- Full name Jamie Athas
- Born
- Profile Throws: R
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In an organization thin on middle-infield prospects, Athas had an encouraging, bounce-back season in 2003. He was the everyday shortstop in Double-A and really came on in the second half to claim a spot on the Giants' 40-man roster. Athas has solid athletic ability but doesn't have a tool that stands out in either a good or bad way. He has a smooth lefthanded swing with minimal power, but he found a groove and hit safely in 24 of his final 26 games. He crowds the plate and gets hit by pitches to boost his on-base percentage, though he lacks the speed to take advantage on the basepaths. Athas spent the regular season at shortstop and has smooth actions, but played second base in the Arizona Fall League and profiles better on the right side of the bag because of his footwork. On either side, he earns comparisons to Mike Bordick, a fellow New Englander who got the most out of his tools. He'll probably play second base in Triple-A this year, though he may see time at shortstop if Cody Ransom makes the big league club. -
Athas was an impact player in two college programs. First he was the starting shortstop for the last team in Providence College history in 1999, helping the Friars to 47 wins and an NCAA regional berth. When the program was dissolved, Athas transferred to Wake Forest, where he played every infield position as a sophomore and became the everyday shortstop as a junior. He signed quickly, immediately becoming one of the top middle-infield prospects in an organization lacking in that area. He showed good all-around athleticism and leadership skills at Hagerstown, helping lead the Suns down the stretch to the playoffs. He surprised the Giants with gap power and above-average speed and baserunning ability, though he's no burner. Defensively, his range is average or a tick above. He has fluid actions, soft hands and an accurate, more-than-adequate arm. He solidified his standing with a strong effort in instructional league and could be pushed to Double-A in 2002, as the system is woefully short on athletic shortstops. Athas' younger brother Mike is following his brother's footsteps, transferring after one season from Connecticut to Massachusetts to continue his own baseball career.