Dave Krynzel

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #22 prospect in 2006
  Krynzel was once one of the Brewers' top prospects as a potential leadoff man and center fielder. He came to spring training last year with a clear shot at the big league job and hit .323, but Brady Clark beat him out. Now Milwaukee has better outfield depth, making Krynzel less a part of the organization's future plans. He has yet to put his considerable tools together. His Pacific Coast League playoff performance was unfortunately too typical, as he tried to do too much and struck out 10 times in 33 at-bats while batting .152. Krynzel typically gets off to fast starts before tailing off in the second half as pitchers adjust. He has average or above-average tools across the board, particularly defensively, and remains one of the organization's fastest baserunners. But his inability to adapt over the course of a season makes him more of a fourth outfielder than a viable candidate as a big league starter.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #10 prospect in 2005
  Krynzel fouled a ball off his right foot in late April last year, forcing him to miss two months. He recovered nicely and earned his first taste of big league action in September. Krynzel is a superb center fielder, combining range, athleticism and arm strength. His greatest asset is pure speed that can create havoc on the basepaths. He has a line-drive stroke, with more raw power than his numbers suggest. Krynzel needs to work counts better and reach base more consistently to hit atop the order. His swing can get long, leading to high strikeout totals. Despite his quickness, he has succeeded on just 66 percent of his pro steal attempts and must learn to read pitchers better. With Scott Podsednik gone to the White Sox in the Carlos Lee trade, Brady Clark is all that stands between Krynzel and the center-field job. He'll get a long look in spring training, but if he doesn't improve his plate discipline soon, he could get pigeon-holed into reserve-outfielder status.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #9 prospect in 2004
  Much to the Brewers' delight, Krynzel got off to a fast start in Double-A, earning selections to the Southern League midseason all-star team and the Futures Game. He went into a swoon in the second half, batting .137 in August and losing nearly 50 points off his average by season's end. His bat continued to run hot and cold in the AFL. Speed is Krynzel's calling card, and he uses it to create havoc on the bases as well as to chase down balls from gap to gap in center field. Augmenting his range in the outfield, Krynzel has good arm strength. He has prototypical leadoff tools. Despite his slump, he's mentally tough. The Brewers would like to see Krynzel bunt more, take more pitches and continue to slap the ball around. He needs to stop striking out more than 100 times a year, which is unacceptable in the leadoff role. He doesn't possess great instincts on the bases and must improve his ability to read pitchers. Despite the emergence of Scott Podsednik, Krynzel still is seen as Milwaukee's center fielder of the future. He'll start the 2004 season in Triple-A.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #7 prospect in 2003
  After watching Krynzel for 21⁄2 seasons, the Brewers aren't sure whether they are looking at the next Steve Finley or Kenny Lofton. Either way, they like what they see. Returning to high Class A in 2002, he continued to improve in just about all facets of his game. Though he's being groomed for leadoff duty, Krynzel likes to flex his power muscles regularly and the Brewers haven't discouraged him. He realizes, however, that skills working counts, drawing walks and bunting will expedite his trip to the big leagues. He has plus tools as a center fielder (both his range and arm strength) and basestealer. For all his physical gifts, Krynzel's instincts on the bases and in the outfield are below-average. Like many first-round picks, he seems to put extra pressure on himself at times and tries to force things, rather than letting the game come to him. His mental toughness isn't in question, though. Krynzel just needs to increase his grasp of the game's subtleties. Slated to play in Double-A this year, he's on track to take over Milwaukee's center-field job in 2005, if not sooner.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #3 prospect in 2002
  The Brewers challenged Krynzel in 2001 and liked the way he responded. After he got off to a nice start at Beloit, they bumped him up to High Desert, realizing he would be the youngest player in the California League and would struggle. That's what happened at first, but by season's end Krynzel held his own as the second-youngest player in the Cal League. Speed is what will get Krynzel to the big leagues. Because he can make things happen on the bases and go get the ball in the outfield, he's a prototype leadoff hitter in the mold of Kenny Lofton. The Brewers also expect him to get stronger and drive the ball more, which he began doing at High Desert. He has passed the mental toughness test. Krynzel must make contact more consistently than he did in 2001. On-base percentage is critical for a leadoff hitter, and he also has to do better in that department. Bunting more often for hits would be a good start. At High Desert at the end of 2001 Krynzel was playing so well that he'll probably get the chance to play at Huntsville this spring. That would be quite a leap for a 20-year-old.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #3 prospect in 2001
  Krynzel is the player the Brewers targeted from the get-go in the 2000 draft, and they were thrilled he was on the board when they made the 11th pick. He was considered the fastest player in the high school ranks and a prototype leadoff hitter/center fielder, exactly what Milwaukee sought. His $1.95 million bonus was the second-highest in club history. Speed is Krynzel's calling card, and he is a good defensive player who has all of the tools except power. As he fills out, the Brewers believe he'll develop more pop at the plate. He's an extremely hard worker with a desire to succeed. Other than the aforementioned lack of power, Krynzel has a lot going for him. As with most high school players, he needs to develop more strength but has the frame to do so. He'll need to make more consistent contact to be an effective leadoff man. Though Krynzel missed the second half of the Rookie-level Pioneer League season with a thumb injury, managers named him the circuit's No. 1 prospect. The Brewers will give him the chance to show he can handle Class A Beloit in 2001.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #17 prospect in 2004
  Some managers compared Krynzel to Sizemore, though Krynzel isn't as toolsy and hasn't accomplished as much at the plate. Krynzel is a step ahead of him defensively, however, with a better arm and better speed. Speed is the key element in Krynzel's game, and he needs to do a better job of utilizing it. He started to bunt more, use the whole field and work deeper counts this year, but he still strikes out too much for a potential leadoff hitter. Major league pitchers took advantage of his lack of discipline after he was called up in September.
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  Ranked Southern League #5 prospect in 2003
  At midseason, Krynzel would have ranked second on this list among position players behind Cabrera. A Futures Gamer like Hardy, he lit the league up for three months and was batting .317 through the end of June. But over the last two months of the season, Krynzel collapsed, including a brutal August when he struck out 39 times in 95 at-bats while hitting just .137. So did the league catch up to Krynzel, who has plus-plus speed but is prone to swinging for the fences? Or did the slender outfielder just wear down? Managers attributed the late fade to a tired, longer swing that couldn't catch up to pitches he got to earlier in the season. Krynzel needs to pack more strength on his 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame. "Krynzel is still not polished as a hitter," Wellman said. "He's got tools and he's still young, and I think he'll get better. He plays hard and had made a lot of strides since last year. He's also the best center fielder and probably defensive outfielder in the league. He runs down everything and has a strong, accurate arm."
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  Ranked California League #13 prospect in 2002
  From a standpoint of pure speed and natural athleticism, there aren't many players in Krynzel's class. Since signing as a first-rounder in 2000, though, he has teased the Brewers with his potential. He seems to be convinced he's more of a power threat than a top-of-the-order threat. Just 20, he could develop into both, according to one scout. "I don't know which way he'll go," the scout said. "One direction, he could be like Steve Finley, or he could become a prototypical leadoff hitter. He's got some juice, but I don't know if it's a help or a hindrance." Krynzel can put a charge into the ball but his strikeout totals have been lofty for a leadoff-type. He did display more patience and draw more walks this year. Defensively, his speed allows him to cover both alleys from center field and he has a cannon arm, but some scouts question his instincts.
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  Ranked California League #15 prospect in 2001
  Kyrnzel batted .305 in 35 games in the Midwest League, but didn't do much else offensively except hit for average. Nonetheless the Brewers promoted him to High Desert at age 19, and he played to mixed reviews. Those who saw him shortly after his late May callup were left unimpressed. But those who had to play against him when he hit .378 over the final month saw why he was a first-round pick in 2000. His speed makes him an outstanding center fielder and basestealer, though he needs to get better reads on pitchers.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #1 prospect in 2000
  Leadoff hitters are generally made, not born, but you'd never know it by watching Krynzel. The 11th overall pick of this year's draft came to pro ball with the eye, speed and bat for the job. Krynzel also fields and throws well. He lacks only power to be a five-tool player, and some managers thought even that might arrive in time. If it doesn't, he should be fine in his current role as No. 1 hitter and center fielder. His season was shortened by a thumb injury. "It helped him to get hurt," Missoula manager Chip Hale said. "He didn't have a chance to tail off like the other guys. You're really impressed with him when you look at the sheet and see his age. He acts like a college guy."

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Leadoff hitters are generally made, not born, but you'd never know it by watching Krynzel. The 11th overall pick of this year's draft came to pro ball with the eye, speed and bat for the job. Krynzel also fields and throws well. He lacks only power to be a five-tool player, and some managers thought even that might arrive in time. If it doesn't, he should be fine in his current role as No. 1 hitter and center fielder. His season was shortened by a thumb injury. "It helped him to get hurt," Missoula manager Chip Hale said. "He didn't have a chance to tail off like the other guys. You're really impressed with him when you look at the sheet and see his age. He acts like a college guy."