Kieron Pope
| AB | 906 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .222 |
| OBP | .288 |
| SLG | .348 |
| HR | 21 |
- Full name Kieron Robert Pope
- Born 10/03/1986 in Gray, GA
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School East Coweta
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Drafted in the 4th round (123rd overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2005 (signed for $257,500).
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Pope began to emerge as a prospect as a junior when he led East Coweta to the state 5-A finals, where his team lost to Rockies draftee Dexter Fowler and Milton High. Pope joins Egan, Phillips and Sebastian, as well as lefty Nathan Moreau and righthander Ben Jeffers, in a potentially potent Georgia recruiting class. Phillips is unlikely to come to school, but Pope, Egan and Sebastian were all 50-50 in their likelihood of becoming Bulldogs. Pope's greatest attribute is his frame, a body that looks like a corner outfielder in the big leagues right now. He has pro makeup to go with a pro body, working as hard on his game as any prep in the state. Pope has work to do, though, because while he has good hands, he swings and misses too much and lacks much of an approach at the plate. His instincts leave something to be desired. His arm is adequate and probably better suited to left field.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Pope is a poster boy for the kinds of players whom scouting director Joe Jordan is trying to bring into the organization, but his progress has been stunted by shoulder problems. After unsuccessfully trying to rehabilitate a shoulder injury, Pope finally had surgery last spring and got just 66 at-bats during the season. He was closer to full health in instructional league, but he had to DH because his arm still wasn't ready. The bad news is that he has missed valuable development time, but the good news is that in 2008, he'll be at full strength for the first time in two years. Pope's raw power is his most impressive tool, and he shows plenty of ability in flashes. He needs to stay healthy and establish some consistency in his game. The key to his advancement is simply getting the bat and ball together more, and the main area of emphasis there is adjusting to breaking balls. His speed and defensive tools all rate about average, but he should be a fine left fielder. It's simply too early to judge Pope, who just needs a full season of at-bats. He'll probably open at low Class A. -
Pope gave up football midway through his high school career to focus on baseball, though his inexperience still shows on the diamond. He made a strong impression in his second tour through the Appalachian League in 2006, but an August stint at Aberdeen showed that he still has a lot of work to do. Pope's raw power is the best in the organization, and when he gets hold of the ball he can drive it out to any part of the ballpark. His other tools are fairly average across the board. He should be a fine left fielder, and he's a smart player who's anxious to learn and get better. Pope came into pro ball with a metal-bat swing and a bad approach, but his talent allowed him to get away with them as an amateur. Baltimore has remade his stroke and worked on his pitch recognition, and he has made strides. However, he may never hit for much of an average. It will probably be three or four seasons before the Orioles know what they have in Pope, but they're encouraged by his work ethic and power potential. They'll keep giving him instruction and at-bats, and he'll make his full-season debut in low Class A this spring. -
The 2005 draft could go a long way toward boosting a Baltimore system that's already making progress. Pope is the least polished of any of the team's 2005 picks on this list, but if he reaches his ceiling, he could be one of the best. A fourth-rounder signed for $257,500 he has the body of a major leaguer right now, plus great makeup that means he'll work hard to refine his game. He's athletic, with a potent speed/power combination and the chance to have true top-of-the-scale power. He profiles as a corner outfielder, with an arm better suited to left field, and just needs at-bats. He got tired and lost his swing at Rookie-level Bluefield, and he didn't know enough yet about his approach to stop the bleeding. He has good hands, but he swings and misses too much and will need time to develop better baseball instincts. The Orioles say they'll have a better read on his true potential after a season or two of minor league at-bats. Pope likely will stay in extended spring training before joining Aberdeen or Bluefield in June.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Of all the players to repeat the league, no one mastered it as emphatically as Pope, whose plus power earned him an August promotion to short-season Aberdeen. He did a much better job of translating his athleticism into production the second time around, though he has yet to find the plate discipline to make him an elite hitting prospect. A hard worker who improved in every facet of his game this season, Pope has excellent hand and bat speed and uses the entire field. He makes the kind of hard contact that just sounds different off the bat, and one manager likened it to listening to major league batting practice. "He's got severe power to all fields." Allanson said. "I've seen him get fooled and hit a home run to right field. Nobody in this league swings the bat like Pope." Though he's a slightly above-average runner, Pope has just adequate range. His below-average arm and instincts limit him to left field.
