Chase d’Arnaud Stats & Scouting Report

AB	550
AVG	.222
OBP	.273
SLG	.316
HR	5

Full name Chase Jonathan d'Arnaud
Born 01/21/1987 in Torrance, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 197 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Pepperdine
Debut 06/24/2011
Drafted in the 4th round (114th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008 (signed for $293,000).

View Draft Report

Pepperdine moved d'Arnaud to shortstop from this base this spring to replace Danny Worth, and d'Arnaud increased his draft stock by showing he could handle short. His arm and range profile better at third base, where he's an above-average defender, but he's solid-average at short. He lacks the raw power potential of his younger brother Travis, who was a second-round pick last year of the Phillies, but improved with the bat and showed solid gap power. He's also an average runner and a tick above underway.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

After cruising through his first two pro seasons, d'Arnaud hit the wall hard in Double- A last year. He batted .209 in the first two months and some dubious defense got him moved from shortstop to second base in August. Still, he showed some flashes, including a 19-game on-base streak in June, a grand slam in the Eastern League all-star game and three homers in the playoffs. His brother Travis plays in the Blue Jays system and is one of the game's top catching prospects. D'Arnaud's best tools are his plus speed and arm strength, and he covers a good amount of ground at shortstop. But he made 28 errors in 115 games at short last year, in part because he didn't maintain his focus. His offensive ceiling is as a No. 2 hitter, but he'll have to make adjustments to reach it. D'Arnaud guesses and strikes out too often. He's most effective when he doesn't try to do too much, keeps his hands inside the ball and uses the opposite field. He has some strength but below-average power, mostly because he hasn't learned to turn on pitches. Despite his struggles, the Pirates still believe d'Arnaud can be an everyday shortstop. He'll have to rebound in 2011, or a utility role will be in his future. He could return to Double-A to start the season.
D'Arnaud played his first two seasons at Pepperdine as a third baseman, but he's on the fast track with the Pirates as a shortstop. He split his first full pro season between two Class A clubs and then played in the Arizona Fall League. He faced his younger brother Travis, a prime catching prospect in the Phillies system, in the South Atlantic League all-star game. With his good eye and slightly above-average speed, d'Arnaud fits well at the top of a batting order. Managers rated him the best defensive shortstop in the high Class A Carolina League after he displayed solid range and a strong arm. He possesses outstanding baseball savvy and a strong work ethic, which helps him perform above his tools. D'Arnaud doesn't have a standout tool to carry him. He has below-average power and strikes out a bit much for a hitter whose offensive strength is his on-base ability. Some scouts question whether d'Arnaud will have enough range to play shortstop in the major leagues. The Pirates will send d'Arnaud to Double-A to start 2010. He might not wow people with his physical gifts, but he has the look of a big league middle infielder who would be effective batting second in a lineup.
D'Arnaud, whose younger brother Travis is a Phillies catching prospect, moved to shortstop last season at Pepperdine after spending his first two seasons as a third baseman. He handled the position, which raised his draft stock and earned him a $293,000 bonus as a fourth-rounder. After signing, he missed nearly a month with a sprained foot, but he came back and finished the year on a good note. D'Arnaud has good gap power and puts the bat on the ball consistently. He has a tendency to get overanxious at the plate, which causes problems with offspeed pitches, particularly from righthanders. D'Arnaud is considered an average defender at shortstop at this point but does show good range and a strong arm. He was a standout at third base in college and could end up there because the Pirates have shortstop depth in their system. His speed is a tick above-average, and he makes the most of it by being aggressive on the basepaths. D'Arnaud will make his full-season debut in low Class A and he could see action at second or third base, both to increase his versatility and in deference to Jarek Cunningham, who has better pure shortstop tools.

Minor League Top Prospects

D'Arnaud doesn't have one outstanding tool, but he helped his overall package and ability to play an up-the-middle position are promising. D'Arnaud has a good approach at the plate, posting a .402 on-base percentage with the Hillcats. He has some bat speed and occasionally will pull a home run--all seven of his homers between two Class A stops went to left field--but his power is below average. He's an average runner with keen instincts on the bases. A third baseman during his first two seasons at Pepperdine, D'Arnaud moved to shortstop in his draft year. He played shortstop and second base for Lynchburg. Some thought his range might be a touch short for shortstop, but he has a strong arm and managers rated him the CL's best defensive shortstop.
D'Arnaud played a sound third base during his first two years at Pepperdine before sliding over to shortstop last spring. When he had his best season with the bat and showed he could handle shortstop, he climbed into the fourth round of the draft. After struggling at State College in June and July and missing some time with a sprained foot, he hit .343 in August to finish. D'Arnaud is a gap-to-gap, line-drive hitter who can punish fastballs, particularly to left field. He's still refining his offensive approach. He has average speed and is an excellent baserunner thanks to his aggressiveness and intelligence. Defensively, d'Arnaud has a strong arm and sure hands that play well at either position on the left side of the infield. His range is average at shortstop and above average at third base. He brings energy and savvy to every facet of the game.