Round 8 Selection: Devin Harris, LF, ECU

[Moose Milligan]

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=4961152&content_id=4674619

Looks like a big kid with a nice stroke.

[DocJJ]

Sounds like he needs a little plate discipline..

[markpolis]

Kieran Pope anyone?

OF Devin Harris has big tools and looks the part of a right fielder. He's an average runner at 6'3", 227lbs. with a plus arm. Harris has massive raw power as well as athletic ability to make adjustments. Struck out 60 times this season and tends to take bad routes as he fails to pick up the ball off the bat quickly

[alev]

.344/.413/.580 14hrs 13-16 sb, 65 k's 24 walks

[alev]

Strong athletic sophomore with phenomenal baseball tools ... Will compete for significant playing time in right field ... Has tremendous power to all fields ... One of the most projectable players for the next level on the 2009 squad ... 2008: Played in 11 games recording one start ... Batted .167 (2-for-12) with two RBI and two walks ... In first collegiate game was 1-for-1 with an RBI against South Carolina (2/23) ... Also recorded a hit and RBI against Campbell in his first collegiate start (4/2) as the designated hitter ... Lone walk was against Campbell (4/2) ... Month-by-month analysis includes February (1.000, 0 HR, 1 RBI), March (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI), April (.250, 0 HR, 1 RBI), May (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI) and June (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI) ... 2007: Redshirted ... Fall 2007 Fire of Blackbeard Individual Champion ... Played summer ball for the Davidson Copperheads of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League ... Named to the 2007 SCBL North All-Star squad ... Batted cleanup and played right field in the Mid-Summer Classic going 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI ... During regular season batted .270 (34- for-126) with six home runs, 32 RBI, 10 doubles, two triples and had a slugging percentage of .524 ... High School: A three-sport athlete at Ashbrook High School that earned 11 letters (4 baseball, 4 basketball and 3-football) ... Three-time all-conference selection under the direction of James Parks ... As a sophomore belted seven home runs, hit .410 with 28 RBI on his way to helping Green Wave take home the regular season, conference tournament and state championships ... Named Underclassman Athlete-of-the-Year ... During junior season helped team to consecutive regular season and conference tournament titles and the Easter Tournament championship after hitting .330 with three home runs ... Rated the 19th best prospect and the 13th best positional player in North Carolina by Impact Baseball ... As a senior, batted .280 with seven home runs ... Helped Ashbrook claim its third straight regular season and conference tournament title, as well as its second consecutive Easter Tournament title ... Named preseason N.C. All-State as a wide receiver and was selected to the Charlotte Observer and Gaston Gazette all-star teams in football, basketball and baseball ... Competed in the 2006 Perfect Game/Baseball America World Wood Bat Championships in Jupiter, Fla. ... Team finished ninth out of 80 teams ... Personal: Full name is Devin Alexander Harris ... Born April 23, 1988 in Gastonia, N.C. ... Son of John and Deborah Harris ... Has one sibling (Ryan) ... Intended major is pre-med ... Two-time ECU Director of Athletics Honor Roll recipient (Spring '07 and Fall '07).

[Peace21]

Wow a pre med major.

[lovetoaster]

Now this is getting ridiculous...we drafted the point guard from the New Jersey Nets?

[allstar1579]

Kind of a project, but Pope isn't a bad comparison. If he takes the challenge and works hard at his game he could turn into a productive LF, but I'm guessing it could be a couple years.

[PlumOriole]

Kind of a project, but Pope isn't a bad comparison. If he takes the challenge and works hard at his game he could turn into a productive LF, but I'm guessing it could be a couple years.

I'm starting to get a feel for the type of player Jordan likes. For the most part high character, mature guys with passion for the game and a real interest in being an Oriole along with talent of course. It seems like he and Ozzie Newsome are on the same page when it comes to drafting.

Not all these guys have the label or high ranking from the BA's, ESPN etc. but if they fit the mold of what they're looking for they are being picked. Who thought we were picking Hoes and Xavier last year that early or at all? How about Nakamura, Lardarius Webb or Davon Drew for the Ravens?

You don't know the name but you trust the pick. Jordan's earned it in my mind.

[Tony-OH]

Just after a quick examination, that's a lot of tools for an 8th round pick. At this point in the draft you have to like the upside even if he's raw.

[Lefty0315]

Here is a nice little tidbit from BA draft blog.

• Few players who will be drafted today have more upside than Orioles eighth-rounder Devin Harris, an outfielder from East Carolina. Built like an Adonis at 6-foot-3, 227 pounds, Harris a prototypical right fielder’s skill set: massive raw power, an above-average arm and even solid-average speed. He still swings and misses a lot, but he made huge strides offensively this year, batting .344 with 14 home runs.

[alexei606]

This is a real good pick! Reminds me of Reimold - if he can get those Ks in order - watch out.

[JayGibbons31]

I know someone who coached him last summer and he raved about this kid.

[Sports Guy]

Looks like a big kid with a nice stroke.

OOC thread?

[tywright]

http://www.gastongazette.com/sports/harris-35073-carolina-devin.html

The East Carolina outfielder reported to the Cape Cod League on Sunday after negotiations with the Baltimore Orioles reached an impasse, his father said.

The Orioles selected Harris in the eighth round of the Major League Baseball draft June 10, but neither side has been able to reach an agreement. Harris' decision to report to the Cape Cod League, though, doesn't indicate that he's given up on signing a contract this summer.

"It's not final at all to my knowledge," John Harris, Devin's father, said Tuesday. "They have the rights to Devin until August. We're just going to have to see what happens for the balance of the summer. They might call next week. They might not call at all."

John Harris believed the Orioles "lowballed" Devin with their first official offer. After Devin rejected it, the Orioles never came back with a counter of-fer, so he departed for Massachusetts to play for the Cotuit Kettleers.

"Maybe they're looking at signing other outfielders," John Harris said. "Maybe they want to see what happens in the Cape Cod League this summer before making another offer."

Harris has two years of eligibility remaining at East Carolina. He couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.

The 6-foot-3, 227-pound outfielder made his first appearance for the Kettleers Tuesday, going 0-for-4 with an RBI suicide squeeze bunt, according to his father.

He enjoyed a breakout season at East Carolina as a redshirt sophomore this past spring, starting all 59 games in right field. He batted .344 with 14 home runs and 63 RBIs. Perhaps he'll be best remembered for his efforts in the regional championship game against South Carolina, in which he slugged a game-tying home run in the ninth inning, then delivered the game-winning hit in the 10th. The Pirates finished 46-20 after falling to North Carolina in a Super Regional.

A 2006 Ashbrook graduate, Harris Harris earned All-Gazette honors in football, basketball and baseball. He helped the Green Wave win the 3A state baseball title as a freshman in 2003.

He became the first Ashbrook player drafted since the Cincinnati Reds selected 1999 graduate Brad Correll in the 29th round of the 2002 draft.