Matt Craig
| AB | 2714 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .282 |
| OBP | .364 |
| SLG | .459 |
| HR | 95 |
- Full name Matthew James Craig
- Born 04/16/1981 in Dallas, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: S / Throws: R
- School Richmond
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Drafted in the 3rd round (96th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2002 (signed for $399,000).
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A centerpiece of the best season in Richmond baseball history, Craig led the Atlantic-10 Conference in total bases and RBIs, while batting .382. A switch-hitter, he gets the barrel through the zone quickly and projects power from both sides. He may have been his best as a freshman at Richmond, only to lose a year of development in 2001 when a groin problem and broken finger forced him to redshirt. His bat is his best tool and will have to carry him in pro ball. His speed, hands and arm are below-average and will force him to move to third base or possibly the outfield.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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The emergence of Richard Lewis at second base and Craig at third base allowed the Cubs to close the Nomar Garciaparra trade last July by including Brendan Harris, who played both positions and had been the best pure hitter in the system. Area scout Billy Swoope signed both Craig and Harris out of Virginia colleges, and they're similar at the plate. A switch-hitter, Craig doesn't always look pretty but has a gift for hitting. Even when he gets jammed, he usually seems to find a way to fist the ball into the outfield for a single. With natural loft in his swing, he has more pop than Harris. Craig's strikeout rate spiked in 2004, though he continued to draw his share of walks. His defensive liabilities may preclude him from playing regularly in the majors. Craig has worked hard at third base, but his hands, arm and agility are below-average. He doesn't run well enough to play the outfield, so first base may be his only option. Craig may have to settle for being a potent bat off the major league bench. Next on his agenda is proving himself in Triple-A. -
Virginia isn't considered the most fertile breeding ground for prospects, but area scout Billy Swoope found six of the Cubs' top 30 prospects there: Justin Jones (No. 2), Brendan Harris (No. 8), Jason Dubois (No. 12), Nic Jackson (No. 14), Sean Marshall (No. 23) and Craig. Though Craig struggled mightily in his 2002 pro debut, the Cubs jumped him to high Class A last year and he passed the test. He's an offense-first player with a nice swing from both sides of the plate. He's similar offensively to Harris, hitting for average with gap power and a decent amount of walks. Craig should hit more homers as he fills out. The biggest difference between the two is that Harris is more athletic and capable of playing second or third base. Craig's speed, hands and arm are below average, and he may not be able to stick at the hot corner. Left field is his fallback position, and moving there would require him to provide more offense. He'll play regularly at third in Double-A this year.
