Taylor Sparks

Sparks, whose father Don was a fifth-round pick of the Yankees in 1988 and played nine seasons in pro ball, is a physical specimen at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. He's also a standout athlete who starred as a football wide receiver in high school; UCI coach Mike Gillespie calls him "a freak" who has the agility of a gymnast at third base, where the coach insists he has big league gold glove potential. Scouts have no problem projecting him as a 55 or 60 defender at the hot corner, with a 60 arm. He's even a 55 runner and flashes 60 speed underway. Sparks also tantalizes with easy plus raw power from the right side, though cavernous Anteater Ballpark stifles home run production. He's a streaky hitter who can be an offensive force when he's locked in, but look completely lost at the plate other times. His strikeout-walk ratio was alarming over his first two seasons (nearly 5-to-1), but he has shown considerably more patience as a junior, though his swing-and-miss tendencies remain a concern. His bat remains a major risk, but his raw tools give him plenty of upside.