Jayson Nix Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1305
AVG	.212
OBP	.282
SLG	.345
HR	38

Full name Jayson Truitt Nix
Born 08/26/1982 in Dallas, TX
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Midland
Debut 03/31/2008
Drafted in the C round (44th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2001 (signed for $925,000).

View Draft Report

Nix is a better prospect than his older brother Laynce, an outfielder drafted in the fourth round by the Rangers last year. Jayson was under consideration as a supplemental first-rounder earlier this year but now projects as a second-rounder. His best tool is his bat. He has a short, quick stroke that generates surprising power for a 5-foot-11, 175-pounder. His enthusiasm is another plus. He reminds scouts of Rangers second-base prospect Jason Romano. A high school shortstop, Nix has the arm to play there as a pro but only average speed. He could wind up at second base, third base or even catcher.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

A Rockies' supplemental first-round pick in 2001, Nix becomes a project for White Sox hitting coach Greg Walker after Chicago signed him as a minor league free agent in October. Nix has long shown Gold Glove skills --Carney Lansford once called him the best defensive second baseman he ever has seen--but his bat stalled once he got to Double-A in 2004. He did have the best offensive season of his career in 2008--but that came in his third year in Triple-A and after he botched a chance to seize Colorado's second-base job by hitting .111 in the majors in April. The brother of outfielder Laynce Nix, Jayson tries too hard at times, grinding the bat handle rather than relaxing and trusting the talent that made him the 44th player drafted in 2001. He has shown power in the minors and with Team USA, both at the 2007 World Cup and the 2008 Olympics, but sometimes gets too homer-happy and he showed little punch in his big league stint. He has good speed and instincts on the basepaths and in the field. He also has sure hands and a stronger arm than most second basemen. Nix will compete with Chris Getz and Brent Lillibridge for the White Sox' second-base job in spring training. It might be his last chance to show he can play on an everyday basis in the majors.
The Rockies' top draft pick (supplemental first round) in 2001, Nix was in line to be their second baseman of his future after his first three seasons in the minors. Then he hit the wall hard, batting .213 and .236 in back-to-back seasons in Double-A and doing little better in his first taste of Triple-A. He got back on track in 2007, which he capped by earning MVP honors as Team USA won the World Cup for the first time since 1974. He batted .387, scored a team-high nine runs, drilled two homers (including one in the championship game) and played terrific defense. Nix is an excellent situational hitter, though he doesn't trust his hands as much as he should. He tends to go into funks when he hits home runs, seeming caught up in trying to hit more longballs rather than letting his gap power come naturally. A shortstop and pitcher in high school, he developed excellent game awareness from those experiences. He has solid speed and good baserunning instincts. Carney Lansford, his hitting coach in Triple-A, called him the best defensive second baseman he has ever seen. Nix has brilliant instincts and reactions, as well as a solid arm for his position. He's fearless turning the double play and led Triple-A Pacific Coast League second basemen with a .986 fielding percentage last season. Now that Kaz Matsui has left as a free agent, Nix has pushed himself to the front of the line to take over at second base.
The younger brother of Laynce Nix is proving to be a puzzle for the Rockies. Jayson has teased them with the makings of an impact middle infielder, but he has struggled mightily since reaching Double-A in 2004. After hitting .236 last year, his career average fell further to .249, and his walk rate also has plummeted as he has moved up the ladder. Nix has the strength to provide plus power at second base and understands the value of using the entire field, but his long swing undermines him. Nix has average speed and is aggressive on the bases. He has easily made the move to second base after signing as a shortstop. He has worked to become solid at his new position and turns double plays well. Nix may have too much desire to reach the majors, as he's too hard on himself and needs to relax more. Though he hasn't proven himself at Double-A, he'll probably move up a level to Triple-A Colorado Springs in 2006.
The younger brother of Rangers outfielder Laynce Nix, Jayson led the minors with 46 doubles in 2003 but suffered a season-long slump in 2004. His struggles carried over into the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .191. Nix was a shortstop/pitcher in high school and the Rockies have discussed making him a catcher, but he has cemented himself as a second baseman. Nix entered last year with a rap as being an offensive-minded second baseman, but he has developed into a plus defender. He shows good range and arm strength, and he turns the double play well. He has the speed to be a factor on the bases, and good pop for a middle infielder. He displays a natural feel for the game, and his work ethic is excellent. Nix may have too much power for his own good because he gets overly pull-conscious trying to hit homers. He needs to use the opposite field more often, show more selectivity and worry about attacking the gaps. Last year, he seemed to lose his ability to adjust to pitches. He still figures into the Rockies' future, but he's in line for a refresher course in Double-A. If Nix gets back on track, Aaron Miles won't pose an obstacle at second base.
The brother of Rangers outfielder Laynce Nix, Jayson was a star shortstop/ righthander in high school in Texas. He was moved to second base in instructional league following his 2001 pro debut, and adapted well enough that talk about a possible conversion to catcher was tabled. He tied for the minor league lead with 46 doubles in 2003. Able to drive pitches into either gap, Nix has plus power potential for a middle infielder. He has an excellent sense of how to play the game and is able to make adjustments. He shows leadership and is never intimidated. He'll be known as an offensive player, but his range and speed at second base are solid-average and he has a strong arm. Nix swings and misses more than he should when he gets too pull-conscious. He's still learning the nuances of positioning himself at second base. Nix hit in the first three spots in the Visalia lineup and will be best suited for hitting second or third in the majors. He'll move up to Double-A in 2004 and should be in the big leagues to stay the following year.
Nix' older brother Laynce, 22, is an outfielder in the Rangers system. Jayson was a standout pitcher and shortstop in high school. He was the MVP of the Texas 5-A state championship in 2001, earning a save in the semifinals and tossing a complete game in the deciding game. He moved to second base in 2002, his first full pro season, and was a South Atlantic League all-star. Nix is a ballplayer. He has a feel for how to play the game and isn't intimidated. As a 19-year-old he hit in the No. 3 slot on a team of older players, and he had 23 more RBIs than any of his Asheville teammates. Nix uses the whole field and shows power. He stays back on pitches well, which allows him to handle offspeed stuff. He made major defensive strides last year and excels at making the double-play pivot. Nix has a strong body, but his range is a little short at second base. He should be able to make adjustments as he gets more comfortable with the position. His biggest need is to ease up on himself. Nix will open the season at Colorado's new high Class A Visalia affiliate. He could force his way to Double-A before season's end.
Nix led Midland High to the Texas state 5-A title, earning tournament MVP honors when he saved the semifinal game and pitched a complete game in the final. He missed the first few weeks at Casper and struggled to hit .200 in his first month, but finished strong and went 15-for-29 in his final eight games. He turned down a scholarship from Texas A&M, following in the footsteps of his brother Laynce, who passed on Louisiana State to sign with the Rangers as a fourth-round pick in 2000. Nix is an offensive player and will have plus power for a middle infielder. He's prepared for every at-bat and uses the entire field. He eagerly accepted the suggestion that he needed to move from shortstop, where he played in high school and for Casper, to second base. Nix' swing is a little long, but it will get shorter as he adjusts to pro pitching. He's so intense he can create problems for himself because of his expectations of excellence. Nix will make the move to the full-season level at Asheville in 2002. With his youth and a position change, the Rockies figure to give him the whole season there to adjust.

Minor League Top Prospects

While his older brother Laynce was establishing himself in the Rangers outfield, Jayson was tying Barfield for the minor league lead in doubles. The two second basemen share many similarities from position to good bloodlines to their potential with the bat. Like Barfield, Nix improved his defense by working hard on his agility and footwork. He has a good arm and turns the pivot well. At the plate, both need to improve their strike-zone judgment before experiencing the same success in the upper levels. "He uses both parts of the field, and when he is going good he's hitting the ball to right center," Visalia manager Stu Cole said. "He's got some power when he's staying closed and going through the ball."
Nix missed nary a beat in the minors after the Rockies made him a supplemental first-rounder in June. Displaying a quick, short swing, he produced surprising power for a 5-foot-11, 175-pound middle infielder. While his offense is advanced for his age, Nix also made a solid impression on defense. He does a fine job with his footwork and moves well to both his left and right. Managers liked the way he was always positioned to make a strong throw after going deep in the hole to his right. His arm rated as above average, though two managers thought he could move to either second or third base with relative ease. "The thing I liked the most about Jayson is that he's a very balanced player on offense and defense," Molina said. "He's got a quick bat and he can hit the fastball right now. He has good hands and great range."