Jason Hart

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #11 prospect in 2003
  Hart was a Missouri Valley Conference home run champ at Southwest Missouri State, which had a noted hitter's park, but has since established a track record as a legitimate pro power hitter. Hart clearly is a favorite of assistant general manager Grady Fuson, who drafted him for the Athletics and then had him included in the Carlos Pena trade. Hart has spent the last two years in Triple-A, and in some organizations would be thought of as a Four-A player, but Fuson and the Rangers consider him a strong big league option who could be a starter if not for Rafael Palmeiro's presence in Texas. Hart added versatility to his game by spending more than half of last season in left field--in part to accommodate the since-traded Travis Hafner, who was limited to first base--and playing it adequately. Hart's arm and speed are slightly below-average, but he hits enough for the position. Hart has holes in his swing, particularly on offspeed stuff away. But he can handle a good fastball, has pull power and is willing to work the count to get a pitch he can drive. The Rangers could keep him as a big league reserve depending on the makeup of their roster.
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #10 prospect in 2002
  Another component of the Carlos Pena trade, Hart sped through the Oakland system with .303-70-317 totals in his first 350 pro games. Then everything fell apart for him last year in Triple-A. The Athletics think he may have put too much pressure on himself because of Jason Giambi's pending free agency. Before he got to Triple-A, Hart showed he could hit for both power and average. He used the whole field and was an offensive force. After spending many hours honing his skills, he has made himself into a good defensive first baseman. Hart has to readjust his approach and return to the form that allowed him to terrorize pitchers at lower levels. Getting a bit more selective would help. He doesn't fit at another position, and he could have problems winning a starting job with the Rangers because they have a number of candidates for first base and DH, both in the present and in the future. Had he produced in 2001, Hart might have been Giambi's successor in Oakland. Instead he'll return to Triple-A, where he'll try to rebound and await a big league opening.
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #2 prospect in 2001
  Hart spent his youth in Contra Costa County, just north of Oakland. He finished among the NCAA Division I leaders in home runs and RBIs in 1998, then batted .305-19-123 at high Class A Modesto in his first full pro season a year later. He surpassed those numbers in 2000, and fared as well on the road as he did at hitter-friendly Double-A Midland. Hart possesses impressive power and backs it up with big numbers in average. He has developed the ability to use the whole field. What has most impressed the A's is his dramatic improvement on defense, where thousands of ground balls have led to huge advancements in his first-base play. Hart still needs to improve his selectivity at the plate and further refine his stroke. More than anything he just needs experience against higher-level pitching. He's probably limited to playing first, though he's working at third base to increase his versatility. A year at Triple-A at Sacramento will provide Hart the opportunity to test his skills against more advanced pitching. He has the bat to be an everyday first baseman in the major leagues.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #6 prospect in 2000
  Hart nearly gave the TL its second triple crown winner in as many years, as he led the league in RBIs and finished second in batting average and home runs. Christensen Stadium is one of the best hitter’s parks in the minors, but Hart wasn’t a Midland mirage. He hit half of his 30 homers on the road and slugged just three points higher (.584 to .581) at home. Managers rated Hart the league’s best batting prospect in a midseason survey. Though Hart’s power stroke is potent, Round Rock skipper Jackie Moore was more impressed by his willingness to tailor his swing to the situation. "He's just a tough out every time," Moore said. "He can definitely take you deep, but he's also capable of dropping in opposite-field singles when he needs to."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #59 prospect in 2001

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Hart nearly gave the TL its second triple crown winner in as many years, as he led the league in RBIs and finished second in batting average and home runs. Christensen Stadium is one of the best hitter’s parks in the minors, but Hart wasn’t a Midland mirage. He hit half of his 30 homers on the road and slugged just three points higher (.584 to .581) at home. Managers rated Hart the league’s best batting prospect in a midseason survey. Though Hart’s power stroke is potent, Round Rock skipper Jackie Moore was more impressed by his willingness to tailor his swing to the situation. "He's just a tough out every time," Moore said. "He can definitely take you deep, but he's also capable of dropping in opposite-field singles when he needs to."