Richard Lewis Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2756
AVG	.258
OBP	.323
SLG	.363
HR	35

Full name Richard Hammond Lewis
Born 06/29/1980 in Marietta, GA
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Georgia Tech
Drafted in the C round (40th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2001 (signed for $850,000).

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While Teixeira was sidelined, Lewis was the glue that held the Georgia Tech offense together. He moved to shortstop from second base, allowing the Yellow Jackets to get a better bat in the lineup, and emerged as the team's best all-around hitter. His hands are his best tool, giving him bat speed on offense and reliability and a quick pivot on defense. He's intelligent and runs well, and he could develop more power as he matures. Lewis probably lacks the arm to play shortstop as a pro, but he should be an above-average second baseman, both offensively and defensively.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Another supplemental first-round pick out of Georgia Tech, Lewis hit just .255 in his first three seasons in the Atlanta system. He gave reason for optimism when he won the Arizona Fall League batting title with a .404 average in 2003, but when the Braves had a chance to acquire Juan Cruz from the Cubs last spring, they included Lewis in the trade. Chicago also received lefthander Andy Pratt, considered a better prospect at the time, but Pratt experienced control problems in 2004 while Lewis won the Southern League MVP. The only negative came when he was promoted to Triple-A and broke his right leg sliding into second base. Lewis doesn't have a standout tool, but he's a baseball rat with solid all-around skills. Though he still strikes out too much, he matured at the plate last season, hitting for average with more gap power than expected. With his plus speed, he can steal more than the 11 bases he swiped in 2004. Lewis has sure hands, committing just four errors in 129 games last year, and hangs in well on the double play. He was so aggressive rehabbing his leg this offseason that Chicago had to tell him to slow down. The initial expectation was that he'd miss the first month of the season, but he might be ready for Opening Day. If he can carry his success to Triple-A , Lewis will challenge Todd Walker for the Cubs' second-base job in 2006.
Second base has been a revolving door in Atlanta since the retirement of Mark Lemke. Veterans Quilvio Veras and Bret Boone were acquired and discarded, youngster Marcus Giles and Mark DeRosa have been inconsistent, and Keith Lockhart has been nothing more than a stopgap. Lewis could become the long-term answer. The unspectacular Lewis is a Bobby Cox type of player, a steady performer who plays solid defense and does the little things necessary to win. The 40th overall pick in the 2001 draft after playing multiple infield positions at Georgia Tech, Lewis has settled at second base as a pro. He has good range and a strong arm for the position. He looks a little stiff on plays to his right, yet turns the double play well and was the most surehanded second baseman in the Carolina League last year, committing eight errors in 124 games. An excellent baserunner with surprising speed that helped him swipe 31 bags in 41 attempts, Lewis has solid gap power and continues to incorporate more power in his game. He needs to get stronger but should be a consistent No. 2, 7 or 8 hitter with the ability to bunt and hit-and-run. He's scheduled to begin 2003 in Double-A and could reach Atlanta sometime during the next two seasons.
A supplemental first-rounder taken 40th overall last June, Lewis was the Braves' highestdrafted college player since they took Mike Kelly with the No. 2 overall pick in 1991. He was the starting second baseman on Team USA's college squad in 2000 and played three years at Georgia Tech, where he held the Yellow Jackets' offense together as a junior while superstar Mark Teixeira was injured. Lewis then held his own in the New York-Penn League before blossoming during instructional league, where his fielding and hitting discipline improved. He has excellent bat speed and quick hands at the plate and in the field. He saw extensive activity at shortstop in college last spring, has a good arm and shows above-average footwork, which allows him to make the double-play pivot with ease. Lewis is also considered a potential offensive contributor who could produce line drives while hitting second or in the bottom third of the batting order. He must make more contact and employ better strikezone judgment. Atlanta believes his instructional league performance could enable Lewis to skip low Class A with a strong spring.

Minor League Top Prospects

Lewis was part of a two-prospect middle infield at Myrtle Beach with Kelly Johnson. They were supplemental first-round picks in consecutive drafts, Johnson in 2000 and Lewis in 2001. Lewis outplayed Frederick second baseman Mike Fontenot, the 19th overall pick in last year's draft. Lewis showed a better all-around game, though there's still room for improvement. His biggest need is to get stronger at the plate. While one manager thought Lewis was stiff defensively, he made just eight errors in 124 games and most skippers liked his glove. "He's a prototypical second baseman," Cole said. "He knows how to play the game, he can handle the bat and I think he will develop some power. To me, he's solid defensively."