2012 Top Prospects #28: Michael Crouse

Name: Michael Crouse
Position: Right Field
Acquired: 16th round (2008)
Opening Day age: 21
Height/weight: 6’4”/215 lbs
Best/worst tool: Power/bat
Risk factor: High
ETA: 2014

Scouting Report

Crouse is a former high school football player, and he looks a bit like a linebacker in a baseball uniform. Thanks to the rigorous training of football programs his athleticism is off the charts, which directly relates to many baseball tools. Crouse’s power has legitimate plus potential, as his strong arms and solid lower half allow him to generate good bat speed and loft in his swing. Some of that power may never be fully unleashed unless he improves his plate approach, as his fringe-average bat skills inhibit his ability to make clean contact. Like his power, his football background gives him an edge in the speed department, an above average to plus tool for him. In addition to pure speed, Crouse is an excellent base runner, evident by his 78% career success rate for stolen bases. He has the potential to be a very excellent outfielder thanks to his natural athleticism, but he still has some work to do when it comes to reading balls of the bat and taking good routes to the ball. In general, Crouse is toolsy but very, very raw.

2011 Statistics and Analysis

364 AB, .261/.352/.475 (.827 OPS), 26 2B, 5 3B, 14 HR, 55 RBI, 38 SB, 44/113 BB/K

Finally getting out of short season ball and starting the year with Single-A Lansing, Crouse was able to show off the power and speed combination that makes him an intriguing prospect. He’s still very much a free swinger –- evident by 113 strikeouts in 101 games –- which is concerning even when considering the home run spike. If he ever wants to hit for a respectable average, Crouse is going to need to scale back some of the aggressiveness in his swing. Had he not missed almost all of August and September due to injury, Crouse may have approached a 20 HR, 50 SB season.

Expected 2012 Assignment: High-A Dunedin

Future Outlook

With a full season year under his belt, Crouse is getting ready to climb into the middle and upper minors. The first stop should be Dunedin, where he’ll be reunited with Jake Marisnick and Marcus Knecht, the other two outfielders he played with in Lansing throughout the 2011 season. From there, it really depends on the development of his bat. Should it become an average or better tool, he could be in the major leagues at some point in 2014. If not, it’s possible he could be a guy who strikes out 150 times a year in Double-A and never sees Toronto. With the athletic tools Crouse possesses, he can be a valuable asset even as just a .260 hitter. Regardless, he’s very raw, and the number of possible outcomes for his career is countless at this point.

Perfect World Projection: Everyday RF who could hit anywhere from 2nd to 7th depending upon the development of his bat.