James Shanks
| AB | 1823 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .296 |
| OBP | .355 |
| SLG | .418 |
| HR | 30 |
- Full name James Albert Shanks
- Born 01/26/1979 in Appling, GA
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Soloman
- Drafted in the 21st round (617th overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 1998.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Shanks starred in baseball, basketball and football in high school, but his actions off the field drew even more attention. He was expelled from one high school after being accused of possessing crack cocaine on campus, and from another for smoking marijuana before a basketball tournament. The Royals also suspended him for much of the 2000 season for undisclosed reasons. A cousin of Cubs outfield prospect J.J. Johnson, Shanks faced him last year in the Midwest League. On the field, Shanks shows plenty of tools. He rates as a plus runner and defender. He has the raw strength to drive balls all over the park and the speed to run down everything in center field and be a threat on the basepaths. Shanks led Burlington in stolen bases and batting. Despite the high average, he doesn't make consistent contact and struck out almost twice as much as he walked. He should follow his offensive partner in crime, Ruben Gotay, to high Class A in 2003.
