Jason Kipnis, OF/2B, Arizona St. - 6'0" 180 lbs. (Bats L | Throws R)

 

Scouting Report

Strengths: Is versatile and can play all 3 OF spots and even 2B. Has an extremely good eye and is a walk/OBP machine. Uses the whole field and has improved his swing since 2008. Has some pop and has above average speed with the ability to steal a few bases. Good feel in the OF and gets good reads, and has decent arm strength. Fantastic numbers against really good competition these past two years. Was drafted last year in the 4th round by San Diego. Is a real baseball player, has a great feel for the game, and plays hard, making the most of what he's got.

 

Negatives: Might not be able to stick in CF and doesn't profile to hit for enough power for the corner spots. Doesn't have any really great tools and doesn't seem to impress some scouts. Is he an everyday player or 4th OF? Will his bat be able to translate to wood?

 

Scouting Report Links

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2009/...?content=kipnis

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=522 (This was a really good scouting report)

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2009/4/22/8...ege-hitters-for

Jason Kipnis, OF, Arizona State

Traditional scouts aren't super wild about Kipnis, rating his tools as just average. But his performance is outstanding: .403/.506/.763, 11 homers, 15 steals in 19 attempts, 29 walks against just 16 strikeouts in 139 at-bats. He's polished, does a lot of things right, and has thrived this year against tough competition. One of the performance-oriented teams could consider him in the first round, and I doubt very much that he'll get past the second round. He turned down a fourth-round offer from the Padres last year, and it looks to have been the right move.

Statistics

2009 - .380 AVG | 14 HR | 65 RBI | 200 AB | 76 H | 18 2B | 4 3B | 45 BB | 26 SO | 21 SB | 4 CS | .496 OBP | .720 SLG

 

2007 & 2008 - http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/K/Jason-Kipnis.shtml

 

Bio

http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-base...is_jason00.html

 

Video

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1...amp;bypass=true (Draft Video from last year)

 

(Just a little interview from last year, no game footage)

 

Projected Draft Slot

Between rounds 2-4

Player Comparison

Can't think of a good one right now. If I had to say though, a left handed version of Marco Scutaro who plays the OF and maybe even 2B.

My Take

A local product who is from Glenbrook North High School. He profiles to be at the very least a solid situational player or 4th OF. From what I have read, he doesn't seem to have really raised his value much since last year. Some scouts still feel he hasn't improved while others think he's a lock for round 2.

 

Personally, depending on what we do with our first 3 picks, I wouldn't mind bringing in Kipnis at either pick 71 or with our 3rd rounder. Seems like a really solid player who fits what we are looking for.

Edited May 28, 200916 yr by BearSox

The question is...can he still shoot the 3 like he did when he helped the Heat to that title?

The question is...can he still shoot the 3 like he did when he helped the Heat to that title?

 

Actually... yes.

Not a fan, not a fan. I'm a tools guy and this guy just doesn't have what it takes. If you project him as a 2nd baseman, he might turn into a solid get, but if he's playing in a cornfer outfield spot I don't think he makes it as a starter and I don't take a guy in the first 4 rounds who doesn't at least have the upside to be a starter (doesn't mean he will be, but just that he has the upside to be).

He was in my high school class and I'm surprised the scouting reports say he can't play CF. He is such a good athlete (all-conf WR in HS) that I thought he could handle the position. He didn't play OF until his senior year of HS I'm pretty sure. He was moving around the IF as a sophomore and junior on the varsity team.

Ya know...the last time I really touted an ASU player that I'd seen a lot of and really believed in...it was met with the same reaction that Mike Leake and Kipnis is getting. He only went on to win MVP last year. Kipnis is a ball player...plain and simple...and a very good one at that. I've heard from quite a few people he'll probably project as more a 2B..maybe even 3B. But he's played pretty damn good defense for ASU as the starter in CF as well as swung the bat very well.