Age: 23
Born: September 11, 1983
Madras, OR
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Drafted: 1st round, 2005
How Acquired: Draft
College: Oregon State
High School: Madras (OR)
ETA: 2008

Jacoby was named the #33 prospect for 2007 by Baseball America, #43 on SI.com's 2007 Top prospects and is set to start the season as the center fielder for the Portland Sea Dogs.

Scouting Report: Amazing athlete with a great work ethic. Ellsbury has consistently won awards for his defensive play in centerfield. He is extremely fast and knows how to run the bases (but does get picked off a little too often). Great on base ability. Decent gap power for a centerfielder who projects as a lead-off hitter. Has often been compared to Johnny Damon. Also said to be a team leader. Lettered and excelled in five sports in high school. Lives to play baseball.

23. Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Oregon State U.
Ellsbury has few holes in his game and is capable of beating teams in a lot of ways. He has excellent makeup and instincts. His best tool is his speed, and it’s evident both on the bases and in center field, where he catches everything hit his way. He has been clocked in 6.55 seconds over 60 yards. He has become more patient, rarely swings and misses and is comfortable hitting with two strikes. His style of play and physical appearance have drawn comparisons to Johnny Damon at a similar age, but scouts say Ellsbury has a better swing. They question whether he’ll grow into the same power, though.

OREGON STATE: Co-captain ... among OSU's 10 returning starters ... named to Preseason All-America third team, Gold Glove team, nation's 23rd-best junior, Pac-10's sixth-best prospect for 2005 draft by Baseball America magazine; also named Pac-10's fastest runner, best defensive outfielder by BA ... OSU head coach Pat Casey says: "Jacoby needs to be a big part of what we're doing, both offensively and defensively. He's a team captain, and we're looking for a great season from him." ... named Cape Cod League's 17th-best pro prospect by Baseball America after batting .245, 1 homer, 3 triples, 2 doubles, 7 RBIs, 12-for-15 stolen bases

MADRAS HIGH: Lettered 4 years for coach Bruce Reece ... as a senior, batted .430 with 3 homers, 4 triples, 9 doubles, 20 RBIs, 29-for-29 stolen bases; all-state first team, league Co-Player of the Year ... as a junior, batted .458, 2 homers, 4 triples, 5 doubles, 13-for-13 stolen bases; all-state second team, all-league first team ... Area Code Games ... drafted in 23rd round by Tampa Bay Devil Rays ... also competed in football, soccer, cross country, basketball ... 3.6 GPA.

PERSONAL: Majoring in Business ... born in Madras, Ore. ... parents are Jim and Margie Ellsbury; family includes brothers Matthew, Tyler, Spencer ... enjoys sports, hanging out with friends, watching movies, listening to music ... favorite athlete is Michael Jordan; favorite movie is Gladiator; favorite TV show is Seinfeld; favorite food is Navajo frybread; favorite restaurant is Olive Garden ... chose OSU for its academic excellence and a chance to play Pac-10 baseball.

Amateur Stats

Professional Stats

2007 Boston Red Sox Spring Training
Through 3/7/07


Ellsbury's speed puts him on fast track

2007 Boston Red Sox Spring Training
Through 3/9/07


3/9 Boston Red Sox - assigned ... outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury to minor league camp.

EDIT - Changed optioned to assigned. Thanks HBM

Just a minor technicality, but he's not on the 40-man roster yet, so they don't have to option him. He was assigned to minor league camp. Same end result, but he still has all three of his option years. And with the changes in the new CBA, he doesn't have to be added to the 40-man until after the 2008 season, rather than this coming offseason, although I suspect we'll see him in Boston and on the 40-man well before the end of 2008.

Two nice stories about Jacoby from Gordon Edes in today's Globe.

Ellsbury a rare talent

Red Sox see Ellsbury as a quick study

2007 Portland Sea Dogs
Through 4/11/07

Jacoby started the 2007 season with a bang, on opening night for the Sea Dogs, going 4-6 with 3 doubles, an RBI and a steal in an 8-6 loss to New Britain at Hadlock Field.

2007 Portland Sea Dogs
Through 4/14/07

The beat goes on for Jacoby as he has managed to get on base in each of the Sea Dogs' first 6 games along with having at least one double in 4 of them.

From the April 19, 2007 Concord Monitor:


Dave D'Onofrio - Ellsbury resembles Sox star of the past; Minor league prospect may fill Damon's shoes

It took a similarly small window for Ellsbury's high school coach to recognize his talent. "His freshman year, when we were trying out," said Bruce Reece, former manager at the high school in Madras, Ore., "I looked at him and said not only is he going to be a varsity player but someday he's going to be a pro."

And that's what he always wanted to be. His parents encouraged him to play football and basketball to balance his athletic curriculum - he excelled in both of those games, too - but becoming a pro baseball player was always the top priority.

2007 Portland Sea Dogs
Through 4/20/07

portlandseadogs.com

Splits: (Portland)

Can you say, "Promotion?" Ellsbury is really a force. This is very encouraging. Thanks for keeping us updated, LDC.

From the sunday, April 22, 2007 Manchester Union Leader:

Kevin Gray - On Baseball: Reunion in NH


Manchester – The small-town Oregon boys are a long way from home, but Aaron Mathews and Jacoby Ellsbury are enjoying a baseball reunion this weekend.

Today, they'll play in the Eastern League. Tomorrow, perhaps the American League East.

...


Instead of playing for the Devil Rays, Ellsbury joined Mathews in a wooden-bat college league on his way to OSU -- where they gave the freshman his first butchered buzz cut.

"We always have freshmen initiation," Mathews said.

Soon Ellsbury will be getting the rookie treatment from the Red Sox. Many fans can already envision him replacing Coco Crisp at Fenway Park.

"I wouldn't be surprised," Mathews said. "I would be more than happy to see that happen. No doubt he has the ability."

No leadoff hitter has dominated a series against the Fisher Cats quite like Ellsbury, who's tripled twice and gone 8-for-12 with four RBI in the series.

"I feel like things are coming together. Every day I feel more confident and closer (to the big leagues) -- I'm knocking on the door, I guess you could say," said Ellsbury, wearing a Red Sox logo on his jersey sleeve.

And, yes, he can envision himself playing at Fenway Park.

"I try to watch as many games as I can. I picture myself out there in situations or tracking down a ball in the gap. I'm a visualization person. I feel like I've already had an AB (at bat) at Fenway, but, obviously I haven't," Ellsbury said.

When Red Sox farm director Mike Hazen reports back to General Manager Theo Epstein, he'll have an i-Pod full of glowing material after the past three days.

HUGE game for Ellsbury on Friday, going 4 for 5, scoring twice, hitting a double, two triples, and driving in three. He's stolen four bases in five attempts this season, and is hitting .455.

Considering last year he hit .303, with 41 steals, a .382 OBP, driving in 51, scoring 64 times in 111 minor league games, he looks to have elevated his game even further and be on the fast track to the majors sometimes in the near future. This guy is one Coco Crisp slump or J.D. Drew injury from the big leagues.

FWIW, Ellsbury's BABIP is in the .500 neighborhood at this point, IIRC. Great start and all, and I'm as optimistic as anyone, but he's going to come back down to earth at some point. Worth keeping in mind.

Of course he won't continue to hit like that but he is a keeper for this organization and likely will become a fan favorite one day.

Well yea, certainly, but I was just offering the info as caution against the "he should be up here now" or the "he should be in AAA now" idea. He can't sustain this level of success.

Trust me though, I'm a real big Ellsbury fan.

Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet for the week:

2007 Portland Sea Dogs
Through 4/24/07


The most encouraging thing, other than the .432 BA and 8 doubles, is that so far this season, Jacoby is hitting .447 in 38 AB's against RH pitching. Last year he had a nasty reverse split hitting only .278 in 144 AB's against righties in AA and a woeful .227 in 66 AB's in the AFL. Although I'm curious as to if he's making much better contact or simply benefiting from the higher BABIP.

I know he only had around 200 AB's in AA coming into this season but I really think Ellsbury should be in AAA soon. I think its pretty clear that he's better than most in AA at this point. Plus I want him as the starting in Boston to begin 2008.

They don't want to move Murphy to a corner OF, or Ellsbury to a corner OF. Which means they must be trying or at least plotting to trade Murphy, Pena, or Coco. Right?

I think everyone should temper the enthusiasm just a bit here. He's been flat-out awesome so far, but it's 53 ABs. If he was struggling we'd all rightly be saying to "give him time."

He needs minor league ABs. Tons of them. They can't hurt. I think Murphy's a candidate to be traded at some point, but there's no reason to rush anything just yet I don't think. The Sox should be real smart about this- he's the best positional prospect they've had in years.

Do you mean "Wade Boggs" careful and let him rot away in the minors until he's 26 because Carney Lansford is at Third?

The guy has four years of college under his belt. He doesn't need four years in the minors. Depending on what happens with Murphy or any of the other CF candidates "ahead" of him he could be the starting CF in 2008, and in my opinion probably should be. I get the "rushing it" and "ruining him" arguments, but anyone who's familiar with this kid's moxie, knows he'll rake in the ml's too.

You don't "know" Ellsbury's going to hit in the bigs until he does it. Alex Gordon was a lock to put up a .300/25/90 line until he actually got up to the bigs...and he's hitting .143. And what the hell is "moxie" and how familiar are you with Ellsbury's?

Look, what JtB's point is, and it's a valid one, is that you don't project anything off of 60 or so at bats. It's too small of a sample to be statistically significant. Maybe he's ready to take over for Coco right now, or maybe it's closer to 2009. The point is that the Sox have the luxury to wait until he's ready to call him up to the bigs, not before and not after.

I'm going to go with the FO's opinion of when Ellsbury should come up over yours.

No.


I guess I'll just have to familiarize myself with his moxie a bit more.

Hardee Har Har. My point is, and I've made this point elsewhere. You don't know until he gets the call up. He's not Meredith or Hansen, and has been excellent at every level thus far. He went through four years of college ball, has better speed and defensive ability than any other CF'er in the Sox system and may be at least on level offensively with what the Sox have in CF presently. I'm not even advocating for a call up now, merely stating that he may be closer to ready than you Mama's boys want to admit. I know you are mama's boys, because both your mom's complain to me about it after coitus. <-----I'm into Milfs.

Sample size aside, he's having a great start and appears to have a very bright future. I just think that future in the bigs should begin next year in April.

Should i have used chutzpah? Character? Pizazz? Razzmatazz? I suppose intangibles like moxie or the aforementioned synonyms can't be included in a player's evaluation because Bill James can't count it.

I don't even know what the **** you're talking about. You make some off-the-charts stupid posts.

My only point is that Ellsbury was getting by so far on a very high BABIP. Minor league ABs help a better, they don't impede his progress. A hot 60 ABs in AA doesn't not equal "knocking on the door." Maybe he's glaringly ready next year. We have no idea on that right now. Calm the **** down.

Also, how many times have you seen the guy play? Given your proximity to Portland, I'm going to guess never, and then suggest you pipe down on the Bll James cracks considering you're going on what we're going on- second hand reports and numbers.

Not only has Hansen been excellent at every level in the minor leagues, he has set Red Sox mL records down there. (I think some have since been broken, like the scoreless innings streak). Meredith also had good mL numbers before going to AAA as a 22 year old. Are you confusing Hansen with someone else? Because calling his mL numbers anything but excellent would be false, and using his big league sample to compare him to a CF that hasn't been above AA would be completely irrelevant to what you're trying to say.

Future major-league ability aside, I think the Sox will go the same route with Ellsbury they did with Pedroia. Have him start the season in AA, eventually call him to AAA mid-season, and depending on how he looks in AAA and in his likely September call-up, give him the job to lose in ST in 2008.

Like JtB said, he is probably the best position prospect the Sox have had since Nomar -- as in, the real deal. Let's give him time.

Stop berating me and overreacting to my post. Please read the original post. I'm simply wondering when the right time is to promote him, and I am thinking sooner rather than later is the right time. By sooner, I don't mean this season, unless he continues scorching AA and AAA pitching this season. I think 4 years at a division 1 college and two years in the minors may be enough for a guy like this. Some of you disagree, which is fine and what I was trolling for. I just hate when people bring up guys like Hansen and Meredith as examples of players who've been rushed.

JtB, I don't think my posts are stupid, but I often think you are a condescending prick sometimes, despite being generally knowledgeable and a good poster. Does it make you feel big to attack and belittle? I hope so...If I can do that for you, I've done something admirable.

Wow, leading the Eastern league in Slugging, OPS, OBP, Average (by 100 points), Hits, Doubles,
Top ten in Stolen bases. If he keeps up this pace, or even close to it, he needs to be promoted to AAA. He's head and shoulders above everyone in the eastern league for the month of april.

Edit: It seems the PROJO agrees w/me!

Jacoby also had 200 AB's in 06 in AA so its not like he's only had 60 AB's. Granted his numbers last year weren't anywhere near this year's but they were respectable. I just think he should be in AAA at this point. It has nothing to do with rushing him to the majors but I just don't see what he has left to prove in AA. He's clearly dominating so why not give him a harder challenge? Ellsbury is a top prospect so I could honestly care less about having to move Murphy to another position. If teams are going to trade for Murphy they will understand that Ellsbury is better which is why he was moved and that he can play CF.

2007 Portland Sea Dogs
Through 4/30/07


260 AB's/65 games is not even half a season and it would be of no benefit to move him up right now. He has more things that he still has to work on like stealing and bunting, which is easier to do in a more developmental level like AA than in AAA. The plan, according to the Sox, has always been that he would play around 50 in Portland before they moved him up.

Besides, it's not like it is uncommon for a player to make the jump from AA to the bigs nowadays since teams tend to use AA for their top prospects, with AAA being the place being where they keep AAAA filler and older players who have worked their way up through the minors but are still not ready for the show.

Actually since the minor league only plays around 130 games then it would be right about a half of a season. Its also about the same amount of time that Pedroia spent in AA. The Sox also don't see to promote from AA for the long term. Youk, Pedroia, Papelbon and Lester all spent time in AAA before being called up.

I also see no reason why he can't work on bunting and stealing in AAA. Maybe theres a reason but I don't see why it would really matter if the pitchers are top prospects or AAAA pitchers that he's facing. I think he's earned the promotion with the way he's started the season. Maybe once he's hit around 100 AB's for the season would be a good time for a move.

Boston Herald

I don't really believe that the performance of Pawtucket's offense will have anything to do with the decision to promote Ellsbury, but I'm assuming the reporter has gotten some inkling that a move is coming soon. Ellsbury hasn't played the last couple of games for Portland, reportedly because he's sick.

I see no reason for him not to be in AAA. He is killing in AA, and its not like he is super young, he is 23. Plenty of major leaguers are in the bigs by then. He has nothing left to prove in AA, IMO.

Hmmmm. Can our boy Jacoby play second base full-time?

I know you're kidding. Right? If not, up the meds.

Nah... he'd probably start off 0-for-10 and people would be calling for Cora to start over him and questioning his physical abilities.

Tell me, Mr. PS2 ... you smoke a lot of weed, don't you? Did the lack of an emoticon confuse you? Of course I know he plays third base, not second. Geesh.

Ellsbury promoted to PawSox

Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury finished another productive night for the Portland Sea Dogs, stepped out of the home dugout and left Hadlock Field for good.

Ellsbury, 23, the Boston Red Sox's top minor league prospect, was promoted Thursday night to Triple-A Pawtucket after the Sea Dogs lost 7-3 to the Bowie Baysox.

A first-round draft pick in 2005 out of Oregon State, Ellsbury arrived in Portland last July 13. He came with comparisons to former Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon and a can't-miss label.

Ellsbury fulfilled expectations, batting .308 for Portland and helping the Sea Dogs to the 2006 Eastern League championships.
In the spring, Ellsbury was invited to big-league camp. He batted .250 in eight games, with a triple and two stolen bases.
Boston Manager Terry Francona said "He made a good impression. He's very athletic and obviously very fast. He has a nose for the ball in center field, and leadoff-type skills."

It didn't take long for Ellsbury to show he had outgrown Double-A. He leads all of minor league baseball with a .452 average. He stroked 10 doubles and two triples, and stole eight bases in nine attempts.

Ellsbury went 2 for 4 on Thursday, extending his hitting streak to 15 games, also scoring two runs and stealing a base.

Wow... that final line for his time at Portland is going to impress a lot of people and raise his star.

I can hear it now "Hit nearly .500 at AA last year!"

Never touched the stuff. He's coming up as a catcher...Don't be a tard.

Ellsbury Named Eastern League Player of the Month

The Eastern League has selected Jacoby Ellsbury as the Eastern League Player of the Month for April. Eastern League President Joe McEacharn made the announcement. Ellsbury is the first Sea Dogs player to earn an Eastern League Player of the Month award since Josh Beckett in August of 2001. Earlier today Ellsbury was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket.

2007 Portland Sea Dogs
Through 5/4/07

In his first game at AAA, Jacoby went 1-4 with a single, a strikeout, 2 walks and 2 runs scored in Pawtucket's come from behind, extra innings win over the Indianapolis Indians, 5-4 at McCoy Stadium.

Six plate appearances - how many innings was the game? And do you know where he batted?

It's easier to ask you than to look it up myself.

He led off. It was an 11-inning game.

2007 Pawtucket Red Sox
Through 5/12/07

the kid can run and he can go get them in the outfield. but it's a big jump from double-a to triple-a. you go from playing against prospects and non-prospects in AA ball to seeing a lot of ex-big leaguers either battling for their careers or playing out the string in AAA. i think he needs a full year in pawtucket.

i've heard in a lot of places that the jump from high a to aa for hitters is much tougher than aa to aaa. many more top prospects in aa than aaa, because aaa is considered so close to the majors, and a lot of people believe that the jump from aa to the majors isn't that steep, and can be done by a good player with the right attitude. i believe this is discussed in moneyball. also, players start seeing ex major leaguers and career minor leaguers in aa, and while they might not be as good as those in aaa, they are more advanced pitchers because they don't make many mistakes like the kids just drafted in a ball do. also, the speed of the game changes a lot once players get to aa and that's hard to adjust to. just what i've heard from a few different sources.

i covered the pawsox game today. it was interesting to see ellsbury working in the weight room after the game, quietly talking to an old pro named joe mcewing. it's a long process for these guys and jacoby is coming as fast as anyone. i just don't see him succeeding in the big leagues on a regular basis this summer. next summer, maybe. the time down here is important, learning things about his craft from guys like mcewing, just playing the game and succeeding at a higher level than double-a.

i read the moneyball stuff, too. it sounds great. the practical reality is, triple-a is a combination of big leaguers on their way down, some guys like jeff bailey who will never make it, and other prospects who are battling to succeed at the next level. david murphy, now hitting .320, is the best short-term solution if coco gets hurt.

From the May 19 ProJo:

Robert Lee - Ellsbury is eager to steal his way to Fenway Park

The PawSox leadoff batter is so good at stealing bases that Ellsbury has the potential to be one of Pawtucket’s all-time best base stealers in the history of the organization.

He has stolen six bases in 13 games for the PawSox so far. At that rate, Ellsbury may have a shot at breaking Lee Graham’s club record for stolen bases, 51, set back in 1983.

Of course, Ellsbury doesn’t actually want that to happen. He’d much rather get the call up to Boston. But putting his name in the PawSox record books for stolen bases would be a nice second prize.

Ellsbury says that he steals bases to give the PawSox a better chance to score runs.