Mike O’Neill Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1902
AVG	.313
OBP	.414
SLG	.381
HR	4

Full name Michael John O'Neill
Born 02/12/1988 in Riverside, CA
Profile Ht.: 5'9" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Southern California
Drafted in the 31st round (949th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2010.

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Organization Prospect Rankings

A fourth outfielder in the making, O'Neill is an on-base monster who has mastered the crafty art of working a walk. He led the minors with a .458 OBP in 2012, led the minors with a 2.4 BB/SO ratio in 2013 and sports a career OBP of .435 through four seasons. He hit .320 at Double-A Springfield in 2013 to finish second in the Texas League in batting. In a 32-game exposure to Triple-A Memphis, O'Neill continued to have a better feel for the strike zone than anyone other than the umpire, walking his way to a .402 OBP. Signed for $1,000 as a 31st-round senior pick in 2010, O'Neill embraces the role of table-setter and is eager to test his eye at the big league level. He has built a lefthanded swing for contact and average, not for power. That lack of pop makes him a tough fit for an everyday role. But sharp, fundamental instincts in the field, average speed and a fringy arm have allowed him to play all three spots in the outfield. Scouts laud his energy but acknowledge his unique profile. O'Neill earned a spot on the 40-man roster in the offseason and has positioned himself for a chance to be an extra outfielder when the Cardinals inevitably call on the minors for depth.
An afterthought as a $1,000 senior sign in the 31st round of the 2010 draft, O'Neill had a spectacular 2012 season. Bouncing back from a knee injury the year before, he led the minors in on-base percentage (.458) and ranked second in hitting (.359), won the Florida State League batting title (.342) and helped Springfield capture the Texas League championship. He also starred in the Arizona Fall League, batting .368/.463/.397. O'Neill relishes his role as a tablesetter, exhibiting a keen sense of the strike zone and unwavering patience. His swing is built for contact at the expense of power, which limits his ceiling. He has just one homer in 683 pro at-bats, which makes it difficult to profile him as a big league regular. Though he has played all three outfield spots and has good defensive instincts, his average speed and fringy arm strength fit best in left field--a position with a premium on pop. O'Neill will try to keep exceeding expectations when he returns to Double-A, where he hit .563 in 13 games last year, and eventually could carve out a big league role as a fourth outfielder and bat off the bench.