Name: Brian Pointer
Position: OF
Bats: LH
Throws: LH
DOB: 1/28/92 (19 as of April 1, 2011)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 190 lbs
Drafted: 28^th round, 2010 ($350,000 bonus)

 

Pre Draft Report:  Brian Pointer was selected in the 28^th round of the 2010 draft out of Galena HS in Reno, NV.  After a high school career during which Pointer was first- or second-team all-league in each of his last three seasons, most reports on him agreed that he was 5^th or 6^th round talent if not for a very strong commitment to Oregon State.  Baseball America ranked Pointer as the 11^th best prospect in Nevada, noting his quiet stance, smooth swing, and a lot of strength and bat speed that should result in much more power.  PG Crosscheckers also had a report on him (albeit from 2009) which highlights an identical skill set to the BA report.

MLB Bonus Baby also provided a pre-draft report which was a little more muted than BA’s:

Pointer is the position player complement to Kris Bryant in the Nevada high school class, though he hasn’t been making as much progress as hoped. Pointer doesn’t offer the kind of ceiling that Bryant offers, though he does offer some nice polish at the plate for a prep bat. A lefty all the way, Pointer has solid raw hitting tools, featuring average potential with the bat and average potential for power. He’s also a solid athlete with solid-average speed, making him an interesting prospect. He shows solid defensive tools for right field, showcasing a solid-average arm with above-average range for the position, and he should make for a good defensive outfielder after work on his routes. As you can tell, there isn’t anything that really stands out about Pointer, and scouts have been waiting on him to show just a little more potential. At this point he profiles more as a solid college outfield prospect than a true pro prospect, and I suspect his Oregon State commitment will come into play in the range he’s projected to be drafted. Projected Draft Range: 10th Round – Undrafted

Pointer ultimately signed with the Phillies right at the deadline (along with Jonathan Musser and Kevin Walter) when Scott Frazier turned down a seven-figure offer.  He reported for a brief stint in the GCL.

Career Synopsis:  Pointer got a mere seven plate appearances in the GCL and made starts at all three OF positions.  He did reportedly participate in the FIL after the season.

Scouting Report: Below is an assessment of Pointer’s raw tools, rated on the traditional 20-80 scouting scale. The grades are my estimation based on what I’ve read and those I’ve talked to. The second number is a future projection, the first number is the current assessment

Hit For Average: 50/60
Hit For Power: 45/50
Fielding: 50/60
Throwing Arm: 50
Speed: 60

Summary: Pointer has solid tools across the board. He’s not a huge guy, at a compact 6’0/190, but he should have gap to gap power, and 10-15 HR a year seems like a safe estimate. He has a quiet, short swing which should allow him to make solid contact. He’s a good athlete, and should definitely stick in centerfield. His speed is solid, and I’d expect him to steal 15-20 bases a year into his prime. He’s obviously very raw and has a ways to go. The Phillies will likely be cautious with him, so he’s a good bet for either the GCL or the NYPL and between 250-300 PA this summer, which should give us a better idea.

Upside:  There’s a lot to like with Pointer, but without any performance to look at, it’s quite difficult to figure out an upside.  Scouts universally like his swing and hitting approach, and it’s likely that he develops power along the way.  Of course, other than knowing that he hit .429 with five homers against the likes of Bishop Manogue and Damonte Ranch high schools, we have no idea how these tools will translate in the pros.  The most optimistic view is that he becomes a power-hitting corner outfielder, but that is years down the road.  Given the glut of OFs already tagged for Lakewood, I’d expect to see Pointer in Williamsport this year.  He could be a guy who leaps up the prospect boards before 2012.

Videos:

A large collection of pre-draft videos

Update:  Released March 16, 2016.  Never really sustained himself on offense.  After his second GCL season in 2011, Pointer never hit above .250, never OBP-ed over .350, and never slugged over .420.

Updated: 1/23/2017