AAP: Kevin Dubler

[NorthSideSox72]

 

Kevin M Dubler, C

Born 2/18/1987 in Downers Grove, IL

6’1”, 200

Throws: R

Bats: L

 

OVERVIEW

Kevin Dubler was the 8th round pick of the Sox in the 2008 draft. Kevin’s strength is his bat, and his offensive numbers over his three years at Illinois State show great improvement year-over-year. He led his team in most offensive categories for the last two years, led the conference in some, and was nationally ranked in doubles and walks. He was also named as a Johnny Bench Award Finalist (along with 11 other D1 catchers). Defensively, Dubler is seen has having a lot of athleticism and solid catching skills, but his arm is seen as “fringy”. He also is reported to need a little work on some of the finer aspects of technique at the position. Kevin brings good offensive potential and some speed and athleticism to a system that needs good catching prospects pretty badly.

 

PERSONAL/PRE-COLLEGE NOTES

Born and raised in Downers Grove… Son of Mark and Ann Marie Dubler (Mark attended ISU as well)… Played for DG South HS. His Junior Year (2004), he hit .491 with 35 RBI, and was all-state. He was also AFNI Athletics Honor Roll that year… Senior year (2005), hit .485 with 10 homeruns and 40 RBI, and was all-conference and all-state. DGS won conference, regional and sectional titles that season.

 

COLLEGE

Kevin played 3 seasons at Illinois State, where he majored in recreation and park administration.

 

His freshman year (2006) offensive numbers were fairly pedestrian, especially in a mid-major conference – a .259 average, .355 OBP, and .425 SLG. He hit 4 homeruns in 174 at bats. His 29 strikeout in that season weren’t too bad, and he did walk 25 times, showing some decent plate discipline. Kevin led his team in homeruns, and tied for the team lead in doubles (13) and stolen bases (8). Dubler through out 26 of 56 attempted base stealers (46.4%). Named all-MVC Honorable Mention at catcher.

 

Summer of 06-07, Kevin played for the DuPage County Dragons of the CICL, where he was an all-star selection and won the home run derby.

 

In his second year (2007), his hitting numbers improved significantly. His sophomore line was .317/.401/.497/.898, and he walked (29) more times than he struck out (23). He led the team in SLG, OBP, runs (36), hits (63), RBI (37) and doubles (20). Second in MVC with those 20 doubles. Dubler also stole 11 bases. First team All-MVC selection at DH.

 

Summer of 07-08, Kevin played for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod League, playing catcher and outfield, helping his team to the Championship Series of that league.

 

His Junior year at ISU (2008), Dubler’s hitting numbers improved even further. He hit .362 with 64 hits, 23 doubles (13th in all of D1), 21 walks (21st in D1), 3 triples, 9 homeruns and 56 RBI in 52 games. Dubler’s 23 doubles broke the school season record. He also stole 16 bases. Kevin was named one of the 12 finalists for the Johnny Bench award (given to the best D1 College catchers). He was also named All-MVC 1st team, this time at his native position of catcher.

 

 

SIGN/DRAFT

Drafted in the 8th round (240th overall) of the 2008 Draft. Signed for $105,000 bonus in June of 2008.

 

 

MINORS

Assigned to Bristol of the Appalachian League in late June of 2008 for his first professional stop.

 

Stats…

 

Kevin just got started, so there isn’t much to put here. More to come with time.

 

 

OTHER

Scouting Report from PG Cross says this…

 

SCOUTING REPORT: There are three quality, draft-eligible catchers in the Illinois collegiate ranks this spring and Dubler generally gets the nod as the best pro prospect among the them. His best tool is his bat. He has a quick, strong swing with a bit of lift in it and the ball comes hard off his bat. His approach at the plate is pretty polished and he can hit a variety of pitches and make solid contact to all fields. Dubler hit .358-9-56 this spring with 44 walks. He has just enough speed to be a threat on the bases and stole 16 bags. That speed and athletic ability may come into play in the future on defense. Dubler is a willing receiver and blocker, but he has fringy arm strength and has not mastered the finer points of catching technique and mechanics. There is some speculation that he could be a valuable utility type who could play all the corner positions, as well as catch, at the professional level given that his bat is going to keep him in the lineup. Dubler gets high marks from scouts for his leadership ability and approach to the game.—DAVID RAWNSLEY

 

 

REFERENCE

 

MiLB Page

 

Baseball Cube Page

 

Illinois State Player Page

 

Scout.com Article

 

Scouting Report, PG CRoss

 

[NorthSideSox72]

OK, Kevin's AAP is now up and running (and updated). Enjoy!

 

[BearSox]

I really like Dublar. He's not the usual defensive minded catchers we always seem to draft. And judging by that article, if he is not a starter at catcher, he can be a valuable bench/role player. I don't know why, but I think Dublar will be/is a similar player to Pierzynski.

[easyw]

Aug 13-19 Dubler went 7 for 20 (including 2 doubles) with 4 runs scored and 7 driven in.

[NorthSideSox72]

END OF REGULAR SEASON UPDATE, 2008...

 

Kevin's first season of professional baseball started pretty badly, with his average well below .200 for his first month of play with Bristol. But he got his feet back under him and finished strong - in his last 10 games, Kevin hit .290. His monthly averages for June, July and August were .100, .237 and .264. Here are his final overall numbers:

 

.238/.316/.297/.613

 

That .297 SLG is a concern. In 101 AB's he had just 4 XBH's - 3 doubles and 1 HR. But he did get better as the season went on, and hit well with runners on and RISP.

 

2009 for Kevin? Because of his short time in play, this depends a lot on how he "looked", which I don't know. Worst case, he's in Great Falls. Best case, Kanny. The system is pretty much bereft of serious catching talent, so I'd lean towards him being in Kanny.

 

[NorthSideSox72]

Kanny released their roster, and Dubler isn't on it. This means he'll either repeat Bristol, or more likely, will be at Great Falls to start the season.

 

[NorthSideSox72]

Kevin Dubler is starting the year in Great Falls. This may change when Phegley gets into the organization, but, we'll see.

 

[Chisoxfn]

Kevin Dubler is starting the year in Great Falls. This may change when Phegley gets into the organization, but, we'll see.

I think Phegley is going to go straight to Kanny.

[NorthSideSox72]

End of July update. Dubler is in Great Falls this year. Similar to his 2008 campaign at Bristol, Dubler struggled mightily to begin the season, hitting well below .200 until mid-July. But this season, he started figuring it out a little bit sooner, and his numbers are improving. He's also drawing a lot more walks, which is a good sign. His full season line now sits at .220/.352/.322/.674, but its .310/.375/.517/.892 in his last 10 games. He's now getting more playing time (was losing a lot of time to Blackwood), and if he can keep up the hot bat, should be able to establish himself as still being a prospect worth promoting, possibly even to Kanny late this year.

 

[NorthSideSox72]

Dubler's regular season is over. He finished with a .229/.338/.305/.643 line, so for the second straight season, he disappoints. He only got in 118 AB over 41 games as he split time in the Great Falls lineup with Chase Blackwood (84 AB) and Zach Larson (79 AB). About the only season-long positive for him is that he draws walks pretty well, as shown with that .109 IsoOBP. But the lack of average, lack of power (just 8 XBH in 118 AB, no HR), and relatively high K rate (34 K in those 118 AB) are not good. He did manage to finish stronger than he started - he hit .281, with 3 of his season's 7 doubles, plus 7 walks (.410 OBP) in his last 10 games.

 

His GF team is in the playoffs, currently tied 1-1. He has been the C for both games, going 2-for-8 (both singles), 2 K, and has thrown out the one runner trying to steal against him.

 

As for 2010, one can only hope that Dubler gets to Kanny next season and gets his bat going early, because his chances at a major league career are fading fast. He needs a solid season in A ball in 2010.

 

[NorthSideSox72]

Kevin is in Kanny, but he's the backup C behind Miguel Gonzalez. Gonzalez is considered highly as a prospect, so the best hope for Dubler at this point is if Gonzalez does well and is promoted mid-season, allowing Dubler to get some regular at bats. At this point though, Dubler appears to have become organizational filler.

 

[NorthSideSox72]

Dubler has seen on and off play in Kanny behind, Gonzalez, but, he's played in almost every game (DH occasionally) since mid-May, and he's been heating up. Not sure if this is because Kevin is playing well and Gonzalez isn't, or what the thought process is. But after putting up a disturbingly bad .077/.172/.115/.288 line in April, his May line was .323/.500/.419/.919, and he walked 10 times against just 2 K's. He has 14 BB against just 10 K on the season. That high OBP, good contact ability is what he was billed to have when he was drafted, so this is nice to see.

 

Given Gonzalez' struggles and Kevin's resurgance (and he's still only 23, so not exactly old yet), it is possible we will see the organization find a way to keep getting him regular AB's. This could mean Gonzalez goes to GF when they open play in June, or it could mean Dubler gets promoted to W-S (especially with Phegley out for an extended period of time).

 

I don't think anyone is seeing him as a better prospect than Gonzalez at this point, but they may have decided that given Gonzalez' still very young age, he may need more seasoning at a lower level.

 

[NorthSideSox72]

Since its been over a year... Kevin Dubler is organizational filler at this point. He is on Charlotte's (AAA) roster, but has yet to appear in a game, so he's a 3rd string catcher at best. Not sure why they even put him there, since he isn't playing, apparently.

 

[flavum]

Released