Brendan Harris Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1694
AVG	.256
OBP	.314
SLG	.381
HR	33

Full name Brendan Michael Harris
Born 08/26/1980 in Queensbury, NY
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School William & Mary
Debut 07/06/2004
Drafted in the 5th round (138th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2001.

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Scouts called Harris the toughest out in the Colonial Athletic Association this spring. He has a quick bat, his best tool, and surprising power. A shortstop at William & Mary, Harris can play all three infield positions, making him an ideal utility player. He lacks the speed and arm strength to be an everyday shortstop as a pro, and probably will start at second base once he signs. He played the position last summer in an all-star season in the Cape Cod League.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Harris originally signed with the Cubs and quickly became one of their top hitting prospects, but his star has faded over the last two seasons and he has been traded twice since the 2006 all-star break. He went to the Expos in the four-team Nomar Garciaparra/Orlando Cabrera deal in July 2004, to the Reds last July as a part of an eight-player swap that sent Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez to Washington, and to the Devil Rays for a player to be named in January. Harris never developed the power to become a big league third baseman, and he's not good enough defensively to be an everyday second baseman. Harris has a line-drive swing that has produced solid averages and gap power throughout most of his minor league career. He draws walks, though he strikes out a bit much. He's adequate defensively at second or third base, and he can play shortstop, though he lacks the range to handle that position as more than a fill-in. He's a below-average runner. Now viewed as an offensive utilityman, he'll audition for that role with Tampa Bay in spring training.
Just two years ago, Harris was projected as the Cubs' answer at third base, but Aramis Ramirez' emergence closed that door. When Chicago and Boston were scrambling to complete the four-team Nomar Garciaparra-Orlando Cabrera deal minutes before the 2004 trading deadline, the Red Sox tried to finalize it by sending outfield prospect Matt Murton to the then-Expos. But Montreal general manager Omar Minaya balked at taking Murton, so Cubs GM Jim Hendry took Murton and sent Harris to the Expos. While Murton batted .321 in 51 games as a rookie last season, Harris had a down year. He made the full-time transition from third base to second in mid-May, and he seemed to take to the role, at least defensively. A career .301 hitter in four minor league seasons entering 2005, Harris wasn't as productive at New Orleans. He still has a solid line-drive stroke with some gap power. He has a strong arm and good infield instincts, though he doesn't do anything in spectacular fashion. He doesn't hit for enough power to stick at third base, and he wouldn't beat out Ryan Zimmerman anyway. Harris still is in the Nationals' plans as a versatile utilityman who has an outside chance to be an everyday second baseman.
Acquired along with Francis Beltran from the Cubs in the four-team trade highlighted by Orlando Cabrera and Nomar Garciaparra last July, Harris appeared to be the franchise's third baseman of the future. That changed when the Nationals signed Vinny Castilla. Harris is a consistent line-drive hitter with good power to the gaps. Former GM Omar Minaya envisioned Harris as a 20-homer, 80-RBI threat. He has a plus infield arm and displays good athleticism at both second and third. He also has played some shortstop. Harris tends to start his hands a little late in his swing, cutting his reaction time. He's somewhat of a tweener because his bat fits better at second base--where he's blocked by Jose Vidro--but he's a better defender at third. Harris will vie for a big league utility job this spring but might end up back in Triple-A to get more at-bats. He profiles best as a No. 2 hitter, and perhaps as a No. 5 hitter if his power develops.
Harris couldn't match the .328 average and 15 homers he put up in his first full pro season in 2002, but the Cubs were still pleased with his development. They gave him a look at catcher during spring training, but ended that experiment when the physical toll proved to be too much. Harris missed the final two weeks of the season with broken ribs, then returned to hit .302 in the Arizona Fall League. Harris is a consistent line-drive hitter with gap power. He hasn't shown typical home run pop for a third baseman, but the Cubs believe it will come. He has one of the strongest infield arms in the system, and he displays good athleticism at both second and third base. Harris has played more at the hot corner than at second base, and it shows. He's not as smooth at second and needs to improve his double-play pivots. His intense makeup is an overall plus, yet it sometimes works against him. Harris will continue to see playing time at both second and third base in 2004 at Triple-A Iowa. He'll challenge for a big league job at one of those spots in 2005.
Area scout Billy Swoope has a knack for finding talented hitters at Virginia colleges. After cutting his pro debut short to work toward his government concentration degree at William & Mary--which he completed in December 2002--Harris was spectacular in his first full season. Playing through a nagging knee injury, he hit .328 and reached Double-A. Harris has supplanted David Kelton as the system's top pure hitter and best hope to end the Curse of Ron Santo. He hits for gap power and, unlike Kelton, has demonstrated the ability to play the hot corner. Managers rated Harris the Florida State League's best defensive third baseman and he has the strongest infield arm among Cubs farmhands. An all-New York basketball player in high school, he also offers athleticism and speed. He can play second base if needed. Harris has a fiery temper that sometimes gets the best of him. Then again, his drive allowed him to play through his knee problems, which didn't require surgery, and recover from a .217 April last year. He'll begin 2003 as a Double-A third baseman but could push for a quick promotion. He should be in Chicago's lineup somewhere by the end of 2004.

Minor League Top Prospects

Like he did with Scott Stewart, former Expos GM Omar Minaya parlayed Orlando Cabrera into two prospects who should help the franchise when it's ready to contend again. Harris and hard-throwing reliever Francis Beltran (who didn't spend enough time in the PCL to qualify for this list) came from the Cubs in the four-team Nomar Garciaparra trade. If the Expos don't re-sign Tony Batista, Harris would become their starting third baseman next year. Harris shuffled between second base, third base and shortstop this year, and he's a bit of a tweener. His line-drive, gap-power bat fits better at second, while defensively he looks the best at the hot corner. He has enough raw power to make it at third base, and his instincts and work ethic would allow him to get by at second.