- Full name Antoin Gray
- Born
- Profile Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Gray hit .449 at Southern in 2002, finishing fourth in the NCAA Division I race behind teammate Rickie Weeks, Khalil Greene and Curtis Granderson. Greene became BA's Rookie of the Year in 2004, while Weeks (Brewers) and Granderson (Tigers) are their organization's top prospects. Gray isn't nearly as polished as they are, but his upside is intriguing. He led Kannapolis in hitting last year, handling lefthanders and righthanders alike while showing surprising power for his size. He can get too obsessed with trying to drive pitches, rather than focusing on working counts and drawing walks. Gray's bat will have to carry him because he doesn't have another above-average tool. He's a decent runner and shows just ordinary range at second base. He has a below-average arm and makes too many mistakes. Gray will try to show more patience and more reliable defense in high Class A this year. -
Gray finished fourth in the NCAA Division I batting race with a .449 average in 2002, finishing behind future first-round picks Rickie Weeks and Khalil Greene, as well as Curtis Granderson, who has hit .304 since signing with the Tigers. One of six players drafted off Southern's 44-7 team last year, Gray hit .407-26-133 in 108 games in his two years in the same lineup as Weeks. Though he faced a huge jump in competition when he turned pro, there was a minimal learning curve for Gray. He continued to hit, finishing third in the Pioneer League in runs and doubles. He has promising power and a keen eye for walks, though he must improve his bunting and cut down on his strikeouts. Beyond his bat, Gray doesn't have a plus tool. He played third base at Southern while Weeks played second, the position Gray is better suited for. His arm fits better at second base, though he'll need a lot of work defensively, especially on the double-play pivot. If Gray can become adequate defensively, he could have a big league career as an offensive second baseman. Unless the White Sox decide to hold Pedro Lopez back, Gray will report to low Class A to start 2004.