ProfileHt.: 5'10" / Wt.: 175 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School
Gonzaga
Drafted in the 9th round (294th overall) by the Los Angeles Angels in 2010 (signed for $20,000).
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Gonzaga outfielder Drew Heid wasn't drafted as a junior, but not because scouts don't like him. His family puts a big emphasis on education, so he wanted more money than teams were willing to offer to buy him out of his final season. At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, Heid isn't big, but he's an absolute hitting machine from the left side of the plate. He hit .386/.475/.523 as a sophomore, .355/.408/.479 as a junior and .395/.467/.614 this year, breaking Larry Patterson's 1977 school record for most hits in a season with 92. He's not just another metal-bat wonder, either, as he batted .403/.484/.566 in the West Coast Collegiate League in 2008 and .427 in the Alaska League last summer, more than 100 points higher than his closest rival. Heid has little to offer beyond his bat, however. He's an average runner with good instincts in the outfield, but if he can't stay in center field he could just be a fourth outfielder because doesn't have much power.
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As a senior last spring, Heid broke a 33-year-old Gonzaga record for hits in a season with 92. He produced with wood bats in summer college leagues, too, hitting .403 (West Coast Collegiate) and .427 (Alaska) in successive years. Undrafted in 2009 because he wanted to complete his degree, Heid provided incredible value to the Angels as a ninth-round senior sign for $20,000 a year later. In his pro debut, he led the Pioneer League in hits (104), while ranking second in on-base percentage (.435), third in batting (.362) and fifth in plate appearances per strikeout (8.3). Heid is a manager's favorite as a scrappy, undersized player who can hit for average, draw walks and play all three outfield spots. He's an average runner but good enough to profile as a pesky leadoff type, which is fortunate seeing as he has below-average power. He smacked nine homers in his pro debut, so he's not exactly a slap hitter. Heid is an average defender on a corner, and one PL manager described him as a blue-collar center fielder. He used his strong, accurate arm to rack up 12 assists while playing mostly left field. If he continues to perform, Heid has reserve big league outfielder written all over him. With his hitting ability and age (23), he could reach high Class A during his first full pro season.
Best Tools List
Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Los Angeles Angels in 2013
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