Jason Bourgeois
| AB | 708 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .253 |
| OBP | .3 |
| SLG | .326 |
| HR | 6 |
- Full name Jason Jerrod Bourgeois
- Born 01/04/1982 in Houston, TX
- Profile Ht.: 5'9" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Forest Brook
- Debut 09/09/2008
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Drafted in the 2nd round (56th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2000 (signed for $621,000).
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With a shortage of quality shortstops in this draft, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Bourgeois has seen his stock rise. His arm may be a little short for the position, but he has excellent hands and exceptional range. His speed is his best weapon on offense. He hit .553-4-43 with 24 stolen bases and excels at the little man's game--bunting and just putting the ball in play. He has committed to Arizona State.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Like Ramon Nivar, Bourgeois once looked like a future regular in the middle of the diamond for Texas, only to see his stock take a hit last season. He always had surprising raw power for his size, and he adopted a new stance to try to take advantage of it. Bourgeois incorporated a toe-tap, trying to load up with his hands to hit for more power. Instead, it slowed his bat down and he didn't homer until July. He finally ditched the toe-tap late in the season and finished well, including an 8-for-19 effort in the Texas League playoffs. The Rangers have settled on playing Bourgeois at second base, where he has enough range and arm but lacks the technique and knowledge of positioning to be an above-average defender. He still could be an igniter at the top of a lineup if he takes advantage of his strengths, which are his plus speed, savvy baserunning and ability to slash line drives from gap to gap. He'll need a strong spring to earn the starting second-base job in Triple-A. -
Bourgeois was among the top hitters in the high Class A California League when he was promoted to Double-A. He was sidelined briefly with a bruised hand, but that wasn't enough to prevent him posting career highs in most offensive categories. At 5-foot-9, Bourgeois draws comparisons to athletic sparkplugs such as Ray Durham and Eric Young. He packs surprising sock despite his stature and started finding the gaps more regularly last year. He turns in consistent quality at-bats and has improved his strike-zone judgment. He has the quickness and speed to steal bases with a high success rate. Drafted as a shortstop, Bourgeois made the full-time switch to second base last season. He shows good anticipation on grounders and has an average arm, but overall is just a fringe-average defender. After a strong Arizona Fall League performance, Bourgeois will return to Double-A to begin 2004. His profile mirrors Durham's through the same point of development, and Bourgeois has all the intangibles and passion to continue on the same path. -
A second-team prep All-American, Bourgeois was part of an Arizona State recruiting class that included No. 7 overall pick Matt Harrington and 2002 minor league ERA champion Bubba Nelson. Like the others, he didn't end up in Tempe, signing for a $621,000 bonus. Bourgeois has a unique package of tools considering his size. He has average power and is a plus runner. His range and arm, a tick above-average, prompted a move to shortstop from second base, and Bourgeois showed he can handle the position. His overall package, including leadership and a gamer's makeup, draw comparisons to Jimmy Rollins and Harold Reynolds. Bourgeois' size remains an issue, as he wore down late in the 2002 season and hit just .210 in the final month. A more patient approach would allow him to make better use of his power and his speed. He still needs repetitions to acclimate himself to shortstop. At worst, Bourgeois could be a utilityman. With his tools, though, the ceiling is higher than that. He'll take it one step at a time and could move back to second base down the road. -
Texas ignored Bourgeois' size and took him with the 64th pick overall in the 2000 draft because of his energy. He's an electric player who has had to learn to harness his enthusiasm. Managers ranked him as the Rookie-level Appalachian League's No. 3 prospect last year, when he increased his batting average 72 points from his pro debut. Bourgeois is more than just a pesky middle infielder. He stopped lunging at pitches and showed unexpected power. His motor and instincts prompted Appy League skippers to compare him to Charlie Hustle himself. Bourgeois is an above-average runner with excellent first-step quickness. He gets in trouble when he becomes too power-conscious and forgets to be selective. He has below-average arm strength and his overall defense can be erratic. Playing on rough infields, he led Pulaski with 18 errors. Bourgeois will face his biggest test yet this year when he advances to full-season ball. If he doesn't improve his glovework, he's athletic enough to handle a move to center field. -
Some clubs believed the Rangers reached by taking Bourgeois in the second round of the 2000 draft. A high school shortstop, he moved immediately to second base as a pro because he has limited arm strength. Bourgeois seems to be a good fit for second because of his range, quick feet and soft hands. He has plus speed and good instincts for the game. The Rangers hope he becomes an adequate offensive player. Bourgeois currently plays a little man's game on offense, focusing on bunts, slap hits, walks and stolen bases. He's effective in those areas, but didn't show much in terms of batting average or power in his pro debut. He'll need to get stronger to survive a full season.
Minor League Top Prospects
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It was a strong year for second basemen in the Cal League, though Bourgeois doesn't have the power potential of Barfield and Nix. Bourgeois may be 5-foot-9, but he's not short on tools. "He's an exciting player who's going to get there real quick," the NL scout said. Bourgeois has enough muscle to rip the ball into the alleys and a solid foundation for understanding the strike zone. Drafted as a shortstop, Bourgeois moved to second base full-time at Double-A Frisco. "He's adequate defensively," the scout said. "He showed some range up the middle but needs some work around the bag." -
Bourgeois was the overwhelming choice as the league's most exciting player. Managers compared Bourgeois to numerous major leaguers, among them Rickey Henderson and Pete Rose. "This kid has some tools," Henriquez said. "He has above-average big league speed, good bat speed, good range at second base. His arm strength is his weakest tool, but he's a joy to watch play. He runs every ball out and you can tell he loves to take the field every day." Bourgeois possesses excellent athleticism and instincts. He's also quick and gets to full speed in four steps. While Bourgeois' defense at second base didn't attract raves, more than one manager thought a move to center field could make him even more effective. "He has some pop and excellent bat speed," Elizabethton manager Rudy Hernandez said. "He also can run pretty good and steal some bases. He has to work a little bit on his defense, but he has all the makings of an outstanding all-around player."
