Jon Gilmore
| AB | 1638 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .277 |
| OBP | .32 |
| SLG | .357 |
| HR | 14 |
- Full name Jonathan D. Gilmore
- Born 08/23/1988 in Longwood, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Iowa City
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Drafted in the C-A round (33rd overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2007 (signed for $900,000).
View Draft Report
Scouts were excited to see Gilmore this spring after he tore up the showcase circuit last summer, including a double off a Michael Main fastball at the Aflac Classic and a stellar performance at the Area Code Games. But they've had a hard time getting a read on him because he strained a hamstring and has faced weaker-than-usual competition in Iowa. He still might go in the second or third round, but the team that picks him that high will be doing so on the basis of what it has seen in the past. He stands out most for his exceedingly quick bat and his power potential. Gilmore is 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, and while he's a good athlete who drew interest from college football programs as a quarterback, a move from shortstop to third base is inevitable, either in pro ball or at Wichita State if he doesn't sign. He has the arm strength to make the longer throws from the hot corner, and his bat will play there as well. Gilmore has two brothers-in-law with baseball connections: Ben Zobrist has played in the majors the last two years with the Devil Rays, while Dan Heefner is the hitting coach at Dallas Baptist.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Braves generally have a knack for trading away prospects who don't blossom elsewhere. While Gilmore still has a ways to go before becoming known as one who got away, he made a major move forward in 2010. One of four players the White Sox got in the Javier Vazquez trade after the 2008 season, he flashed a dangerous bat in high Class A Carolina League, finishing second to teammate Brandon Short in the league batting race (.312) and fourth in RBIs (80). His numbers were inflated by Winston-Salem's new BB&T Ballpark, where he hit .350/.386/.449. Interestingly, Chicago offered him to the Dodgers when acquired for Manny Ramirez in August, but Los Angeles preferred to let Ramirez go on a straight waiver claim rather than take Gilmore in exchange for picking up part of Ramirez' contract in a trade. The brother-in-law of Ben Zobrist, Gilmore made a big leap last year by destroying lefthanders (.396/.435/.490) and taking pitches from righthanders to the opposite field. He should be an above-average hitter but doesn't generate the power his 6-foot-3 frame suggests he should, in part because of his line-drive, gap-oriented approach. He makes consistent contact, though he doesn't walk much. Gilmore's bat will have to carry him because he's a substandard third baseman. He has hard hands, limited range and a below-average arm with a funky throwing motion. He has committed 78 errors over the last two seasons, and his below-average speed makes first base and DH his only other options. Gilmore has great makeup, and his bat gives him a chance to find a major league role. He'll likely get one more year at third base, this time in Double-A. -
The White Sox significantly upgraded their third-base depth in 2008 by signing Cuban defector Dayan Viciedo, drafting Brent Morel and trading for Gilmore. Part of the Javier Vazquez deal with the Braves, Gilmore signed for $900,000 as a supplemental first-round pick in 2007. He went 33rd overall, the highest an Iowa high school player ever has gone in the draft. The brother-in-law of Ben Zobrist, Gilmore produced mixed results in his first full pro season. An opening assignment to low Class A proved to be too much for him, though he recovered nicely in the Appalachian League. Gilmore has an unorthodox approach at the plate but generates good power to all fields. He's raw but in the early stages of developing into a professional hitter. When he has his confidence, he swings the bat with authority and makes solid contact. He'll need to improve his patience at the plate and his ability to handle breaking balls. Gilmore moves well for a big man and drew some interest from college football programs as a quarterback. He made progress defensively in 2008, displaying improved footwork at third base. He has a strong arm, but he needs to shorten his arm action to throw the ball quicker and straighter. He remains somewhat stiff in his actions at the hot corner, though he has good hands and above-average reactions. Gilmore will give low Class A another try in 2009. -
After taking Cody Johnson in the first round in 2006 and Jason Heyward with the 14th overall pick in 2007, the Braves continued to add power bats by drafting Gilmore with the 33rd overall selection last June. Gilmore jumped on the national radar with an impressive showing at the 2006 Area Code Games before a hamstring injury limited him as a high school senior. Since signing with Atlanta for a $900,000 bonus, Gilmore has shown the tools to be an old-school power-hitting third baseman. A solid athlete who drew interest from college football programs as a quarterback, he has a quick bat that can drive the ball out of the park to all fields. In addition to his sweet, smooth swing, he displays outstanding balance at the plate and a great approach. He played shortstop in high school but shifted to third base in his pro debut, making a relatively smooth transition. While he has soft hands and a strong, accurate arm, he needs to improve his footwork and shorten his arm action in order to become a plus defender. Gilmore has a strong desire to succeed and can be excessively hard on himself when he fails to live up to his high expectations. His brothers-in-law include Devil Rays shortstop Ben Zobrist and Dallas Baptist hitting coach Dan Heefner. Because he's a young player from the Upper Midwest, Atlanta won't rush Gilmore. He'll likely open 2008 at Danville though he has a chance to see low Class A at some point during the season.
Minor League Top Prospects
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A 2007 supplemental first-rounder from an Iowa high school, Gilmore played far less baseball as an amateur than the other players on this list. That inexperience showed when he batted just .173/.193/.173 in 22 low Class A games in May and June. It was a different story in the Appy League, though, where the he hit .337 and ranked first with 87 hits and 23 doubles. An aggressive righthanded hitter who strives for contact and handles inside pitches well, Gilmore already has a big league body at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds. Breaking balls can give him trouble, but he uses the whole field and has the power to drive balls to both gaps. Though he has a long arm path on throws, Gilmore has above-average arm strength. He has worked hard on his footwork at third base, where he can become an average defender.
