Charlton Jimerson Stats & Scouting Report

AB	9
AVG	.444
OBP	.444
SLG	1.111
HR	2

Full name Charlton Maxwell Jimerson
Born 09/22/1979 in San Leandro, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Miami (FL)
Debut 09/14/2005
Drafted in the 5th round (146th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2001.

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OF Charlton Jimerson only starts about half the time for Miami, but his body and physical gifts remind scouts of Eric Davis. Problem is, Jimerson's 45-7 strikeout-walk ratio speaks volumes about his hitting ability.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Jimerson dominated the 2001 College World Series. His power, speed and defense carried Miami to the national championship, and his backstory was even better. His mother was a crack addict who abandoned Jimerson and his younger brother, while his father was abusive toward his mom and became homeless. Raised by an older sister, Jimerson attended Miami on an academic scholarship and played sparingly until midway through his senior year. He left the Hurricanes with one CWS Most Outstanding Player award, two national titles and a computer-science degree. The question now is how happy the baseball ending will be. Jimerson is the best athlete in the system and could become another Eric Davis if everything clicks. But thus far it hasn't and he hasn't progressed past high Class A. Physically, he has it all. Few players in the organization can match his raw power and plus speed, and none of them runs out grounders harder than Jimerson does. He has outstanding range in center field and a strong arm as well. But he's still unrefined and lacks instincts. He has a long stroke, swings through too many pitches and doesn't read breaking balls, often leaving him defenseless at the plate. He's intelligent and works hard but hasn't been able to make adjustments. Missing six weeks early last season after a pitch broke his right hand was a huge setback because he needs at-bats. Jimerson reminds one scout of Jesse Barfield, who was almost released in Double-A before blossoming into an American League home run champion. Houston hopes Jimerson can take a similar path and showed faith in him by adding him to the 40-man roster this offseason. That decision makes it likely that he'll spend 2004 in Double-A.
If Jimerson can put everything together, he could be the next Eric Davis. That might be a tall task, but it's impossible to count him out considering his background. His mother was a crack addict who often abandoned Jimerson and his younger brother, while his father was abusive toward his mom and became homeless. Jimerson's older sister took care of her younger siblings, and Jimerson passed up the Astros as a 25th-round pick out of high school to attend Miami on an academic scholarship. He made the baseball team as a walk-on, playing sparingly for 31⁄2 years while completing his computer-science degree. Jimerson finally earned regular playing time toward the end of 2001, and parlayed it into the College World Series Most Outstanding Player award and fifth-round draft status. He's the best athlete and top defensive outfielder in the system. His combination of power and speed is exciting, and he has a quick bat. Jimerson's makeup is exceptional, and he and Henri Stanley play harder than any of Houston's minor leaguers. That can be a detriment when Jimerson is at the plate, because he's too aggressive and has little grasp of the strike zone. He must do better at laying off high fastballs, identifying and reacting to breaking pitches, and making adjustments once he figures out what pitchers are trying to do to him. He made progress in fits and starts during the 2002 season and showed positive signs in instructional league. Jimerson has a strong arm but is working on his throwing mechanics. The Astros may send him back to low Class A to get him on the right track. He might not become another Davis, but Houston hopes he can at least become Preston Wilson with better center-field defense.
Jimerson was a raw unknown when the Astros drafted him in the 25th round out of an Oakland high school in 1997. They thought they had persuaded him to attend Chabot (Calif.) JC as a draft-and-follow, but that plan fell through when he received an academic scholarship from Miami, where he walked on the baseball team. Jimerson played sparingly during his first 31⁄2 years with the Hurricanes, and it looked like his college highlight would be the completion of his computer-science degree. That in itself would have represented a significant triumph for Jimerson, whose mother was a crack addict who often abandoned him and his younger brother, and whose father physically abused his mother and now is homeless. Jimerson got into the lineup, hit three homers in six games against Florida State and became the Hurricanes' hottest postseason player. He was named MVP of the College World Series after spearheading Miami's second championship in three years. Jimerson's ceiling may be higher than any player in the system. Scouts compare his body to a young Eric Davis' and say he has more power than Davis did. Jimerson is a supreme athlete whose power, speed and outfield defense each rank among the best in the organization. His arm strength is another plus, and there are no doubts about his intelligence or desire. Jimerson's one need is to control the strike zone so he can hit consistently enough to be a threat. A wrist injury hampered him in his pro debut but couldn't lessen Houston's excitement over him. Jimerson will spend 2002 with one of Houston's two low Class A teams.

Minor League Top Prospects

After leading the Miami Hurricanes to the College World Series title with an MVP performance in Omaha, Jimerson was nagged by wrist and ankle injuries in his first pro campaign. He struggled at the plate, especially with his plate discipline. But his raw tools were apparent, particularly his power and speed. "He swings and misses a lot," Alfonzo said. "He'll make the adjustments, though. I think he'll hit for power and average and steal bases. He has an above-average arm and range." Jimerson, who overcame a tough family background and endured 3-plus seasons as a reserve at Miami, has intangibles that can't be measured. He plays with a lot of emotion and intensity. "He's a great-looking athlete," Boles said. "He plays without fear."