Nevin Ashley Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Nevin Robert Ashley
Born 08/14/1984 in Vincennes, IN
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 245 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Indiana State
Debut 09/09/2015
Drafted in the 6th round (169th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2006 (signed for $150,000).

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Ashley doesn't look pretty but gets the job done. While he takes some ugly hacks at the plate, he makes hard contact. His arm action isn't ideal, but he has arm strength and throws out basestealers. He tightened up his 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame this year, and he has good speed and athleticism for a backstop. A fringe prospect coming into 2006, he'll now go sometime on the first day of the draft as a catcher with all-around skills.

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Ashley made steady improvements behind the plate in low Class A last year, his first full season in pro ball. He earned his second all-star recognition in as many seasons by displaying a consistent bat and impressive leadership at catcher. Ashley has excellent strength that helps him drive the ball in the gaps. His swing isn't pretty, but it works better with wood as opposed to metal bats, and he has a chance to hit for a solid average with decent power at higher levels. He will strike out but he offsets his whiffs with a healthy amount of walks. He's very athletic for a catcher, has decent speed and managed to steal 20 bases in 2007. Ashley impressed the Columbus coaching staff with his work ethic and desire to win. He spent hours working with pitchers and helped make them better. Ashley's defensive game also improved, particularly in blocking balls, and he paced South Atlantic League catchers with a .992 fielding percentage. He calls a good game, but still needs to improve on his exchange, which in turn will make his throws to second more accurate. Even so, he threw out 52 percent of basestealers in 2006 and 33 percent last season. His next step is high Class A.

After finishing second in the Missouri Valley Conference batting race with a .382 average, Ashley figured to tear up the Appy League--and he did by hitting .333 and leading the league with a .440 on-base percentage. The oldest player on this list, he made quick transition to wood bats and made hard contact to all fields. He's physically mature but still may have room for growth in the power department. While he is highly athletic for a catcher, Ashley still needs work behind the plate. In instructional league, the Devil Rays plan to address his mechanical flaws in terms of his setup, receiving and blocking. He does have good hands, shows a plus arm at times and threw out 52 percent of basestealers in his pro debut.