Cedric Hunter Stats & Scouting Report

AB	38
AVG	.105
OBP	.171
SLG	.184
HR	1

Full name Cedric Scott Hunter
Born 03/10/1988 in Decatur, GA
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Martin Luther King
Debut 03/31/2011
Drafted in the 3rd round (93rd overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2006 (signed for $415,000).

View Draft Report

In a draft bereft of polished hitters, Hunter is a commodity. He has proven his mettle while playing in the East Cobb summer league program in suburban Atlanta, and made a positive impression in 2005 when he held his own against Kyle Drabek, showing the ability to make adjustments at the plate. He plays with zeal and a quiet confidence scouts love. Hunter has a high leg kick that serves as his trigger, but he gets it down in time and loads his hands well in the process. He has a good feel for the strike zone and can lash line drives to all fields. His power isn't overwhelming, but he makes enough hard contact to project to hit 15-20 home runs annually in the big leagues. He has a slight loop in his swing and a slight uppercut, but nothing that draws significant concern. He doesn't run well enough to handle center field, though his range is average and plays up because of good instincts. His arm is slightly below-average. It's not clear he'll have enough power to profile as a corner outfielder, but scouts aren't likely to watch his bat slip past the top four rounds.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Hunter seems to perform well every other year. The Arizona League MVP in 2006, he struggled in the pitcher-friendly Midwest League in his first full pro season. He rebounded with a strong 2008 performance in high Class A, then turned in by far his worst season in 2009 in Double-A. While he led the Texas League in plate appearances per strikeout (13.4), his incredible hand-eye coordination has meant that he has never had to define his strike zone. Too often he'll put in play the first pitch he can get his bat on--leading to lot of groundouts and shanked flyballs from well-located pitches. His unorthodox swing is geared toward hitting line drives all over the field and not for power. The Padres would like to see Hunter add strength and hit for a bit more authority. He improved his routes and reads in center field, but because he's an average runner he might not have the pure speed to stay there in the majors. His below-average arm would dictate a move to left field, where his bat would have to take a big step forward to prevent him sinking in the morass of tweeners in Triple-A. After a tough year in which little went right, Hunter's attempt at redemption will begin with a repeat of Double-A.
Hunter won Arizona League MVP honors in his 2006 debut, reaching base in his first 49 games. He appeared much more mortal in the tough hitting environment of the Midwest League in 2007, but he got back to basics last season and led the minors with 186 hits. An aggressive hitter, Hunter has the hand-eye coordination and all-fields approach to hit for a high average. He employs a high leg kick, but he loads his hands well and maintains balance throughout his swing, helping him handle lefties as well as righties. Strong wrists help him generate above-average bat speed. An exceptional contact hitter with plus strike-zone command, Hunter ranked as the fifth most difficult minor leaguer to strike out last year (13.6 plate appearances per whiff ). He improved his range in center field by getting better reads on balls. He's a solid runner underway. Hunter can pull the ball for power, but he projects to be below-average in that department because his swing lacks natural loft. He still projects as just a borderline average center fielder because of inconsistent routes and a lack of first-step quickness. His arm is below-average. The Padres noticed an improved disposition from Hunter after he seemed a bit distracted by all his press clippings in 2007. He's ready for Double-A and he could receive a center-field audition in San Diego as early as 2010.
Hunter earned first-team All-America honors as a high school senior in 2006 before signing for $415,000 as a third-round pick. He delivered right out of the gate, reaching base in his first 49 pro games and winning the Rookie-level Arizona League's MVP award. In his less-impressive encore, he still produced numbers above the league averages in the pitching-dominated Midwest League. Hunter's hand-eye coordination is his best asset, and he has very good contact skills and the ability to line the ball into the gaps. He commands the strike zone like a much more experienced hitter and he projects to hit .280-.300 at the big league level because he puts the bat on the ball and is geared to use all fields. His tick above-average speed translates into average range in center field, where his arm is also average. His all-around game continues to draw comparisons with that of Jacque Jones. Hunter's swing got loopy in 2007 and he struggled to stay back on pitches, severely limiting his power to the pull side. Because he lacks first-step quickness, he doesn't get out of the box or steal bases well, and it also hampers him in center field. Some MWL observers thought Hunter lacked energy and perhaps fell victim to reading his own press clippings after ranking No. 1 on this list a year ago. The Padres believe Hunter can fix the quirks in his swing and learn to turn on pitches. If he does so, a future job awaits him on one of Petco Park's spacious outfield corners. He should find the going much easier at high Class A Lake Elsinore in 2008.
Hunter has stood out as a hitter everywhere he has played. He held up under the scrutiny of the showcase circuit, thrived against top competition in the East Cobb summer league program in suburban Atlanta and went 1-for-2 in the 2005 Aflac High School All-America Classic. It was no surprise, then, when Hunter hit .580 with 12 homers in 69 at-bats and added 20 steals as a senior at Martin Luther King Jr. High (Lithonia, Ga.) last spring to earn All-America honors. The Padres made him a third round pick last June and signed him for $415,000. While Hunter wasn't as hyped as other high school hitters in his draft class, San Diego was happy to add his polished offensive approach and workmanlike demeanor to the organization. And he delivered right out of the gate, reaching base in his first 49 pro games in the Rookie-level Arizona League, including a 23-game hitting streak. Hunter won AZL MVP honors by leading the complex league in runs, hits and total bases (103) while finishing second to teammate Luis Durango in on-base percentage. Hunter's bat is clearly his best tool. He has excellent hand-eye coordination and impressive balance. He commands the strike zone like a much more experienced hitter--he walked nearly twice as often as he struck out in his pro debut--and laces line drives to all fields with a slashing swing. Hunter showed the ability to let the ball get deep before committing to a pitch and he was rarely fooled by AZL pitchers. A high leg kick serves as his trigger, but he gets his foot down in time and loads his hands well in the process. Hunter's plus instincts help bolster his average speed and range in center field. Because of his impressive first-step quickness, he has a knack for stealing bases. His overall game often gets compared with that of Jacque Jones. While he possesses plenty of raw bat speed, Hunter didn't hit for much power in his first taste of pro ball. He makes enough hard contact, though, to become a 15-20 homer hitter down the road. A slight loop in his swing would be of more concern if he didn't square the ball up so consistently. Despite spending time on the mound as a sophomore and hitting 87 mph, Hunter has below-average arm strength. He was limited by a tender elbow in his debut, which often forced him to DH. Hunter has the natural hitting instincts and quiet confidence to suggest he'll continue to hit for high averages as he moves up. While his swing and approach don't portend raw power, he has a lean, athletic frame that could add strength as he fills out. If Hunter can stay in center field, that will be a bonus. At this stage, none of his non-hitting tools projects as a plus, but he's intelligent and has tremendous desire to improve. He should be ready for a full-season assignment in 2007, in all likelihood to low Class A Fort Wayne.

Minor League Top Prospects

Hunter batted .282/.344/.373 in low Class A last year, struggling with his swing and selectivity. He came back strong this season, adjusting his setup at the plate, cutting down his stroke and making better contact. He remains an aggressive hitter, but Hunter consistently puts the barrel on the ball thanks to his hand-eye coordination. He also swung at better pitches this year. His power potential is limited but he hits line drives to all fields. Hunter has the raw speed for center field and covers a fair amount of ground. He still takes funny routes at times, however, and his arm might be marginal for center, so he could wind up in left field.
Hunter reached base in his first 49 pro games, and the only time he was stopped was on Aug. 26, when he went 0-for-5 against the Rangers. He hit safely in 45 of his 53 games (including the playoff victory) and threw in a 23-game hitting streak for good measure. Hunter's polished offensive approach should allow him to move quickly, and his bat is his best tool. He has excellent hand-eye coordination and a balanced swing, with an advanced ability to let the ball get deep before committing to a pitch. He also has a good two-strike plan. While his other tools aren't above-average, he's an average runner and the Padres will give him a chance to play center field. He spent a lot of time at DH this summer because of a sore arm. "I had Alex Rodriguez when he first signed, and Cedric is right up there with A-Rod in terms of his aptitude," Padres manager Carlos Lezcano said, "He learns very, very quickly. He wasn't just all about BP. He learned to run the bases better, take leads, throw to the right bases. He was very coachable."