Julio Alberto Borbon

Julio Borbon is an outfielder. A different selection from the first two picks (pitchers) and he is actually damaged goods.

Name: Julio Alberto Borbon

He's from the University of Tennessee. Born on February 20th, 1986, he throws left-handed, bats left-handed, and was an outfielder in college. He stands at 6'1 and weighs in at 190 pounds.

Scouting Report: The top college outfielder in a draft virtually devoid of them, Borbon broke his ankle during an intrasquad game a week before the spring season started. He made it back to the Tennessee lineup by the end of March, but he had just two home runs and seven doubles in 143 at-bats. He had not shown the consistent hard contact that made him Team USA's catalyst last summer, when the college national team brought home a gold medal from the World University Championship in Cuba. At his best, Borbon is a top-of-the-order hitter who makes sharp contact and changes games with his plus speed. He's more than a slap-and-run type, with above-average bat speed and some sock in his bat. A Dominican native, he has an aggressive approach and doesn't walk often. His defense is adequate, but he could improve his reads and routes. A popular comparison for Borbon is Johnny Damon, for the pop in his bat as well as his speed and well-below-average arm. He was expected to be taken in the first round despite a lackluster junior year.

Hitting Ability: In the past, Borbon has handled the bat well, showing excellent bat control and bunting ability. In this game, just his 13th of the season, the rust was still there.

Power: Borbon has shown some extra-base power in the past and could develop a little home run pop in the future, but that is not the key to his game.

Running Speed: Speed is a huge part of Borbon's game and he appeared to run at full speed without any hesitation, something he hadn't been doing in his first games back from a fractured ankle.

Base Running: Borbon has gone 34-for-43 in stolen-base attempts in his college career, including 3-for-4 this season. He has the ability to be a major basestealing threat and be a difference-maker iwth his baserunning.

Arm Strength: His arm is below-average, but should be just enough to play center field as a pro.

Fielding: Borbon can flat out catch the ball in center and has big-league skills in the outfield.

Range: Especially with his speed returned, Borbon covers a tremendous amount of ground.

Baseball Instinct: Borbon has excellent instincts and did the little things like moving runners over and bunting in this game.

Aggressiveness: Borbon appeared to be going full tilt in this game, as opposed to previous games when he still seemed a bit hobbled.

Physical Description: Borbon is a speedy leadoff/center-field type in the mold of a Kenny Lofton or maybe Johnny Damon.

Medical Update: Borbon fractured his ankle before the season began and returned to action on March 20.

Strengths and Weaknesses: His speed, when healthy. He also is a plus defender in center field. His bat is behind the rest of his game right now because of the time off, but he will have to show more bat for him to be considered as a high draft pick.

My weather forecast on him is that he will be a dud. He already has one injury before even playing in the organization. He most likely will be a career minor-leaguer, possibly topping off at AAA and might get Major League considerations, but most likely will not even collect a 100 at-bats on the Major level.