Marlon Byrd
Philadelphia Phillies
Position: OF Bats Right Throws: Right Height: 6-0 Weight: 220 Born: 8/30/77
| Year |
Team |
Level |
G |
AB |
R |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
BB |
K |
SB |
CS |
BA |
OBP |
SLG |
| 2001 |
Reading |
AA |
137 |
510 |
108 |
161 |
22 |
8 |
28 |
89 |
52 |
93 |
32 |
5 |
.316 |
.386 |
.555 |
| 2002 |
Scrtn-WB |
AAA |
136 |
538 |
103 |
160 |
37 |
7 |
15 |
63 |
46 |
98 |
15 |
1 |
.297 |
.362 |
.476 |
| 2002 |
Phila |
NL |
10 |
35 |
2 |
8 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
0 |
2 |
.229 |
.250 |
.371 |
Background
Byrd's baseball career almost ended before it began. While a freshman at Georgia Tech, he badly damaged his leg while horsing around with karate kicks one day, resulting in muscle damage and an infection. Immobilized for many months and subjected to three surgeries, he gained a bunch of weight, exceeded 300 pounds, and lost his scholarship. He went to Georgia Perimeter Junior College, worked hard to get back in shape, then was drafted by the Phillies in the 10th round in 1999. He's made steady progress through their system, improving his game at each level, and opens 2003 as Philadelphia's regular center fielder.
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The Rookies
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Throughout spring training, John Sickels provided in-depth reports on 10 of the hottest rookies to watch. Here's the complete schedule of when each report appeared:
2/27: 1B, Travis Hafner, Cle.
3/5: 2B, Joe Thurston, L.A.
3/7: SS, Angel Berroa, K.C.
3/11: 3B, Brandon Larson, Cin.
3/13: C, Miguel Olivo, ChW
3/18: SP, John Patterson, Ari.
3/20: RP, Frankie Rodriguez, Ana.
3/25: OF, Hideki Matsui, NYY
3/27: OF, Rocco Baldelli, T.B.
4/2: OF, Marlon Byrd, Phi.
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Scouting report
Physically, Byrd resembles Kirby Puckett, stocky but strong. He has good speed, too, and has refined his abilities as a baserunner. Offensively, he features gap-to-gap power, able to pull the ball but also willing to go to the opposite field. He has good plate coverage and doesn't strike out excessively, but could stand to use additional strike zone discipline. He isn't a wild swinger, but gets behind in the count more often than he should, and would get better pitches to hit if he was a bit more patient. Scouts say he tries too hard to hit for power in crucial situations, another thing he'll have to work on. Byrd is a fine center fielder, with good range and a decent arm. His work ethic is excellent.
Byrd was arrested last summer after an incident with his girlfriend, but the charges were eventually dropped. He had a reputation for being emotionally mature before this incident, so hopefully this was just a one-time thing and not indicative of a larger problem.
Performance
Statistically, Byrd has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues. His production at Triple-A was slightly less impressive than it was in Double-A, as he was too power-conscious at times. But overall it was a good year. He projects as a .270-.280 hitter at the major league level, with 15 homers and 15 steals in a full year. Those are short-term projections; in the long run he should exceed those production levels.
Health record
Byrd has had no health problems since entering pro ball. He is in excellent physical condition.
What to expect
Byrd has excelled at every level in pro ball, and there's no reason to think he'll have problems in the major leagues. Still, he is streaky at times, and a slow start cannot be ruled out. If the Phillies are patient with him, they will be rewarded with double-digit home run and stolen base production, plus a decent batting average and on-base percentage. I think he'll post slightly above-average numbers in 2003, say .278 with 14 homers and 16 steals, then really put things together in 2004 and beyond. It's a conservative estimate, and in the long run I am very optimistic about Byrd's career.
John Sickels is the author of the 2003 Baseball Prospect Book, which can be ordered through his website, Johnsickels.com. His biography of Bob Feller will be published this spring by Brassey's. He lives in Lawrence, Kan., with his wife, son and two cats. You can send John questions or comments at JASickels@aol.com.
