Draft 14 - An Early Look At - C - Kyle Schwarber - Indiana

 C  -   Kyle Schwarber

 

6-9-13  -  10.Kyle Schwarber, C/1B (Indiana): One of the best wOBA’s (#13) in all of Division I at .479. The sophomore already has a strong approach and power stroke (17 HRs). Not entirely sure he sticks at catcher, though. http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2013/06/09/2014-mlb-draft-top-30-prospects/

 

I haven't scouted Kyle Schwarber yet, but the people that have can't stop raving about his bat. The squatty lefty hitter catches now but won't stick there and is a right field or first base fit long-term but the above average bat and power stand out, while his sophomore year numbers aren't bad either: .381/.469/.670, 33 BB, 25 K, 13 HR LINK

 

6-10-13 -  Kyle Schwarber, C, Indiana - Kyle Scwarber is one of the top power bats in the country.  He has plus power with lift in his swing and should be able to hit home runs anywhere.  He also shows a good approach at the plate.  Schwarber is likely headed to first base, but his bat will play anywhere. http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/06/10/2014-mlb-draft-early-college-names-to-know/

 

6-13-13  -  18. Cleveland Indians — Kyle Schwarber, C, Indiana - While he may not have enough to stick behind the plate, the 6’-0”, 230 pound left-handed hitter does have a strong arm and makes for a big target. His footwork needs work, however, and most think he will eventually end up at first base. That shouldn’t hurt his stock that much because the kid can flat out destroy a baseball. Over 57 games, he is hitting .374 with 10 doubles, 18 home runs and has drawn 39 walks to just 30 strikeouts for a .462 OBP/.676 SLG. He should be a leading candidate to lead the nation in home runs next season and, with that kind of power and patience from the left side, may be too hard to pass up in the first round. He was also named to the 2013 Collegiate Team USA. http://beforeitsnews.com/sports/2013/06/2014-mlb-mock-draft-1-0-no-time-like-the-present-2513748.html?currentSplittedPage=2

 

6-28-13 - Kyle Schwarber, 1B/C, Indiana University: One of the nation's very best hitters in 2013, Schwarber was the star of a strong Indiana club that made a deep run in the postseason. A former high school linebacker who has deceptive athleticism despite his stocky build, Schwarber has played catcher and first base for the Hoosiers but is more likely to play the latter position in the pros. Either way, it is his bat that will be his mealticket. Schwarber raked to the tune of a .376/.468/.674 slash line for IU in 2013 and added 18 home runs while walking more than he struck out. He has a great power hitter's build and has a swing that maximizes his pop. He shows power to all fields and can be an all-star quality middle of the order hitter at the next level. –Spencer http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/6/28/4450674/the-way-too-early-2014-tcb-astros-draft-board

 

7-17-13 –  Kyle Schwarber, C, Indiana - This is a bat that will profile anywhere.  The LH hitting Schwarber can flat out mash and he did that in both games, going 5 for 10 with 3 of those hits being doubles, including one deep the opposite way into the left-centerfield gap.  He has a thick, stocky build at 6'0, 235 lbs. so as you can imagine, it's not a body that profiles anywhere well defensively.  They're trying him at catcher but it was a struggle there for him in terms of mobility, release, and throwing accuracy.  If you can get him to stick at catcher, you've got yourself quite an asset but that didn't look likely from what I was able to see.  As I said, however, that bat will play anywhere so 1B becomes a legit option. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/07/looking-ahead-to-the-2014-and-2015-mlb-draft-notes-from-the-collegiate-national-team-games/

 

7-26-13 - Eleven months ago, Kyle Schwarber (Indiana) left Red Wilson Field as a champion, belting two home runs, including the game-winner, in Game 3 of the championship series to lift Wareham past Yarmouth-Dennis. Thursday night, after playing all summer with Team USA, he returned to Red Wilson Field in his first game back and picked up right where he left off. Schwarber went 4-for-4 with the game-tying home run in the ninth inning, as the game ended in a 2-2 tie after 10 innings http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130726/SPORTS/307260321/-1/rss43

 

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 23. Kyle Schwarber, C, Indiana - Maybe the best power bat in college, the 6’-0”, 230-pound left-hander also has a great approach at the plate and should hit for a high average at the next level. His ability to remain behind the plate is still up for debate, but he wants to stay there and has been working hard on his defense. Over 61 games as a sophomore, he hit .366/.456/.647 with 10 doubles, 18 home runs and drew 42 walks to just 37 strikeouts. He then hit .308/.396/.436 over 21 games for The Collegiate National Team with 11 walks. We all saw the premium put on college bats in this year’s draft, and Schwarber should benefit from that next year. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99