Drafted in the C-1 round (38th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2005 (signed for $900,000).
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The middle child of former Blue Jays infielder Garth Iorg, Eli has an older brother who played at Brigham Young and in the Braves system, while younger brother Cale (considered by some scouts the best player in the family) is a freshman at Alabama. The Iorgs are Mormons, and Eli was draft-eligible last year after taking the 2003 season off for a church mission to Argentina. While he was toolsy but raw last season, Iorg made major strides in most eyes in 2005, translating his raw bat speed into game power to help Tennessee reach the top 10. He was leading the Volunteers in the triple crown categories, and his 26 stolen bases paced the Southeastern Conference. He's a true power/speed prospect--a plus runner under way, plus raw power and an improving hitter who is making more consistent contact against good pitching. Defensively, he has enough arm for right field, though he needs to improve his accuracy. A strong, mature athlete, Iorg has high expectations in the draft but at 22, he doesn't have much leverage, making it important for clubs to get a read on his signability.
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Three years after he signed for $900,000, Iorg put up the worst offensive numbers of his career at Corpus Christi. But it would be premature to throw the former Tennessee standout on the scrap heap just yet. The son of former big leaguer Garth Iorg, Eli was coming off Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2007, and it appeared to affect his timing. Though he did show occasional home run power, he showed a penchant for strikeouts and his slugging percentage was a career low. Pitchers rarely felt threatened and went on the offensive, knowing he struggled to stay on breaking pitches. Iorg can get passive at the plate, taking pitches when it would be wiser to jump on something he can drive. Iorg was also hard on himself during his struggles and didn't handle adversity well. Defensively, he is at least average across the board but needs work on little things like getting his feet set. He had shown an above-average arm before the surgery. He profiles as a corner outfielder but needs to make big strides with the bat. He'll likely move up to Round Rock and try to sway scouts who have doubts about his ability to produce at the plate in spite of his family's baseball lineage.
Iorg comes from an extended baseball family, as his father Garth and uncle Dane played in the majors, older brother Isaac played in the minors and younger brother Cale signed with the Tigers in August. Eli's 2007 season ended in late May when he tore a ligament in his right elbow diving into first base. Iorg has the tools to be a 20- 20 man and play a solid right field. He chased fewer pitches, made more consistent contact and used the opposite field more often in 2007. He has slightly above-average speed and a plus arm. He has good instincts on the bases and in the outfield. He was less stubborn and quicker to make adjustments this season. Because he went on a Mormon mission while in college, Iorg is already 24 and losing three months of at-bats was costly. He still doesn't trust his swing enough and tries to drive balls from a dead start. He's still not very adept at working counts. Iorg hit well enough in two months in high Class A to open 2008 in Double-A. He'll likely play DH to ease his return from Tommy John surgery. The Astros are strong on the outfield corners with Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence, but Iorg has the upside to force his way into the picture.
Iorg has an extended baseball family, as his father Garth and uncle Dane played in the majors, older brother Isaac played in the Braves system, and younger brother Cale will be drafted once he returns from a two-year Mormon mission. Eli spent 2003 on a mission to Argentina, which is why he was a 22-year-old junior when the Astros made him the 38th overall pick in 2005 and signed for $950,000. He has been slow to get untracked in pro ball. A stress fracture in his right foot lingering from college abbreviated his pro debut, and his swing got out of whack in his first full season. Perhaps because he was disappointed to be assigned to low Class A, Iorg tried to hit homers and pressed too hard at the plate. Houston tried to stress a more disciplined approach, with only moderate success. He has plus raw power and slightly above-average speed, so he could be a 20-20 man in the majors. He needs better pitch recognition, however, which would help him stop chasing breaking balls in the dirt. Iorg has solid range and a strong arm in right field, but he needs to do a better job of hitting the cutoff man. He also can get too aggressive on the bases. He'll begin 2007 in high Class A, though the Astros would like to get him to Double-A before season's end.
Iorg was the first outfielder drafted in the first round by the Astros since 1999, when they took Mike Rosamond--the son of the area scout who signed Iorg for $950,000. Iorg has baseball relatives as well, as his father Garth and uncle Dane played in the majors; older brother Isaac played in the Braves system; and younger brother Cale could go early in the 2007 draft. Iorg has a quick, sound swing and a strong frame that should allow him to hit for both power and average. He has slightly above-average speed and good instincts, giving him 20-20 potential in the majors. He has solid range and a plus arm in right field. His intensity is another asset. Iorg, who spent 2003 on a Mormon mission to Argentina, was too old for Rookie ball at 22, but went to Greeneville so he could recover from a stress fracture in his right foot while close to his Tennessee home. He could use more patience at the plate and better accuracy on his throws. Houston might send Iorg to low Class A to start 2006. He needs a sterner test and should reach high Class A before too long.
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A supplemental first-round pick in June, Iorg was older than most Appy Leaguers. He lost a year of development in 2003 while fulfilling his Mormon mission in Argentina. But the fact that he was 22 wasn't what made him one of the league's most fearsome hitters. "He had great presence, a great frame and a great swing," Kidwell said. "He looks like he means business at the plate." Iorg, whose father Garth played nine years for the Blue Jays, has plus speed, but his power will be his ticket to the big leagues. His tall, muscular frame generates terrific bat speed, and he made consistent, hard contact against Appy League pitching. He fits nicely in right field with good range and a strong arm.
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