Drew Rundle
| AB | 803 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .225 |
| OBP | .337 |
| SLG | .376 |
| HR | 16 |
- Full name Andrew Thomas Rundle
- Born 11/05/1987 in San Diego, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Bend
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Drafted in the 14th round (419th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2006 (signed for $500,000).
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Two Oregon-bred outfielders went in the first round in 2005, but both Portland's Trevor Crowe and Madras' Jacoby Ellsbury were drafted out of college, not high school. Rundle entered the spring with a chance to join them as first-rounders after a strong summer on the showcase circuit, where he showed the ability to hit off top-flight pitchers in his draft class with good velocity. That momentum didn't carry over to the spring, though, and his hopes for being drafted highly rest primarily on his athletic ability and his performance last summer. Rundle has changed his approach this spring, spreading out at the plate (with a stance similar to Jim Edmonds') to gain better plate coverage. He's not strong enough to generate power from the stance and had only one homer all spring as the draft approached. Unlike Edmonds (or burners Crowe and Ellsbury), Rundle doesn't profile as a center fielder even though he's a present average runner, so scouts are seeing a corner outfielder who isn't showing present power. He has average arm strength, and scouts who like him point out he hasn't seen much to hit all spring. An Arizona recruit as was Crowe before him, he's expected to go off the board in the first five rounds.
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The Cubs surrendered their second- through fourth-round picks in the 2006 draft as free agent compensation, but they made up for it by spending heavily on Jeff Samardzija, Chris Huseby and Rundle. Chicago took Rundle in the 14th round after he scared off clubs with his commitment to Arizona, then signed him for $500,000, the equivalent of late second-round money. He struck out in 24 of his first 47 pro at-bats before making adjustments and finishing his debut on a positive note. Rundle entered the spring as a possible first-round pick, but his stock dropped after he spread out his stance. He was trying to improve his plate coverage but succeeded only in diminishing his power, as he wasn't strong enough to make his new swing work. After his brutal start in Rookie ball, the Cubs got him to close his stance and shorten his swing. They think he's a younger and slightly less athletic version of their 2006 first-round pick, Tyler Colvin. The ball carries well of Rundle's bat, though he still needs to improve his plate discipline. He has average speed and arm strength, making him fit best in right field. He'll move up to Boise in 2007.
