Drafted in the 3rd round (69th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2003 (signed for $500,000).
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Palmisano ranks right behind Doetsch among national juco position prospects, and he'll definitely be part of the 2003 draft mix because he's not under control. Teams have known about him for a while, and he turned down $175,000 as a 21st-round pick out of high school two years ago. He wasn't drafted in 2002 because he hurt his shoulder and required offseason surgery. He doesn't have a gun behind the plate, but he has good footwork and accuracy. He's a very athletic 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, with average speed and opposite-field power to right-center field. Palmisano was very impressive at the Florida state juco tournament and could have pushed himself into the third round. The shortage of catchers works in his favor.
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Palmisano topped a thin crop of Brewers catching prospects a few years ago, but he fell back because of injuries and poor offensive performance since then, and Houston was able to get him out of the major league Rule 5 draft, via a cash trade with the Orioles. The Astros want J.R. Towles to get everyday time in Triple-A, and 2006 first-round pick Max Sapp has ballooned out of shape, so they added to their catching depth in acquiring Palmisano. He should be a serviceable catch-and-throw backstop behind Humberto Quintero and is known for calling a good game. If he provides any offense, it will be a bonus. Palmisano was the MVP of the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2003 and showed power and strike-zone discipline when he was at his best. However, his performance has tailed off since then, and he missed most of last season after surgery on his left knee to repair a meniscus tear he sustained in spring training. The Astros are confident he is healthy after scouting him in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .405 with two home runs in 50 at-bats. He remains subject to Rule 5 draft requirements and will have to clear waivers and be offered back to the Brewers if he doesn't stick in the big leagues.
The Brewers' dearth of catching caused them to give free agent Damian Miller a three-year contract at age 35, costing them a second-round pick in the 2005 draft. Palmisano is the organization's best hope of developing its own replacement, though Angel Salome is catching up to him. The Rookie-level Pioneer League MVP in his pro debut in 2003, Palmisano hasn't matched his production since. Palmisano, whose brother Nick is a power-hitting first baseman at Stetson, has become a solid receiver by working diligently with roving instructor Charlie Greene. His throwing times to second base come in consistently at or below 2.0 seconds and continue to improve as he enhances his strong arm with technique, including better footwork and a more consistent release point. He hasn't made the same progress at the plate, where he tends to tinker too much. He changes his stance from open to closed, wide to narrow. The Brewers would like him to get more balanced and use his legs more in his swing, the better to bring out his average power potential. He runs well for a catcher. Palmisano is expected to move to Double-A in 2006.
Palmisano's reputation as a leader took something of a hit in low Class A last year, when he was involved in a curfew violation on a road trip. The Brewers believe that was an isolated incident, however, and still rank Palmisano as their top catching prospect. He won Rookie-level Pioneer League MVP honors in his 2003 pro debut after he led the league in hitting, on-base percentage and slugging. Palmisano has a quick bat and hits to all fields, and he could develop more power as he matures. He sometimes gets too aggressive at the plate and chases pitches out of the strike zone. He does draw walks, however, and he runs well for a catcher. Palmisano is athletic behind the plate and has soft hands, a quick release and a strong arm. His throwing mechanics got out of whack in low Class A, where he erased 30 percent of basestealers, prompting the club to bring him to Milwaukee for a refresher course on defense. He also worked with instructor Charlie Greene during instructional league. After those sessions, he seemed back on track. Short of catching at the top levels of the organization, the Brewers would like to keep pushing Palmisano. He could open the 2005 season in Double-A.
Palmisano hurt his shoulder in 2002 and required surgery, but bounced back with a solid year in junior college that had some scouts calling him the best catcher in the draft. In desperate need of help behind the plate, the Brewers happily snapped him up in the third round. He earned MVP honors in the Rookie-level Pioneer League, leading the circuit in batting, on-base percentage and slugging. The only negative was that he broke his left ankle trying to bust up a double play. Palmisano is athletic behind the plate, with good quickness, soft hands and a strong arm. He also calls a good game and is a take-charge guy. At the plate, he has a quick bat and power to all fields. He runs well for a catcher. Palmisano arrived at the Brewers' rookie camp with a definite hitch in his swing, and pitchers were able to exploit it. He made adjustments and the glitch wasn't as noticeable. Sometimes he's too aggressive for his own good, chasing high fastballs. Palmisano will be put on a fast track. His aggressive nature and leadership skills should serve him well as he moves toward the big leagues. He should see high Class A at some point in 2004.
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Palmisano attracted comparisons to Mike Piazza before he broke his left ankle breaking up a double play in mid-August. That might be overstating Palmisano's talent, but he did lead the league in batting, slugging (.592) and on-base percentage (.458). Palmisano, who wore No. 31 at Broward (Fla.) Community College and bears a resemblance to Piazza, has a quick bat and plus power to the opposite field. He keeps his bat in the strike zone a long time and can turn on most inside pitches. He does have a few holes in his swing and struggles with pitches above the belt. Defensively, Palmisano's skills are better than Piazza's. He has soft hands, poise and aggressiveness behind the plate. Though he had shoulder surgery in 2002, his arm strength is solid. Palmisano also moves well and does a good job of calling a game. "He was the MVP of the league for a reason," Sedar said. "He's an excellent offensive player and a very polished catcher for a 20-year-old. He always plays hard and gives you everything he's got."
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