Ben Heath
| AB | 757 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .269 |
| OBP | .34 |
| SLG | .433 |
| HR | 25 |
- Full name Ben B. Heath
- Born 10/07/1988 in Martinsville, VA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Penn State Erie
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Drafted in the 5th round (153rd overall) by the Houston Astros in 2010 (signed for $160,000).
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Heath was limited by a pulled quad muscle as a sophomore in 2009 and split time even when healthy, but he broke out as a junior, slugging 19 home runs to break Penn State's 32-year-old school record. He worked hard in the offseason to improve his flexibility, which has loosened up his swing and made him more agile behind the plate. No longer muscle-bound, Heath also improved his arm strength dramatically, to the point that it's now average. A few scouts say Heath's feet and receiving skills will eventually force him to move from behind the plate, but the consensus is that he can be an average defensive catcher with work. Offensively, Heath has an unorthodox set-up with a lot of pre-pitch waggle, but he quiets down just before his stride and gets his hands in good position to hit. He has a long, high finish, but his swing is actually compact through the zone. He'll have his share of strikeouts in pro ball and projects as a fringe-average hitter, but his above-average raw power is usable in games. Most scouts peg him as an eighth- to 10th-round talent, but he could go higher given the perennial demand for catching.
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Heath had hit just three home runs in his first two seasons at Penn State, but he hit 29 in 2010 between college and pro ball. He set a new Penn State single-season record with 19 in the spring, then slammed 10 more in his pro debut after signing for $160,000 as a fifth-round pick. Heath has more raw power than any 2010 Astros draftee despite a fairly unorthodox swing. Even though he's good-sized, he squats (though not quite as low as Jeff Bagwell) and has a lot of pre-swing movement. He has quick, strong hands and the classic high finish most power hitters have, and while he won't hit for a high average, he should get to his power consistently enough to hit 20-25 homers annually. The question is whether he'll be able to stay behind the plate. He doesn't do much pretty back there and has just average arm strength. He threw out 24 percent of basestealers in his first pro summer. His hands and footwork have to improve for him to be an average receiver down the line. He has to learn to call a game and handle a pro pitching staff, and he got a crash course in doing that in his debut. He runs like a typical catcher. Injuries and the Astros' lack of catching depth allowed Heath to finish the season in Double-A. He's likely to head back a step to Class A in 2011, and he could post amazing numbers if he stays at Lancaster for a while.
