Scott Hairston Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2431
AVG	.242
OBP	.296
SLG	.442
HR	106

Full name Scott Alexander Hairston
Born 05/25/1980 in Fort Worth, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Central Arizona College
Debut 05/07/2004
Drafted in the 3rd round (98th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001 (signed for $400,000).

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Hairston is the son of former big leaguer Jerry and represents the latest in a long line of family members who have enjoyed success in baseball. His brother Jerry Jr. starts at second base for the Orioles. Scott was rated the best prospect at last year's National Baseball Congress World Series as he led Liberal (Kansas) to the title, and he was ranked the top junior college player in the country at the start of the year. He lived up to the hype by hitting .503-18-77 while becoming the first player to win the Arizona junior college triple crown. Balls jump off Hairston's bat, but he's limited to second base or left field because of a below-average arm.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Hairston's baseball pedigree is unquestioned. His grandfather Sammy spent most of his career in the Negro Leagues before getting five at-bats in 1951 for the White Sox, the same team for which Hairston's father Jerry played 14 seasons. His uncle John got four at-bats for the 1969 Reds. Brother Jerry Jr. took over as the Orioles' second baseman in 2001. Scott shows the potential to become the best of the lot. He won the Arizona junior college triple crown in 2001 and tied for the minor league lead with 73 extra base hits in his first full season in 2002. But like his brother, Hairston spent a significant part of 2003 on the disabled list. He pulled a muscle in his back while swinging the bat and tried to play through it. After a month of posting subpar numbers and further aggravating his back, Hairston missed six weeks. MRI exams showed nothing more than muscular damage, so the back problems aren't likely to recur. He took a month off after the regular season ended before reporting to the Arizona Fall League, where he proved there were no lingering effects by hitting .365-3-13. A majority of scouts would agree Hairston's bat is ready for the majors now and gives him all-star potential as a second baseman. He demonstrates a quiet, balanced approach at the plate and stays on top of and inside the ball well with a short, compact stroke. Hairston's excellent bat speed also allows him to generate plus power. Hairston's total package at the plate could result in Jeff Kent-like production. He runs well enough to reach double-digits in steals, but won't be the threat on the bases that his brother is. The Kent comparisons that follow Hairston are based on his offense and defense. Hairston has trouble making the pivot on double plays and isn't comfortable throwing from different angles. He has worked on his defense in the AFL the last two seasons, and while he has made progress he also boots routine plays. While Hairston's hands, range and arm are average, most scouts project his future at third base or the outfield. Hairston often is one of the first players at the ballpark, but he spends most of that extra time in the batting cage. Some in the organization wonder where he'd be defensively if he spent more time working to improve his weaknesses. Hairston isn't shy about watching home runs or aggressive in charging down the baseline on routine outs. His plate discipline slipped in 2003, but his back problems may have been a contributing factor. Even after being slowed by injury, Hairston isn't far away from challenging for a major league spot. The Diamondbacks' signing of free agent Roberto Alomar ended any chance he had of grabbing the Arizona second-base job out of spring training. So he'll begin 2004 at Triple-A Tucson and likely spend the whole year there, with a September callup possible.
Hairston wasn't born with a bat in his hand--but he could have been. His baseball gene is as dominant as that of any Bell or Boone in the game. Hairston's grandfather Sam was a fixture in the Negro Leagues before getting a taste of the majors in 1951. His father Jerry Sr. was a 14-year major leaguer who managed the White Sox' Rookie-level Arizona League affiliate in 2002. His uncle John got four big league at-bats in 1969, while his brother Jerry Jr. starts at second base for the Orioles. Scott has the tools to surpass all of them. He won the Arizona junior college triple crown in 2001, then tied for the minor league lead with 73 extra-base hits and topped the Midwest League with a .426 on-base percentage in his first full pro season. One MWL manager compared him to Gary Sheffield. Hairston is a strong, solidly built athlete with the physique of a running back. With a short, compact stroke, he can turn around any fastball and drive pitches to all parts of the ballpark. When pitchers stopped throwing him strikes at low Class A South Bend, he adjusted and took walks. Hairston has a good eye and above-average speed. While he is not the basestealing threat his brother is, he could swipe 10-15 bases a season. He's out of the Jeff Kent mold, a power-first second baseman made even more valuable because of the exceptional wallop he provides for his position. Hairston spent at least four days a week in the Arizona Fall League working on his defense, especially on turning the double play. He has the tools for second base--quick hands, good range, adequate arm--but most who saw him in the Midwest League projected him as a left fielder. One scout who covered the league said he didn't see Hairston put any effort into his defense, let alone run out a grounder, but the Diamondbacks don't have any questions about his makeup. They also don't doubt he'll be able to stay at second base. After tearing up three levels in two seasons, Hairston will continue his ascent at Double-A El Paso this year. If he continues his fast progress, he could reach Triple-A Tucson by the end of the season. Arizona incumbent Junior Spivey was a 2002 all-star, but the Diamondbacks will get both in the lineup when the time comes by moving one to the outfield.
Four of Hairston's relatives have played in the majors: grandfather Sam, father Jerry, uncle John and brother Jerry Jr., who's Baltimore's second baseman. He won Arizona's junior college triple crown and was Baseball America's junior college player of the year after hitting .503-18- 77 last spring. He recovered from a slow start to compete with teammate Jesus Cota for the Rookie-level Pioneer League triple crown. Hairston's deep baseball bloodlines are evident in his approach to the game. He positions himself well in the field and shows outstanding instincts on the bases. He has a chance to be a productive offensive player because he generates power with excellent bat speed, giving balls extra carry. Questions about Hairston's defense kept him from going higher in the draft. His arm is below-average and he's not polished with the glove. He could improve because like his brother he shows athleticism, soft hands and range to both sides. Hairston had one of the best debuts in the draft class of 2001. As a result, the Diamondbacks will jump him to high Class A and he could reach Double-A before the end of his first full season.

Minor League Top Prospects

Hairston didn't make a strong impression on TL managers this season, but that was more because of his health than to his performance on the field. The Diamondbacks' top prospect coming into the season, he was batting .309 and had hit in 19 of 20 games when he went down at the end of May with a back injury. He had surgery on a bulging disk and didn't return until July 10, when a Cohen Stadium-record crowd of 11,147 fans turned out. Of course, they also may have been interested in the starter that night: Randy Johnson. "Anytime a player has an injury for the first time of that magnitude, it's tough," El Paso manager Scott Coolbaugh said. "He's done a good job here at the end of the year." When healthy, Hairston still profiles as an offensive second baseman with pop and good wheels. He looked more comfortable at second base this year and played every game there when he wasn't DHing, in spite of talk he might eventually move to the outfield.
Hairston was the best of a talented group of MWL second basemen that also featured Peoria's Shaun Boyd, Fort Wayne's Josh Barfield and Burlington's Ruben Gotay. He was even better following a promotion to the high Class A California League, where he hit .405-6-26 in 18 games. There are no questions about Hairston's offense. The ball jumps off his bat to both gaps, and he controls the strike zone, leading the league with a .426 on-base percentage. He tied for the minor league high with 73 extra-base hits and reminded West Michigan manager Phil Regan of Gary Sheffield. Hairston's makeup and glove also were reminiscent of Sheffield, and that's not a compliment. One scout said he never saw him run out a grounder or put any effort into defense. Most observers didn't think he could handle the middle infield, and his arm may not be strong enough for third base, so he could wind up in left field.
Missoula featured the league's best one-two punch in Cota and Hairston, who overcame a slow start to top the league in runs, place second in hits and RBIs, and rank third in triples, homers, extra-base hits (36) and slugging percentage (.588). The brother of Orioles second baseman Jerry Hairston, Sam is an offensive second baseman who also spent some time in the outfield in junior college, where he led the nation with a .503 average in the spring. His defensive progress this summer was encouraging, but some managers believe he may have to move to the outfield. An excellent fastball hitter, Hairston has power to all fields and the ball jumps off his bat. He has a tendency to try to do too much with his body while swinging, which slows down his hands. Nevertheless, with his combination of pop and good speed, he has a promising future. "I like the way he plays the game more than anything else," Carey said. "He's a hard-nosed player who plays the game aggressively. He's a gamer with outstanding pop in his bat for a second baseman. He has a chance to move quickly."