Projo Sports Blog

In his blog, Ken Davidoff of Newsday looks back on a 2004 conversation with a major-league scout.

Here's what Davidoff wrote on June 27, 2004:
"Youkilis, now 25, did not impress one American League scout, who noted a slow first step on defense and a 'slider-speed bat.'"

Davidoff spoke last week to the same scout, who mentioned Youk as one of the American League's "most clutch" players.

Recalling the 2004 assessment, the scout said, "I was wrong. I thought he could be pitched to. I thought he was a low-ball hitter who wouldn't swing the bat enough."

Writes Davidoff:
"It's just a reminder of how hard it is to evaluate and forecast baseball prospects, regardless of your methodology. After all, I reported in that same column (and I'm pretty sure this was reported widely at the time) that Boston was willing to give up Youkilis to Kansas City for a half-season rental of Carlos Beltran. And that the A's, who wound up as a third party in the trade that sent Beltran to Houston, had only some interest in Youkilis, despite Billy Beane's passion for him two years prior.''

 Tags  Boston Red Sox Kevin Youkilis

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