Player Profile: Ian Desmond

Ian Desmond
Born 9/20/1985, Sarasota, Fl
6’2”, 185 weight
Bat R / Throw R
Drafted: 3rd Round of the 2004 First Year Player Draft

Ian projects to start the 2008 season in Harrisburg where he played 37 games in 2006. At the start of the 2006 season Ian was only 19 but displayed excellent tools and Baseball America listed him as the 4th best prospect in the Nationals organization. The Nationals put him on the 'fast track' and had big plans for him.

Everything did not work as planned. While in Harrisburg, Ian’s average fell to .182 with no homeruns and only 3 rbi’s in 121 AB’s. He looked over matched at the plate, committed to many errors and many baseball minds said the Nationals were wrong for putting him on the 'fast track'. The Nationals reassigned him to High-A, Potomac where he finished the season batting .244 with 9 homeruns and 45 RBI’s but had too many strikeouts.

Ian returned to Potomac for the 2007 season to work on his confidence at the plate, lower his strike outs and errors. Ian’s totals improved that season raising his average to .264 with 13 HR’s and lowering his strikeout total by 15. After the All-Star break is where Ian saw the most success at the plate batting .286 with 7 HR’s in the final half of the season. In August and September he batted over .360.

I consider Ian’s return to Potomac a success. His average, HR total, OBS and OPS increased and strike outs decreased. He has soft hands, strong arm and the ability to make tough plays. He is a really nice guy with a bright future. His second time in Harrisburg comes with less pressure (not listed as a top ten prospect and the comparisons to Derek Jeter have faded). He will come here better prepared, more mature (physically and mentally), and more confident. I look forward watching him play the 2008 season in Harrisburg.

MiLB Player Page:
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Ian%20Desmond&pos=SS&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=435622