Wendell Fairley Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	1396
AVG	.257
OBP	.34
SLG	.328
HR	8

Full name Wendell L. Fairley
Born 03/17/1988 in Lucedale, MS
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School George County
Drafted in the 1st round (29th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2007 (signed for $1,000,000).

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Although Fairley's athletic ability and talent were recognized early, he has been somewhat of a mystery to most scouts because he split time between football (as a wide receiver) and baseball in high school. He also never showed interest in playing in showcases. Fairley's tools are unquestioned. He shows ability to hit for average as well as plus power, and his quick lefthanded stroke allows him to pull balls out of the park or line them to left field. He's a plus runner with solid-average arm strength and defensive ability that play perfectly in center field. He's just scratching the surface of his potential, and could develop into a player in the mold of Carl Crawford. As a 19-year-old father, his makeup has been analyzed closely, and he faced charges this season--which were later dropped--for his part in a school-bus prank on a 16-year-old teammate. Because of his limited baseball experience, he's somewhat of a wild card, but because of his tools he could be taken as early as the back of the first round.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Giants took Fairley with the third of their first-round picks in the 2007 draft, 29th overall, and they're still not sure exactly what they got with their $1 million investment. A high left ankle sprain late last spring set him back for nearly three months and prevented him from playing in low Class A as hoped. He made his pro debut in the Arizona League, where he hit a triple off a rehabbing Kelvim Escobar. Fairley was one of the top athletes in the 2007 draft but he's quite raw. He has tremendous bat speed and strength that gives him some of the best power potential in the system. He also scored top marks on a vision-tracking test that the Giants gave to their minor leaguers. He's still learning to pick up breaking pitches, however, because he didn't see many quality curveballs from high schoolers in Mississippi. Fairley also is figuring out how to work counts, bunt and steal bases. He has well-above-average speed and plus arm strength. Coaches were happy with the way Fairley competed in instructional league, and they worked him at all three outfield positions. He'll focus on center field in 2009, when he'll head to Augusta a year behind schedule.
The best all-around high school athlete in the 2007 draft, Fairley hit .538 with nine home runs, went 9-2 as a pitcher and drew interest from Division I football programs as a wide receiver. He remained something of a wild card because he didn't participate in many showcases, and lasted until the Giants took him 29th overall and signed him for $1 million. Fairley generates tremendous bat speed, reminiscent of a young Fred Lewis, and has the tools to hit for average and power. He didn't let many fastballs get past him in instructional league. He has easily above-average speed, the range to play center field and an above-average arm. Fairley is still very raw at the plate and will need time to develop. He'll have to learn to recognize and react to offspeed pitches. He couldn't do much in instructional league because he was slowed by shoulder tendinitis. The Giants aren't concerned about his past, which includes a misdemeanor conviction for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His attorney is appealing the conviction. He also faced assault charges after a prank on a high school bus, but that case was dismissed. He has the highest ceiling among Giants hitters after Villalona, but Fairley likely will move slowly and probably won't see the majors before 2011 at the earliest. He'll make his pro debut in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

Fairley was the biggest enigma in the AZL. A first-round pick in 2007 who signed at the Aug. 15 deadline, he turned 20 before making his pro debut. To put that in perspective, he started his career in the same league and at the same time as fellow Mississippian Rashun Dixon--and Dixon is nearly 2 1/2 years younger. Fairley is still very much a raw talent who's trying to turn his natural ability into baseball skills. He has good bat speed and showed good patience, drawing 26 walks in 52 games. He also was inconsistent at the plate, though he improved after the coaching staff adjusted his hands and shortened his swing. An athletic 6-foot-2, 190-pounder, Fairley has plenty of speed and at times made spectacular plays in center field. At others, he struggled with his jumps and routes. His arm is below average.