Eric Munson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #5 prospect in 2003
  The third overall pick in the 1999 draft, Munson was a catcher at Southern California but that's no longer an option. A back injury in 2000 slowed his progress considerably. He was hitting .196 midway through 2002 but heated up after the Tigers traded for fellow first baseman Carlos Pena in July. Munson has a classic lefthanded hitting stroke. He has exceptionally quick hands and generates a lot of bat speed, giving him plus power to all fields. He shows patience at the plate, drawing a good number of walks. Munson struggles when he becomes pull-conscious, and there are extended periods when he strikes out too much. Some coaches and scouts question his drive. Though managers rated him the International League's best defensive first baseman and he has improved, he's not much more than adequate. Before his second-half turnaround, Munson was on the verge of wearing out his welcome in Detroit. With a logjam at first base, he spent the offseason learning to play third base. If Munson becomes more consistent, the Tigers will get his bat in their lineup.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #3 prospect in 2002
  A catcher at Southern California, Munson was converted into a first baseman after signing a $6.75 million big league contract as the No. 3 overall pick in the 1999 draft. He missed most of the second half of the 2000 season with a back ailment, which also kept him from playing in the Arizona Fall League. In 2001, Munson played every day and got better as the season went on. He showed much more power during the second half of the season, hitting 21 homers in his final 72 games. Quick hands are Munson's forte. As far as he's concerned, the harder a pitcher throws, the better. He'll center the ball on his live bat regardless. When he makes contact, the ball jumps off his bat with extraordinary velocity. Like a lot of hitters with fast hands, Munson is prone to trying to pull everything. He strikes out too much even for a power hitter. At best, he's an average defender. He is the Tigers' first baseman of the future, but there has been a logjam at his position that was only partially relieved when Tony Clark was waived in November. Whether Munson opens the season in the major leagues or at Triple-A Toledo could depend on the numbers game.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #3 prospect in 2001
  An All-America catcher at Southern California, Munson signed a major league contract worth $6.75 million, including a $3.5 million bonus, and moved to first base. He has yet to put up overwhelming stats but has been pitched around as a pro. He was limited during the second half of 2000 because of a back injury sustained when he caught a couple of times in the bullpen. Munson has an exceptionally quick, fluid lefthanded stroke that produces a lot of power. He can pull any fastball and is capable of hitting offspeed pitches if he stays on the ball. He can drive the ball to left-center field with power. Munson is awkward defensively both fielding grounders and receiving throws. He's not a patient hitter and sometimes gets pull-happy. He ended 2000 in a back brace but is expected to be ready for spring training. He missed the Arizona Fall League and will start 2001 at Double-A Erie. The Tigers would like him to develop quickly because they need lefthanded hitters and a first baseman.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #9 prospect in 2002
  His 2002 season can best be broken into two halves. The first-half Munson came nowhere near this list after hitting .192 through May. He tried to pull everything and offspeed pitches killed him. The second-half Munson showed more patience. He went up the middle and to left field. He took his walks. And he kept crushing fastballs. He finished with 58 extra-base hits, just one shy of Byrd's league-leading total. "It was a complete turnaround from the first half to the second," Fields said. "He's ready to be a good major league hitter with power as his best tool. I didn't think much of him in the first half." The converted catcher has also improved defensively, especially with his ability to dig bad throws out of the dirt and his overall footwork.
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  Ranked Southern League #12 prospect in 2000
  With Tony Clark regressing further in Detroit, Munson may not be far from grabbing the first-base job with the Tigers. Munson struggled in Double-A in his first full pro season, though the power that got him drafted third overall in 1999 was evident. He tried to pull too many pitches and didn't make consistent contact, especially against lefthanders. A catcher in college, he needs more experience at first base to improve his defense.
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  Ranked Midwest League #5 prospect in 1999
  Munson joined West Michigan during the second half of the season after being the third overall pick in the draft. He quickly made an impression, getting four hits--"a homer and three doubles--"and five RBIs in his 11th pro game. Munson struck several days later with five hits and four RBIs in a game. "We made him our number one pick because he has an outstanding bat," said Dave Miller, the Tigers' farm director. "He has great promise with the bat. After a while during the season, they started pitching around him. The pitchers in the league started to show fear." Munson's power was especially evident in West Michigan's spacious ballpark. He was the only Whitecap to reach double figures in home runs. Nagging injuries limited him to first base--he caught just five games--so the jury remains out on his defense.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #70 prospect in 2001
• Ranked Baseball America's #23 prospect in 2000

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  With Tony Clark regressing further in Detroit, Munson may not be far from grabbing the first-base job with the Tigers. Munson struggled in Double-A in his first full pro season, though the power that got him drafted third overall in 1999 was evident. He tried to pull too many pitches and didn't make consistent contact, especially against lefthanders. A catcher in college, he needs more experience at first base to improve his defense.
• December, 1998 Scouting Report
  Munson joined West Michigan during the second half of the season after being the third overall pick in the draft. He quickly made an impression, getting four hits--"a homer and three doubles--"and five RBIs in his 11th pro game. Munson struck several days later with five hits and four RBIs in a game. "We made him our number one pick because he has an outstanding bat," said Dave Miller, the Tigers' farm director. "He has great promise with the bat. After a while during the season, they started pitching around him. The pitchers in the league started to show fear." Munson's power was especially evident in West Michigan's spacious ballpark. He was the only Whitecap to reach double figures in home runs. Nagging injuries limited him to first base--he caught just five games--so the jury remains out on his defense.