2009 Projection: John Mayberry Jr.

John Mayberry Jr., OF (RHB)
Age: 25

2008 (AA / AAA): 519 AB / 65 R / 20 HR / 71 RBI / 34 BB / 106 SO / 10 SB / .263 AVG / .317 OBP / .479 SLG

Summary: Tall, athletic and powerful, John Mayberry Jr. enjoyed a nice 2008 in the power-heavy Pacific Coast League. The power was there, though, as he struck 30 home runs in 2007 playing in single- and double-A. He hit another 20 between double- and triple-A in 2008. He did strike out a ton; however, his strikeout rates dropped from 25.6 percent in double-A (2008) to 19.5 percent in triple-A. His walk rates jumped, too, as he moved to a 0.35 BB/K rate.

Career Level: Ascent (Year 1)

Green Flags: His power is real, and he has 25-homer potential in the majors today. … He can also run, and would probably steal between 10 and 15 bases in his first major league season. (He tripled seven times in the PCL in 2008) … His strikeout rates improving are a nice sign, but that could be more attributed to poor pitching in the PCL.

Red Flags: The strikeouts are the big flag, as he still has trouble hitting off-speed pitching. … He can work on getting on base more, being more selective at the plate. … Playing in the more pitching-powerful International League might show truer colors, for better or worse.

Prognostication: If Mayberry makes an appearance on the major league roster, it’s because of an injury to one of the starting outfielders. He should see at least 15 days. He’ll see more time in September. With that, he might show some power, some speed, but not much else quite yet. Here’s hoping most is pleasant.

2009 Projection: 53 AB / 8 R / 3 HR / 7 RBI / 5 BB / 13 SO / 3 SB / .264 AVG / .307 OBP / .429 SLG

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.