Don Mattingly Stats & Scouting Report

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Mattingly has hit .331 in his four pro seasons and struck out just 118 times in 1,683 at-bats. He has advanced a level each year, averaging nine homers and 93 RBIs the last three seasons, and finished last September with the Yankees. Mattingly, 22 in April, hits lefthanded and fields adequately. But he has little power and no speed, either of which would place him in much higher regard.

This lefthanded batter loves to hit and has caught the eye of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, which never hurts in this organization. Mattingly made the Southern League all-star team as an outfielder but can handle the glove at first base. His size (6 feet, 175 pounds) and lack of speed are his only drawbacks. He gets a good jump on the ball in left field, though his arm is only average. Mattingly, just 20 years old, hit .316 for the Western Division champion Nashville Sounds. He had 173 hits, including 36 doubles and seven home runs. A contact hitter who sprays the ball with only occasional power, Mattingly impressed Yankees minor league hitting instructor Joe Pepitone. “Mattingly will only hit for a better average the higher he goes in this game. He’ll hit better in the major leagues than he will here,” Pepitone said. The only drawback is finding a position for him. He will probably break in as a DH.

Mattingly has hit .331 in his four pro seasons and struck out just 118 times in 1,683 at-bats. He has advanced a level each year, averaging nine homers and 93 RBIs the last three seasons, and finished last September with the Yankees. Mattingly, 22 in April, hits lefthanded and fields adequately. But he has little power and no speed, either of which would place him in much higher regard.
This lefthanded batter loves to hit and has caught the eye of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, which never hurts in this organization. Mattingly made the Southern League all-star team as an outfielder but can handle the glove at first base. His size (6 feet, 175 pounds) and lack of speed are his only drawbacks. He gets a good jump on the ball in left field, though his arm is only average. Mattingly, just 20 years old, hit .316 for the Western Division champion Nashville Sounds. He had 173 hits, including 36 doubles and seven home runs. A contact hitter who sprays the ball with only occasional power, Mattingly impressed Yankees minor league hitting instructor Joe Pepitone. “Mattingly will only hit for a better average the higher he goes in this game. He’ll hit better in the major leagues than he will here,” Pepitone said. The only drawback is finding a position for him. He will probably break in as a DH.