Jedd Gyorko

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #3 prospect in 2013
  The top draft pick (second round) signed by the Padres in 2010, Gyorko has developed into one of the top performance prospects in the minors. He led the minors with 192 hits and ranked second with 114 RBIs in 2011. and for an encore, he blasted 30 homers (fourth in the minors) and drove in 100 runs while spending most of 2012 in Triple-A. Most everybody agrees that Gyorko will hit for average in the big leagues, perhaps .300 in his best seasons, with his short righty stroke and plate discipline. Barrel awareness and the ability to hit the ball where he wants makes him especially dangerous as a situational hitter. He has solid power and ought to be good for 40 doubles in Petco Park's spacious outfield. A below-average runner with poor lateral range, Gyorko has sufficient footwork, hands and arm strength to play a solid third base. He's more athletic than his stocky body suggests, and he played capably at second base in 47 games there last year. He may begin 2013 in Triple-A, but Gyorko will be up as soon as San Diego can give him regular at-bats.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #6 prospect in 2012
  While scouts rated Gyorko as one of the best bats in the 2010 draft, he nevertheless lasted 59 picks. In his first full year in 2011, he led the minors with 192 hits and ranked second with 114 RBIs. He might have won the high Class A California League triple crown had he not been promoted in July, so he settled for batting titles in the Cal (.365) and Arizona Fall (.437) leagues. Gyorko manages the strike zone well and uses a short, balanced swing that allows him to hit all types of pitching, so he should continue to hit for high averages. He's a sound situational hitter because he shortens up with two strikes, and he's not afraid to go outside his zone in key spots. Though he hits the ball with authority to the opposite field, his overall power potential is just average. Gyorko has soft hands, strong footwork and average arm strength at third base. As long as he maintains his current physique and fringy range, he probably can stay at the hot corner. He's a well below-average runner. Gyorko's line-drive stroke figures to play well at Petco Park, where flyballs go to die. He's Chase Headley's likely successor in San Diego, possibly as soon as 2013 if Headley becomes too expensive. Gyorko will head back to Double-A to begin 2012.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #11 prospect in 2011
  Gyorko played shortstop for West Virginia, but the Padres harbored no illusion of keeping him there as a pro. He shifted to third base after signing for $614,700 as the draft's 59th pick and went on to rank as the short-season Northwest League's No. 3 prospect. Gyorko is unquestionably a bat-first prospect, though he made a smooth transition from short to the hot corner and projects to stay there. He's built more like a catcher than a middle infielder, so he's not a great runner. He's quick enough--especially to his left--while his hands are soft enough and his arm is strong enough to play third base at an average level. Gyorko is geared to hit for average with a short stroke, good balance and an all-fields approach, and some scouts grade his hit tool as high as 65 on the 20-80 scale--or a .290 hitter. He generates plus bat speed despite wrapping his bat before unleashing his swing. That might cap his home run total at 12-15 annually, a tick below-average for a corner player. Scouts have compared Gyorko to Brett Wallace as a bad-bodied college hitter who projects to hit for a average with more gap power than pure home run juice--the type of hitter geared for Petco Park. First he'll have a chance to conquer the high Class A California League in 2011.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #11 prospect in 2012
  Promoted to San Antonio in the second half of 2011, Gyorko returned to start this season. He didn't stay long, getting promoted to Triple-A after just 34 games, but accumulated enough plate appearances to make another appearance on the TL prospect list after ranking ninth a year ago. Gyorko will reach the big leagues on the strength of his bat and his instincts for the game. He has an aggressive approach and all-around hitting skills, though his power will be more to the gaps than over the fence. He's a good situational hitter with a feel for driving in runs. He's solid at third base, but the Padres also played Gyorko at second base this year in recognition that Chase Headley occupies the hot corner in San Diego. Gyorko has enough arm for third and enough range to handle routine plays, though he's a below-average runner. "He's a very confident player," Gibbons said. "He's not a huge, physical specimen, but he's a pure baseball player."
• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #10 prospect in 2012
  Drafted for his bat in 2010, Gyorko has lived up to expectations. He has hit .319/.385/.529 in the minors and delivered 30 homers and 100 RBIs between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He makes consistent hard contact with a sound approach and short stroke, and he figures to hit for a high average and average power. With Chase Headley in San Diego, the Padres began playing Gyorko at second base this year in order to get his bat into their lineup in their near future. He's passable at second base, but he's a below-average runner who lacks the range and quickness desired there. His best fit is at third base, where he has a solid arm and makes the routine plays.
• 
  Ranked California League #2 prospect in 2011
  Roundly praised as the best all-around hitter in the league, Gyorko won the batting title at .365 and might have captured the triple crown had he not been promoted on July 4. His disciplined approach and short, quick swing allow him to drive the ball to all fields. He has average power and draws his share of walks. A hard worker who soaks up instruction, Gyorko proved to be a serviceable third baseman in just his second season at the position. He has a strong arm and soft hands, though his range is limited. He's a below-average runner whose speed plays up on the basepaths because of his instincts and work on improving his jumps. "He has good hands and feet defensively and can play every day at third base," Lake Elsinore manager Phil Plantier said. "It's not very often as a coach that you run across a first-year player that not only has ability, but that kind of work ethic."
• 
  Ranked Arizona Fall League #10 prospect in 2011
  Gyorko just keeps hitting no matter at what level he plays. The 23-year-old righthanded hitter led the AFL in batting with a .437 average, second-highest in league history behind Ken Harvey's.479 mark set in 2002. He's got good bat speed and consistently squares up balls. Scouts have noticed that he's slowed down since turning pro, both on the bases and in his movements on the field. A shortstop in college, Gyorko likely is limited to third base, but his bat will play there.
• 
  Ranked Texas League #9 prospect in 2011
  When James Darnell stepped off the hot corner in San Antonio in early July, Gyorko stepped in after dominating the high Class A California League. He found the pitching and the ballparks less friendly in Double-A, but his bat and fast progress in his first full pro season impressed TL observers. Gyorko has great hands and a knack for putting the bat on the ball. He won't be a masher but should have average power, with the ability to hit the ball out to the opposite field. He has so much confidence in his hands and his swing that he thinks he can hit anything in the strike zone, so he'll have to learn to be more selective and swing at more hitter's pitches. Gyorko isn't a standout defender but has the arm strength and hands for third base. He's slow and squat but moves well enough to handle the hot corner.
• 
  Ranked Northwest League #3 prospect in 2010
  While Gyorko played mainly shortstop at West Virginia, he's built more like a catcher than a middle infielder. At 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, he simply doesn't have the quickness and range to stay there and moved to third base immediately as a pro. It was a seamless transition and Gyorko drew glowing reviews for his defensive ability. "His feet are quick, his hands are outstanding and he has plenty of arm strength, and it's accurate too," Eugene manager Greg Riddoch said. "He makes the tough play look easy. If you're a former infielder, you can see right away. He has great hands and great reactions." His hands also work well at the plate, and more than one scout compared him to Brett Wallace. Gyorko is an above-average hitter who uses the entire field and barrels up balls. He has plus bat speed and a compact stroke--though he does have a little wrap in his swing that will need to be ironed out--and at least 12-15 home run power.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #71 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #98 prospect in 2012

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The top draft pick (second round) signed by the Padres in 2010, Gyorko has developed into one of the top performance prospects in the minors. He led the minors with 192 hits and ranked second with 114 RBIs in 2011, and for an encore he blasted 30 homers (fourth in the minors) and drove in 100 runs while spending most of 2012 in Triple-A. He's a career .319/.385/.529 hitter in the minors. Scouting Report: Most everybody agrees that Gyorko will hit for average in the big leagues, perhaps .300 in his best seasons, with his short righty stroke and plate discipline. Barrel awareness and the ability to hit the ball where he wants makes him especially dangerous as a situational hitter. He has solid power and ought to be good for 40 doubles in Petco Park's spacious outfield. A below-average runner with poor lateral range, Gyorko has sufficient footwork, hands and arm strength to play a solid third base. He's more athletic than his stocky body suggests, and he played capably at second base in 47 games there last year. The Future: If not for Chase Headley's monster 2012 season, Gyorko might already have major league experience under his belt. He may begin 2013 in Triple-A, but he'll be up as soon as San Diego can give him regular at-bats.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: While scouts rated Gyorko as one of the best bats in the 2010 draft, he nevertheless lasted 59 picks. In his first full pro year in 2011, he led the minors with 192 hits and ranked second with 114 RBIs. He might have won the high Class A California League triple crown had he not been promoted in July. He settled for batting titles in the Cal League (.365) and Arizona Fall League (.437). Scouting Report: Gyorko manages the strike zone well and uses a short, balanced swing that allows him to hit all types of pitching, so he should continue to hit for high averages. He's a sound situational hitter because he shortens up with two strikes, and he's not afraid to go outside his zone in key spots. Though he hits the ball with authority to the opposite field, his overall power potential is just average. Gyorko has soft hands, strong footwork and average arm strength at third base. As long as he maintains his current physique and fringy range, he probably can stay at the hot corner. He's a well below-average runner. The Future: Gyorko's line-drive stroke figures to play well at Petco Park, where flyballs go to die. He's Chase Headley's likely successor in San Diego, possibly as soon as 2013 if Headley becomes too expensive. Gyorko will head back to Double-A to begin 2012.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  While scouts rated Gyorko as one of the best bats in the 2010 draft, he nevertheless lasted 59 picks. In his first full year in 2011, he led the minors with 192 hits and ranked second with 114 RBIs. He might have won the high Class A California League triple crown had he not been promoted in July, so he settled for batting titles in the Cal (.365) and Arizona Fall (.437) leagues. Gyorko manages the strike zone well and uses a short, balanced swing that allows him to hit all types of pitching, so he should continue to hit for high averages. He's a sound situational hitter because he shortens up with two strikes, and he's not afraid to go outside his zone in key spots. Though he hits the ball with authority to the opposite field, his overall power potential is just average. Gyorko has soft hands, strong footwork and average arm strength at third base. As long as he maintains his current physique and fringy range, he probably can stay at the hot corner. He's a well below-average runner. Gyorko's line-drive stroke figures to play well at Petco Park, where flyballs go to die. He's Chase Headley's likely successor in San Diego, possibly as soon as 2013 if Headley becomes too expensive. Gyorko will head back to Double-A to begin 2012.
• August, 2011 Scouting Report
  Gyorko just keeps hitting no matter at what level he plays. The 23-year-old righthanded hitter led the AFL in batting with a .437 average, second-highest in league history behind Ken Harvey's.479 mark set in 2002. He's got good bat speed and consistently squares up balls. Scouts have noticed that he's slowed down since turning pro, both on the bases and in his movements on the field. A shortstop in college, Gyorko likely is limited to third base, but his bat will play there.
• December, 2010 Scouting Report
  Gyorko played shortstop for West Virginia, but the Padres harbored no illusion of keeping him there as a pro. He shifted to third base after signing for $614,700 as the draft's 59th pick and went on to rank as the short-season Northwest League's No. 3 prospect. Gyorko is unquestionably a bat-first prospect, though he made a smooth transition from short to the hot corner and projects to stay there. He's built more like a catcher than a middle infielder, so he's not a great runner. He's quick enough--especially to his left--while his hands are soft enough and his arm is strong enough to play third base at an average level. Gyorko is geared to hit for average with a short stroke, good balance and an all-fields approach, and some scouts grade his hit tool as high as 65 on the 20-80 scale--or a .290 hitter. He generates plus bat speed despite wrapping his bat before unleashing his swing. That might cap his home run total at 12-15 annually, a tick below-average for a corner player. Scouts have compared Gyorko to Brett Wallace as a bad-bodied college hitter who projects to hit for a average with more gap power than pure home run juice--the type of hitter geared for Petco Park. First he'll have a chance to conquer the high Class A California League in 2011.