![Swing away, kid 20130220-005422.jpg](https://cslade9.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/20130220-005422.jpg?w=461&h=576)
Height: 6’2″ Weight: 195
DOB: 7/12/92 Age: 20
Drafted: 6th Round, 2011
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
High School: Farragut HS
2012 Team: Delmarva
2013 Team: Frederick
Bats: L Throws: R
2012 Rank: 7
A former top 100 draft prospect, Nick Delmonico slid to the 6th round in 2011 due to large bonus demands and back issues during his senior high school season. It took a nice clean game of hardball and a club record (for a non 1st rounder) 1.55 Million bonus for the Tennesse recruit to sign following the 2011 draft. He looks worth it (so far) as he remains in my top 10 after his first full season in pro ball. While the results were kinda meh at Delmarva, taking a deeper look at the numbers and more importantly the scouting reports, there’s evidence to suggest a breakout season this year. In short, Delmonico shows a very promising upside, but as you’ll see in my analysis, has several question marks that need answering before we anoint him our 3B or 1B of the future. Similar prospects have let us down before.
Scouting Report: (Grade C = Below Average, Grade B = Average, Grade A = Above Average, by MLB standards)
- Hit Tool: B- Makes consistent contact. Struggles mightily versus lefties though. Has potential to be a .260 to .280 hitter in the majors.
- Plate Discipline: B Advanced approach. Does a nice job with working the count. Needs to work on chasing breaking balls out of the zone, especially vs lefties.
- Power: B+ Great raw power, already a 10-15 home run hitter with a 20-25 hitter his upside with maturation.
- Speed: B- Not a huge factor in his game but shows decent running ability.
- Arm: B Decent arm. Former High School catcher. Can make all the necessary throws from the hot corner.
- Defense: B- Weak 3B defense for major league standards but shows potential to improve to an average defender with time.
Projected Role: Average Regular (1B/OF)
(Grade C = AAA filler, C+ = AAA Depth w/ chance to be late bloomer, B- = Backup MLB player, B = Bench player, can start out of necessity, B+ Platoon/Part Time Regular, A- Solid average starter, A = Above Average/Borderline All Star, A+ All star/Elite)
Potential: A First, let me say that reaching his upside will depend on staying healthy, answering position questions, and tapping into his raw power more often. In BP, Nicky shows great leverage with his smooth left handed swing, making it easy to see why scouts anticipate a power breakthrough as he matures. In this scenario, Delmonico continues to put out a solid 10-15 home runs with Frederick this year before bursting onto the scene next year in Bowie with 20-25 blasts, establishing himself has a solid power 3B bat. Notice I said, 3B. While he’s not the rangiest guy in the world, he shows smooth actions and capable arm strength to hold down the position. In this scenario, he proves he can man the position this year at Frederick. I love his sound disciplined approach at the plate which I think can allow him to become an above average hitter in his prime that hits anywhere from .260 to .290 in his prime while posting solid OBP’s in the .350’s. I see his upside as a Freddie Freeman type hitter as a 1B or 3B.
Floor: B- As of now, the current player has several question marks that could hinder his upside to a role player/platoon bat if his development stagnates. The durability questions may continue to linger which may lead to further injury issues that stagnate his crucial prospect development. Especially so in this “floor” scenario where he also fails as a 3B and has to move back to 1B. Another red flag I mentioned in the scouting report includes his challenged hitting ability versus lefties only batting only .175/.308/.309 against them with Delmarva. If those struggles always hold true, that could limit him to a platoon bat. In his worse case scenario may still have value as a backup/ role player type with a chance to be a late bloomer in his late 20’s if he can make major league adjustments.
Confidence I Have In Potential: C I like Delmonico. My main worries stem from his development as a hitter and fielder stagnating due to injuries. Despite the low confidence grade, Nick ranks highly on my list because I’m impressed with how he held his own in full season ball a year out of high school. He’s a very smooth, natural athlete and even if he has to move to first, I think he can become an asset there defensively. Looking at his lower half, I see plenty of room for strength gains to be made and I buy into the 20-25 HR upside. As stated before, durability concerns worry me going back to his senior year of high school where he battled back injuries. He also saw his batting average with Delmarva decline from .262 in the first half to .218 second half before having his season cut short by a knee injury. However, they say he’s 100% now. My confidence in his potential will skyrocket if gets in a full season with no injuries or setbacks and puts up solid numbers over 400+ AB’s.
The development of Delmonico defensively this year will also impact how I view him as a prospect. The Orioles farm director Brian Graham recently stated they will commit to him to playing 3B full time after shuffling between 1B, 2B, and 3B last year. I’m interested in hearing progress reports on his defense throughout the season because silencing his long term positional skepticism will greatly enhance his prospect value. The skepticism comes from the assumption that the wiry Delmonico will continue to grow and add 15-20 pounds to his current 6’2″ 195 frame, limiting his lateral agility, and prompting a permanent move to 1B or LF. As a 1B/0F type, the pressure to perform with the bat will intensify. Until he shows a breakthrough season as a hitter, I’m not sure I see him (not yet anyway) as an impact hitter, but rather a solid .265/.320/.430, 15-20 HR hitter at 1B/OF. For now, that’s what I expect to happen: Delmonico as an average regular who sees time as an OF/1B and DH but sits vs tough lefties. Hopefully, he proves me wrong with a strong showing offensively and defensively this year, catapulting himself into the top 100 prospect discussion.
Overall Grade: B-
![20130220-005417.jpg](https://cslade9.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/20130220-005417.jpg?w=627)
![20130220-005426.jpg](https://cslade9.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/20130220-005426.jpg?w=627)
Interesting Fact: Nicks father, Rod Delmonico, was the head coach of Tennessee baseball from 1990 – 2007.
2012 Season |
Team |
League |
AVG |
G |
AB |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
SB |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
|
|
|
|
DEL |
A |
.249 |
95 |
338 |
22 |
0 |
11 |
54 |
47 |
73 |
8 |
.351 |
.411 |
.762 |
|
|
|
|
Total |
A |
.249 |
95 |
338 |
22 |
0 |
11 |
54 |
47 |
73 |
8 |
.351 |
.411 |
.762 |
|
|
|
|