Brandon Short

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #18 prospect in 2012
  Short is one of the better pure hitters in the system and won the Carolina League batting title with a .316 average in 2010, but his numbers suffered when he moved up to Double-A last year. He has a stylish swing from the right side and generates solid gap power to both fields but needs to do a better job of recognizing pitches and controlling the strike zone after giving away too many at-bats to Southern League pitchers. To his credit, Short improved the other phases of his game in 2011. He played a strong center field and did a better job of using his solid speed on the bases. He runs down balls in the alleys and has an average, accurate arm. Because the system is so thin, the White Sox may promote Short to Triple-A in 2012. They gambled and didn't protect him on the 40-man roster, but he could force his way into the big league picture by midseason.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #8 prospect in 2011
  "Irrepressible" might be the word that best fits Short, who signed for $20,000 as a 28th-round pick in 2008. He made a positive impression on White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen when brought over to big league camp during spring training, then hit .352 in the first two months of the 2010 season before cooling off, a strong enough start to help him win the Carolina League batting title. He missed the final two weeks of the season with a strained oblique. Short has shown steady development as a hitter in each of his three pro seasons. His edge comes from unusually quick hands that allow him to let pitches get in deeper on him before he commits. He's able to fight off good pitches and punish hangers. He's learning to drive the ball more consistently. He likes to hack and seldom works walks. Short has average speed and a below-average arm and split time between right and center field in 2010. His baserunning instincts are a liability, and he hasn't learned to read pitchers. Short is on the same career path that John Shelby III was on a couple of years ago, and 2011 will show if he can avoid stalling in Double-A like Shelby did. He may be a tweener, lacking the range to be a regular center fielder and the true power to be an everyday player on an outfield corner in the big leagues.