Drafted in the 6th round (176th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002.
View Draft Report
Perry led the Cape Cod League with eight homers last summer, but he sprained an ankle this spring and went a month without going deep. He has to hit, because his power and bat speed are his only plus tools. He did help his cause by drilling two opposite-field homers against Miami in mid-May. He has split time between first base and the outfield, though some scouts think he's more of a DH. The Athletics apparently like Perry more than most clubs and could pop him as early as the third round.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
In the first draft where they adopted a "Moneyball" approach, the Blue Jays made Perry their sixth-round pick in 2002. A proven wood-bat performer who led the Cape Cod League with eight homers in 2002, he joined the A's in a mid-2003 trade for former Yankees first-round pick John-Ford Griffin. Perry opened his first full season in the Oakland system in Double-A, but was dogged by back problems that affected him at the plate and eventually landed him on the disabled list. Once he returned, there was no room for him on the Midland roster, so he was demoted to high Class A. He dominated at that level, leading the California League in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and extra-base hits (64) despite playing in just 83 games. Perry has a track record of hitting for average and finally began to show the plus power that long had been projected for him. At 23 he was old for the Cal League, and he'll have his share of naysayers until he performs at the upper levels. He struggles versus good lefties and still struck out more than once per game even while he was mashing in 2004. He's not very athletic, limiting him to left field or first base, where he's just adequate. Perry held his own in the Arizona Fall League and will begin 2005 with a return engagement in Double-A.
Part of the reason that teams like the Athletics and now the Blue Jays draft college players is because they have more of a track record than high school players. Perry has a track record for success and for hitting for power that includes a productive career at Georgia Tech, where he helped the Yellow Jackets reach the 2002 College World Series. He also put together an impressive résumé with wood bats, batting .287 and leading the Cape Cod League with eight home runs in 2001. Perry struggled with a bad ankle sprain during the 2002 college season, which contributed to him falling to the sixth round, but had one of the best minor league debuts among drafted players. He tore up the Rookie-level Pioneer League and held his own after a promotion to high Class A, thanks to a short, strong swing and good plate discipline. Perry's bat would play even more if he can handle left field, where he spent some time in college. He has a decent arm and may have the range for the position, though his ankle injury limited him to three games in the outfield after he signed. Perry should start 2003 back at Dunedin.
Download our app
Read the newest magazine issue right on your phone