Indians Top 100 Prospects: #59 Chris Nash

59. Chris Nash - First Baseman
Born: 02/22/1987 - Height: 6'4" - Weight: 230 - Bats: Right - Throws: Right

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2007	20	GCL Indians	R	47	166	28	52	16	0	3	21	17	35	4	.313	.372	.464	.836
	20	Mahoning Vy	A-	16	62	4	17	4	1	0	12	7	18	0	.274	.352	.371	.723
2008	21	GCL Indians	R	2	4	1	1	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	.250	.400	.250	.650
		Lake County	A	74	270	26	62	15	1	5	38	22	82	2	.230	.293	.348	.641
		Career		139	502	59	132	35	2	8	72	47	136	6	.263	.328	.388	.716

History: The Indians selected Nash in the 24th round of the 2006 Draft out of Johnson County Community College (KS).

Strengths & Opportunities: Nash is a huge first baseman who is still maturing and filling out. His big frame, strength, and size at 6'5" 230 at 22 years of age make him very projectable as a power hitter. The power is there and may be on the verge of emerging once he matures and becomes more accustomed to the feel of wood bats and can maintain good health. He is a very intelligent player who handles himself really well and is a hard worker. He was actually recruited in high school by Division-1 colleges as a tight end. Even with his enormous size, he is very athletic and moves very well around the bag at first base. He has made a lot of progress defensively since coming into the organization and has become a solid defender at the position.

Nash was unable to build off of a great year in 2007 both in performance and development. Since signing in 2006, there are some durability concerns since he was hurt when he signed and did not play in 2006 and while he went through the 2007 season unscathed he had a lat-shoulder problem which caused him to miss significant time during the 2008 season and affected his play. His problems started right away in spring training where he was sidelined for several days with a sore shoulder from a new throwing motion from sidearm to over-the-top the Indians implemented. Apparently the Indians felt the throwing motion correction was necessary because of the problems Nash had with his sidearm throwing angle where his ball was tailing a little bit when he was throwing to second base. He struggled with the change and ended up straining a lat muscle, and the injury ended up lingering all season and spread into other muscles in the shoulder area deep in his rotator cuff to his triceps area. He missed almost two months because of the complications.

The Indians believe he can be a power hitter, but they will let it come naturally and not force him into being one. One problem he has is that he has a problem getting good leverage with his legs or using his lower half really correctly. He worked last season on widening his base to try and get a little more leverage with his front foot. Once he learns how to use his lower half and get better leverage with his front side and not come off the ball, a power explosion could result. He is also still working on staying on breaking balls and using the whole field since he still likes to pull the ball. There is no doubt Nash is a very good fastball hitter, but until he can show the ability to either hit the curveball or lay off pitches low and away he will continue to rack up the strikeouts. The good thing is Nash has a great attitude and understands what he has to do.

Outlook: Coming into last season, Nash was one of the Indians best young hitting prospects because of his size and raw abilities at the plate. While he still is very much a prospect to watch, the disappointing season he had because of an annoying shoulder injury caused him to tumble some in this year's prospect ranking. After a disappointing year, Nash will look to put things back together and should get that chance where he likely opens the 2009 season at Single-A Lake County or advanced Single-A Kinston.

Photo courtesy of Ken Carr

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