AJ Pollock

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #10 prospect in 2013
  The Diamondbacks expected Pollock to move quickly after signing him for $1.4 million as the 17th overall pick in 2009, but he missed the following season when he fractured a growth plate in his right elbow during spring training. He has made up for lost time by batting .312 in the upper minors during the last two seasons and getting three separate big league callups in 2012. Pollock's total package is more than the sum of its parts, with only his bat and makeup grading better than average. He's a gap-to-gap hitter who makes reliable contact but has yet to develop much over-the-fence power. The ball does come off his bat well, so Arizona believes he will eventually produce 10-15 homers per year. Pollock makes the most of his average speed, running the bases well and showing annual 20-steal potential. He's capable of playing all three outfield positions, getting good reads and displaying an average arm that's enough to handle right field. Scouts are split on Pollock, with some seeing him as a solid regular in center field and others thinking he profiles best as a fourth outfielder. The Diamondbacks have no shortage of starting outfield candidates in Adam Eaton, Jason Kubel, Gerardo Parra and Justin Upton, so Pollock will have to settle for a reserve role in 2013.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #5 prospect in 2012
  The No. 17 overall pick in the 2009 draft, Pollock signed for $1.4 million and missed all of his first full pro season after fracturing a growth plate in his throwing elbow during a spring-training drill. He looked as good as ever when he returned in 2011, leading the Southern League in runs (103) and hits (169) while helping Mobile to the championship. Pollock's total package is greater than the sum of its parts. First and foremost, he's a blue-collar player with great makeup and excellent instincts in all phases of the game. He's a line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter who squares balls up consistently and produces lots of doubles. He could develop 15-homer power once he gets stronger. He makes contact so easily that it hampers his ability to draw walks. Though he has just average speed, Pollock is the system's best baserunner and stole 36 bases in 43 tries in 2011. He's solid defensively at all three outfield positions, making good reads in center field and displaying an average arm. Pollock is ready for a move to Triple-A in 2012 and could fill a need at the big league level at some point in the season. Though some scouts see him as a fourth outfielder because he isn't loaded with plus tools, the Diamondbacks envision him becoming a solid regular.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #6 prospect in 2011
  Pollock parlayed Cape Cod League MVP honors in the summer of 2008 into becoming the 17th overall pick in 2009, signing for $1.4 million. After a solid pro debut at South Bend, where he starred collegiately at Notre Dame, he missed all of 2010 after a freak injury during a spring-training fielding drill left him needing surgery to repair a fractured growth plate in his right elbow. He spent his downtime working on conditioning, espe-cially strengthening his lower half, before returning to play in instructional league and the Arizona Fall League. Other than his bat, Pollock may not have a plus tool, but he has well-rounded skills and instincts that let him play above his physical ability. He uses his quick hands to stroke line drives from gap to gap. He won't have big-time power but could develop into a 15-homer threat. His speed is slightly above average and he runs the bases well. Pollock reads balls well and covers a lot of ground in center field, and he had an average arm before he hurt his elbow. Pollock projects as a solid big league regular or at least a quality fourth outfielder on a contender. He was on the fast track prior to his injury, so he could jump to Double-A to begin 2011.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #3 prospect in 2010
  Pollock didn't have to make much of a transition after being drafted 17th overall in June, as both Notre Dame and Arizona's low Class A affiliate play in South Bend, Ind. Signed for $1.4 million, he first caught the Diamondbacks' attention by winning Cape Cod League MVP honors in the summer of 2008. Pollock's best tool is his bat, and his bat speed, strong hands and line-drive approach should allow him to hit for high average. He has gap power, slightly above-average speed and good instincts on the bases. He's a quality defender with an average arm in center field. In addition to his all-around athleticism, he also has strong makeup. Some scouts take a glass-half-empty view and say Pollock doesn't do anything particularly well beyond hit. He showed a tendency to get out on his front foot during the spring at Notre Dame, but he has a calmer approach with wood bats. His swing can get flat at times, limiting his power. Pollock projects as a solid major league leadoff hitter and center fielder, mostly because he knows how to affect games with his skill set. He could start 2010 in Double-A and will certainly get there at some point during the season. He's on the fast track to Arizona.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #14 prospect in 2011
  After missing all of 2010 with a freak elbow injury that required surgery, Pollock was one of the most well-rounded players in the Southern League. He played solid defense in center field while leading the league in runs (103) and hits (169) while ranking third in steals (36) and doubles (41) and fourth in total bases (244). He endeared himself to managers around the league with his hard-nosed style of play and overall feel for the game. Pollock doesn't have one standout tool, but he can do a bit of everything on the field and has the baseball instincts to play above his raw physical ability. He has feel for hitting and is an aggressive within the strike zone. His power is below average, so he projects more as a line-drive hitter who uses the gaps rather than a major home run threat. Pollock is a slightly above-average runner with excellent instincts on the bases and a quick first step, which makes him more of a basestealing threat than his pure speed would suggest. Some scouts project him as a quality defender in center field, while others see him as merely adequate. He has an average arm.
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  Ranked Midwest League #13 prospect in 2009
  As if there wasn't enough pressure being the 17th overall pick in the 2009 draft and the recipient of a $1.4 million bonus, Pollock also had to deal with being a gate attraction for the Silver Hawks after previously starring in South Bend at Notre Dame. He handled it well while jumping into pro ball at the low Class A level. Pollock hits better with wood bats--he was the MVP in the Cape Cod League last summer--because he doesn't cheat out on his front side for power like he does with metal in his hands. His best tool is his bat, as his bat speed, strong hands and up-the-middle, line-drive approach should allow him to hit for a high average. Pollock has some gap power and should reach double digits in homers while providing more than his share of doubles and triples. He's a 55 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale, with good instincts on the bases and in center field. His arm is average. "All five tools don't jump off the page at you, but he does well in all five areas we like to grade as scouts. There are no 70s or 80s, but there are no 20s or 30s either," the NL scout said. "To say he's a five-tool player might be strong because he maybe doesn't have the power, but he's a four-and-a-half tool player who can play center field."

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The Diamondbacks expected Pollock to move quickly after signing him for $1.4 million as the 17th overall pick in 2009, but he missed the following season when he fractured a growth plate in his right elbow during spring training. He has made up for lost time by batting .312 in the upper minors during the last two seasons and getting three separate big league callups in 2012. Scouting Report: Pollock's total package is more than the sum of its parts, with only his bat and makeup grading better than average. He's a gap-to-gap hitter who makes reliable contact but has yet to develop much over-the-fence power. The ball does come off his bat well, so Arizona believe he'll eventually produce 10-15 homers per year. Pollock makes the most of his average speed, running the bases well and showing annual 20-steal potential. He's capable of playing all three outfield positions, getting good reads and displaying an average arm that's enough to handle right field. The Future: Scouts are split on Pollock, with some seeing him as a solid regular in center field and others thinking he profiles best as a fourth outfielder. The Diamondbacks have no shortage of starting outfield candidates in Adam Eaton, Jason Kubel, Gerardo Parra and Justin Upton, so Pollock will have to settle for a reserve role in 2013.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The No. 17 overall pick in the 2009 draft, Pollock signed for $1.4 million and missed all of his first full pro season after fracturing a growth plate in his throwing elbow during a spring-training drill. He looked as good as ever when he returned in 2011, leading the Southern League in runs (103) and hits (169) while helping Mobile to the championship. Scouting Report: Pollock's total package is greater than the sum of its parts. First and foremost, he's a blue-collar player with great makeup and excellent instincts in all phases of the game. He's a line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter who squares balls up consistently and produces lots of doubles. He could develop 15-homer power once he gets stronger. He makes contact so easily that it hampers his ability to draw walks. Though he has just average speed, Pollock is the system's best baserunner and stole 36 bases in 43 tries in 2011. He's solid defensively at all three outfield positions, making good reads in center field and displaying an average arm. The Future: Pollock is ready for a move to Triple-A in 2012 and could fill a need at the big league level at some point in the season. Though some scouts see him as a fourth outfielder because he isn't loaded with plus tools, the Diamondbacks envision him becoming a solid regular.
• December, 2010 Scouting Report
  Background: Pollock parlayed Cape Cod League MVP honors in the summer of 2008 into becoming the 17th overall pick in 2009, signing for $1.4 million. After a solid pro debut at South Bend, where he starred collegiately at Notre Dame, he missed all of 2010 after a freak injury during a spring-training fielding drill left him needing surgery to repair a fractured growth plate in his right elbow. He spent his downtime working on conditioning, especially strengthening his lower half, before returning to play in intstructional league and the Arizona Fall League. Scouting Report: Besides his bat, Pollock may not have a plus tool, but he has well-rounded skills and instincts that let him play above his physical ability. He uses his quick hands to stroke line drives from gap to gap. He won't have big-time power but could develop into a 15-homer threat. His speed is slightly above average and he runs the bases well. Pollock reads balls well and covers a lot of ground in center field, and he had an average arm before he hurt his elbow. The Future: Pollock projects as a solid big league regular or at least a quality fourth outfielder on a contender. He was on the fast track prior to his injury, so he could jump to Double-A to begin 2011.