Dalton Pompey Stats & Scouting Report

AB	145
AVG	.221
OBP	.289
SLG	.372
HR	3

Full name Dalton Kenrick Pompey
Born 12/11/1992 in Mississauga, ON, Canada
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School John Fraser Secondary
Debut 09/02/2014
Drafted in the 16th round (486th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010 (signed for $150,000).

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Switch-hitting outfielder Pompey emerged late as one of Canada's top prep prospects. Another national team alumnus, he stands 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds. He has a wiry build but is athletic with deceptive strength. He has quick hands and caught up to former big leaguer Mike MacDougal and an Astros prospect throwing 100 mph during the team's tour through Florida this spring. He's a solid-average runner and some scouts see him as a tweener--not fast enough for center field and not strong enough for a corner. If he doesn't sign, he'll head to NAIA St. Francis (Ind.).

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The 17-year-old Pompey was one of the youngest players in the 2010 draft and signed for $150,000. He had something of a storybook season in 2014, playing at four different levels and reaching the major leagues. A plus athlete, Pompey is a premium defender. His gap-closing defense has drawn plus-plus grades from scouts. He offers an above-average arm that could play in right field. His speed is at least plus and is capable of the occasional plusplus time out of the box. He is a smart, efficient basestealer who can impact games on the bases. The switch-hitter could become an above-average hitter who draws walks at an above-average clip throughout his career while producing above-average contact rates. His quick-twitch athleticism translates to the batter's box with natural whip and bat speed. He will likely hit 10-15 home runs annually with lots of extra-base hits. Pompey's defensive and baserunning prowess gives him a high floor and the development of his bat could give him a well-rounded skill set capable of contributing in nearly every phase of the game.
The Ontario native wasn't yet 17 years and six months old when the Jays drafted him in 2010, and was likely the youngest player selected in the draft. A plus athlete, he has started to turn his tools into baseball skills. His carrying tool is his potentially-plus center-field defense, and he won the minor league Gold Glove Award for center fielders last season. He's an above-average runner with gliding strides who ranges well into the gaps and has good instincts, and his arm has improved to a plus after grading as below-average as an amateur. Pompey has an athletic, sleek and defined physique and is growing into his natural strength, and his speed could allow him to steal 25-30 bases a year. While the switch-hitter continues to improve his bat, he'll probably be no better than an average hitter, though his strike zone knowledge and discipline could boost his on-base skills, as he walked in 12 percent of his plate appearances. He has gap power and could hit 30 or more doubles annually, but his swing path will likely produce below-average home run power. Pompey, who will likely begin 2014 at Dunedin, has the athleticism, makeup and tools to be an everyday big leaguer at a premium position.

Minor League Top Prospects

Pompey's rapid rise through the Blue Jays system in 2014--from high Class A Dunedin to the big leagues--was matched by his equally quick descent in the first half of 2015. The Ontario native began the year as Toronto's regular center fielder but struggled in the spotlight, hitting just .193 before being sent down to Buffalo after a month. He didn't take the demotion well, hit just 19-for-91 (.209) in four weeks, frustrated observers by not putting his skills to use and got a reality check with another demotion to Double-A New Hampshire. Pompey worked his way back to Buffalo in mid-July and turned his season around. IL batting champ Matt Hague took Pompey under his wing and taught him to keep a notebook on pitchers' tendencies. He worked on taking better advantage of his above-average speed by bunting and driving the ball instead of swinging for the fences. Pompey still needs to improve his reads and routes in the outfield, but he can use his speed to make up for mistakes. He has a slightly above-average arm, but sometimes struggles with accuracy due to poor footwork.
Pompey's story seems almost too good to be true for the Blue Jays. He's a Canadian athlete from Ontario who plays a premium position and has started to come into his power at the plate. Signed for $150,000, he's already proved a bargain, finishing his season in the major leagues. Pompey produces from both sides of the plate, though scouts liked his lefthanded swing better. He should hit for average with some feel for the barrel, improved pitch recognition and plus speed to help him leg out extra hits. Pompey really makes his mark defensively, with scouts giving double-plus and even 80 grades (on the 20-80 scale) for his center field play. He closes on flyballs like an NFL cornerback and has instincts that help his speed play, both on defense and on the basepaths, where he's an effective, efficient basestealer.