Bats/Throws: R/R

Height/Weight: 5’11”/165 lbs

Acquired: 39^th rd ’07 (McComb (MS) HS)

Born: 1/16/89

2009 Rank: NR (just missed)

Why Ranked Here: Harris earns this ranking on the basis of big-time athleticism and some pop from a little dude.  The Mets were pleasantly surprised when Harris turned down scholarships from Big 12 football programs to begin his professional baseball career.   He’s a burner with some bat speed and strength, who is still learning how to turn his gifts into consistent weapons.  Looking for evidence of his speed: try 15 stolen bases and five triples. However, defensively, he has a long way to go.   One Met official described his defense simply to me as “raw.”  I asked a scout buddy who saw him in the Appy League if he agreed, and he chortled, before responding, “the whole game is raw.”

2009: Harris got off to a nice start for Kingsport, but was unconscious in July, hitting .306/.366/.541 with seven homers, including a run of a home in three straight games.  His hacktastic ways were exposed in August when the Appy League’s hurlers held him to a .232/.275/.357.  Throughout the season in the Appalachian, he terrorized lefties to a .358/390/.679 performance.  Harris finished the year with six games at Savannah.

Dr. Pangloss Says: It’s really possible that Harris develops into a top-10 2B in baseball with his power and speed.

Debbie Downer Says: Or he continues to struggle defensively and swing at everything and never really even plays everyday in AA.

Projected 2010 Start: Savannah

MLB Arrival: September 2013 or 2014

Alonzo Harris photograph courtesy of Allen Greene of
http://www.allengreenephotography.com/
.