Drafted in the 2nd round (51st overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2004 (signed for $675,000).
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OF K.C. Herren was one of the state's most productive high school players this spring. He hit almost .600 and reached double digits in home runs while leading undefeated Auburn High to a national top 25 ranking. Herren has an above-average bat, power potential and arm strength, and projects as a seventh- to 10th-round pick. But he has let scouts know that he's a better player than Alhaji Turay, a 2001 second-round pick of the Mets from the same school, and wants to be treated accordingly. Otherwise, he'll attend Washington.
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Herren was a surprise second-round pick in 2004, but the Rangers had the inside track on him. Area scout Gary McGraw followed him closely when he played in the Seattle-area Taylor Baseball amateur program that has produced three other second-rounders in the last four drafts: Andy Sisco (Cubs) and Alhaji Turay (Mets) in 2001, Jon Lester (Red Sox) in 2002. Herren led Auburn (Wash.) High to an undefeated regular season as a senior last spring, when Rangers scouting director and Seattle native Ron Hopkins began following him closely. Herren's solid tools across the board, most notably his bat, earned him a $675,000 bonus. He turned down a baseball scholarship from Washington, which also was open to him trying out for its football team as a running back/defensive back. Herren sprays line drives all over the field with a short, compact stroke, and his gap power should turn into average home run power when he matures physically. He gets good reads and jumps in center field, making him a plus defender, and he owns an accurate if not overly strong arm. His speed will be key, because he probably won't have enough power to be a corner outfielder. Herren's first full-season test will come in low Class A this year.
Minor League Top Prospects
Though he failed to homer in 185 at-bats, Herren has the makings of an athletic, big league body and projects plenty of power down the road. He has good plate discipline and makes solid contact with a line-drive swing, and he should add loft to his stroke with experience. Herren covered ground in center field adequately. A below-average arm and average speed probably will relegate him to left field, and he'll still have enough bat for that position.
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