Jake Lemmerman
| AB | 1698 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .257 |
| OBP | .358 |
| SLG | .406 |
| HR | 42 |
- Full name Jake Samuel Lemmerman
- Born 05/04/1989 in Newport Beach, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Duke
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Drafted in the 5th round (172nd overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010 (signed for $139,500).
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A California prep product, Lemmerman was a three-year starter for Duke and has better skills than tools. He has soft, sure hands and made just three errors as a junior, checking in with a .987 fielding percentage. He also benefitted from Duke moving into the cozy Durham Bulls Athletic Park and led the team with 11 home runs after hitting just nine in his first two seasons combined. He's a righthanded hitter with solid pop and below-average speed who likely will move to second or third base.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Lemmerman followed up his Pioneer League MVP season in 2010 with a solid first full year in pro ball, earning a promotion to Double-A in August. He doesn't have anything flashy about his game but he finds a way to get the job done. Lemmerman has a quick, compact swing and grinds out quality at-bats. He went to the Arizona Fall League after last season but fell into a slump when he started trying to do too much and pulled off balls, hitting just .156/.299/.203. He's at his best when he uses the middle of the field, as he has below-average power and needs to avoid trying to muscle up. Lemmerman is a consistent defender whose savvy is his best asset. He's a slightly below-average runner with just enough arm strength to get by at shortstop for now. The Dodgers felt Lemmerman wore down towards the end of last season and that fatigue was another factor in his poor AFL showing. He'll try to bounce back when he returns to Chattanooga to open 2012. -
Lemmerman took over as Duke's everyday shortstop as a freshman and missed just two games in his three-year college career. After two productive seasons, he came on as a junior in 2010, leading the Blue Devils with a .335 average and 11 homers and earning a $139,500 bonus as Los Angeles' fifth-rounder. He kept right on hitting after turning pro, winning the Pioneer League MVP award after finishing second in the batting race and leading the league in doubles (24) and runs (69). Lemmerman's best tool may be his brain, as he's a heady player whose feel for the game stands out, but he's not lacking physical talent. He has a compact swing with surprising bat speed. He has a bit of a dead start swing but should still be able to hit for a solid average with an up-the-middle approach. An average runner with a strong arm, Lemmerman made an uncharacteristic 16 errors with Ogden. He made just three in the spring with Duke and is generally regarded with as a surehanded defender who can play either middle-infield position. Some in the Pioneer League compared Lemmerman to either Mark Loretta or Mark Grudzielanek as a heady player who has solid tools and gets the most out of what he has. After thriving in the Pioneer League's hitter-friendly environment, Lemmerman will move up to the more challenging Midwest League in 2011.
Minor League Top Prospects
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A surprising fifth-round pick by the Dodgers, Lemmerman showed polished skills if not overwhelming raw tools while winning the league MVP award. The best overall shortstop in the circuit, he led the PL in runs (69) and doubles (24), finished second in hitting (.363) and extra-base hits (38) and ranked third in on-base percentage (.434) and slugging (.610). "He grinds out every at-bat like it's the last one he'll ever have," Cron said. "He's a tough-looking player who I enjoyed watching." Lemmerman benefited from Ogden's cozy ballpark dimensions, swatting 10 of his 12 homers at home, but his short swing and middle-of-the-field approach will play anywhere. He could mature into a .280 hitter with 10-12 home runs annually. He drew comparisons with Mark Grudzielanek and Mark Loretta as a heady offensive player who could have a lengthy big league career as a middle infielder. Lemmerman has soft, sure hands to go with average arm strength that seems to make him better suited for second base in the long run. An average runner, he makes the routine play and turns the double play well.
