Victor Hall

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Houston Astros #18 prospect in 2003
  A high school track star who didn't play baseball until his senior year, Hall used his meager 12th-round bonus to buy a batting cage for his backyard. His development has been steady yet slow, but the Astros saw enough potential to trade Nelson Cruz to get him from the Rockies, who selected him from the Diamondbacks in the major league Rule 5 draft at the Winter Meetings. Assuming Houston carries him on its 25-man roster all year so it can retain him, Hall will be the best defensive outfielder on the big league club. He has exceptional range in center field and an average arm. He'll need more time in the minors after 2003, but the Astros hope he'll hit enough so he can be a viable center fielder for the long term. Hall understands his role. He has blazing speed and does whatever he can to reach base. Cognizant of his lack of power, he hits the ball on the ground and draws walks. Hall doesn't need to bulk up, but he does need to get stronger so he can handle quality pitching.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #28 prospect in 2002
  After leading the Pioneer League in steals in 2000, Hall worked with Diamondbacks instructor Willie Wilson, a former American League stolen base champ, and further refined his technique. He swiped 60 more bases last year in low Class A, and even more impressive, he succeeded on 80 percent of his attempts. One of the fastest players in the organization, he has been compared to Lance Johnson. Hall has hit just five home runs in 1,172 pro atbats, but he realizes his limitations and makes the most out of his blazing speed. He has grounded into just eight double plays in his career, an amazingly low total. He keeps the ball on the ground and demonstrates the patience befitting a leadoff hitter. Though it took him three years to get out of short-season ball, he's still young and held his own in low Class A last year. He'll move up a notch to high Class A in 2002.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #24 prospect in 2001
  Many players buy a car when they get their signing bonus after turning pro. Not Hall, a former track star in high school. He showed his dedication, using his bonus to purchase a batting cage for his backyard. He has put the cage to good use, showing solid hitting ability as a pro. Better yet, he has the speed and patience to bat leadoff. He led the Pioneer League in walks and stolen bases last season. Hall is as fast as Diamondbacks shortstop Tony Womack and usually makes a mockery of the competition during the farm system's 60-yard dash during spring training. He uses his quickness to get to balls in center but could do a better job reading balls off the bat. Hall has spent most of his three pro years in Rookie ball and must prove he can hit in a full-season league after slumping at South Bend to start 2000. He projects as a Lance Johnson type with a better throwing arm.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pioneer League #7 prospect in 2000
  Hall drew 77 walks, a huge total for a half-season league, and led the league with 47 stolen bases. His leadoff skills are similar to Krynzel's, though he had much less playing experience coming out of high school in 1998 and has been brought along much more slowly. "His instincts on the bases aren't what they will be," Hale said, "but they're much improved from instructional league last fall." The speed and the eye, obviously, are there.

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Hall drew 77 walks, a huge total for a half-season league, and led the league with 47 stolen bases. His leadoff skills are similar to Krynzel's, though he had much less playing experience coming out of high school in 1998 and has been brought along much more slowly. "His instincts on the bases aren't what they will be," Hale said, "but they're much improved from instructional league last fall." The speed and the eye, obviously, are there.