Charlie Fermaint Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2097
AVG	.254
OBP	.313
SLG	.365
HR	40

Full name Charlie Fermaint
Born 10/11/1985 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Profile Ht.: 5'8" / Wt.: 198 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Jose Santos Alegria
Drafted in the 4th round (99th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2003 (signed for $295,000).

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OFs Jayson Santiago and Charlie Fermaint and INF Eduardo Nunez all have drawn interest with their speed... Fermaint is the best hitter among them.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Fermaint is one of the most gifted athletes in the system. Now it's time for him to do something with those skills. The only time he has truly lived up to his tools came in 2005 with a torrid stretch when he repeated the Pioneer League. Unhappy about being sent to high Class A for the second straight season in 2007, he performed so poorly that he was demoted to low Class A, where he continued to struggle. His production fell off so sharply from 2006 that the Brewers aren't sure what to make of him, making 2008 a critical year for Fermaint. He has a quick bat but hasn't tapped into the power potential Milwaukee expected. If he's not going to hit for power, he has to get on base more and make things happen. Fermaint still strikes out far too often and doesn't walk enough, which negates his speed factor. And even with plus speed, he gets caught stealing too often (12 times in 39 tries last year), exposing his lack of instincts. He gets inconsistent jumps in center field and made 12 errors in 2007, though he did continue to show a solid-average arm. Other outfield prospects in the system are passing him by, so it's time for Fermaint to apply himself and get the Brewers excited about him again. He'll probably open his third consecutive year at Brevard County.
Fermaint has progressed steadily while being pushed aggressively, though he's been bothered by hamstring and shoulder issues during his ascent and was benched once in 2006 for not running a groundball out. One of the system's top athletes, he has quick hands and impressive bat speed, but hasn't tapped into his raw power potential. Fermaint is a plus runner who can cover 60 yards in 6.5 seconds as well as showing the makings of a plus center fielder defensively. His arm is solid-average. His instincts aren't helping him on his flyball reads and he was caught on 14 of 41 steal attempts. But club officials remind themselves that Fermaint played the entire season at age 20 in the Florida State League, a tough circuit for any hitter. He must learn to stay on offspeed pitches and stop pulling off. Overall, his strike zone judgment has to improve, and he needs to find consistency at the plate and let his talent take over. He doesn't hit for power and is more valuable at the top of the order, so Fermaint must get on base and make things happen. The Brewers have something of a logjam in center field, with Gwynn at Triple-A, Steve Moss coming off a disappointing turn at Double-A and then Fermaint. All three are likely to repeat their 2006 levels, at least to start.
Fermaint has as high a ceiling as any Brewers position player other than Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, and one Brewers official likens him to Andruw Jones. But it took Fermaint until midway through his third pro season to make it out of Rookie ball, and the progress of his bat will determine how much of his significant potential he reaches. He had hamstring problems in high school in Puerto Rico that helped drive him down to the fourth round of the 2003 draft. He also struggled with shoulder woes and pitch recognition in his first try at Rookie-level Helena in 2004. Like Jones, Fermaint improved as a hitter when he got into a wider, better hitting position to give him more balance against offspeed pitches. That helped him let his bat speed take over, as his hands are quick enough to catch up to any heater and drive it with authority. While he doesn't project to have Jones' power and is more of a top-of- the-order hitter, Fermaint has defensive ability that evokes the young Jones, with a solid-average, accurate arm, effortless range and efficient routes. He's a plus runner, covering 60 yards in 6.5 seconds when healthy. The Brewers liken Fermaint's makeup to that of Corey Hart, as he doesn't get down on himself and is coachable. His ability to adjust to more advanced pitching--South Atlantic Leaguers handled him in his first pass through the league--will determine how quickly he advances.
One of the youngest players selected in the 2003 draft, Fermaint didn't turn 18 until after the season. His primary asset is his blazing speed. Clocked at 6.5 seconds in the 60-yard dash early last spring, he pulled a hamstring and slid until the fourth round of the draft. Injuries got him again in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he hurt his shoulder diving for a ball in the outfield. He's raw, but his speed gives him the chance to be a top-notch basestealer and center fielder. He must learn plate discipline to take full advantage of his quickness. Fermaint has a short stroke and could develop power as he matures. In the meantime, he's being encouraged to bunt and hit the ball on the ground more often. The Brewers like his athletic skills and believe he'll only improve with experience. Because he's so young and not advanced, he probably won't see full-season ball until 2005.

Minor League Top Prospects

Fermaint was on such a tear that during a game against Billings, Mustangs coaches instructed their third baseman to play at normal depth because they preferred Fermaint bunting for a hit as opposed to swinging away. He hit safely in 19 of his final 20 games before earning a promotion to low Class A in late July. Fermaint's best tool is his plus speed and he is a very good defensive center fielder. He has good instincts and outstanding range. After two years in the Rookie-level Arizona League, he was held back in extended spring training because of a sore shoulder, but he showed an average, accurate arm nonetheless. He can reach base in a number of different ways. He can keep the ball on the ground and utilize his speed and he bunts well. But Fermaint has some pop that he didn't show while compiling a .393 slugging percentage during his first two seasons. He nearly doubled that in the PL and has average power, especially to the pull side. He needs to improve his plate discipline and is susceptible to stuff pitches on the outer half because he's pull-conscious. "Fermaint might be an 80 runner but with bat potential in center field," Orem manager Tom Kotchman said. "There are not many guys with that speed and some power."
One of the youngest players in the 2003 draft, the 17-year-old Fermaint missed a significant portion of the season when he jammed his shoulder sliding into second base. Fermaint's best tool is speed, and every other part of his game has a chance to be at least average. He has solid swing mechanics with a good, short stroke. He stays inside the ball well and hits the ball where it's pitched. "He's got a very good approach at the plate," Brewers coach George McPherson said. "The ball jumps off his bat. There is a good chance power will come as he fills out." A left fielder in his pro debut, Fermaint is being groomed to play center to take advantage of his speed. He can do the same offensively if he learns to draw more walks.