Cito Culver Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2618
AVG	.232
OBP	.309
SLG	.329
HR	37

Full name Christopher S. Culver
Born 08/26/1992 in Rochester, NY
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Irondequoit
Drafted in the 1st round (32nd overall) by the New York Yankees in 2010 (signed for $954,000).

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Hidden away in upstate New York--hardly a baseball hotbed--Culver sticks out like a sore thumb. He is the rare Northeast prep product with a legitimate chance to play shortstop in the major leagues. Culver's best tool is his arm, which rates as a 65 on the 20-80 scouting scale. Some scouts report seeing him up to 94 mph off the mound, but he has no interest in pitching. The game comes easily to Culver, whose actions, instincts and range are all plus at times, though he has a long way to go to become a consistent defender, and some believe he profiles as a utility player down the road. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Culver is a solid-average runner and a switch-hitter with a loose, whippy swing from both sides of the plate. He projects to have below-average power and is mostly a slap hitter, but he does generate good bat speed and could be an average hitter as he gets stronger. Culver is an excellent athlete who plays basketball in the winter, and he could take off once he focuses on baseball. He could be drafted in the fourth- to sixth-round range, but he is considered a difficult sign away from his Maryland commitment.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Yankees drafted Culver with their top pick and signed him for $954,000 in 2010. New York knew he would need time, but he's behind where the franchise hoped he would be. He posted the fifth-lowest OPS (.604) among South Atlantic League batting qualifiers. Culver faces several offensive challenges, starting with switch-hitting. Because he's just an average or slightly above-average runner and not a burner, there's no major advantage to having him switch-hit, and some club officials want him to bat solely righthanded. Culver has a good idea of the strike zone and recognizes pitches, but he can't hit them with authority from the left side, and his righthanded swing gets long and mechanical. Culver can make highlight plays from the hole with good footwork and an above-average arm, and he was fairly reliable in 2012, making just 22 errors. Culver's bat has to improve for him to be a future regular and not a utilityman. He's likely to return to Charleston in 2013.
Any player New York drafts in the first round will have to deal with joining baseball's most scrutinized organization. The Yankees believe Culver thrives on it, as he's already dealt with hairier situations. His father Christopher Sr. broke into the family home in March 2008 and set it aflame, and he's currently imprisoned after being found guilty of arson and burglary. The club got to know Culver well prior to drafting him 32nd overall and signing him for $954,000 as a 17-year-old, and has strong conviction in his ability to play shortstop. The adjective most often used to describe his infield play, from observers inside and outside the organization, is "smooth." He has textbook actions, plus arm strength, excellent hands and solid range despite fringy speed. He should cut down on his errors (he made 17 in 67 games last year) as he gains experience. A switch-hitter, Culver will have to get stronger to hit enough to be a regular. His lefthanded swing remains a work in progress, as he hit .224 from that side in 2011, compared to .324 as a righty. He doesn't drive the ball on a consistent basis. He'll be the everyday shortstop at Charleston in 2012, once again teaming with fellow 2010 draft pick Angelo Gumbs at second base. Culver's glove should get him to the big leagues, but his bat will determine if he winds up as an everyday player.
The Yankees surprised many in the industry by taking Culver in the first round of the 2010 draft, as his bat had other clubs considering him more of a third-round talent. He overcame a difficult home life to become a first-rounder. His father Christopher Sr. broke into the family home in March 2008 and set fire to it, and is currently imprisoned after being found guilty of arson and burglary. Before signing him for $954,000, New York saw plenty of Culver as an amateur between showcases, travel ball and the spring, and came away confident in his makeup and defensive tools. He has good hands, range and natural instincts. Thanks to his feel and footwork, he never seems to get a bad hop. His best present tool is his arm, which is at least plus if not a tick better, and he hit 94 mph as a pitcher. One of the 2010 draft's youngest players, Culver also switch-hits, which added to the Yankees' interest. He has some looseness in his hands and feel for the barrel from both sides. Scouts believe he'll have to quiet some pre-swing movement to improve his timing at the plate--he struck out 41 times in 160 pro at-bats--and he doesn't project to have even average power at this stage. Some scouts were concerned by his relatively thick lower half, but Culver lost weight after signing and trimmed up a bit by fall minicamp. He's a slightly above-average runner but not a big basestealing threat. After an encouraging debut, Culver will start 2011 in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

A surprise first-rounder in 2010, Culver struggled in a brief taste of the NY-P late in his 2010 debut. He adjusted to the league in 2011, holding his own despite playing most of the summer as an 18-year-old. He stood out most with his defense, showing smooth actions, average range and a well above-average arm at shortstop. "This kid's instincts are unbelievable," Slater said. "Positioning--he just always seems to be in the right place. He'll make the exceptional play, whether going (to his right) in the hole and making the jump throw, or going behind second base and making the spin throw. It's uncanny." A switch-hitter who's stronger and more advanced from the right side, Culver batted .324 against lefties and .224 against righties. He has a chance to develop average power but his swing has some length and doesn't incorporate his lower half enough. He's a below-average runner.
Most teams considered Culver a fourth- to sixth-round talent, but the Yankees took him with the last pick in 2010's first round. Not many high school shortstops project to reach the majors at that position, but he's an exception. He has good instincts, plus range to both sides and an above-average arm. Culver didn't see much quality pitching as a high school player from the Northeast, so his bat will need to catch up. He did strike out 41 times in as many games, but he does have a knack for squaring up balls from both sides of the plate. He has good speed and could have a little pop once he gets stronger.