Draft 2012: Byron Buxton

Age: 18

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6′ 2″

Weight: 175

Bat: Buxton sports a very balanced swing and the ability to explode through the zone with a pair of loose hands. His abilities in pitch recognition are raw, as to be expected of a high school player, so there could be an extended adjustment period initially. The raw skills are there, good hands, good open stance, and an excellent stride, the results are just going to take a bit of time to catch up.

Power: Developing. Just as his ability to hit is still in its raw form, so is Buxton’s power. Currently he only posses pull power, which poses a problem considering the confines of Seattle’s home ballpark. But as he refines his skills at the plate, the opposite field power should follow suit.

Defense: Plays both CF and SS, but I believe he is best suited for the OF. Buxton gets a great read off the bat; even if the play fools him, his oustanding speed allows his to make up for it in the OF. His arm is above average and should allow him to create plenty of extra outs against over aggressive base runners. He rates to be an above average defender no matter which position he is drafted at.

Synopsis: Similar to Zunino, Buxton could be off the board when the Mariners pick rolls around. If you read various scouting reports on Buxton throughout the internet, you will find two consistent words: Five tools. The talent is undeniable, but his commitment to playing baseball isn’t. Buxton has already a two sport athlete and has a commitment to play at Georgia. The new CBA really hurts organizations in this predicament. You can no longer pay and player over slot in order to convince them to play baseball instead of football, or to forego their college plans. Buxton is the raw talent, while Zunino is the safer bet. Buxton would be an outstanding addition to the Mariners and a potential stud. However, it could be hard to convince him to leave his commitments.

Here is a great video of Byron.