Nolan Reimold Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1378
AVG	.246
OBP	.323
SLG	.422
HR	56

Full name Nolan G. Reimold
Born 10/12/1983 in Greenville, PA
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Bowling Green State
Debut 05/14/2009
Drafted in the 2nd round (61st overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2005 (signed for $590,000).

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OF Nolan Reimold, who ranks second in NCAA Division I in slugging (.770) and eighth in homers (20), has ridden a roller coaster in the two months before the draft. He seemed certain to be a third- to fifth-round pick as a power-hitting collegian, then went into a slump that dropped him more into sixth- to 10th-round territory. Once he stopped gearing his swing to hit homers to impress crosscheckers and scouting directors, he let his power come naturally, surged again and regained his previous status. The Mid-American Conference player of the year, Reimold is more than just a one-dimensional masher. He runs well for his size (6-foot-4, 205 pounds), has a right-field arm and has solid tools across the board.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

After two injury-marred seasons, Reimold went back to Double-A Bowie, stayed healthy and got himself back on track. His 25 home runs tied for second in the Eastern League, and he was among the league leaders in slugging (.501) and OPS (.868) as well. Reimold has the raw power to compare with just about anyone's in the minors, rating a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He crushes mistakes and should be an average overall hitter if he continues to make adjustments and shows the ability to consistently handle secondary pitches. He's athletic and has average speed and a plus arm. He's a big guy with long levers and an unconventional setup who is starting to figure out his swing, though Reimold realistically is a one-zone hitter who always will strike out a lot. He can be too patient at times and wants to do too much at others. He's not an instinctive defender and doesn't always take great routes, so he fits best in left field, especially with Nick Markakis ahead of him. Reimold's strong season will earn him a spot on the Orioles' 40-man roster and a look in left field in spring training. The Orioles could use his power, but they have seen that rushing players to the big leagues has not served them well in recent years, so some Triple-A at-bats probably would be a better idea.
Reimold has been the Orioles' best power prospect from the time he signed out of the 2005 draft, but he has battled nagging injuries that have slowed his progress in the last couple of years. It was foot and back injuries in 2006, then a strained oblique last year. He got 106 at-bats in the Arizona Fall League to make up some of his lost time. The injuries haven't dented Reimold's power, as he hit 17 home runs between Double-A and the AFL in just 292 at-bats. His bat speed and the leverage in his swing allow him to drive the ball out to any part of the park, and he should be a good hitter for average as well. He has the best outfield arm in the system, average speed and enough athleticism to play right field. The most important thing for Reimold is to stay healthy and get at-bats. He's now 24 and has just 186 at-bats in Double-A, so he needs to get moving. He still has holes in his swing that more advanced pitchers can exploit. The Orioles are anxious for Reimold to move through the upper levels of the system. He'll probably start the season back in Double-A, but if he plays well he could become a big league option quickly.
Reimold bashed his way into the second round of the draft with an NCAA Division I-best .770 slugging percentage and had a huge pro debut in 2005. He followed that with a solid season in 2006 in spite of nagging foot and back injuries that bothered him early in the year. From the moment he signed, Reimold became the organization's best power prospect. He improved his pitch selection and wasn't so pull-happy by the end of the 2006 season, finding balls to drive and not just making contact. He's learning that he can hit the fastball away out of the park, just as he can the fastball in. The Orioles say he's athletic enough to play anywhere in the outfield but profiles best as a right fielder. Scouts who aren't as high on Reimold say he'll end up at first base, and they question how much his power will play in the big leagues. He has hit just .255 in high Class A, and the pitching is only going to get tougher at higher levels. His back injury made him timid for a time in the middle of the season, but he looked fine by the end. Questions about Reimold's athleticism aren't as important as the development of his bat. It's unlikely he'll move Nick Markakis out of right field, but Baltimore is desperate for power and will find a place for him when his bat is ready. He'll open 2007 at Double-A Bowie.
Though he was the Mid-American Conference player of the year and led NCAA Division I with a .770 slugging percentage, Reimold had an upand- down spring that had scouts split on his value. Orioles scouts saw him early and loved him, and he sealed the deal in a predraft workout at Camden Yards. He rated as the top prospect in the short-season New York-Penn League. Reimold instantly became the Orioles' best power prospect, but he showed a surprisingly well-rounded game. He's an above-average hitter who can drive good fastballs, and he runs well enough to play anywhere in the outfield. His plus arm and offensive profile fit best in right field. Reimold just needs experience. He has huge holes in his strike zone, at times taking too many pitches and other times getting impatient and hacking. He also needs to adjust to offspeed pitches. He fits the prototype for the hitters new scouting director Joe Jordan wants to bring in--athletes with size, speed and a passion for baseball. He'll open the season back in high Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

Reimold missed the better part of the season with an oblique strain, costing him valuable development time. When healthy, however, he showed more complete tools and athletic ability than fellow sluggers Larish and Costanzo. Like that duo, Reimold has to show he can make consistent contact, and his lesser feel for hitting makes him further from reaching his ceiling. While he has played primarily center and right field in the minors, his tools fit best in left, especially his fringe-average arm. He runs well for his size, but his future will come down to how he hits. "He got better hitting breaking balls this year, better at laying off," Figueroa said. "He made a little more contact. He still chases a lot, but when he gets it, man, it goes. He would have been in the big leagues this year if he'd stayed healthy."
After helping Frederick win the 2005 league title at the conclusion of his pro debut, Reimold returned to the Keys and drew split opinions among scouts. Some viewed him as a true five-tool player, while others saw him as nothing more than a fourth outfielder. Reimold's two best tools--his power and his speed--both grade as 65 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He can get a little too pull-conscious at times, but he does have a good knowledge of the strike zone. He's an average right fielder with a strong, accurate arm. Those not sold on Reimold think he'll lose speed as he gets older and will have to move first base. They recognize his power, but say he has an uppercut swing that leaves him with holes that more advanced pitchers will exploit.
Reimold slumped this spring at Bowling Green when he tried too hard to impress scouts. But once he relaxed, he led NCAA Division I in slugging percentage (.770), went in the second round to the Orioles and proved himself to be a five-tool player in the NY-P. At 6-foot-4 and 207 pounds, it's no surprise that Reimold has plus power. But he also ran better than expected, showing above-average speed and moving from right field to center. He had no problem making the jump to the high Class A Carolina League, where he homered six times in 23 games. "There is no doubt he can hit," Tri-City manager Gregg Langbehn said. "And he made some great plays defensively and he has an above-average arm."