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Jun 01, 2011 - Jun 03, 2011     
TBD - TBA, GA
Austin Hedges
C MIF 6-1 185   R/R
FB
60
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
CB
SL
CH
Split
Knuckle
SCOUTING PROFILE: The 2011 high-school class has plenty of outstanding defensive prospects, including shortstops like Francisco Lindor (Florida), Julius Gaines (Georgia) and Trevor Story (Texas), and outfielders like Bubba Starling (Kansas) and Tanner English (South Carolina). But the one prospect that most stands out on that side of the ball is Hedges, who was named the 2010 Rawlings National Defensive Player of the Year as a junior. While Southern California scouts have been debating all spring if they may not have a true first-round, high-school prospect in their mix for the first time in draft history, Hedges has emerged as the leading candidate to prevent that distinction from occurring. His advanced skills at the most-demanding of defensive positions could be the difference-maker. He excels in all areas of catching, and plays the position with high energy. Hedges has a shortstop’s build with wide shoulders and slender, quick hips, and plays his position a lot like a highly-athletic shortstop would play his. He is exceptionally light on his feet with cat-like quickness in shifting and blocking. He also receives the ball cleanly with soft hands and has a deliberate, compact release on his throws to go with above-average raw arm strength. At Perfect Game’s National Showcase last summer, Hedges had 1.75 pop times in drills, 1.85 between innings and 1.90 in games with regularity. He has shown those same times with regularity this spring. Hedges is so polished defensively that he may be the best catcher in this year’s draft, more-experienced college catchers included. But there is also a strong chance that he may not be the first catcher drafted. That distinction could go to New Mexico’s Blake Swihart, who is the best offensive catcher in the country and could play a number of other positions. While his defense overshadows his offense, Hedges should still hit well enough in the future to be an everyday big-league catcher. He has a simple righthanded swing with good flow to contact that he keeps short and direct to the ball. He is primarily a line-drive hitter with some gap power, and should continue to drive balls with more regularity as he gets stronger. As a senior for Junipero Serra High, he hit a respectable .366-4-16 with 11 doubles. A concern for scouts is Hedges’ signability. He is a 4.0-plus student and his commitment to UCLA is perceived as being very strong. Should Hedges skip through the draft and attend UCLA, he most likely would miss catching top pitching prospects Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer, which would have been a treat to see, but UCLA has plenty of other talented young arms for Hedges to work with in the future. Projected Draft Position: Late First Round/Sandwich Round




Aug 15, 2010 - Aug 15, 2010     
PETCO Park - San Diego, CA
Austin Hedges
C MIF 6-1 185   R/R
FB
60
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
CB
SL
CH
Split
Knuckle




Aug 05, 2010 - Aug 10, 2010     
Blair Field - Long Beach, CA
Austin Hedges
C MIF 6-1 185   R/R
FB
60
7.36
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
CB
SL
CH
Split
Knuckle




Jun 17, 2010 - Jun 20, 2010   Orange  3
Tropicana Field - St. Petersburg, FL
Austin Hedges
C MIF 6-1 185   R/R
FB
60
7.04
40
OF
IF
1B
C
85
Pop
1.75
Range
CB
SL
CH
Split
Knuckle
Austin Hedges is a 2011 C with a 6-1 185 lb. frame from San Juan Capistrano, CA who attends J Serra HS. Slender athletic build, wide shoulders, plenty of room to fill in. Outstanding defensive tools/skills, very light on feet, loose/quick and flexible, big arm strength, easy unrushed release, 1.75 pop in drills, 1.90 tag throw in game. Good flow hitting, good extension through the ball, simple line drive hitting approach, has some hand quickness, projects power. Defense stands out. Excellent student, verbal commitment to UCLA. Selected to the Aflac All-American team.
PG Grade 10.0




Baseball Web TV Video | See this player's personally updated Skillshow ACT profile & videos ACT Profile
Austin Hedges Hitting 2010 National Showcase
Austin Hedges C 2010 National Showcase
Austin Hedges 60 2010 National Showcase
Jun 16, 2007 - Jun 18, 2007   Team Anderson East  2
Temecula Valley HS - Temecula, CA
Austin Hedges
C MIF 5-4 110   R/R
FB
60
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
CB
SL
CH
Split
Knuckle