Telvin Nash Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2840
AVG	.243
OBP	.353
SLG	.486
HR	178

Full name Telvin Raynard Nash
Born 02/20/1991 in Griffin, GA
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 238 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Griffin
Drafted in the 3rd round (100th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2009 (signed for $330,300).

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Head's biggest rival for top prep hitter this spring was Telvin Nash, a monstrous first baseman at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds. Nash runs below-average but isn't a slug, having played third base at times next to former prep teammate Tim Beckham, the shortstop drafted No. 1 overall last year. Nash has as much power as anyone in the state, with some scouts giving him a 70 grade for his raw power on the 20-80 scale. He has strength, leverage and good enough bat speed, but he's not considered an easy sign. He's committed to Kennesaw State and could come off the board around the fifth round to a team that believes he'll consistently tap into his power.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

A prep teammate of Tim Beckham, the No. 1 overall pick in 2008, Nash was recruited by college football programs before committing to Kennesaw State for baseball. He homered five times in his first 15 games in 2011, his first stab at full-season ball, before a broken hamate bone in his left hand sidelined him for two months. Scouts look for players with a carrying tool, and Nash has one in his well above-average righthanded power. Even after hamate surgery, which usually saps a player's pop, he homered nine times in 210 at-bats. He has good bat speed and even better strength, and his bat will get quicker if he can eliminate a wrap in his swing. That flaw also leads to an excessive amount of strikeouts, though he's not afraid to take a walk. Nash has seen time at both first base and left field but projects as a subpar defender at both spots. He's a well below-average runner with fringy arm strength and iffy hands. With Jonathan Singleton joining the organization, Nash is blocked at first base and will have to work hard to become a passable left fielder. With the Astros moving to the American League, he could be their future DH. If healthy, he could put up huge home run numbers in Lancaster in 2012.
Nash has the best raw power in the organization, and with righthanded power getting harder to find, he has definite value. The 100th overall pick in the 2009 draft, he played with 2008 No. 1 overall pick Tim Beckham at Griffin (Ga.) High and has moved from first base to left field as a pro. He's a below-average runner and has solid arm strength, and he's a fair athlete who played tight end and defensive end in high school football. The Astros plan to keep him in left field as long as possible, and he'll have to commit to himself more to defense for the move to take. His strength plays best at the plate, where he generates good bat speed and has plenty of leverage. Some scouts gave his raw power well above-average grades when he was an amateur, and he ranked fourth in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in home runs. He has some feel for hitting despite his high strikeout totals, and the Astros see him developing into a .250-.260 hitter with 30-homer power. Nash is strong enough to drive the ball to the opposite field but is raw at the plate due to his football focus in high school. He responded well to instruction, especially from outfield and baserunning coordinator Eric Young, who has left the organization to become Arizona's first-base coach. Nash figures to hit in the middle of the order for Lexington in 2011 and may need 2,000 pro at-bats to get it all figured out.
Nash jumped on to the Astros' radar as a junior at Griffin (Ga.) High in 2008, when he played with No. 1 overall pick Tim Beckham. Houston drafted Nash in the third round a year later, signing him for $330,300. He has imposing size and strength, and he's a good athlete for a 6-foot-1, 230-pounder. His strength and leverage help him generate plus-plus raw power, as he can hit the ball out to all fields. Pitchers in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League were able to exploit Nash's aggressiveness in his pro debut. He swings and misses quite a bit and chases too many pitches out of the strike zone. Nash's defensive value is already slim, as he's limited to an outfield corner and might end up moving to first base. A football-related shoulder injury relegated him to left field in his debut. He has a funky throwing motion, but he could have an average arm and possibly shift to right field when he's fully healthy. His below-average speed limits his range, and he still needs to work on getting better jumps off the bat. Nash lacks polish in all phases of the game, so he might open 2010 in extended spring rather than low Class A.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Power Hitter in the Houston Astros in 2011

Scouting Reports

Background: A prep teammate of Tim Beckham, the No. 1 overall pick in 2008, Nash was recruited by college football programs before committing to Kennesaw State for baseball. He homered five times in his first 15 games in 2011, his first stab at full-season ball, before a broken hamate bone in his left hand sidelined him for two months. Scouting Report: Scouts look for players with a carrying tool, and Nash has one in his well above-average righthanded power. Even after hamate surgery, which usually saps a player's pop, he homered nine times in 210 at-bats. He has good bat speed and even better strength, and his bat will get quicker if he can eliminate a wrap in his swing. That flaw also leads to an excessive amount of strikeouts, though he's not afraid to take a walk. Nash has seen time at both first base and left field but projects as a subpar defender at both spots. He's a well below-average runner with fringy arm strength. The Future: With Jonathan Singleton joining the organization, Nash is blocked at first base and will have to work hard to become a passable left fielder. If the Astros move to the American League, he could be their future DH. If healthy, he could put up huge home run numbers in Lancaster in 2012.