Jacoby Ellsbury

From SoSH

Jacoby McCabe Ellsbury (born September 11, 1983) is a top hitting prospect in the Boston Red Sox farm system. Called up to the big club twice over the course of the 2007 season, he is hitting .372 over 86 at-bats with 8 stolen bases, 3 HR and 12 RBI.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Scouting Report 3 Amateur Career 3.1 Amateur Awards 4 Minor League Career 4.1 Minor League Awards 5 Major League career 5.1 Major League Awards 5.2 Major League Achievements 6 Red Sox Firsts 7 Moments in the Sun 8 Trivia 9 External Links

Overview

Ellsbury has been a favorite to watch for many SOSHer's since being drafted in 2005. His style of play has been compared to Johnny Damon, with less power. Assigned to Lowell after signing, Ellsbury stole 19 bases in a row without being caught. He combines speed, great defense, and the potential to hit for average. Surprisingly, Ellsbury has shown little power in 2006 (IsoP= .115); given his speed some people have expected him to hit more doubles. Ellsbury has also shown problems with getting picked off (several of the 9 CS where PO's), though it is possible that he is being coached to take more aggressive leads. Ellsbury had leg troubles in both seasons in the organization, missing about 15 games in both years.

Scouting Report

• "Ellsbury has few holes in his game and is capable of beating teams in a lot of ways. He has excellent makeup and instincts. His best tool is his speed, and it’s evident both on the bases and in center field, where he catches everything hit his way. He has been clocked in 6.55 seconds over 60 yards. He has become more patient, rarely swings and misses and is comfortable hitting with two strikes. His style of play and physical appearance have drawn comparisons to Johnny Damon at a similar age, but scouts say Ellsbury has a better swing. They question whether he’ll grow into the same power, though."

• Amazing athlete with a great work ethic. Ellsbury has consistently won awards for his defensive play in centerfield. He is extremely fast and knows how to run the bases (but does get picked off a little too often). Great on base ability. Gap power with the ability to leg singles into doubles and doubles into triples. Not much home run power, doesn't project to add a lot either. Projects well as a major league lead-off hitter. Doesn't slump too often because you can't turn off his blazing speed. Team leader. Lettered and excelled in five sports in high school, including football, where he could have played at a very high collegiate level as a kickoff returner. However, he enjoys baseball the most. Could stand to bulk up a little bit. Arm strength is average. ~ SoxProspects.com

Amateur Career

Drafted out of Oregon State, Jacoby was rated as the 25th best prospect for the 2005 Draft by Baseball America. Earned first team All-American honors his junior season.

Season	Team	League	Age	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	OBP	SLG
2002	Bend	Pacific International League	18	.357	31	82	19	29	5	2	1	12	14	0	9	7	.463	.500
2003	Oregon State	NCAA	19	.330	53	206	56	68	10	3	7	33	14	4	26	33	.427	.510
2003	Anchorage	Alaska Baseball League	19	.338	39	145	24	49	3	3	1	13	16	8	18	12	.421	.427
2004	Oregon State	NCAA	20	.352	49	196	56	69	8	2	3	20	20	4	30	17	.464	.459
2004	Falmouth	Cape Cod League	20	.245	28	110	20	27	2	3	1	7	12	3	17	25	.376	.345
2005	Oregon State	NCAA	21	.406	58	244	56	99	19	3	6	48	26	8	36	21	.495	.582

Amateur Awards

• 2002 Pacific International League All-Star
• 2003 Freshman Second Team NCAA All-American
• 2004 Pac-10 Conference All-Star
• 2004 All-Pac-10 First Team
• 2004 Baseball America's Mid-season Sophomore All-America Team
• 2004 Pac-10 All-Academic Honorable Mention
• 2005 Pac-10 Conference Co-Player of the Year
• 2005 Pac-10 Conference All-Star
• 2005 First Team NCAA All-American
• 2005 Louisville Slugger All-America Second Team
• 2005 College Baseball Foundation's National Honors Team
• 2005 Pac-10 All-Academic Honorable Mention

Minor League Career

• 2005: Boston's top pick in the 2005 Amateur Draft made his pro debut with short-season Single-A Lowell and batted .317 with five triples, one homer, 19 RBIs, 28 runs scored and 23 stolen bases in 35 games. Had 24 walks and just 20 strikeouts to contribute to a .418 on-base percentage. Ranked second in the New York/Penn League in stolen bases and fifth with five triples. Hit .371 (13-for-35) with runners in scoring position. Was named Red Sox Minor League Base Stealer of the Month for July, when he went a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen base attempts. Finished his season strong, hitting safely in 17 of his last 20 games. Baseball America, 2005 #6 New York-Penn League (Rookie) Prospect.

• 2006: Enjoyed a highly-celebrated 2nd professional campaign, batting a combined .303 (134-for-442) with 7 homers and 51 RBI in 111 regular season games with Single-A Wilmington and Double-A Portland. Had 41 stolen bases and committed just 2 errors in 109 total starts in centerfield. Led all Red Sox minor leaguers in stolen bases and ranked 3rd in batting average despite spending time on the disabled list from April 27-May 21 with a strained right quadriceps muscle. Ellsbury was promoted from Wilmington to Portland on July 12th, 2006. Baseball America, 2006 #7 Eastern League (AA) Prospect and #2 Carolina League (A) Prospect.

• 2007: Was named Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of the Year and Base runner of the Year, receiving both honors for the 2nd straight year. Was also selected to play for the United States Team in the 9th annual Major League All-Star Futures Game on July 8 in San Francisco. Combined to bat .323 with 82 runs, 2 homers, 41 RBI, and 41 stolen bases in 104 games with Portland and Pawtucket. Led all Red Sox minor leaguers in stolen bases and ranked 4th in batting average. After hitting .452 in 17 games to open the year at Portland, had a .298 average with 33 stolen bases, tied for the International League lead at the time, in 87 games with the PawSox. Established a Pawtucket franchise record with a 25-game hitting streak from July 21-August 30. Overall, hit safely in 38 of 40 games between Pawtucket and Boston from July 21-September 15. Baseball America, 2007 #6 International League (AAA) Prospect.

Season	Team	League	Age	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	OBP	SLG
2005	Lowell Spinners	A	21	.317	35	139	28	44	3	5	1	19	23	3	24	20	.418	.432
2006	Wilmington Blue Rocks	A	22	.299	61	244	35	73	7	5	4	32	25	9	25	28	.379	.418
2006	Portland Sea Dogs	AA	22	.308	50	198	29	61	10	3	3	19	16	8	24	25	.387	.434
2006	Peoria Javelinas	AFL	23	.276	25	105	18	29	4	3	0	3	7	3	8	16	.342	.371
2007	Portland Sea Dogs	AA	23	.452	17	73	16	33	10	2	0	13	8	1	6	7	.518	.644
2007	Pawtucket Red Sox	AAA	23	.298	87	363	66	108	14	5	2	28	33	6	32	47	.360	.380

Minor League Awards

• Red Sox Minor League Base Stealer of the Month - July 2005
• Red Sox Minor League Base Runner of the Month - April 2006
• Red Sox Minor League Base Stealer of the Month - July 2006
• Eastern League Player of the Week (August 6 - 13, 2006)
• 2006 Minor League Defensive Player of the Year
• 2006 Minor League Base-Runner of the Year
• 2006 Carolina League All-Star
• Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Month - April 2007
• Red Sox Minor League Base Runner of the Month - April 2007
• Eastern League Player of the Month - April 2007
• 2007 Futures Game All-Star Selection
• 2007 Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of the Year
• 2007 Red Sox Minor League Base Runner of the Year

Major League career

• Update

Major League Awards

• September 2007 American League Rookie of the Month

Major League Achievements

• 2008 American League Stolen Base Leader (50)

Red Sox Firsts

• Game: June 30, 2007 as CF
• Plate Appearance: June 30, 2007, reached on infield single
• Hit: June 30, 2007 off Robinson Tejada
• Home Run: September 2, 2007 off Daniel Cabrera
• Stolen Base: July 2, 2007 off Brandon McCarthy/Gerald Laird

Moments in the Sun

• Became the third rookie in MLB history to have 4 hits in a World Series game, in Game 3 of the 2007 World Series.
• Won everyone in America a free taco from Taco Bell for stealing a base during Game 1 of the 2007 World Series.

Trivia

• Named after his family saw the name of a farm manufacturer in a tractor advertisement.
• From MILB Article

"There was a time when Jacoby Ellsbury was 13 or 14, he can't remember exactly, that he and one of his buddies were playing in the woods somewhere on his family's two-acre spread in Oregon when he got what seemed like a crazy idea. The duo decided they would chase down a deer and try and rope it, rodeo style. Boys being boys and believing they were capable of doing just about anything, Ellsbury and his friend actually outran the deer and got the rope around his neck before snapping a picture and letting the animal go...."

• Ellsbury is half-Navajo and was raised a Mormon.
• First player in the Pacific International League, a collegiate wood bat league in the Pacific North West, to make the All League Team as a graduating High School Senior
• He took batting practice during college with a wooden bat (Link).
• Holds the Oregon State record for career runs scored and his 86 hits during the 2005 regular season are the most in a single season in Beavers history.
• In Baseball America's Best Tools survey, he was ranked as the fastest base runner and third-best defensive outfielder among draft-eligible college players in 2005, and was also rated as having the third-best strike-zone judgment
• In 2004 he was rated as the Cape Cod League's 17th-best pro prospect and the 29th-best sophomore in the nation by Baseball America.
• Ellsbury tied a franchise mark with 4 stolen bases in one game.
• Sets Pawtucket Red Sox record by getting a hit in 25 straight games (8/30/07)
• Ellsbury's stolen base in Game 2 of the 2007 World Series earned every American a free taco from Taco Bell.

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
• Jacoby Ellsbury - Minor League Information Courtesy of Sox Prospects

• Jacoby Ellsbury - Adopt-a-Prospect Page Courtesy of SoSH
• Jacoby Ellsbury - Player Page Courtesy of Red Sox Nation
• BP Article Ranking Ellsbury the 11th best CF prospect