Anthony Hatch
| AB | 1959 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .275 |
| OBP | .346 |
| SLG | .444 |
| HR | 56 |
- Full name Anthony Lee Hatch
- Born 08/30/1983 in Phoenix, AZ
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Nicholls State
- Drafted in the 13th round (386th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2005.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Hatch provided good value for a 13th-round pick, hitting for average and power in the low Class A in 2006, when he emerged as a sleeper prospect. Injuries have limited him, though, as he was unable to participate in instructional league after the 2005 or '06 seasons. He had surgery on both his wrists in 2006, which hurt his bat speed last season. Still, Hatch nearly doubled his previous career-high for at-bats, showing surprising power that he generates from an angular and wiry 6-foot-4 frame. He stays through the ball well and gets good backspin on it, so the potential for more juice is there. The Blue Jays experimented with Hatch all over the infield in 2006, but abandoned the plan last year, letting him play his natural position of third base, where his range and arm are average. He's an average runner as well. Hatch next will face the challenges of Double-A, where he could see time at second base or in the outfield to increase his versatility. -
Hatch has provided good value for a 13th-round pick, hitting for average and power in the Midwest League, where scouts and league managers viewed him as a sleeper prospect. He has surprised the Blue Jays with his bat speed and the leverage in his fluid lefty stroke. He also has one of the best batting eyes in the system. Drafted as a third baseman, Hatch also played shortstop and second base last year. His range, arm and speed all rate as average, though he lacks the actions to profile as a regular shortstop. Toronto hoped to get him more time at second base, but injuries to both wrists shelved Hatch in late July and he missed instructional league for the second straight year. At 6-foot-4, angular and wiry strong, he might not be agile enough for second base, either. But whatever his future position, Hatch has more than enough bat to become a contributing backup or possibly more. He'll get more exposure to second base in high Class A this year.
