Brian Stavisky
| AB | 2811 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .302 |
| OBP | .396 |
| SLG | .468 |
| HR | 78 |
- Full name Brian Scott Stavisky
- Born 07/06/1980 in Olean, NY
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Notre Dame
-
Drafted in the 6th round (188th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2002.
View Draft Report
OF Brian Stavisky was projected to go in the top five rounds last year as a draft-eligible sophomore after a standout performance in the Cape Cod League. Signability questions and a lack of consistent power caused him to slide to the Cubs in the 33rd round, and he returned for his junior season. He has good raw power from the left side with outstanding bat speed. He's a polished all-around hitter with a strong frame, but his arm rates as a 20 on the 20-80 scouting scale, even in left field. Stavisky missed significant time this year when he strained a shoulder sliding into third base and was hit in the face by a pitch. It forced him to play with a face guard the rest of the season, though he showed no ill effects as he hit .429.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
Stavisky starred at Notre Dame and hit a game-winning homer to eliminate Rice in the 2002 College World Series. He has put together a solid pro career so far, winning high Class A California League MVP honors in 2004 and finishing third in the Texas League in RBIs and on-base percentage last season. Stavisky has excellent pitch recognition and a good feel for contact to go along with average power. He's maniacal in his preparation and a leader in the clubhouse, with some pointing to him as the key influence in Andre Ethier's turnaround. Stavisky isn't athletic, so his on-field value consists entirely of what he can provide with the bat. He's a poor runner and very stiff mechanically. While he hits the ball hard consistently, he has never learned to add loft to his swing, limiting his home run power. He has made some strides in the outfield, but is still well below average and has an arm that rates a 20 on the 20-80 scouting scale. The A's believe his offense alone can get him to the majors, and they'll send him to Triple-A this year. -
The A's drafted not one but two outfielders off Notre Dame's 2002 College World Series team. Stavisky, who hit a dramatic walkoff homer to beat Rice in the second round of the CWS, finished second to Fighting Irish teammate Steve Stanley (Oakland's second-round pick) in the 2000 Cape Cod League batting race. Stavisky has seen his stock drop since that summer. He didn't sign with the Cubs as a 33rd-round draft-eligible sophomore in 2001, and may prove to be a steal as a sixth-round pick last June. Stavisky is a pure hitter with a quick bat and power potential that he'll start to realize once he adds some loft to his swing. He also has a good sense of plate discipline, which endears him to Oakland. His defense is a huge drawback, however, as he has a terrible arm that may make playing even left field a stretch. Stavisky played half of his first pro summer at DH and was scheduled to get some time at first base during instructional league. But he chose not to attend instructional league, which precluded further progress. He's expected to spend this year with one of the A's Class A affiliates.
Minor League Top Prospects
-
The A's had seven of the first 39 picks in the 2002 draft, and they may have gotten a steal in the sixth round with Stavisky. A two-time preseason All-American at Notre Dame, his power bat long has captivated scouts. He doesn't hit bombs because he has yet to learn to loft the ball–though Vancouver teammate Justin Crowder, whom Stavisky took deep to wrap up Notre Dame's 5-3 victory against Rice in the 2002 College World Series, would disagree. Instead, he slams screaming line drives to all fields with plus bat speed, and has the makings of the plate discipline required in the A's organization. Stavisky's biggest drawback is defense. He played half his games at DH this summer, and Franchuk said he will get work at first base in instructional league. Stavisky's arm regularly graded as the minimum 20 on the 20-80 scouting scale during his college career, but Franchuk said it had improved to at least a 30. "His throwing mechanics were so bad, so we just started over, breaking them down and starting from scratch," Franchuck said. "He spent tons of time with me, our pitching coach and our roving instructors to work on it. He has excellent makeup. He wants to work."
