Brett Gardner with the Trenton Thunder circa 2006.
[This scouting report was first published on February 21, 2006]
Vital Statistics:
Name: Brett Gardner
Position: Center Fielder
DOB: August 24, 1983
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 180
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Brett Gardner has had to work his way up to the professional ranks. Undrafted out of high school, Gardner attended the College of Charleston as a walk-on looking to secure a spot in the outfield. It was in college where Gardner matured as a player.
After hitting just .284 in his first extended playing time as a sophomore, Gardner had a breakout campaign in his junior year, hitting .397 with 22 stolen bases with 57 runs scored in 60 games. Surprisingly, Gardner went undrafted and did even better in his senior year in 2005, hitting .447 with 38 stolen bases, a .506 on-base percentage, and scoring a mind-boggling 85 runs in 63 games for the Cougars.
"Yeah, I went undrafted my junior year and just kept working on my game," Gardner told PinstripesPlus.com minutes after being selected by the Yankees in the third round of the draft. "It obviously has all worked out for me though."
Not many four-year college players get an opportunity to be drafted as high as Brett Gardner was last June, but then again, not many four-year college players boast the kind of plus tools Gardner had developed.
"No doubt," Gardner said when asked if college helped him develop his game. "I couldn't imagine coming here and playing if I was 17, 18, or 19 years old. I really respect some of these guys on our team who got drafted right out of high school or free agent signings. It is unbelievable that they can play in this league and do as well as they do."
"I know, personally, that a couple of years ago I wouldn't be able to play at this level. College helps anybody mature, it helped me mature as a player and as a person. I am bigger, stronger, more mature, and I am a lot better player than I was a couple of years ago."
The Staten Island Yankees quickly learned just how much college helped develop Gardner's game. He finished his professional debut in the NY-Penn League by hitting .284 with 19 stolen bases, scoring 62 runs in 73 games, and playing Gold Glove caliber defense in centerfield, amazing scouts and teammates alike.
"He's the fastest guy I've seen run, ever," said Staten Island teammate Garrett Patterson. "When he's in the field, if a ball is hit anywhere towards center, whether it is left center or right center, you're not going to worry about it with him there."
"He was huge for us," David Seccombe added. "The plays he would make in the outfield shouldn't be overlooked either. The cameras couldn't even keep up with him when he would go back on a deep fly ball."
While Gardner's defensive abilities in the outfield were often overlooked by stat-heads and passive followers of Yankee prospects, his numbers spoke for themselves. Not even a year into his professional career, Gardner has drawn comparisons to some of the Major Leagues' best center fielders.
"I'd say I'm a Johnny Damon or Juan Pierre type of player," Brett Gardner admitted. "I don't think I have as much power as Damon right now, but I think there's a chance I could hit for as much power as him someday. Right now I'm more like Juan Pierre. I've got above average speed and I play good defense in centerfield. I have a good arm, but it isn't the strongest. I do make accurate throws though."
Batting and Power. With just 22 more strikeouts than walks over the last four seasons, Gardner has a very good idea of the strike zone. He's very adept at taking outside pitches the other way and with his incredible bunting ability - easily one of the best bunters in all of minor league baseball - Gardner is the ideal leadoff hitter. Gardner is not a power hitter by any means, but he's strong enough to hit the gaps with regularity and hit the occasional home run. He projects to be a .300+ hitter who will sport an annual on-base percentage over .400 while racking up a high amount of doubles and triples.
Base Running and Speed. Don't let Gardner's "above average" speed comment above fool you. He can flat out fly. Gardner has one of the quickest first steps out of the batter's box and once he learns it is okay if he gets caught stealing from time to time, he'll be an elite base stealer in the pros. He's got the speed to steal 50+ bases annually if he can get over the mental hangup of his fear of failure on the base paths.
Defense. Gardner's incredible speed and early jumps on balls hit to the outfield allows him to play a shallow center field and flag down nearly anything hit over his head. He simply robs many would-be base hits and while he doesn't have the arm of a right fielder, it is very strong and accurate.
Projection. Gardner's amazing small-ball skills, speed, and Gold Glove caliber defense project him to be a starting center fielder at the Major League level someday. The comparison to Johnny Damon isn't that far off actually. The ideal leadoff batter, his projection lies somewhere in between Johnny Damon and former Dodger center fielder Bret Butler because of his ability to bunt for base hits.
ETA. 2008. Arguably one of the more polished prospects in the Yankee farm system, Gardner could move relatively quickly up the minor league ladder. He should see significant time with the Tampa Yankees in 2006 and he probably only needs two full minor league seasons before he's ready to contribute at the Major League level.