Devin Ivany Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	2283
AVG	.245
OBP	.307
SLG	.38
HR	56

Full name Devin J. Ivany
Born 07/27/1982 in Plantation, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School South Florida
Drafted in the 6th round (174th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2004 (signed for $160,000).

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Drafted in the ninth round out of high school as a shortstop, Ivany has spent most of his three years at South Florida behind the dish, with short stints in the outfield. He's an aggressive player, both at the plate and behind it. He started calling pitches and taking charge of games for the Bulls this season. His superior athletic ability also gives him good footwork and agility behind the plate. Reviews of his arm are mixed, and he'd thrown out 18 of 40 basestealers this season after nabbing 31 of 53 last year. His maturity, versatility and solid, line-drive swing have him projected to move in the third round. He hit .357 with five homers this spring, but not all scouts are convinced he'll hit nearly as well with wood.

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One of the hardest-working players in the system, Ivany put himself on the prospect map through sheer force of will in 2005, when he reinvented his swing on his own during the offseason. He struggled out of the gate at high Class A in 2006, hitting just .229 in April before turning things around to finish the season at .262 for the second year in a row. He also showed some pop in Hawaii Winter Baseball, slugging .536 in 56 at-bats. Ivany's strength is his defense behind the plate. He's major league-ready as a defender. He has soft hands, quick feet and a solid-average arm, and he earns plaudits from his pitching staff for his ability to call a game and command the field. He's a good athlete who runs well for a catcher, even stealing the occasional base. At the plate, he's a line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter with occasional pull power, but he needs to work on his load and get his hands into position quicker. He has below-average raw power and doesn't figure to ever hit better than .270. Ivany looks like a future backup catcher, but his makeup gives him an outside chance to be a regular. He'll go to Double-A in 2007.
One of the most improved players in the system in 2005, Ivany reinvented his swing through individual hard work during the offseason. He came out of college with no set-up or trigger and a bat that was dead and slow through the zone, so Washington sent him home at the end of his rough pro debut with instructions to improve his offensive rhythm. He returned in spring training with a shorter swing with much improved flow, and he started hitting the ball solidly to all fields. He has a flat swing plane more suited for doubles than homers, though he does have a bit of pull power. Ivany's defense remains considerably more advanced than his offense. He's a tough, physical catcher with quick feet and a solid-average arm. He threw out 39 percent of basestealers last year thanks to his 1.90-1.95-second pop times. Drafted out of high school in the ninth round as a shortstop, he still needs a little work at game-calling. His durability must improve, as he wore down late in the season, hitting .163 in August. At the plate, he needs to get his lower half involved, because he still uses his hands and arms too much and doesn't get through the ball enough. While he makes decent contact, he draws few walks. Ivany should spend 2006 in high Class A, and he profiles as a reliable big league backup catcher with a chance to be a regular.