J.J. Jurries
| AB | 1701 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .268 |
| OBP | .341 |
| SLG | .459 |
| HR | 68 |
- Full name James Lee Jurries
- Born 04/13/1979 in Freeport, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Tulane
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Drafted in the 6th round (185th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2002.
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Jurries beat out Mark Teixeira for Baseball America's Freshman of the Year award in 1999. Though Teixeira has eclipsed him and then some, Jurries has had a solid career in spite of injuries. He's Conference USA's 2002 player of the year, and he earned all-league recognition in each of his four seasons. He's a pure hitter with good power. He isn't blessed with a lot of speed but shows good instincts on the bases. The big question is where to play Jurries. His feet and arm may relegate him to first base or left field.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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For the second straight season Jurries topped the organization in home runs, tying Scott Thorman with 21 after clubbing a career-best 25 in 2004. He got off to a tough start in April when he was suspended for 15 days for violating the minor league ban on performance-enhancing substances. Jurries admitted his mistake, saying he took a foreign substance over the winter while playing in Venezuela. He had a quiet month upon his return, connecting for just one homer in May before drilling 15 over the final three months. In addition to having power, Jurries hits to all fields and has solid plate discipline, though he's prone to swinging and missing. A former third baseman who moved to first base after turning pro, Jurries spent most of the last two months of last season playing right field. He showed an adequate arm and good mobility despite being a below-average runner. The Braves hope his defensive versatility will enable him to make the final step to the big leagues, and they'll let him compete for a job in spring training. -
Jurries has been productive at the plate for as long as anyone can remember. He hit .500 in three of his four seasons in high school, beat out Mark Teixeira to win Baseball America's Freshman of the Year award in 1999 and earned all-Conference USA honors in each of his four seasons at Tulane. After totaling 15 homers in his first two pro seasons, Jurries drilled 25 to lead Braves farmhands in 2004. He uses the entire field at the plate, and can hit the ball out of any part of the park. His increased power came at a cost, as his plate discipline slipped last season. He's an offensive-only player, as he has below-average speed and is adequate at first base. He also has seen time at third base, and realistically projects as a corner infield backup in the majors. Jurries probably will return to Triple-A to begin 2005.
