Adam Eaton

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #4 prospect in 2013
  Eaton won the Rookie-level Pioneer League batting title (.385) after signing for $35,000 as a 19th-round college senior in 2010, and he continues to prove that performance was no fluke. He reached the big leagues in 2012, when he also led the minors in batting (.375), hits (198) and doubles (47) and was named Pacific Coast League MVP. He played regularly for Arizona in September before an errant pitch broke his right hand. Though Eaton is undersized at 5-foot-9, he has plenty of tools. His plus-plus speed stands out the most, and he does an excellent job of putting the ball in play so he can use it. He gets to top speed quickly, making him a basestealing threat. He led the PCL with 38 stolen bases in 48 tries last year. A prototypical leadoff hitter, Eaton consistently puts together good at-bats and gets on base. He added more pop to his package in 2012 and now projects as a double-digit home run threat. He also made big strides defensively, convincing scouts that he can be a big league center fielder. He has a strong, accurate arm. Eaton has gone from draft afterthought to potential fourth outfielder to big league regular in two short years. Arizona cleared the way for him to be its everyday center fielder and leadoff hitter by trading Chris Young this offseason.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #12 prospect in 2012
  Eaton has made a career of exceeding expectations and he hasn't stopped since signing for $35,000 as a 19th-round college senior in 2010. He won the Rookie-level Pioneer League batting title (.385) in his pro debut and reached Double-A midway through his first full pro season. The undersized gamer has a career .340 average in the minors and kept hitting in the Arizona Fall League after the season, batting .344/.410/.475. Eaton is a line-drive hitter with enough power to hit 10-15 homers per year. He has a somewhat unorthodox style, with one scout likening it to a Japanese approach in which he gets an early jump out of the batters box. He makes consistent contact, drawing nearly as many walks as strikeouts. His biggest drawback at the plate is his struggles against lefthanders, who held him to .263/.386/.331 numbers last season and eventually may relegate him to a platoon role. Eaton has plus speed and knows how to use it to create havoc on the bases. He can play all three outfield positions, with solid range in center and above-average range on the corners, and he has the strongest outfield arm in the system. Some scouts still see Eaton as a fourth outfielder, but his doubters are diminishing. He may start 2012 in Triple-A and could finish the season in Arizona.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #30 prospect in 2011
  Arizona's biggest surprise of the 2010 draft came in a small package. Selected in the 19th round and signed for $35,000, Eaton turned out to be the best pure hitter in the Diamondbacks' draft class. He led the Pioneer League in hitting (.385) and on-base percentage (.500) in his pro debut. Eaton may be undersized at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, but he has a strong, developed body. With a short stroke and an all-fields approach, he puts the bat on the ball and makes consistent hard contact. He has surprising pop, though most of his power is to the gaps rather than over the fence. Eaton has solid speed that plays up on the bases and in center field due to his instincts. His arm strength is average. It would be simple to look at his size and write Eaton off as a fourth outfielder, but some scouts believe he could develop into a starter in the big leagues. Arizona will have a better idea of what it has in Eaton once it sees him in full-season ball in 2011, and he may start the year by jumping to high Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #12 prospect in 2012
  Signed for $35,000 as a Miami (Ohio) senior in 2010, Eaton finally is getting noticed for his tools rather than his lack of height. He won the PCL MVP and rookie of the year awards after leading the league in hitting (.381), on-base percentage (.456), runs (119), hits (186), doubles (46), steals (38) and total bases (263). He continued to perform well after the Diamondbacks installed him as their leadoff hitter in September. Eaton's game revolves around his plus-plus speed, and he's able to use it consistently because he puts the ball in play frequently. He won't hit many home runs, but he gets on base and has some gap power. Capable of playing all three outfield positions, he has a solid arm.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #73 prospect in 2013

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Eaton won the Rookie-level Pioneer League batting title (.385) after signing for $35,000 as a 19th-round college senior in 2010, and he continues to prove that was no fluke. He reached the big leagues in 2012, when he also led led the minors in batting (.375), hits (198) and doubles (47) and was named Pacific Coast League MVP. He played regularly for Arizona in September before an errant pitch broke his right hand. Scouting Report: Though Eaton is undersized at 5-foot-9, he has plenty of tools. His plus-plus speed stands out the most, and he does an excellent job of putting the ball in play so he can use it. He gets to top speed quickly, making him a basestealing threat. He led the PCL with 38 in 48 tries last year. A prototypical leadoff hitter, Eaton consistently puts together good at-bats and gets on base. He added more pop to his package in 2012 and now projects as a double-digit home run threat. He also made big strides defensively, convincing scouts that he can be a big league center fielder. He has a strong, accurate arm. The Future: Eaton has gone from draft afterthought to big league regular in two years and he has a relatively clear path to be Arizona's everyday center fielder and leadoff hitter.