player. He's neither very fast nor very athletic, and his arm strength is ordinary. Detroit envisions him as a left fielder, and to get there he'll have to continue to hit and develop more pop. He'll begin 2003 in low Class A, where West Michigan's Fifth Third Ballpark will provide a stern test.

Minor League Top Prospects

Granderson was a key part of Double-A Erie's run to the postseason in 2004, and this year he helped lead Toledo to its first IL championship in 36 years. Not only does he have solid tools across the board, but they grade better now than they did when he signed as a third-round pick in 2002. The first University of Illinois-Chicago product to reach the majors, Granderson offers both power and speed. After working with Erie hitting coach Pete Incaviglia, Granderson made adjustments with his hands, starting them back further to get a bigger load. More consistent hard contact and a jump in power numbers came as a result. While Granderson has hit 36 homers in the last two seasons compared to 14 in his first two years as a pro, he has sacrificed some selectivity at the plate for that pop. With solid range and arm strength, he can handle any of the three outfield spots.
Granderson and Wright were the two most dynamic players in the league. Granderson also has outstanding makeup. He showed he is capable of manning center field. He is not a burner, but rates as a 60 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale, and his speed plays well in the outfield. He gets good jumps and reads balls off the bat well. His arm is average. He worked with hitting coach Pete Incaviglia to change his hand position at the plate, which made his swing more consistent as well as more powerful.
Granderson set several school records at Illinois-Chicago last spring, including a .483 average that ranked second in NCAA Division I to Southern's Rickie Weeks, a possible No. 1 overall pick for the 2003 draft. Granderson continued to hit as a pro, as some managers thought he had the best bat in the league. "I really like him, probably as much as anyone in the league," Shelton said. "He has a great feel for the strike zone and he puts the ball in play. He's not afraid to hit deep in counts." Some scouts project Granderson as a fourth outfielder because he doesn't have the quality speed to play center field or the true power to hold down a corner. He has fairly solid tools across the board, with no significant strength or weakness.