ROBERT GROSSMAN

9/16/89; '08 6th; Cypress, TX (HS)
B/L; 6-0, 200

Level
BA
OBP
SA
AB
2B
3B
HR
BB
K
SB
CS
2008 HS
.352
 
.775
71
6
3
6
 
 
23
 

I've found conflicting opinions about Grossman.  Baseball America rated him the 49th best prospect in the draft and thought he had a chance of sneaking into the supplemental or late first round, but he apparently fell due to his commitment to Texas and the fact that he fell off in 2008 after hitting .450 in 2007.  Scouts clocking him also found that he'd lost some speed, going from above average to average and leading to characterizations as a "tweener" rather than a centerfielder.  He also does not have a good arm. MLB.com characterizes him as lacking any above-average tools and playing above his abilities, which combined with the tweener tag gives him some things in common with Nate McLouth, who's a good example of why it's a mistake to dismiss players based on tags like that.  BA did characterize him as having raw power potential and he showed good power in a workout at PNC Park.  Although the writeups at BA and MLB.com sounded rather negative, the fact is that BA rated him as roughly a supplemental first round talent.  The negative scouts' comments probably represent disappointment at his senior season rather than a negative overall assessment.  I saw one post online saying that Grossman suffered from being pitched around his entire senior year.

Grossman was one of a number of players whom the Pirates drafted after they fell for various reasons.  They clearly made an extensive effort to try to get some extra value out of their draft picks in order to upgrade a system that's severely lacking in players with high ceilings.  Immediately after the draft, Grossman said in interviews that he would go to college, but the Pirates eventually signed him the day before the deadline for $1M, which obviously was far above slot money.  He may see brief action in the Gulf Coast League in 2008.  It's hard to guess where he'll end up in 2009.  McLouth never played short season ball at all, so if Grossman plays well enough in instructional league and extended spring training, it's possible he could end up at West Virginia.

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