Chip Cannon Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1914
AVG	.26
OBP	.348
SLG	.489
HR	105

Full name Rhame Berley Cannon
Born 11/30/1981 in Fallbrook, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Citadel
Drafted in the 8th round (237th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2004 (signed for $25,000).

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Two sleepers in the state bring solid lefthanded bats. 1B/RHP Chip Cannon will be a good senior sign with lefthanded power and a discerning eye at the plate. He showed power with wood last summer, leading the Coastal Plain League with eight home runs. He has arm strength and pitches for The Citadel, but his lack of agility probably limits him to first base, though he has played plenty of third in his career.

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Area scout Marc Tramuta was such a big Cannon booster that he pushed to draft him in 2004's second round, though the Jays were able to wait until the eighth and sign him for $25,000 as a college senior. Cannon has justified Tramuta's faith by slugging 32 homers at three stops in 2005 to rank fifth in the minors, then topping the Eastern League with 27 last year. He continued to mash in the offseason, earning MVP honors in the Arizona Fall League by leading the league in homers (11), RBIs (29) and slugging (.714). For all his power--and he has few rivals in the system-he needs to develop a more consistent approach, especially with two strikes. He has the discipline to draw walks, but struck out 158 times in 135 games last season. He made improvements against lefthanders, hitting .265 with nine homers in 136 at-bats, after they fanned him 25 times in 48 Double-A at-bats in 2005. Because Cannon was born with two club feet and had three operations on each as a child, he has trouble starting and stopping on the bases and in the field. His range suffers as a result, though he has an above-average arm. Because he hit just .248, the Blue Jays may send Cannon back to New Hampshire to begin 2007, though his AFL performance may help him get to Triple-A.
Area scout Marc Tramuta liked Cannon so much that he advocated drafting him in the second round in 2004. The Blue Jays waited until the eighth round and signed him for $25,000, a discounted rate because he was a college senior. Cannon powered through three full-season leagues in 2005, hitting a total of 32 homers to rank fifth in the minors. He tore up two Class A leagues before finding the going tougher in Double-A. Cannon doesn't pick the ball up well against lefthanders, and Double-A southpaws fanned him 25 times in 48 at bats. He does have the best pop in the system, as well as the batting eye and patience to take walks. Because he was born with two club feet and had three operations on each foot as a child, Cannon has trouble starting and stopping on the bases and in the field. Limited to first base, he has a well above-average arm for his position and was clocked at 90 mph as a pitcher at The Citadel. After exceeding Toronto's wildest expectations in 2005, he'll take another crack at Double-A this season.