Jeff Bianchi Stats & Scouting Report

AB	377
AVG	.215
OBP	.25
SLG	.281
HR	4

Full name Jeffrey Thomas Bianchi
Born 10/05/1986 in Lancaster, PA
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Lampeter-Strasburg
Debut 07/13/2012
Drafted in the 2nd round (50th overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2005 (signed for $690,000).

View Draft Report

One area scout said that right now, Bianchi is a better pure player than Virginia shortstop Justin Upton, the No. 1 prospect in this year's draft. On the year, Bianchi hit .575-13-37 in just 61 at-bats. His tools don't profile nearly as well as Upton's but he's a true baseball grunt--a good, solid offensive shortstop with outstanding instincts who gets the most out of his ability. He runs the 60-yard dash in 6.7 seconds. His hands are quick to the ball and he has a line drive stroke, though limited power potential. He has quick hands for a middle infielder, but lacks the arm strength desired for shortstop and almost certainly will end up at second base. Bianchi's stock has risen rapidly this spring to a point where he's a now a third- or fourth-round talent, and he may need to go that high to justify buying him away from a scholarship to North Carolina State.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

If it wasn't for injuries, Bianchi likely would be starting for the Royals, but he has had one completely healthy season in six years of pro ball. His outstanding pro debut in 2005 was cut short by a back injury. A torn labrum in his shoulder caused him to miss almost all of 2006 and part of 2007 before a groin injury sidelined him for part of 2008. He finally got a chance to play a full season in 2009, but tore an elbow ligament in spring training and missed all of 2010. Bianchi's short swing gives him a chance to be a solid hitter, though he won't for much power and never has walked much. Like Christian Colon, he doesn't have exceptional range, but he has excellent fundamentals that allow him to be an average shortstop and he makes few errors. Bianchi's arm was slightly above average before his latest injury. He's following in Mike Aviles' footsteps in returning from Tommy John surgery, which suggests it may be midway through this season before Bianchi fully feels comfortable at the plate and in the field. He'll head to Triple-A and hope to stay healthy.
Bianchi's career was nearly derailed by a series of injuries, but he regained his prospect status with a solid 2009 season that saw him fully healthy for the first time in his five-year career. A back strain ended his 2005 pro debut, then he missed almost all of 2006 with a torn labrum in his shoulder, which also cut into his 2007 season. That led to a move to second base in 2008, when he was slowed by a groin injuy, but he moved back to shortstop last season and looked like he had never left. Bianchi has a tick above-average arm at shortstop, and he showed average range thanks to his great footwork. He's the surest-handed fielder in the system and has picture-perfect fundamentals. He committed just 12 errrors in 120 games at short in 2009. Bianchi has a short swing that won't ever produce more than fringe-average power, but he does use the entire field. His aggressiveness costs him on-base opportunities and keeps him from exploiting what power he does have. He's a good basestealer despite being only an average runner, and he knows when to challenge outfielders for an extra base. To stay at shortstop, Bianchi must stay healthy because he doesn't have any range to lose. He could slide over to second base if needed, but his bat fits better at short. His solid all-around game makes him the likely successor to Yuniesky Betancourt before too long. Added to the 40-man roster in November, he'll challenge for a job in Triple-A during spring training.
Expectations have dipped for Bianchi since back and shoulder injuries spoiled a sparkling pro debut in 2005. Once compared to Michael Young and expected to shoot through the farm system, Bianchi had mixed results in his first full professional season after missing most of 2006 due to labrum surgery. The Royals held him back in spring training to keep him out of cold weather in the Midwest League, and by season's end he started to show the form team officials once considered the best offensive approach they had seen by a high school player. He has a tendency to get out on his front foot too much, but can have a short, explosive swing when he lets the ball travel deep into the zone. Bianchi didn't hit his first home run until July and didn't show much power in the pitcher-friendly Midwest League, though he did hit .330 over 91 at-bats in August and September and hit in 12 of his first 13 games in Hawaii Winter Baseball. Bianchi has a strong enough arm to play shortstop and has average range. Injuries have sapped some of his flair and confidence since he was first drafted, and his long-term future may be at second base. Going into spring training, he'll compete with fellow prospect Chris McConnell for the shortstop gig in high Class A.
No player has caused more frustration in the system then Bianchi, who has hit .414 but hasn't gotten past the Arizona League because he has been plagued by injuries since signing as a second-rounder in 2005. He caught the Royals' eye when they viewed a Major League Scouting Bureau video that one scout said displayed the best hitting approach he ever had seen from a high school player. But his pro debut was shortened by a lower back strain and his 2006 season ended early when he required surgery on the labrum in his right shoulder. Bianchi has a short, quick swing that allows him to use the entire field while showing average power. He works counts and doesn't chase bad pitches. His best pure tool is his well above-average speed, and he profiles as a leadoff hitter. Bianchi's shoulder operation might lead to a future switch to second base because his arm already was a question at shortstop, but he has the hands and feet to stay in the middle infield. The Royals see some Michael Young in Bianchi and are anxious to find out what he can do with a full-season assignment to low Class A this year.
Bianchi was a lightly crosschecked high school player, but he generated so much late buzz that Royals scouting director Deric Ladnier eschewed trips to college conference tournaments to see him. The Royals were happy to nab him in the second round for $690,000. Bianchi pushed for the Rookie-level Arizona League triple crown before a lower back strain ended his season and his Arizona Fall League hopes. Bianchi's efficient hitting mechanics and quick, short swing produce impressive results. He uses the whole field and flashes average power. He has plus-plus speed, getting from the right side of the plate to first base in 4.1 seconds. He's athletic and instinctive defensively, and plays a polished overall game. He had an easy transition to pro ball because his high school coach, Todd Garber, is the brother of Kansas City coordinator of minor league instruction Jeff Garber and incorporates many of the Royals' principles. Bianchi hasn't played enough yet for the Royals to discover any warts. His arm isn't the strongest and some teams projected him as a second baseman, but he's able to make plays from the hole. His back had no structural damage and isn't a long-term concern. Bianchi reminds the Royals of Texas shortstop Michael Young with less arm. He could make a jump to full-season ball, but that would mean sharing the low Class A Burlington shortstop job with Chris McConnell. Bianchi likely will end up at Rookie-level Idaho Falls.

Minor League Top Prospects

Bianchi batted just .255/.290/.442 in 104 games with Wilmington last year, but he returned to the Blue Rocks and found much greater success. There's nothing flashy about him, but he's steady in nearly every phase of the game. Bianchi has a short, quick swing and the ability to hit to all fields. His power is below average and he would benefit from being more selective at the plate. He has solid-average speed and is an extremely smart baserunner who's adept at taking an extra base. After playing mostly second base in 2008, Bianchi moved to shortstop while Johnny Giavotella manned second. Bianchi has enough athleticism and arm strength for shortstop, and he shows more range than expected from a player with his speed.
The presence of so many players who could end up as major league second basemen on the TL Top 20 says more about the unspectacular talent in the league than a sudden surge of second-base prospects throughout the minors. Bianchi battled shoulder and back injuries after the Royals drafted him in 2005, but he played his way back into their plans this season. Bianchi moved back to shortstop this year after playing mostly second base in 2008, and he has the actions and arm to handle the position. He's a very good athlete who may cover enough ground at short to get a trial there in Kansas City, where there's a need. Whichever position he ends up at, Bianchi's bat will determine how far he goes. He has a short swing and good pitch and strike-zone recognition, though he needs to be more patient and get on base more consistently. Some managers saw him as an ideal No. 2 hitter, and could add some pop as he fills out. He's an average runner.
Bianchi made a huge splash in the first half of the season, leading the league in all three triple-crown categories before a pulled muscle in his back sidelined him. An MRI showed no structural damage, but the Royals shut him down in the second half when the injury wouldn't respond to treatment. He still finished second in the league in home runs and was named the league's all-star shortstop. A short, compact middle infielder, Bianchi is what he is: a blue-collar player with limited projection. He's an advanced hitter--already one of the best in the Royals system--with an excellent approach and the potential for 15-20 homers annually. He made an easy transition to wood bats and makes consistent contact to all fields with a short, line-drive swing. Bianchi is steady at shortstop with good feet and hands. He has average arm strength and makes up for it with a quick release and by getting good reads on balls. His arm may eventually push him to second base, though the Royals have no immediate plans to move him.