John Shelby

[BaseballNick]

Former Cat Shelby Named 8th Best White Sox Prospect

 

 

 

Former Kentucky baseball standout and Lexington native John Shelby has been tabbed as the eighth-best prospect in the Chicago White Sox Organization, Baseball America announced.

 

Shelby, a Tates Creek High School product, had a monster season in his first full campaign as a professional, playing for the Kannapolis Intimidators of the Class A South Atlantic League. A fifth-round pick in 2006 by the White Sox, Shelby finished the year as the team leader in batting average, hitting at a .301 (147-of-488) clip. In 122 games in 2007, Shelby scored 83 times, reached on 35 doubles, nine triples, 16 home runs, and drove in 79 RBI, while swiping 19 bases.

 

Shelby, whose father John "T-Bone" Shelby is a former big league outfielder and current Baltimore Orioles first-base coach, exploded out of the all-star break, batting .322 with 13 homers, and 53 RBI after the mid-season break. Rated as the best athlete in the 2006 White Sox draft class by Baseball America, Shelby ran up a 24-game hit streak near the end of the season and finished with a current five-game streak at the end of the year.

 

"Shelby's bat was the primary reason Chicago drafted him, and he continued to hit in low Class A," Baseball America contributor Phil Rogers said. "He flashed his power, compiling 60 extra-base hits, while getting on base enough to project as a possible No. 2 hitter. He runs well and shows signs of making a successful transition to center field after playing mostly second base in college and in his first pro season. He's a solid worker and teammate."

 

During his three-year career at Kentucky, Shelby helped UK to its first Southeastern Conference Championship in school annals, batting .291 with 18 home runs during the historic 2006 season. A second-baseman in college, Shelby has made a transition from middle infield to center field for the White Sox, utilizing his speed and athleticism as an above-average tool.

 

Shelby joined 2006 SEC Player of the Year Ryan Strieby as the highest drafted duo in Kentucky baseball history in 2006, as Strieby went in the fourth round and Shelby followed as a fifth-round pickup.

 

"The White Sox have moved Shelby slowly, and he'll probably open 2008 in high Class A," Rogers details when discussing the White Sox's future plans with Shelby. "But if he continues to hit, he could get a look in Double-A before the season is over and could reach Chicago by the end of 2009."

 

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[YASNY]

I guess this slipped past me, but I didn't realize they had moved him from 2B to CF.

[NorthSideSox72]

I guess this slipped past me, but I didn't realize they had moved him from 2B to CF.

When Rogers says "shows signs", I assumed that meant its a guess by Phil that he'd eventually do that. But looking at the numbers, he did indeed play 68 games in the OF last season, compared to 54 at 2B. Nice catch YAS.

 

 

[Balta1701]

When Rogers says "shows signs", I assumed that meant its a guess by Phil that he'd eventually do that. But looking at the numbers, he did indeed play 68 games in the OF last season, compared to 54 at 2B. Nice catch YAS.

I wonder if that means they moved him to the OF right around the time they picked up Richar...and decided that they weren't going to have a 2nd base opening in the next few years.

[Hatchetman]

I thought we only moved 3B'ers to the outfield.

[whitesox61382]

When Rogers says "shows signs", I assumed that meant its a guess by Phil that he'd eventually do that. But looking at the numbers, he did indeed play 68 games in the OF last season, compared to 54 at 2B. Nice catch YAS.

 

He was moved to CF because he is an error machine at 2B. His defense at 2B has always been considered a weakness even in college. The Sox brass feels that he has the athletism to transition to CF, and be a plus offensive player with 20/20 potential.

[maggsmaggs]

He is an impact bat at CF. He is one of my favorite prospects and I think he has a very bright future, probably with the Sox in CF. Once JD is done, Swisher is moved to LF or 1b, clearing the way for Shelby. He also is a smart baseball player, too.

[Chisoxfn]

Shelby will be the Sox top prospect by next year. Well, with the exception of whomever the heck they bring in between now and than. But out of the current crop, pending Poreda developing better secondary stuff I'd say Shelby is the guy with the most upside in the system (obviously the young SS and one or two other guys in the system could potentially compete with him in that regard).

 

He's a good athlete who should project out as a solid CFer and offensively I love his tools.

[danman31]

Not a big fan of Shelby personally. Hopefully you guys are right.

[maggsmaggs]

Not a big fan of Shelby personally. Hopefully you guys are right.

He is a White Sox prospect, so we are probably wrong. But the one good thing is that the Sox organization, although terrible at developing talent, does seem to produce solid OFs. Maybe Shelby is the next one.

[YASNY]

He is a White Sox prospect, so we are probably wrong. But the one good thing is that the Sox organization, although terrible at developing talent, does seem to produce solid OFs. Maybe Shelby is the next one.

 

Let's see ... Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Lee, Aaron Rowand and .... and .... and ... hmmmm. I'm stuck.

[Balta1701]

Let's see ... Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Lee, Aaron Rowand and .... and .... and ... hmmmm. I'm stuck.

Chris Young.

[YASNY]

Chris Young.

 

I'll give the Sox half credit for him. They seem pretty good a developing AAA outfielders. The D'Backs took him from there to the majors. And at this point, Young ain't exactly Willie Mays. He still has a few things to prove. So, half credit for potential.

[GoodAsGould]

I'll give the Sox half credit for him. They seem pretty good a developing AAA outfielders. The D'Backs took him from there to the majors. And at this point, Young ain't exactly Willie Mays. He still has a few things to prove. So, half credit for potential.

 

I think they deserve more than half credit... he wasnt drafted in one of the first rounds and virtually all his minor league time was with us.. We identified him as a kid with tools and we groomed him.

[YASNY]

I think they deserve more than half credit... he wasnt drafted in one of the first rounds and virtually all his minor league time was with us.. We identified him as a kid with tools and we groomed him.

 

When he was traded, he was not as far along development wise as Anderson. We all know how that turned out. I think half is being generous.

[GoodAsGould]

When he was traded, he was not as far along development wise as Anderson. We all know how that turned out. I think half is being generous.

 

Ok but to be fair he was already a top20 or so prospect at the time of the trade and made a huge jump from lowA to doubleA where he had his success. The jump to triple A is a lot smaller one.... no doubt at the time Anderson was more developed but dont see what that has to do with what we are talking about. All in all... it doesnt matter I guess and a worthless argument.

[maggsmaggs]

I'll give the Sox half credit for him. They seem pretty good a developing AAA outfielders. The D'Backs took him from there to the majors. And at this point, Young ain't exactly Willie Mays. He still has a few things to prove. So, half credit for potential.

Jerry Owens...yeah he has not really proven a ton, but for what he is, he does it well. If he had the at-bats of a starter, he would probably hit .260-.280 while stealing 60 bases and scoring close to 100 runs, which would make him a solid player. I am not saying the Sox are great at producing OF talent, but they are solid, as evident by the four aforementioned all-stars (I am including Young, because he will be there and stay for awhile in a year.)

Edited January 18, 2008 by maggsmaggs