Matt Cepicky
| AB | 185 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .211 |
| OBP | .24 |
| SLG | .335 |
| HR | 4 |
- Full name Matthew William Cepicky
- Born 11/10/1977 in St. Louis, MO
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Missouri State
- Debut 07/31/2002
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Drafted in the 4th round (120th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 1999.
View Draft Report
OF Matt Cepicky attracted scouts of all levels of power and influence to see him play this spring, and the beneficiaries were his teammates. As many as seven or eight Bears players should be drafted. But none will go higher than the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Cepicky, who raised his profile with an outstanding season in the Cape Cod League last summer. He continued his hot pace this spring. Cepicky has huge arms and hits balls a long way. He's a former high school third baseman still feeling his way along as an outfielder. He has rough edges. He doesn't get good jumps on fly balls, is somewhat stiff charging ground balls and has just an average left-field arm.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Cepicky was leading the Eastern League in RBIs when he was promoted to Montreal on July 31 and made his major league debut, striking out in his first at-bat against Randy Johnson. He didn't perform well with the Expos, yet his work ethic made him a favorite of manager Frank Robinson. Cepicky is a heavy-hitting outfielder who frequently draws comparisons to Ryan Klesko because of his tool set and body type. His lefthander power grades out at 70 on the 20-80 scale, though he has yet to truly tap into it because of his mediocre strike-zone judgment. Cepicky runs well for a man his size, but he's limited to left field. He has moderate range and a below-average but accurate arm. He should start the year in Triple- A but could serve the Expos as a left fielder (if they decide to move Brad Wilkerson to first base) or as a power bat off the bench. -
Cepicky made scouts take notice when he ranked among the leaders in all three triple-crown categories in the prestigious Cape Cod League in the summer of 1998, then did the same in NCAA Division I while earning All-America honors the following spring. He's a heavy-hitting outfielder who frequently draws comparisons to Ryan Klesko because of his bat and tools. Power potential and work ethic are Cepicky's strong suits, with his lefthanded power grading out as a 70 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. His power didn't translate into home runs last season, in part because he doesn't always wait for pitches he can drive. He has good bat speed and makes consistent contact, however. Cepicky runs well for a man his size, and his prowess on the basepaths enabled him to swipe 32 bags last season. Defensively, his range and arm are average for a left fielder. He'll probably open 2001 in Double-A.
