Cyle Hankerd
| AB | 4081 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .297 |
| OBP | .381 |
| SLG | .485 |
| HR | 154 |
- Full name Kevin Cyle Hankerd
- Born 01/24/1985 in Covina, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Southern California
-
Drafted in the 3rd round (87th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2006 (signed for $430,000).
View Draft Report
Following up on a strong summer when he was the MVP of the wood-bat New England Collegiate League, Hankerd was the top hitter for Southern California's troubled team, which collapsed in the second half of the season and was expected to miss out on a regional bid for the third time in four seasons. Unlike many college hitters available this season, he has shown improvement, cutting down on his strikeouts while improving his power significantly. Hankerd's bat is his best tool, as he has the strength to maintain a balanced, flat swing that allows him to drive the ball to all parts of the field. He doesn't have natural loft power but has improved in that area this season, improving from one homer in 2005 to 10 this spring. Defensively, Hankerd profiles as a solid left fielder but doesn't have the arm for right. He's a below-average runner as well.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
After a standout college career at Southern California and impressive debut in 2006, when he won the Northwest League MVP award and batting title (.384), Hankerd stagnated a bit over his first two full seasons. A wrist injury held him back in 2007 at Visalia, but he was simply inconsistent at Mobile in 2008. The Diamondbacks sent him to Hawaii Winter Baseball to try to get his swing and confidence back, and he batted .318 and led the league with 30 RBIs. While he was playing against less experienced pitching, Hankerd did show a better swing and again hit to all fields, as he does when he's dialed in. He also showed some leverage in his swing, allowing him to tap into what should be above-average power. But for most of the last two seasons, he was a 6-foot-3 player who hit like a middle infielder. Hankerd is a below-average runner with an average arm, but he has become a slightly above-average corner outfielder with good positioning, routes and jumps. He played both left and right field last season. Hankerd will try to earn a Triple-A roster spot and put himself into Arizona's big league plans by continuing the success he had last fall. -
Hankerd had an auspicious pro debut, winning the Northwest League MVP award and batting title (.384), hitting .369 in 18 games in high Class A and becoming the only 2006 draftee to top 100 hits in his first summer. His first full season in 2007 was a major step down because he was bothered by a sore left wrist all season, and his numbers declined across the board. The injury was diagnosed as tendinitis for much of the year, but he sat out almost all of July and finally had surgery after the season. When healthy, Hankerd is a pure hitter who can drive the ball to all fields and has a great approach at the plate. He showed his desire to get on base last year even when his swing wasn't working, getting hit by a pitch 19 times in 103 games to tie for the California League lead. He should have enough power for an outfield corner, though he's limited to left field because of his below-average speed and arm. He'll have to work to be an average defender there. Hankerd's value is all in his bat, so he'll have to prove his wrist is fine and his swing is back to keep moving through the organization. He's expected to be healthy in spring training and could make the Mobile roster if that's the case. -
Hankerd has been on a roll over the past year and a half. After a pedestrian sophomore season at Southern California, he was MVP of the New England Collegiate League in the summer of 2005, then carried it over to his junior year. Arizona grabbed him in the third round, and he signed for $430,000 before winning the short-season Northwest League batting title (by 41 points) and MVP award. He had more hits than any other 2006 draft pick and was the only one to top 100. Hankerd is a pure hitter who can hit the ball with authority to all fields. He showed the ability to pull the ball early in the count or shorten up and go the opposite way with two strikes. He has a flat swing but puts good backspin on the ball, so he should hit 20-25 homers a year eventually. He has good makeup, good baseball instincts and a strong body. Hankerd's defense is nothing to get excited about, but he's adequate in left field. His arm is below average and he's a below-average runner. But it's his bat that will carry Hankerd. He was banged up and missed instructional league, and he'll probably open his first full season back in high Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
-
After batting .298 with one homer as a sophomore, Hankerd showed significant improvement at the plate this spring for Southern California. Then he terrorized NWL pitchers, winning the batting title by 41 points on his way to league MVP honors. He was promoted to high Class A Lancaster for the stretch run. Hankerd is an outstanding pure hitter who peppers the middle of the field with line drives. He can pull the ball with authority early in the count and go to the opposite field with two strikes. He has a rather flat swing plane and gap power now, but he could develop average home run power as he fills out and develops more loft. "He didn't really demonstrate power on an everyday basis, but the homers he did hit, they were big-man home runs," Gainer said. "It's pure and natural, you can tell he loves to hit, been doing it for a while. Even when his timing is off a little bit, he stays through the ball really well." Hankerd is a fringy defender and runner with a below-average arm. That relegates him to left field, but his bat should carry him.
