George Springer

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Houston Astros #2 prospect in 2014
  Springer has a fascinating family history, but since signing for $2.525 million as the 11th pick in the 2011 draft, he's made his own name, including a strong run at a 40-40 season in 2013 in which he fell three home runs short of the feat. He goes to the plate looking for a pitch on the inner half that he can drive, and he succeeded frequently in doing so in 2013 as he advanced to Triple-A Oklahoma City. His outstanding bat speed allows him to catch up to most anything, but his aggressive approach often leaves him out on his front foot when he faces quality offspeed stuff. Because his arm, speed, power and defense all rate as at least plus tools, Springer can be productive even as he strikes out excessively. A .299 career minor league hitter, he won't approach that in the majors unless he starts lining pitches on the outer half to right field more often. Though he's not on the 40-man roster, Springer should earn a big league spot in Houston's woeful outfield at some point in 2014. If he makes enough contact to hit .270 in the big leagues, he's a perennial all-star. He has enough other tools to help a team win even if his swing-and-miss tendencies turn him into a .240 hitter.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #3 prospect in 2013
  The highest-drafted player in Connecticut history, Springer went 11th overall and signed for $2.525 million in 2011. In his first full pro season, he ranked in the top six in the high Class A California League in all three slash stats at .316/.398/.557 before finishing at Double-A Corpus Christi. Springer is a true power/speed threat. His strong, quick hands generate tremendous whip and bat speed, giving him power to all fields. He doesn't have to cheat to drive the ball, but he does leak out with his front side at times, leading to strikeouts. He tends to play too fast, though scouts think he'll adjust with experience. Springer's above-average speed plays well on the bases and in center field, and managers rated him the Cal League's top defensive outfielder. His arm is above-average as well. His energy is infectious, and the Astros credit him with helping Delino DeShields Jr. play harder after rooming with him in instructional league and spring training. If Springer can make more consistent contact, he'll be a five-tool player. Whether he sticks in center field or shifts to right will depend in part on how other players fall into place. He'll return to Double-A to start 2013.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #3 prospect in 2012
  Drafted out of high school by the Twins in the 48th round, Springer instead went to Connecticut, honing his raw tools and helping the Huskies reach back-to-back NCAA regionals. He also starred for the U.S. college national team in 2010 before becoming the 11th overall pick last June, the highest-drafted Husky ever. His $2.525 million bonus is the largest in Astros draft history. Springer has a power-speed combination in the Mike Cameron mold and could be a five-tool player if his bat becomes more consistent. His quick hands and strong wrists generate explosive bat speed and above-average power potential. His approach at the plate vacillates between too passive and too aggressive, but he sliced his strikeout rate from 29 percent as a sophomore to 16 percent as a junior. He needs to keep improving his pitch recognition and feel for the strike zone, but he isn't afraid to draw a walk. With his plus speed and arm strength, Springer can play center or right field. His speed also plays on the bases, as he stole 64 bases in 73 tries in his final two college seasons. The most well-rounded position player in the system, Springer could move quickly. He'll start 2012 at low Class A Lexington, with his bat dictating his timetable.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #3 prospect in 2013
  In just a half season in the PCL, Springer quickly turned heads with his all-around performance, finishing with a combined 37 homers and 45 steals between Double-A Corpus Christi and Oklahoma City. ?As far as impact players in the league, I haven?t seen anybody like him since Matt Kemp,? Albuquerque manager Lorenzo Bundy said. ?He could play for me in the majors. He?s the type of player that can affect the game offensively, defensively. He can steal a base. Pretty impressive.? One area where Springer needs to improve is making contact. While he exhibited a good batting eye, he still showed a propensity to swing and miss too often, especially on breaking pitches on the outer half. Still, he has little left to prove at this level and will be expected to challenge for Houston?s center-field job, if not in spring training then by the all-star break.
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  Ranked Texas League #1 prospect in 2013
  Unquestionably the best player on the field when Corpus Christi rolled into town, Springer on his final night in the circuit earned MVP honors at the Texas League all-star game thanks to a pair of home runs and a spectacular running catch in the cavernous center field at Northwest Arkansas? Arvest Ballpark. He was off to Triple-A from there and still earned the distinction of ranking as the TL?s No. 1 prospect. Springer?s tool set evoked some of the league?s recent elite center fielders such as Taveras or Mike Trout. His ability to hit for both power and average excited scouts and managers, who see such a remarkable athlete that his high number of strikeouts weren?t overly concerning, as he?s more than willing to take ball four. Defensively, Springer covers a lot of ground, mostly by getting quality jumps and taking proper routes. His arm is strong and accurate, too. His speed translated on the bases as he gained an understanding of pitcher tendencies, leading to a lot of steals. ?What can?t he do on a baseball field?? Corpus Christi manager Keith Bodie of Springer, who went on to finish with 37 homers and 45 steals between Corpus Christi and Triple-A Oklahoma City.
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  Ranked California League #2 prospect in 2012
  No Cal League player offered a more electric and complete package of tools than Springer. The 11th overall pick in the 2011 draft, he came to the league with just eight games of pro experience yet finished sixth in hitting (.316) and fifth in both on-base percentage (.398) and slugging (.557). Lancaster's notoriously hitter-friendly Clear Channel Stadium boosted his numbers--he posted a 1.044 OPS there--but his tremendous bat speed and above-average power were evident. Springer struck out 131 times in 106 games with Lancaster, showing a tendency to pull off balls and not dial back his approach with two strikes, though the quality of his at-bats improved over the course of the season. Managers rated him the league's best defensive outfielder, as he has athleticism to spare combined with the instincts and first-step quickness to play center field at a high level. His speed and arm are both plus tools. "He can do everything on the field," Lake Elsinore manager Shawn Wooten said. "He's fast. He can hit for power. He has all the things you look for in an outfielder."
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  Ranked Arizona Fall League #5 prospect in 2012
  Coming off a successful full-season debut at jigh Class A Lancaster, Springer, the 11th overall selection in the 2011 draft, struggled against advanced AFL pitching for much of the season before breaking out over the final two weeks, finishing with .286/.412/.600 numbers and 11 extra-base hits. Even before his outburst, Springer impressed scouts with his athleticism, five-tool ability and ceiling that compares to perhaps only that of Baez, his Mesa teammate. Offensively, the 23-year-old Springer displays plus bat speed and elite power potential. Scouts continue to raise concerns over his high strikeout totals (20 strikeouts in 70 at-bats in AFL; 156 strikeouts in 506 at-bats this summer), noting a poor two-strike approach, pitch recognition struggles and his tendency to collapse his backside for power. Defensively, Springer profiles in center field or right field, showing excellent range and an above-average arm.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #18 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #37 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #59 prospect in 2012

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The highest-drafted player in Connecticut history, Springer went 11th overall and signed for $2.525 million in 2011. In his first full pro season, he ranked in the top six in the high Class A California League in all three slash stats at .316/.398/.557 before finishing at Double-A Corpus Christi. Scouting Report: Springer is a true power-speed threat. His strong, quick hands generate tremendous whip and bat speed, giving him power to all fields. He doesn't have to cheat to drive the ball, but he does leak out with his front side at times, leading to strikeouts. He tends to play too fast, though scouts think he'll adjust with experience. Springer's above-average speed plays well on the bases and in center field, and managers rated him the Cal League's top defensive outfielder. His arm is above-average as well. His energy is infectious, and the Astros credit him with helping Delino DeShields Jr. play harder after rooming with him in instructional league and spring training. The Future: If Springer can make more consistent contact, he'll be a five-tool player. Whether he sticks in center field or shifts to right will depend in part on how other players fall into place. He'll return to Double-A to start 2013 and could hit his way to the majors before season's end.
• August, 2012 Scouting Report
  Coming off a successful full-season debut at jigh Class A Lancaster, Springer, the 11th overall selection in the 2011 draft, struggled against advanced AFL pitching for much of the season before breaking out over the final two weeks, finishing with .286/.412/.600 numbers and 11 extra-base hits. Even before his outburst, Springer impressed scouts with his athleticism, five-tool ability and ceiling that compares to perhaps only that of Baez, his Mesa teammate. Offensively, the 23-year-old Springer displays plus bat speed and elite power potential. Scouts continue to raise concerns over his high strikeout totals (20 strikeouts in 70 at-bats in AFL; 156 strikeouts in 506 at-bats this summer), noting a poor two-strike approach, pitch recognition struggles and his tendency to collapse his backside for power. Defensively, Springer profiles in center field or right field, showing excellent range and an above-average arm.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Drafted out of high school by the Twins in the 48th round, Springer instead went to Connecticut, honing his raw tools and helping the Huskies reach back-to-back NCAA regionals. He also starred for the U.S. college national team in 2010 before becoming the 11th overall pick last June, the highest-drafted Husky ever. His $2.525 million bonus is the largest in Astros draft history. Scouting Report: Springer has a power-speed combination in the Matt Kemp mold and could be a five-tool player if his bat becomes more consistent. His quick hands and strong wrists generate explosive bat speed and above-average power potential. His approach at the plate vacillates between too passive and too aggressive, but he sliced his strikeout rate from 29 percent as a sophomore to 16 percent as a junior. He needs to keep improving his pitch recognition and feel for the strike zone, but he isn't afraid to draw a walk. With his plus speed and arm strength, Springer played center field in college but played right for USA Baseball's College National Team in 2010 and is adept in both spots. His speed also plays on the bases, as he stole 64 bases in 73 tries in his final two college seasons. The Future: The most well-rounded position player in the system, Springer could move quickly. He'll start 2012 at low Class A Lexington, with his bat dictating his timetable.