Christian Yelich

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #2 prospect in 2013
  Since signing for a $1.7 million bonus as the 23rd overall pick in 2010, Yelich has been Marlins minor league player of the year in each of his two full seasons. He topped the Florida State League in slugging (.519) and OPS (.923) and finished second in hitting (.330) in 2012 despite missing time with an elbow injury and a concussion. Yelich has the pure swing of a future batting champion and an advanced approach. Quick, strong hands allow him to line balls to all fields, though he makes a particular effort to stay in the middle of the diamond. While he projects to hit more for average than power, some scouts envision 25-homer potential once he fills out. Yelich uses his plus speed well on the bases, where he has succeeded on 53 of 64 (83 percent) pro steal attempts. It also plays well in center field, where he gets good jumps and can run balls down in the gaps. A long arm stroke has hampered his throwing since high school, but extra repetitions and improved footwork mean his arm plays as average. The Marlins love his attitude and competitive nature. Yelich's defensive progress has silenced any talk of a move to left field. He should anchor the middle of Miami's outfield and batting order soon. His next stop is Double-A.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #1 prospect in 2012
  Yelich is a product of the Westlake High (Westlake Village, Calif.) program that produced big leaguers Matt Franco, Mike Lieberthal, Mike Nickeas and John Snyder. One of the best hitters available in the 2010 draft, he went 23rd overall and signed for an above-slot $1.7 million bonus at the deadline. He spent a week at low Class A Greensboro at the end of his truncated pro debut, then returned there in 2011. Yelich caught fire in the second half, batting .354/.423/.568 with 10 of his 15 homers. His dramatic 15th-inning home run in the opening game of the playoffs set the Grasshoppers on the path to the South Atlantic League title. He finished third in the SAL in batting (.312) and ranked among league leaders in doubles (32), total bases (223), steals (32), on-base percentage (.388) and OPS (.871). The Marlins named him their minor league player of the year. The Marlins loved Yelich's pure swing in high school and are even more enamored with it now. He's a rhythm hitter with an advanced approach at the plate, already demonstrating an understanding of which pitches to attack and which to let go. He has quick hands, covers the zone well with his long arms and lines balls to all fields. Early in the season, he was getting beat on balls because he wasn't starting his swing soon enough. Once he worked out those timing issues and became more familiar with the league, his confidence and his performance took off. He also learned to condense his strike zone and hone in on pitches he could drive. Yelich has power to center field as well as to his pull side, and while he doesn't project as an elite slugger, he should be a threat for 25 homers annually once he fills out his lanky frame and learns to create more leverage in his swing. His solid-average to plus speed and baserunning acumen are even better than Miami expected. He was caught just five times in 37 steal attempts. He's a glider in the outfield, covering ground with long strides. A first baseman in high school, he played both left and center at Greensboro. At times he still appears to be thinking instead of reacting instinctively in the outfield, but he has put in a lot of extra early work to improve his defense. His raw arm strength is average, though his throwing is hindered by poor mechanics and a long arm stroke, which Miami believes can be ironed out. The organization loves his attitude, work ethic and competitive nature. Yelich should open 2012 at high Class A Jupiter, surrounded by the same teammates who helped him raise a flag in Greensboro. He's a good bet to advance faster than the rest of them, however, and may not need a full season in the Florida State League. While the Marlins plan to keep giving him time in center field, he projects as a left fielder with better than average range. His swing elicits comparisons to Will Clark and should eventually land him in the No. 3 spot in Miami's order.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #3 prospect in 2011
  Yelich comes from the same Westlake High (Westlake Village, Calif.) program that produced big leaguers Matt Franco, Mike Lieberthal and John Snyder, as well as fellow Marlins farmhand Graham Johnson. Yelich produced against top competition in high school and on the showcase circuit, propelling him to the No. 23 overall pick in the 2010 draft. He signed an above-slot $1.7 million deal at the Aug. 16 signing deadline and reached low Class A in his brief pro debut. Yelich has an advanced approach for a high school hitter, with smooth swing mechanics that have elicited comparisons to Will Clark's. He reads pitches well and projects as a high-average hitter with average power. Lefthanders don't bother him. Though Yelich played first base at Westlake, he has slightly above-average speed and moved to left field in pro ball. The Marlins will try him in center field in 2011, though he'll likely settle on a corner. His arm was a question going into the draft, but Florida tweaked his mechanics and believes his throwing can become at least close to average. Yelich will return to Greensboro to begin his first full season. After witnessing how seamlessly he transitioned to pro ball last year, the Marlins won't be afraid to move him should his bat warrant another jump. He should arrive in Florida by 2013.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #5 prospect in 2013
  Fellow Jacksonville outfielders Marcell Ozuna and Jake Marisnick beat Yelich to Miami this season, though in this case he who laughs last may indeed laugh loudest. Yelich would have been strongly considered for those callups had he not been waylaid by a right heel ailment in April and an abdominal strain in June. Regardless, managers recognized Yelich as the SL?s best batting prospect, and he made his Marlins debut on July 23. Scouts voiced no reservations about Yelich?s ability to hit and hit for power in the big leagues, with .290 and 20 home runs a reasonable expectation during his peak seasons. Supreme balance and body control allow him to hit for plus power to all fields despite a lanky frame. ?His hands really work, though at times he can get too handsy,? said one scout for an NL club. ?He?s going to have to use his lower half more to completely tap into that power.? Yelich hit just .194 with strikeouts 28 percent of the time versus Double-A lefties and didn?t fare any better in the bigs, so he risks being platooned without future improvement. An above-average runner underway, Yelich can cover center field but seems to fit best in left, where a fringe-average arm is mitigated by improved throwing mechanics and accuracy. His speed also makes him a factor on the bases, where he went 8-for-his-first-8 in big league steal attempts.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #4 prospect in 2012
  In a league with several intriguing center fielders, Yelich stood out the most and especially with his bat. He led the FSL in slugging (.519) and finished second to Palm Beach's Mike O'Neill in hitting (.330) and on-base percentage (.404). "Christian Yelich is the best hitter in the league," Palm Beach manager Johnny Rodriguez said. "He'll hit for power and average." Yelich has excellent pitch recognition and can pull the ball or go the other way, with plenty of pop to left-center field. A slightly above-average runner with good instincts, he should be a solid to plus center fielder. His fringy arm is his worst tool, with a long arm action and slow release hampering his throwing ability.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Fall League #3 prospect in 2012
  After topping the high Class A Florida State League in slugging percentage (.519) and finishing third in batting (.330), Yelich fared well against advanced pitching in the AFL, batting .301/.343/.387. A first-round selection in 2010, Yelich shows a quick lefthanded stroke with excellent line-drive ability and wiry strength. One evaluator ranked his hit tool second to only Tigers prospect Nick Castellanos in the AFL. In addition, the 6-foot-4, 189-pound Yelich displays above-average raw power that scouts believe he will be able to tap into as he fills out and learns to create more leverage in his swing. Defensively, Yelich projects to be an average center fielder, where his slightly above-average speed plays up due to a quick first step.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #5 prospect in 2011
  After hitting a respectable .272/.352/.401 with five homers in the first half, Yelich made impressive adjustments and batted .354/.423/.568 with 10 longballs in the second half to help the Grasshoppers win the league championship. He progressed rapidly with his advanced approach at the plate and a smooth swing. In addition to projecting as an above-average hitter with at least average power, Yelich surprised opponents with his solid to plus speed. He stole 32 bases in 37 attempts and proved capable of manning center field, though he spent most of his time in left. He lacks the arm strength to fit in right field. "He's an advanced offensive player," Greensboro manager Andy Haines said. "He can steal bases, showed some power and used the whole field. He's a special, athletic player and an even better person. He has good instincts and is going to be a very productive offensive player because he sees the ball very well and really knows the strike zone."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #15 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #41 prospect in 2012

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Since signing for an above-slot $1.7 million bonus as the 23rd overall pick in 2010, Yelich has been named Marlins minor league player of the year in each of his two full pro seasons. He topped the Florida State League in slugging (.519) and OPS (.923) and finished second in hitting (.330) in 2012 despite missing time with an elbow injury and a concussion. Scouting Report: Yelich has the pure swing of a future batting champion and an advanced approach. Quick, strong hands allow him to line balls to all fields, though he makes a particular effort to stay in the middle of the diamond. While he projects to hit more for average than power, some scouts envision 25-homer potential once he fills out. Yelich uses his plus speed well on the bases, where he has succeeded on 53 of 64 (83 percent) pro steal attempts. It also plays well in center fields, where he gets good jumps and can run balls down in the gaps. A long stroke has hampered his throwing since high school, but extra repetitions and improved footwork mean his arm plays as average. The Marlins love his attitude and competitive nature. The Future: Yelich's defensive progress has silenced any talk of having to move to left field. He should anchor the middle of Miami's outfield and batting order soon. His next stop is Double-A.
• August, 2012 Scouting Report
  After topping the high Class A Florida State League in slugging percentage (.519) and finishing third in batting (.330), Yelich fared well against advanced pitching in the AFL, batting .301/.343/.387. A first-round selection in 2010, Yelich shows a quick lefthanded stroke with excellent line-drive ability and wiry strength. One evaluator ranked his hit tool second to only Tigers prospect Nick Castellanos in the AFL. In addition, the 6-foot-4, 189-pound Yelich displays above-average raw power that scouts believe he will be able to tap into as he fills out and learns to create more leverage in his swing. Defensively, Yelich projects to be an average center fielder, where his slightly above-average speed plays up due to a quick first step.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Yelich is a product of the Westlake High (Westlake Village, Calif.) program that has produced big leaguers Matt Franco, Mike Lieberthal, Mike Nickeas and John Snyder. One of the best hitters available in the 2010 draft, he had committed to Miami but went 23rd overall to the Marlins, and instead of heading to South Florida for college he set his sights on getting there as a major leaguer, signing for an above-slot $1.7 million bonus at the deadline. He spent a week at low Class A Greensboro at the end of his truncated pro debut, then returned there for the 2011 season. Yelich caught fire in the second half, batting .354/.423/.568 with 10 of his 15 homers. His dramatic 15th-inning home run in the opening game of the South Atlantic League playoffs set the Grasshoppers on the path to the Sally League title. He finished third in the SAL in batting (.312) and ranked among league leaders in doubles (32), total bases (223), steals (32), on-base percentage (.388) and OPS (.871). The Marlins named him their minor league player of the year. Scouting Report: Florida loved Yelich's pure swing in high school and team officials are even more enamored of it now. He's a rhythm hitter with an advanced approach at the plate, already demonstrating an understanding of which pitches to attack and which to let go. He has quick hands, covers the zone well with his long arms and lines balls to all fields. Early in the season, he was getting beat on balls because he wasn't starting his swing soon enough. Once he worked out those timing issues and became more familiar with the league, his confidence and his performance took off. He also learned to condense his strike zone and hone in on pitches he could drive. Yelich has power to center field as well as to his pull side, and while he doesn't project as an elite slugger, he should be a threat for 25 homers annually once he fills out his lanky frame and learns to create more leverage in his swing. His solid-average to plus speed and baserunning acumen are even better than the Marlins had expected. He was caught just five times in 37 stolen-base attempts. A first baseman in high school, Yelich played both left and center at Greensboro. He's a glider in the outfield, covering ground with long strides. At times he still appears to be thinking instead of reacting instinctively in the outfield, but he has put in a lot of extra early work to improve his defense. His raw arm strength is average, though his throwing is hindered by poor mechanics and a long arm stroke, which Florida believes can be ironed out. Some amateur scouts thought his arm would limit him to first, but that's no longer the case. The organization loves Yelich's attitude, work ethic and competitive nature. The Future: Yelich should open 2012 at high Class A Jupiter, surrounded by the same teammates who helped him raise a flag in Greensboro. He's a good bet to advance faster than the rest of them, however, and may not need a full season in the Florida State League. While the Marlins plan to keep giving him time in center field, he projects as a left fielder with good range. His sweet swing, which has elicited comparisons to Will Clark, eventually should land him in the No. 3 spot in Florida's order.