Chris Basak

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #19 prospect in 2002
  The Mets rarely allow a drafted player to bypass low Class A, but the team made an exception with Basak last year. After he led the short-season New York-Penn League with a .349 batting average and hit .412 during a short stint at St. Lucie in 2000, Basak returned to the Florida State League at the beginning of last season. He again finished strong, hitting .372 after a late-August promotion to Double-A. Basak is a tough and aggressive player whose game is better than the sum of his tools. With his strike-zone judgment and willingness to play within himself, he has the ability to bat at the top of the lineup. His hands and footwork are outstanding at shortstop, his range is good and his arm is average yet strong enough for throws from the hole. Basak is also an intelligent player who comes to the ballpark ready to play every day. While the Mets would have liked him to hit higher than .233 at St. Lucie, he should stay in Double-A in 2002 and continue his ascent as a steady infielder and potential utilityman.
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  Ranked New York Mets #24 prospect in 2001
  Taking to short-season Pittsfield's leadoff spot with ease, Basak drove opposing defenses crazy with his knack for fouling off pitches until he saw one he liked. He led the New York-Penn League in hitting and was solid defensively. The only tool he lacks is power, as he's still looking for his first professional home run. Basak can drive liners to the gaps and seems to catch everything at shortstop. With above-average speed and baserunning skills, plus his knack for making plays, he reminds the Mets a little of Mike Bordick. Basak has just an average arm, but he's steady, intelligent and hard-nosed enough to avoid a move to second base for. He was promoted to St. Lucie for the Florida State League playoffs and could start 2001 there.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #19 prospect in 2000
  Taking to Pittsfield's leadoff spot with ease, Basak drove opposing defenses crazy with his knack for fouling off pitches until he saw one he liked. He led the league with a .349 average. He’s solid defensively and the only tool he lacks is power. "He's pretty solid," Leiper said. "You try to find a way to get him out, but he has good line-drive power to gaps and catches everything at short."

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Taking to Pittsfield's leadoff spot with ease, Basak drove opposing defenses crazy with his knack for fouling off pitches until he saw one he liked. He led the league with a .349 average. He’s solid defensively and the only tool he lacks is power. "He's pretty solid," Leiper said. "You try to find a way to get him out, but he has good line-drive power to gaps and catches everything at short."