Jeffrey Flaig
| AB | 972 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .242 |
| OBP | .302 |
| SLG | .348 |
| HR | 12 |
- Full name Jeffrey D. Flaig
- Born 03/03/1985 in La Mirada, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School El Dorado
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Drafted in the 2nd round (56th overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 2003 (signed for $710,000).
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Flaig starred for Team USA as it won the 2001 World Youth championship in Mexico. He was the dominant player on a team that included Lastings Milledge, Chris Lubanski and Jay Sborz, who are expected to be first-round picks in this year's draft. Flaig, then a shortstop/righthander, led the team in all triple-crown categories and saved a critical medal-round game. His stock dropped a year later when he had a torn rotator cuff. He still has been unable to air out throws across the diamond, and may not be able to for several more months. He once threw 90 mph as a pitcher. There's no mistaking his bat. He has power and outstanding instincts, and he has been compared to a young Troy Glaus. He has had an outstanding senior season, with an all-star performance in April at the National Classic, the nation's premier high school tournament. If teams are convinced his arm strength will return, he could be drafted as high as the second or third rounds. While his game plays like Glaus, his situation is similar to that of Tony Torcato, an outstanding hitting prospect who had a damaged shoulder when he was drafted by the Giants in the first round in 1998. The injury robbed Torcato of his power and forced him to move to the outfield.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Flaig led Team USA in all the triple-crown categories at the 2001 World Youth Championship, batting .536-3-12 in seven games on a squad that also included 2003 first-round picks Chris Lubanski, Lastings Milledge and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Flaig played shortstop and also pitched, earning a save against Japan in the quarterfinals en route to a gold medal. But he tore the labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder in 2002, leading to surgery that still affects his throwing. After signing late in August for $710,000 he reported to instructional league, where he had further shoulder problems. Flaig required another labrum operation in November. He no longer has the 90 mph fastball he once flashed, and his arm may never be strong enough for him to play shortstop, his position as an amateur, in pro ball. He still has a sweet, pure stroke, however, and projects as a hitter in the same class as fellow El Dorado High (Placentia, Calif.) products Bret Boone and Phil Nevin. Flaig already has an advanced approach at the plate and should hit for power and average. He runs fine and has good all-around instincts. His footwork is better suited for third base than shortstop, though he'll have to prove he can make the throws from the hot corner. The bestcase scenario for now is that Flaig will be able to DH in July or August, presumably making his pro debut in the Arizona or Northwest league.
