Matt Hague Stats & Scouting Report

AB	84
AVG	.226
OBP	.286
SLG	.262
HR	0

Full name Matthew Donald Hague
Born 08/20/1985 in Bellevue, WA
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Oklahoma State
Debut 04/07/2012
Drafted in the 9th round (264th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008 (signed for $25,000).

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Hague, who spent his first three seasons at Washington, planned on transferring to Clemson before eligibility issues arose. He has hit throughout his college career, including a .299 performance in the Cape Cod League last summer. He has an unconventional set-up and a big bat wrap in back, but he's so quick and strong (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) that he has no problems producing. Most of Hague's value lies in his offense, and he fits much better defensively in right field than at first base. Some scouts are intrigued by his pitching because he has flashed a 94 mph fastball in brief relief stints, but he'll be drafted as a hitter. He turned down the Indians as an 11th-rounder last year.

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Organization Prospect Rankings

Hague, an inexpensive senior selection who signed for $25,000 in 2008, spent three seasons at Washington and was an 11th-round pick of the Indians in 2007. But he planned to transfer to Clemson before ending up at Oklahoma State in 2008. He was old for Double-A last season, but he showed enough genuine upside with the bat to retain prospect status. His strikeouts and walks nearly matched, and nine of his 15 home runs came in the final two months. The bat path is short, he stays inside the ball, and he's big and strong enough to produce consistent power. He is not a one-dimensional hitter, and he has the ability to go gap-to-gap and to find a way to make contact even when it appears he might be beaten. He struck out just once every 9.27, plate appearances, the fourth-best figure in the Eastern League. His other tools are unremarkable. He has decent hands at first base but below-average range, as well as a strong arm that mostly goes unnoticed at his position. His speed is below-average. Hague probably will open 2011 as the first baseman at Indianapolis, and he'll need to keep hitting, given his age.
After playing three years at Washington and turning down the Indians as an 11th-round pick in 2007, Hague transferred to Oklahoma State and went two rounds higher in the 2008 draft, signing for $25,000. He produced with the bat throughout his college career and again in his pro debut, earning a quick promotion to low Class A. Hague has good power potential and the ability to pull the ball over the fence. He has good plate discipline, is willing to take a walk and rarely chases bad pitches. Hague's best defensive attribute is a strong arm at third base--he flashed a 94-mph fastball in relief stints in college--but his lack of first-step quickness and inconsistent footwork make it a strong possibility he could wind up switching positions. A logical move would be to right field, where his arm would play and his feet wouldn't be a problem, and he saw time at first base in his pro debut. He's a below-average runner and athlete, so most of his value is going to come from his bat, no matter where he plays. Hague will open 2009 at third base in high Class A but could find a new defensive home before the end of the year.