C.J. Cron

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #2 prospect in 2014
  Some players are born to play baseball. C.J.'s father Chris reached the majors and has spent years as a minor league coach and manager, piloting Double-A Erie in the Tigers system in 2013. His younger brother Kevin, drafted by the Mariners out of high school in 2011, plays at Texas Christian. Cron's righthanded power potential made it a little easier for the Angels to consider trading Mark Trumbo. While he isn't the athlete Trumbo is, Cron has nearly as much raw pull power and the bat speed to catch up to fastballs. He never has walked much, but he also has the hand-eye coordination to make consistent hard contact. Scouts liked his aggressiveness in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .413 to win the batting title. Cron has to hit, because his value is entirely tied to his bat. He's a below-average defender at first base. Cron is headed to Triple-A Salt Lake, and could reach Anaheim sometime in 2014.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #3 prospect in 2013
  The 17th overall pick in the 2011 draft and recipient of a $1.467 million bonus, Cron came into spring training in 2012 out of shape. He looked lost early in his first full pro season before losing weight and rebounding to lead the minors with 123 RBIs. Following the season, he had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, which he had played with since his final season at Utah. Cron also had an operation on his right knee following his pro debut. His father Chris played briefly in the majors with the Angels and his brother was an unsigned third-rounder in 2011 that now attends Texas Christian. The ball makes a different sound coming off Cron's bat. He has plus-plus raw power, and thanks to his hand-eye coordination he doesn't strike out excessively. But he also doesn't walk much because he swings at borderline strikes and chases breaking balls. His ability to handle breaking pitches improved as the season went on, though some scouts have reservations about his ability to catch up to quality fastballs. All of his value lies in his bat, as he's slow-footed and a limited defender at first base. His hands and feet are adequate, but he needs to improve his flexibility and first-step quickness to avoid becoming a DH. Cron will have to show improved plate discipline to reach his ceiling as a middle-of-the-order bat. He should start 2013 in Double-A.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #5 prospect in 2012
  Cron hit .434 at Utah and led NCAA Division I with an .803 slugging percentage in 2011 while contending with a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The 17th overall pick in June, he signed quickly for $1.467 million and mashed 13 homers in 34 games at Rookie-level Orem before dislocating his right kneecap during a swing. Offseason surgery cleaned up both his shoulder and knee maladies. Cron's plus-plus power could translate to 30 homers at his peak. His bat stays on the same plane as the ball, which prevents him swinging uphill and compromising power for the sake of loft. He uses the whole field and makes adjustments well enough to hit .280 in the big leagues. Pioneer League managers weren't sold on his ability to handle hard stuff inside, though he was considerably dinged up when they saw him. A catcher at Utah prior to his shoulder trouble, Cron projects as an adequate first baseman with an average arm. He's a bottom-of-the-scale runner. Cron's thick, bulky physique turns off some scouts, but nobody will complain as long as he realizes his massive power potential. He could finish the 2012 season in Double-A if he hits the ground running in high Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked California League #9 prospect in 2012
  The Angels made Cron the 17th overall pick in the 2011 draft on the strength of his bat and he didn't disappoint in his first full pro season. He made the jump to high Class A, led the minors with 123 RBIs and topped the league with 271 total bases while playing through a torn labrum in his right shoulder that required surgery in late August. Modesto manager Lenn Sakata compared him to Billy Butler, though Cron projects to put up bigger home run numbers. Cron has tremendous power but doesn't sell out to get to it, making him more than just a one-dimensional hitter. He goes up to the plate with a plan, fouls off tough pitches and uses the opposite field when appropriate. His ability to handle breaking pitches improved as the season went on, though there are also some reservations about whether he can catch up to quality fastballs. A catcher at the start of his college career, Cron made the transition to first base in 2011 after hurting his shoulder. He's a well-below average runner but moves well for his size. While he's still learning his new position, he shows the ability to pick low throws out of the dirt.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #4 prospect in 2011
  Cron didn't let a torn labrum or the NCAA's lower-octane metal bats slow him down at Utah this spring, when he hit .434 and led Division I with an .803 slugging percentage. After signing for $1.467 million as the 17th overall pick in the 2011 draft, he kept on mashing with Orem until he dislocated his right kneecap during a swing on Aug. 7. He had surgery on the knee in September and faced another operation to repair his right shoulder. The son of former major leaguer and current Tigers Double-A manager Chris Cron, C.J. has plus-plus raw power than could translate to 30 homers annually. PL managers wondered if he'd be able to maintain a high batting average because he can be beat inside with good fastballs and didn't command the strike zone, though scouts who saw him as an amateur didn't share those concerns. The latter group commended his hand-eye coordination, approach and ability to make adjustments. Because of his pre-existing shoulder surgery, Cron serving exclusively as a DH for Orem. He's a bottom-of-the-scale runner with adequate range at first base, though he threw well enough to play catcher prior to this season.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The 17th overall pick in the 2011 draft and recipient of a $1.467 million bonus, Cron came into spring training in 2012 out of shape. He looked lost early in his first full pro season before losing weight and rebounding to lead the minors with 123 RBIs. Following the season, he had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, which he had played with since his final season at Utah. Cron also had an operation on his right knee following his pro debut. His father Chris played briefly in the majors with the Angels and his brother was an unsigned third-rounder in 2011 that now attends Texas Christian. Scouting Report: The ball makes a different sound coming off Cron's bat. He has plus-plus raw power, and thanks to his hand-eye coordination he doesn't strike out excessively. But he also doesn't walk much because he swings at borderline strikes and chases breaking balls. His ability to handle breaking pitches improved as the season went on, though some scouts have reservations about his ability to catch up to quality fastballs. All of his value lies in his bat, as he's slow-footed and a limited defender at first base. His hands and feet are adequate, but he needs to improve his flexibility and first-step quickness to avoid becoming a DH. The Future: Cron will have to show improved plate discipline to reach his ceiling as a middle-of-the-order bat. He should start 2013 in Double-A.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Cron hit .434 at Utah and led NCAA Division I with an .803 slugging percentage in 2011 while contending with a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The 17th overall pick in June, he signed quickly for $1.467 million and mashed at Rookie-level Orem before dislocating his right kneecap during a swing. Offseason surgery mended his knee but he avoided shoulder surgery through rehabilitation. Cron's father Chris served as the Tigers' Double-A manager in 2011, while his brother Kevin went in the third round to the Mariners.Scouting Report: Cron's plus-plus power could translate to 30 homers at his peak. His bat stays on the same plane as the ball, which prevents him from swinging uphill and compromising power for the sake of loft. He uses the whole field and makes adjustments well enough to hit .280 in the big leagues. Pioneer League managers weren't sold on his ability to handle hard stuff inside, though he was considerably dinged up when they saw him. A catcher at Utah prior to his shoulder trouble, Cron projects as an adequate first baseman with an average arm. He's a bottom-of-the-scale runner.The Future: Cron's thick, bulky physique turns off some scouts, but nobody will complain as long as he realizes his massive power potential. He could finish the 2012 season in Double-A if he hits the ground running in high Class A.