Gookie Dawkins

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #20 prospect in 2003
  In 2002, Dawkins spent time in Double-A for the fourth straight year and made his third consecutive trip to the Arizona Fall League. Once rated ahead of Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns as the organization's top prospect after his breakthrough 1999 season, he hasn't developed offensively. Once regarded as the heir apparent to Barry Larkin at shortstop, he looks more like he'll have to settle for a utility role. Dawkins can run and field, though he stole a career-low nine bags last season. He has quick hands, good range and an above-average arm that's very accurate. At the plate, however, he struggles to stay back and recognize pitches. He doesn't strike the ball with authority, and he hasn't improved his plate discipline either. Dawkins is out of options, so he'll need to win a spot on the Cincinnati bench this spring.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #8 prospect in 2002
  Having spent part of the last three years in Double-A, Dawkins appears stuck in neutral. Yet the Reds maintain faith in his ability. Bothered by a right knee injury at the end of 2000, Dawkins had barely recovered when he sprained a ligament in the same knee rounding third base in April. His 2001 season essentially didn't begin until mid- May. As a veteran of the 1999 Pan American Games and the 2000 Olympics, Dawkins has a well-rounded understanding of the game. His knee injuries haven't ruined his speed and quickness, which he uses in the field and on the basepaths. His range and strong arm help him make difficult plays look routine. The Reds aren't sure what has kept Dawkins in a two-year offensive funk, which he started to come out of in the Arizona Fall League. He tends to drift into pitches, resulting in a lot of awkward swings and the sense that pitchers can knock the bat out of his hands. Dawkins is a strong candidate to open 2002 in Triple-A, though a return to Double-A isn't out of the question. He has experience at second base, but shortstop is Dawkins' natural position. Obviously, as a result of the Pokey Reese trade, he's got a much better chance of seeing time there when the chance comes.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #8 prospect in 2001
  Dawkins is collecting more medals than an Armed Forces veteran. He hit .273 in the 1999 Pan American Games as Team USA captured the silver medal and qualified for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In Australia he appeared in seven games, starting twice, for the gold medal-winning Americans. The Reds' plethora of shortstops in the majors and in the system led them to try Dawkins at second base this year. If he were to play a full season alongside two-time Gold Glove second baseman Pokey Reese, the Reds might be able to count the number of ground-ball base hits up the middle on one hand. Like Reese, Dawkins has excellent range and a sure, strong arm. Though Dawkins could stand to polish his footwork, he proved during his stints with Cincinnati in the last two seasons that he could hold his own defensively in the majors already. The problem is that he regressed offensively last year. He made less contact, hit for less average and power and wasn't as much of a factor on the bases as in 1999. The Reds say he'll thrive if he can develop a consistent approach at the plate. With Barry Larkin signed through 2003, Dawkins may encounter the proverbial glass ceiling if he continues to stay with the Reds. He can use another minor league season to improve offensively but may be ready in 2002--with no clear job awaiting him.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #1 prospect in 2000
  Background: More than a few eyes were raised when the 20-year-old Dawkins was named to Team USA for the Pan American Games last July, with a berth in the 2000 Sydney Olympics on the line. Why put a Midwest League shortstop hardly two years removed from a rural South Carolina high school program on the field with the Cubans and professionals from other countries? No worry, as they would say in Australia. Dawkins was more than up to it, providing flawless fielding and timely hitting as the Americans finished second. By September, Dawkins was in Cincinnati watching the pennant race and learning from 10-time all-star Barry Larkin. Strengths: Dawkins' fielding tools are what made him a second-round pick in 1997 and what get noticed first today. He is relatively tall and rangy for a shortstop but has a little man's quickness and balance. Dawkins' hands are soft and sure and he has the arm strength to make the off-balance throw and get runners from the hole. Dawkins' quick feet translate into a 3.9-4.0 runner to first base from the right side and he has a chance to steal 40 bases a year in the major leagues. The big difference in Dawkins from 1998 to 1999, according to Reds officials, was just physical maturity and strength. He went from a hitter who just tried to make contact against decent fastballs to a stronger hitter with the bat speed to drive plus velocity fastballs. Dawkins has always had good command of the strike zone and rarely strikes out. Weaknesses: Defensively, Dawkins is ready to play in the big leagues now. At the plate, the Reds feel that Dawkins needs to look to drive pitches more when the count is in his favor instead of just feeling for them. That's a mental adjustment that goes in hand with being physically stronger. The Future: "Gookie" has the same Gold Glove potential as Pokey Reese but a far higher offensive ceiling. Larkin is showing signs of his age in the field, but his offensive ability and leadership guarantee that he will play somewhere. That situation will continue to evolve, as will Dawkins' swing and strength.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #7 prospect in 1999
  Background: The Reds have challenged Dawkins, extremely raw when drafted, by pushing him to full-season ball. Dawkins has responded well. He missed the last month of the season with a broken toe. Strengths: Dawkins' tools are similar to those of Reese, who also was signed out of a South Carolina high school. Dawkins has well above-average speed and athletic ability along with smooth hands and a plus arm. He has also shown the ability to make consistent contact and hit the ball on the ground. Weaknesses: Dawkins lacks the physical strength to generate bat speed to drive the ball. If he can hit, his defense and speed will carry him far. The Future: The Reds consider Dawkins a special player defensively and feel he could play shortstop in the big leagues right now. They may push Dawkins to Double-A Chattanooga, where he probably would be overmatched offensively.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Southern League #16 prospect in 2000
  Dawkins was a revelation in 1999, dazzling as the shortstop on the U.S. Pan American Games team and batting .364 in a 32-game stint with Chattanooga. He wasn't as impressive in his return trip to the SL, hitting .231 overall and just .209 during the final three months. The Reds moved him to second base at the end of June, which apparently means that Pokey Reese is Barry Larkin's heir apparent. Dawkins has some pop and can steal a few bases, but his biggest strength is his middle-infield play. Compared to a year ago, managers thought he lacked focus at the plate and in the field. Despite his disappointing season, Dawkins made the U.S. Olympic team as a reserve shortstop behind Astros farmhand Adam Everett.
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  Ranked Midwest League #2 prospect in 1999
  Dawkins began the season, his second in the league, as something of an unknown. He finished it in the big leagues after emerging as one of the best defensive shortstops in the minors. Dawkins was quick in the field and on the basepaths. He was caught only 13 times on 51 stolen-base attempts. Soon after a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga, he was named the lone true shortstop on Team USA's roster for the Pan American Games. He continued to show his defensive ability on the higher levels, finishing the season learning from Barry Larkin in Cincinnati. "He knows how to play the game," Pedrique said. "He's very solid defensively. He has good range. He made every single play against us. He turns the double play really well. He has a chance of being a good hitter too."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #21 prospect in 2000

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Dawkins was a revelation in 1999, dazzling as the shortstop on the U.S. Pan American Games team and batting .364 in a 32-game stint with Chattanooga. He wasn't as impressive in his return trip to the SL, hitting .231 overall and just .209 during the final three months. The Reds moved him to second base at the end of June, which apparently means that Pokey Reese is Barry Larkin's heir apparent. Dawkins has some pop and can steal a few bases, but his biggest strength is his middle-infield play. Compared to a year ago, managers thought he lacked focus at the plate and in the field. Despite his disappointing season, Dawkins made the U.S. Olympic team as a reserve shortstop behind Astros farmhand Adam Everett.