Johnny Woodard
| AB | 1095 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .236 |
| OBP | .335 |
| SLG | .386 |
| HR | 34 |
- Full name Johnny Pacheco Woodard
- Born 09/15/1984 in Oakland, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Cosumnes River College
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Drafted in the 3rd round (88th overall) by the Minnesota Twins in 2003 (signed for $425,000).
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Most of the junior college focus has been on players under control, with the surprise being lefthanded-hitting 1B Johnny Woodard, undrafted a year ago. A true freshman, he was the No. 7 hitter on his high school team a year ago and emerged as a top power hitter this spring. He could be drafted in the top eight rounds.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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A surprise third-rounder in 2003, Woodard had a rough pro debut but repaid the Twins' faith in him with a solid 2004. A late bloomer on the diamond, he focused mainly on basketball in high school and didn't play baseball at all as a junior. Minnesota first noticed him as a high school senior, and got good reports on him from Tony Bloomfield, an associate scout who doubles as the head coach at Cosumnes River (Calif.) JC, where Woodward was the 2003 Bay Valley Conference player of the year. Woodard has a short, fluid swing and 30- homer potential. He uses his lower half well at the plate, hits the gaps and sprays line drives to all fields. He runs decently for a big man and has solid makeup. He is an average defender with good hand-eye coordination and footwork around first base. Though he has made 26 errors in 93 pro games, Minnesota isn't concerned. The Twins were hoping he might show enough versatility to play left field, but it looks like he'll stay at first. He's ready for his first taste of full-season ball. -
Another product of the 2003 draft, Woodard was a surprise third-round pick. The Twins admittedly grabbed him earlier than he was expected to go off the board, but they didn't want to miss the opportunity to add another potential impact bat. Woodard played more basketball than baseball in high school, taking his junior year off from the diamond. Minnesota first noticed him as a senior and was able to keep close tabs on him last spring in junior college, when he was the Bay Valley Conference player of the year. Tony Bloomfield, his coach at Cosumnes River (Calif.) JC, works for the Twins as an associate scout. Because of his inexperience, Woodard was overmatched in his pro debut. But he has a good fluid swing with power potential, and he should be able to adapt. The system is loaded at first base, with Justin Morneau on the brink of the majors, and Woodard, Dusty Gomon and David Winfree in the lower minors. Woodard could get a look in the outfield after showing an above-average arm and good hands at first base. He did make too many careless errors, leading Gulf Coast League first basemen with 13 miscues. Woodard is a long-term project who will begin 2004 in extended spring training.
