Elvis Andrus Stats & Scouting Report

AB	7772
AVG	.269
OBP	.325
SLG	.37
HR	102

Full name Elvis Augusto Andrus
Born 08/26/1988 in Maracay, Venezuela
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut 04/06/2009

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

A key piece in the Mark Teixeira trade with the Braves, Andrus more than held his own as a teenager in Double-A during his first full season with the Rangers. He tried to play through a broken finger on his right hand early in the year--a major reason for his 11 errors in May--before Texas shut him down for two weeks. He came back strong, hitting .311 over the last three months, then spent the winter playing alongside older brother Erold in the Venezuelan League. With plus range, sure hands, a strong, accurate arm and uncanny instincts, Andrus has all the tools to be a premium defensive shortstop. His above-average speed plays up even more on the bases, where he has learned how to get good jumps, run in breaking ball counts and even steal third base. He has a knack for putting the bat on the ball and getting big hits. His makeup is off the charts. Andrus never will have better than below-average power, but he should be able to drive balls to the gaps if he can get stronger and understand his swing better. He has a tendency to lunge on his front foot at the plate. Andrus sometimes relaxes too much on routine plays, helping account for his 32 errors in 2008. Andrus will be one of the youngest players in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in 2009, and he seems on schedule for a 2010 arrival in Texas. He profiles as an all-star-caliber shortstop in the Edgar Renteria mold.
As the younger brother of Rays minor leaguer Erold Andrus, Elvis was on the prospect landscape at an early age. The Rangers had a chance to sign him during international scouting director A.J. Preller's first week on the job in 2005, when the club had Andrus at its Dominican complex for a workout. But Andrus was hampered by a leg injury and Texas couldn't justify blowing 70 percent of their then-modest international budget on him. Instead, he signed with the Braves for nearly $600,000 and held his own against much older competition in his first three years in the United States. Last July, he and Jarrod Saltalamacchia were the centerpieces of a five-prospect package Atlanta surrendered for Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay. After changing organizations, Andrus thrived in the hitter-friendly high Class A California League and then batted .353 as the youngest player in the Arizona Fall League. After his regular season ended, Andrus arrived early at instructional league and had dinner with Preller and farm director Scott Servais. He dazzled the pair with his desire to lead, telling them that his favorite shortstop is Derek Jeter because "he's a leader and a winner, and that's what I am." He also picked Sammy Sosa's brain about how to get other players to respect him as a leader. That makeup sets Andrus apart, not just off the field but on it, where he has a unique ability to slow the game down and always put himself in the right position to make plays. He long has been regarded as a naturally gifted defensive shortstop, with sure hands to go with plus range and plus arm strength, which is especially evident when he goes into the hole or on relay throws from the outfield. He's an above-average runner who's improving as a basestealer, and he shows the ability to make adjustments at the plate. A gap-to-gap hitter with a mature approach for his age, Andrus has a short, direct swing path and enough strength to project to hit 10-20 homers per year in the big leagues. Andrus remains somewhat raw offensively, but he has made progress with the Rangers, who wanted him to narrow his wide, spread-out stance to get more weight transfer and drive the ball better. His inconsistent stride causes him to get out of rhythm at times, but he showed improvement in the fall. Texas gave Andrus the green light to run whenever he wanted, and he's still refining his technique and picking up nuances such as when he can steal third base. Though he has an accurate arm and gets plenty of carry on his throws, he sometimes makes careless throwing errors. Andrus' all-around game draws comparisons to an in-his-prime Edgar Renteria's. As with Renteria, defense will always be Andrus' calling card, but he has a chance to be a solid No. 2 hitter in the big leagues if he's given more at-bats to develop. He figures to get a shot at playing at Double-A Frisco as a teenager in 2008.
The younger brother of Devil Rays minor league outfielder Erold Andrus, Elvis held his own in the low Class A South Atlantic League, showing no signs of being overwhelmed in a league with players who were on average four years older than him. Andrus has three plus tools and a chance to develop plus hitting ability and possibly power. His soft hands, impressive range and above-average arm strength make him a natural shortstop. Andrus employs a mature approach at the plate by using the entire field. His instincts and knowledge of the game far exceed his age. The Braves rave about his work ethic and enthusiasm, and he has become fluent in English in less than two years in the United States. Andrus is still raw in all phases of his offensive game. Plate discipline is his biggest weakness, and he also must improve his overall strength. Though he has plus speed, he's still learning to steal bases and was caught 15 times in 38 tries in 2006. The Braves feel no need to push Andrus more than a level at a time, but he's still well ahead of almost every player his age. He's headed to high Class A Myrtle Beach as an 18-year-old and could accelerate his timetable once he improves at the plate.
Andrus, whose older brother Erold plays in the Twins system, showed off his tools on a summer showcase tour in 2004 and signed as a 16-yearold in January 2005. The Braves challenged him by sending him to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and he had no trouble adapting to pro ball and the United States. He even hit .400 in the Rookie-level Appalachian League championship series. Andrus' maturity far exceeds his age, both on the field and off. At the plate, he uses the entire field and possesses plus power that should increase as his body matures. On defense, his arm, range, footwork and quickness are all exceptional tools. After tiring in August, Andrus needs to add strength to his lithe frame. He tends to try to do too much at times, though experience should help him learn to play within himself. Andrus will compete for a job in the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2006, where he almost certainly would be the youngest player in the league at 17. He's at least three or four years away from Atlanta, but his upside is huge.

Minor League Top Prospects

The TL perks up whenever a teenager comes strolling through, and managers often did a double-take this season as the 19-year-old Andrus showed his talent throughout the summer. He was one of four Frisco players who joined the Rangers in the Mark Teixeira trade in 2007, along with Feliz and lefthanders Matt Harrison and Beau Jones. Briefly slowed by a finger injury in May, Andrus hit .311 with 36 RBIs from June 1 to the end of the regular season. Texas would like to see him improve his two-strike approach, but he's a leadoff hitter in the making. He has plus speed and ranked second in the league with 53 steals (in 70 attempts). He also has solid gap power for a middle infielder. Andrus has all the tools to excel defensively, with plus range and arm strength, soft hands and fine instincts. Like most young shortstops, he needs to get more consistent. He made 32 errors in 109 games, many on hurried throws.
A key part of the trade that sent Mark Teixeira from Texas to Atlanta, Andrus wowed the league with his glove. He showed outstanding range to both sides, soft hands and plus arm strength at shortstop. The jury is still out on whether he'll hit enough, but that wasn't a concern for his CL manager. "He had 30-some RBIs, but he probably saved us 50-some runs with his defense," Pelicans manager Rocket Wheeler said. "He has all the tools and the presence about him." If only Andrus could carry that presence with him to the plate. He's still a teenager and showed improved patience, but he struggled with pitch recognition often and was vulnerable to quality breaking balls. He made strides using his plus speed to steal bases, which might be the most impressive development in his game this year.
Andrus' future involves more projection than that of Tabata or Martinez. He's not as physically developed, so his offensive ceiling remains hazy, but his defense and feel for the game are beyond reproach. He has an above-average arm, plus range, soft hands and good instincts. Andrus suffers concentration lapses on balls hit right at him and is better on balls he has to move for. "He was taking hits away from our guys," Savannah manager Bobby Williams said, "but it was fun to watch." Like Tabata, Andrus has a swing geared to hit the ball to right-center and can use the entire field. His swing doesn't stay in the zone very long and he chases high pitches too often. He doesn't have present power, but he does drive the ball in batting practice. Andrus' grasp of English is impressive for someone who has been in the United States for less then two years. He plays with a joy and energy that's infectious.
Andrus signed with the Braves in January and spent the entire season in the GCL season at age 16. He played like he was older in all phases of his game. "He has it all for his age," Tigers manager Kevin Bradshaw said. "His whole game is very mature." Andrus used the whole field at the plate, laying off breaking balls in the dirt and punishing hanging curves. He hit two long home runs against the league champion Yankees and should add consistent power as he gets bigger and stronger. His most significant improvement came in the field, where he displayed excellent middle-infield actions. Andrus has the arm, range, footwork, body control and first-step quickness to stay at shortstop. The only knock was that he played slightly out of control at times, something that should be corrected with experience.

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

Rated Best Defensive SS in the American League in 2012
Rated Best Hit and Run Artist in the American League in 2012
Rated Best Defensive SS in the American League in 2011
Rated Best Defensive SS in the American League in 2010
Rated Best Infield Arm in the Texas Rangers in 2009
Rated Best Defensive Infielder in the Texas Rangers in 2009
Rated Best Defensive SS in the Texas League in 2008
Rated Best Infield Arm in the Texas Rangers in 2008
Rated Best Defensive Infielder in the Texas Rangers in 2008
Rated Best Defensive SS in the Carolina League in 2007
Rated Most Exciting Player in the Carolina League in 2007

Career Transactions

SS Elvis Andrus retired.
Chicago White Sox activated SS Elvis Andrus from the 10-day injured list.
Chicago White Sox sent SS Elvis Andrus on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Knights.
Chicago White Sox sent SS Elvis Andrus on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Knights.
Chicago White Sox sent SS Elvis Andrus on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Knights.
Chicago White Sox sent SS Elvis Andrus on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Knights.
Chicago White Sox placed SS Elvis Andrus on the 10-day injured list. Left oblique strain.
Chicago White Sox signed free agent SS Elvis Andrus.
Chicago White Sox activated SS Elvis Andrus.