Brian Ragira, OF. B-R, T-R. 6'2", 185 lbs. DOB: 1/22/1992.
College(Stanford): .320/.375/.482, 8 HR, 14 BB, 24 K, 222 AB.
Rookie AZL: .357/.379/.464, 28 AB.
Short Season: .263/.371/.391, 12 2B, 3 HR, 26 BB, 54 K, 179 AB.
Brian Ragira was one of my favorite HS prospects in the 2010 draft. I particularly loved his swing. He had a wrist snap that reminded me of Eric Davis and…..wait for this….Hank Aaron! He generated enormous bat head speed. He went to Stanford for 3 years where he did the Stanford thing, level swing, gap power, hitting for average. He pretty much put up the same numbers all 3 years there which could raise concerns about whether he actually developed anything there. Keep in mind, though, that the PAC-10 is a strong pitchers league and he played in the BBCOR/raised seam era.
He still has some snap in his wrists and still looks like he generates good bat head speed. The swing looks a bit long. He has a very slight double toe-tap and a small dip in his hands at the beginning of his swing. The hand dip, in particular is something that will probably need to be ironed out. I would think the Giants will be quick to get him to ditch the level swing approach and try to maximize his power potential which is huge.
He has some tools. He hit 91 MPH off the mound and from the OF in HS. He ran a 6.88 60 in HS. It would be a stretch to call him a 5-tool player though. He should have the arm and speed to play corner OF in the majors. The weight listed above is from his profile on milb.com. His pre-draft scouting reports had him at 205 and from videos, I have to say he looks closer to 205 than 185.
Huge ceiling, but has a lot of warts. We'll just have to see how he develops. Good to see the Giants go for the upside in the 4'th round of the draft, though.
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When I did my write-up on Ragira, it was very interesting reading the contrasting scouting reports. It was almost as if half of the reviews make your mouth water over an athletic player with tools galore, while the other half question his ability to even make it professionally. Such is the world of a prospect with untapped potential, but I definitely found some reports that had me dreaming big. Should be interesting to see if he's assigned to San Jose this spring, which I think he should be.
ReplyDeleteThe difference of opinion on his footspeed is pretty divergent. I am glad the Giants have him in the OF, I thought that was where he belonged, not stuck at 1B. He's no burner, but he's not a leadfoot either.
DeleteWhat are your thoughts on Stephen Piscotty? Surely the SEC pitcher of the year looked like much better pick ahead the Stanford hitter who has done well for himself in his recent tour of Cards' minor leagues. Any similarities in Ragira's hitting approach that may have been learned at Stanford.
ReplyDeleteI am frankly surprised at how well Piscotty has hit in the minors. Maybe the Cards have some secret sauce for hitting prospects?
DeleteI didn't want anything to do with him personally. Saw him as a tweener who wouldn't stick at third.
DeleteThank you for that bit of 'wrist snap' bat speed information...probably have to follow 20 sites and do not even get that.
ReplyDeleteI will have to remember his name and follow him this year.