Hazelbaker – Kelly O’Conner, SittingStill.net
Ask any coach regardless of the sport and he’ll tell you that “You can’t coach speed.”
Speed is a commodity that center fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker possesses in abundance.
For example, in 2010 at Greenville (the year after he was drafted), he led all Red Sox farmhands with 63 stolen bases. Last season, between Salem and Portland he stole a total of 46 bases.
“Without question, he has outstanding speed,” said an American League scout. “He’s shown that he knows when to use it and when not to use it.”
But at the risk of stating the obvious, there’s more to playing baseball then being a speed burner. In order to take advantage of his speed, the 24-year-old Hazelbaker must get on base. He showed modest improvement in that area last season, which he split between Salem and Portland. In 34 games at Salem, he hit .279/.389/.475 with five homers and 14 RBI. Then, after he was promoted to Portland on May 25, he hit .266/350/.435 in 90 games with 18 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and 41 RBI. But in his first 52 games this year with the Sea Dogs, while he’s stolen 12 bases in 17 attempts, he was batting only. 233/.317/.368.
“The key for this kid is his ability to pick up breaking balls,” said the scout. “Being a left-handed batter, he’s a much better low-ball hitter who does have some power. But he’s shown a tendency to be way out in front with his swing, and his lower body already has cleared the zone which minimizes his bat speed.
“He can’t over-commit. When he gets the bat way out in front of the ball, he doesn’t let it get as deep on him as it should. Plus, because he’s a dead pull hitter it’s difficult for him to go the other way on pitches that run out of the zone.”
As a result of these flaws, Hazelbaker strikes out too much – 135 times at Greenville and 139 times last year between Salem and Portland. So far this season, he’s whiffed 59 times in 191 at-bats.
Hazelbaker also is still in the learning stages of playing the outfield because he played second base at Ball State.
“He’s shown the type of speed necessary to cover a lot of ground in the gaps,” said the scout. “But he leaves something to be desired when it comes to reading the ball off the bat. Almost before you can blink, when the ball’s hit his way, his tendency is to come in a step or freeze in his tracks.
“This is something that can be corrected if he gets enough repetitions. That’s how he can become more consistent.”