JUSTIN BYLER
8/12/85; '05 36th; Gulf Coast CC
R/R; 6-1, 190
| Level |
BA |
OBP |
SA |
AB |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
K |
SB |
CS |
| 2006 NJCAA |
.341 |
.413 |
.597 |
176 |
10 |
1 |
11 |
13 |
26 |
7 |
2 |
| 2006
A- |
.184 |
.311 |
.211 |
38 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
10 |
1 |
0 |
| 2006 R |
.306 |
.360 |
.510 |
147 |
13 |
1 |
5 |
9 |
24 |
5 |
0 |
| 2007
A- |
.312 |
.362 |
.487 |
263 |
18 |
2 |
8 |
17 |
68 |
1 |
0 |
| 2008
INJURED |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2009
A- |
.256 |
.352 |
.447 |
215 |
19 |
2 |
6 |
24 |
51 |
1 |
0 |
The Pirates drafted Byler in 2004 and followed him at Gulf
Coast CC, but didn't sign him even though he led Florida JC players in batting.
They drafted him again and signed him shortly before the 2006 draft after
he had another good year. His JC hitting #s have to be considered in light
of the fact that he was playing in a high-offense environment. He was a
catcher in 2005, but moved to 3B in 2006. The Pirates listed him as a
right fielder when they signed him. He started off in the GCL and hit very
well, but apart from an increase in his walk rate, didn't do well after a
promotion to Williamsport. He was mainly a DH in his brief stint there,
which may not speak well for his defense. He returned to that level in
2007 and spent the season as the regular 1B. He had a good year and
was the main run producer for State College. He didn't initially hit for
much power, but he hit six of his HRs in August and slugged .627 for the
month. The one negative sign was his plate discipline, which needs to
improve.
Byler should have opened 2008 as the regular at 1B for Hickory, but he suffered a compound fracture of his right forearm playing basketball and missed the entire 2008 season. The break was evidently a bad one, as it required multiple surgeries, with one more expected after the 2009 season. He spent 2009 at State College and alternated with Aaron Baker between first and DH. He understandably got off to a slow start, but hit well, with most of his extra base hits, in August and September. Overall he showed improved plate discipline. Byler will probably open 2010 at West Virginia, possibly in the same job-sharing arrangement with Baker. He'll turn 25 before the season ends, so his chances of getting established as a prospect are fading.
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