Jerry Sands Stats & Scouting Report

AB	420
AVG	.238
OBP	.303
SLG	.367
HR	10

Full name Gerald Robert Sands
Born 09/28/1987 in Middletown, NY
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Catawba
Debut 04/18/2011
Drafted in the 25th round (757th overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Sands set school records at NCAA Division II Catawba (N.C.) for career homers (61), walks (132) and slugging (.752), but that still only netted him a $5,000 bonus as a 25th-round pick in 2008. After spending most of his first two years in Rookie ball, he reached Double-A in 2010, earning the Dodgers' minor league player of the year award after tying for third in the minors with 35 homers. Sands' has plus power to all fields. He focused on shortening up his swing coming into last year, and he now has a sound stroke with some loft and above-average bat speed. While he has trouble laying off high fastballs at times, he shows an aptitude for handling breaking pitches, so he shouldn't just be a one-dimensional slugger. Sands split his time between the outfield and first base last season and was surprisingly effective on the outfield corners. Though he has below-average speed, his instincts compensate for it and make him an average defender. His arm strength is a tick below average but enough to get by. Sands has the power to profile as a solid everyday left fielder or first baseman, and he also might get a chance to play some third base. He'll return to Chattanooga to begin 2011, but a September callup isn't out of the question.
After setting school records at NCAA Division II Catawba (N.C.) for homers (61), walks (132) and slugging (.752), Sands lasted 25 rounds in the 2008 draft and signed for $5,000. His best tool clearly is his power. Capable of hitting the ball out to the deepest part of just about any park, he has 29 homers in 119 pro games. He's more than just a one-dimensional slugger, too. He hits the ball to all fields and shows good patience at the plate. He also has decent speed and is capable of taking an extra base if he catches the defense napping. He moves well enough to have played some center field in 2009, though his range is below average and will dictate that he plays on a corner. He has a solid arm, so right field likely will be his future home. Sands initially struggled when he got to low Class A but came on at the end of the season. He'll go back to Great Lakes to begin this season.

Minor League Top Prospects

Sands had a breakout season, hitting a combined .301/.398/.586 with 35 home runs and 93 RBIs between low Class A Great Lakes and Chattanooga. The former 25th-round pick has fixed a hitch in his swing, unlocking his power to all fields. He has strong wrists and generates ideal loft with his smooth stroke. Throughout the year, Sands had to deal with opponents trying to keep him off balance by pitching him backwards, and he learned to make adjustments during at-bats. While he struck out nearly once per game, he battled deep into counts and drew his share of walks. "Another half year of Double-A ball," Chattanooga manager Carlos Subero said, "and he'll be ready." Capable of playing first base or the outfield corners, Sands is a solid defender who makes good decisions and flashes a strong arm. He has below-average speed but shows good instincts on the basepaths.
Sands hit a school-record 61 homers at Catawba (N.C.), an NCAA Division II school, and 29 in 119 games over his first two pro seasons. But the 25th-round pick didn't get taken seriously as a prospect until he bashed 35 more in 2010 to rank second in the minors. He hit 18 in the first half, said goodbye by tagging McNutt for a two-run shot in the MWL all-star game, then hit 17 more in Double-A. Sands' plus power comes from his strong hands and wrists, along with the loft in his swing. Compared to the month he spent at Great Lakes last season, he did a better job of working counts and using the whole field this time around. Managers not only rated Sands the best power hitter in the league, but the top defensive first baseman as well. He moves well for his size and can handle the outfield corners as well. He has an average arm in the outfield and can steal an occasional base despite below-average speed.