By Schuyler Dombroske

DOB: 5/9/84, Age: 18, Bats/Throws: L/L, Height: 5’11’’, Weight: 286. Acquired: Brewers - Drafted in the 1st Round of the 2002 Draft (Eau Gallie HS, Melbourne, FL). 2001 Stats: High School. 2002 Stats: (Rookie - Ogden) .390 AVG, 146 AB, 12 2B, 0 3B, 10 HR, 3 SB, 37 BB, 27 K, .531 OBP, .678 SLG; (Low-A - Beloit) .143 AVG, 28 AB, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 0 SB, 4 BB, 7 K, .294 OBP, .250 SLG.

Prince Fielder was taken with the seventh pick in this season’s amateur draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, and yes, he is indeed the son of “Big Daddy”: Cecil Fielder. As you might expect, Fielder’s primary tool is power, and he has it to spare. Apparently, Prince hit some homers into the upper deck at Tiger Stadium when he was twelve. Of course, Prince at twelve was probably bigger than many high school kids were, so it is not completely unrealistic to envision. He will be able to hit homers at any level, in any park. He also appears to have a bit more bat control than his father, and has shown the ability to hit for a reasonably high average as well. I think he will end up being better than a Rob Deer-type offensive player. His batting eye is extremely advanced for an 18-year old, and he has maintained a reasonable BB/K ratio during his early struggles in the Midwest League. He is obviously a well-coached offensive player, and I would expect him to move more quickly through the system than the average high school player. The remainder of his game, however, is another story. The comments on his speed and defense should be prefaced by the fact that Prince Fielder is 5’11’’, 286 lbs at last report. He has weighed between 250 and 320 over the past year or so. That being said, Fielder has average to slightly better speed. He was clocked at 6.8 in the 60, which is certainly a reasonable time for a hitter that doesn’t make his living with speed. Early in his career, at the very least, he will not be a base clogger. Reports on his defense range from average to horrendous, with the majority resting on the negative side. Most of the pre-draft comments regarding Fielder had “AL only” penciled next to them, and thus far (with 10 errors in less than two months) he has done nothing to dispel that line of thinking. He most certainly is not a candidate to be moved anywhere else in the field, and should be viewed as an offense-only contributor to a team.

The Brewers have made a habit of using their top picks on high school talent recently, and their farm system is finally starting to show some signs of life. Nick Neugebauer looks like a potential ace with the usual health caveats, and David Krynzel, Jon “Corey” Hart, and Mike Jones all show some signs of being potential major-leaguers. The Brewers are far from being on top in terms of young talent, especially with only two hitters (Jenkins and Sexson) on their big-league roster who have reasonable hopes of being there in five years, but they appear to be lifting themselves off the bottom. For Fielder, the biggest problem (no pun intended) is that the Brewers’ only hitting prospects and young players are clustered at the far end of the defensive spectrum (1B, 3B, LF). With Sexson and Brad Nelson in his way, Fielder will have a tough road to hoe. I would not be the least bit surprised to see him end up in the American League sooner rather than later, perhaps with one of Cecil’s old teams (with Big Daddy acting as his agent). The Mo Vaughn comparisons are obvious, and should also serve as a warning to Fielder: avoid the Golden Arches at all costs, or your career will end up quite a bit shorter than it could have been.

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