Wade Gaynor

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #25 prospect in 2011
  The last big league position player to come out of Western Kentucky was catcher Chris Turner, an Angels 1991 seventh-round pick. Gaynor went four rounds higher in 2009 after turning in a 20-20 season, leading the Hilltoppers to the NCAA regional finals and impressing Tigers scouts with his power at a predraft workout at Comerica Park. He's big and strong and has a quick bat, so it's no surprise that his most obvious tool is his raw power. He won't be able to tap into it or hit for a decent average, however, if he can't lay off breaking balls on the outer half of the plate and make more consistent contact. His swing can get long and he struggles to pull his hands in against inside fastballs. Gaynor is surprisingly athletic for his size and used his average speed to steal 11 bases in 2010. His athleticism doesn't translate well at third base, however. He has slow reactions and limited range. His arm is average, but his funky throwing motion makes it difficult for him to throw from different slots. He is a hard worker with good makeup, but he faces an uphill battle with Nick Castellanos and Francisco Martinez ahead of him on the organization's third-base depth chart. Gaynor will spend 2011 in high Class A.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #24 prospect in 2010
  In 2009, Gaynor became the first player in Western Kentucky history to record a 20-20 season. He helped the Hilltoppers finish second in NCAA regional play, the best season in school history. He ranked third in Division I with 196 total bases, trailing only No. 2 overall pick Dustin Ackley (North Carolina) and top 2010 prospect Bryce Brentz (Middle Tennessee State). Gaynor's performance pushed him into the third round of the draft and earned him a $392,400 bonus. He can put a charge into a ball and had no problems putting balls in the seats at Comerica Park during a predraft workout. As a pro, he has looked impressive during batting practice but significantly less so against live pitching. There's a lot of noise in his swing that the Tigers are trying to calm down. He has a lot of preswing hand movement and uses a big leg kick, causing him to be late on balls. Gaynor has a big, physical body and is more athletic than most players his size, featuring average speed. He's not flashy, but he makes all the plays at third and has an average arm. His speed is average to a tick above, but it's his raw power that gets him noticed. Gaynor is a hard-nosed player with a strong work ethic, so if he can quiet his swing and utilize his power, he could develop into a big league regular. Given his struggles in his pro debut, he may open 2010 in low Class A.