Mike Kvasnicka
| AB | 1708 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .253 |
| OBP | .311 |
| SLG | .392 |
| HR | 43 |
- Full name Michael Jay Kvasnicka
- Born 12/07/1988 in St. Louis Park, MN
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: S / Throws: R
- School Minnesota
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Drafted in the C-A round (33rd overall) by the Houston Astros in 2010 (signed for $936,000).
View Draft Report
After catching sparingly in his first two seasons at Minnesota, Kvasnicka has seen semi-regular action behind the plate this spring while senior Kyle Knudson has recovered from offseason labrum surgery on both hips. Kvasnicka already was an attractive draft prospect as a 6-foot-2, 210-pound switch-hitter with a balanced stroke, good power potential and strike-zone discipline. Now his stock has jumped with the possibility that he could be a catcher rather than a right fielder. He has solid arm strength and accuracy, and he has the athleticism, hands and work ethic to become an average receiver. While he might have been a fourth-round pick as an outfielder, he now figures to go in the first two rounds as a catcher. If he winds up moving back to the outfield, he still has enough bat to reach the big leagues. Kvasnicka's father Jay was a Twins eighth-round pick in 1988--Minnesota drafted Mike in the 31st round out of high school--and reached Triple-A.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Kvasnicka's dad Jay was an eighth-round pick in 1988 and reached Triple-A in the Twins system. Mike shot up draft boards in 2010 thanks to his profile as a switch-hitting catcher, even though he only caught part-time in college at Minnesota. The Astros liked his bat more than his potential behind the plate. They considered him one of the best college position players in the 2010 draft and paid him $936,000 as the 33rd overall pick. Kvasnicka hasn't caught as a pro, instead moving to third base, where his size, strong arm and solid athleticism should allow him to be an average defender. However, he made 31 errors in his first full season, and his bat will to have to play better than it did in 2011 for him to become a regular. Houston officials point out that Kvasnicka was playing a new position and is still fairly new to switch-hitting, which he began in 2009. His lefthanded swing is flatter and geared more for line drives, as evidenced by his one home run in 339 at-bats from that side last year. His righty stroke has more natural lift and pop. He's a below-average runner, though he could handle an outfield corner if needed. Scouts outside the organization report they didn't see any plus tools out of Kvasnicka, who wore down in the second half and needs to improve his offseason conditioning to gear up for the 2012 season. If his bat doesn't come around, Houston could move him back behind the plate. For now, he's headed to high Class A to play third base in 2012. -
Kvasnicka was a second-generation Minnesota player and is now a second-generation pro. His father Jay played for the Gophers, was a Twins eighth-round pick in 1988 and topped out in Triple-A. Mike was drafted by the Twins out of high school but went to college instead and became a three-year starter at Minnesota, leading the Big Ten Conference in doubles as a junior. Kvasnicka was an all-conference choice as an outfielder his last two seasons, but as a junior he attracted draft interest at catcher. The Astros drafted him in the supplemental first round and signed him for $936,000 last June. They liked his power potential, athleticism and defensive versatility. He split most of his pro debut between right field and the hot corner, and he also spent five games behind the plate. He's physical and has the strength and bat potential to fit a corner spot. He switch-hits with a sound swing and power from both sides. Kvasnicka started convincing skeptical Astros coaches that he could handle third base in instructional league, as his baseball savvy and work ethic helped him make rapid improvements. His hands and feet work well enough that he should become an average defender, and he has a solid, accurate arm. He has fringy speed but moves well for his size. Kvasnicka profiles well if he can handle third base, so the Astros will watch his defense closely when he makes his full-season debut in low Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Kvasnicka started attracting attention after strong 2009 seasons at Minnesota and in the Northwoods League, and he boosted his stock by getting time behind the plate this spring. After signing for $936,000 as a sandwich pick, he saw time at three positions for Tri-City. The switch-hitting Kvasnicka is a physical athlete with solid-average power potential. His swing has good balance, though it can be a bit long at times, and he has a decent feel for the strike zone, giving him a chance to be an average hitter. Kvasnicka has a shot to be an average defender behind the plate, thanks to good hands and mobility and a borderline plus arm. He looked uncomfortable at third base, however, and his reactions were slow. He spent his last 15 games in right field, where he's an adequate defender despite below-average speed.
