Jim Thome

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #4 prospect in 1992
  Thome capped a meteoric rise through the system by making his big league debut Sept. 4, just eight days after turning 21. A 13th-round pick in 1989, he simply hit his way to the big leagues, batting .307 in three minor league seasons. He was named the top prospect in the Appalachian League in 1990 and No. 1 in the Eastern League in 1991. He held his own in 27 late-season games with the Tribe, showing a strong arm and polished technique coming in on choppers and bunts. Thome will go to camp as the favorite to start at third base, but more refining at Triple-A, where he’s had just 151 at-bats, may be necessary.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #4 prospect in 1991
  If there is a meteor in the Tribe’s farm system, Thome is it. After a mediocre debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 1989, he demolished Appalachian League pitching last year, hitting .373-12-34 in 34 games. Not surprisingly, he was selected the top prospect in the league before being promoted to high Class A Kinston, where he hit .308. By moving closer to the plate and using his hands more, Thome transformed himself from an opposite-field hitter to a more dangerous pull hitter. Rapid maturity between 1989 and 1990 also explains his ascent. He’s only adequate defensively, and a position change could be in his future.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #1 prospect in 1993
  Some people were down on Thome after an injury-marred and confidence-sapping 1992 campaign that started in Cleveland and led to Triple-A. No longer. Thome re-established himself with a monster year at Charlotte. He led the International League in eight categories and chased a triple crown before moving on to Cleveland in early August. Norfolk manager Clint Hurdle said Thome had “a lot of George Brett action” in his lefthanded swing. “He’s one of the best hitters I’ve seen in the minor leagues in quite awhile,” Toledo manager Joe Sparks said. “He has outstanding power. Defensively, he’s got a ways to go. You can’t have everything.”
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #1 prospect in 1991
  How does a 13th-round selection two seasons out of junior college emerge as the best prospect in a Double-A league? With hard work and a near-insatiable thirst for the game. “Coaching third base, you get a chance to talk to him, get inside his head a little bit,” Harrisburg manager Mike Quade said. “He’s always talking about situations. He’s fearless at the plate, and he has a good idea of what he wants to do up there.” “He hits well, and even though he doesn’t run real well, he’s got a quick first step at third base,” said New Britain manager Gary Allenson. “He’s a line-drive hitter who has power potential, and he has a great mental outlook.” “He’s turned into a plus defensive player,” said Thome’s own manager, Ken Bolek of Canton-Akron. “Offensively he’s capable of hitting for a high average with power. He’s going to improve his home run totals, and he has outstanding makeup. He’s a gamer.” Thome didn’t turn 21 until after his promotion. He had little trouble playing third base at sometimes tricky Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium, showing a willingness to give up his body to make a play.
• 
  Ranked American League #1 prospect in 1990
  In Thome’s 34 games in the league with Burlington, he put numbers on the board and fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers. He was on pace to contend for a triple crown before getting called to high Class A Kinston, where he hit .308-4-16 in 33 games. “I saw him in instructional league last year and it didn’t look like the same kid,” Kingsport manager Jim Thrift said. “He has the ability to stay back and use the whole field. I have to give him credit for improving his defense, too.”

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #51 prospect in 1992
• Ranked Baseball America's #93 prospect in 1991

• December, 1992 Scouting Report
  Some people were down on Thome after an injury-marred and confidence-sapping 1992 campaign that started in Cleveland and led to Triple-A. No longer. Thome re-established himself with a monster year at Charlotte. He led the International League in eight categories and chased a triple crown before moving on to Cleveland in early August. Norfolk manager Clint Hurdle said Thome had “a lot of George Brett action” in his lefthanded swing. “He’s one of the best hitters I’ve seen in the minor leagues in quite awhile,” Toledo manager Joe Sparks said. “He has outstanding power. Defensively, he’s got a ways to go. You can’t have everything.”
• December, 1991 Scouting Report
  Thome capped a meteoric rise through the system by making his big league debut Sept. 4, just eight days after turning 21. A 13th-round pick in 1989, he simply hit his way to the big leagues, batting .307 in three minor league seasons. He was named the top prospect in the Appalachian League in 1990 and No. 1 in the Eastern League in 1991. He held his own in 27 late-season games with the Tribe, showing a strong arm and polished technique coming in on choppers and bunts. Thome will go to camp as the favorite to start at third base, but more refining at Triple-A, where he’s had just 151 at-bats, may be necessary.
• December, 1990 Scouting Report
  If there is a meteor in the Tribe’s farm system, Thome is it. After a mediocre debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 1989, he demolished Appalachian League pitching last year, hitting .373-12-34 in 34 games. Not surprisingly, he was selected the top prospect in the league before being promoted to high Class A Kinston, where he hit .308. By moving closer to the plate and using his hands more, Thome transformed himself from an opposite-field hitter to a more dangerous pull hitter. Rapid maturity between 1989 and 1990 also explains his ascent. He’s only adequate defensively, and a position change could be in his future.
• December, 1990 Scouting Report
  How does a 13th-round selection two seasons out of junior college emerge as the best prospect in a Double-A league? With hard work and a near-insatiable thirst for the game. “Coaching third base, you get a chance to talk to him, get inside his head a little bit,” Harrisburg manager Mike Quade said. “He’s always talking about situations. He’s fearless at the plate, and he has a good idea of what he wants to do up there.” “He hits well, and even though he doesn’t run real well, he’s got a quick first step at third base,” said New Britain manager Gary Allenson. “He’s a line-drive hitter who has power potential, and he has a great mental outlook.” “He’s turned into a plus defensive player,” said Thome’s own manager, Ken Bolek of Canton-Akron. “Offensively he’s capable of hitting for a high average with power. He’s going to improve his home run totals, and he has outstanding makeup. He’s a gamer.” Thome didn’t turn 21 until after his promotion. He had little trouble playing third base at sometimes tricky Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium, showing a willingness to give up his body to make a play.
• December, 1989 Scouting Report
  In Thome’s 34 games in the league with Burlington, he put numbers on the board and fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers. He was on pace to contend for a triple crown before getting called to high Class A Kinston, where he hit .308-4-16 in 33 games. “I saw him in instructional league last year and it didn’t look like the same kid,” Kingsport manager Jim Thrift said. “He has the ability to stay back and use the whole field. I have to give him credit for improving his defense, too.”