Baseball America on Nevin Griffith, Drew Lee, Christian Marrero, Jose Martinez

After finishing the Top 10 prospect lists for each team Baseball America’s Jim Callis looks on the best of the rest:

Drew Lee, 2b/ss, White Sox

Born: March 22, 1988. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 185. Drafted.: Morehead State, 2010 (12th round). Signed by: Phil Gulley.

Many scouts considered Lee a metal-bat creation—until he got a wood bat in his hands. The all-time leader in hits and RBIs at Morehead State, he hit .413 as a junior and .412 as a senior before the White Sox drafted him in the 12th round last June and signed him for $5,000. He batted .324 in his first month in pro ball before tiring late and finishing at .282. He earned all-star honors in the Rookie-level Appalachian League and topped the circuit with 24 doubles, showing enough at the plate to suggest Chicago may have found a bargain. Lee is still growing into his body and wouldn’t stand out at a showcase, but he knows how to hit and play the game. A switch-hitter, he has a compact swing that looks similar from both sides of the plate. He’s a smart hitter with surprising pop for his size. Most of his power comes from the left side of the plate. Lee played mostly shortstop in college but has a second baseman’s arm and spent most of his time as a pro at the keystone. He has the tools to be a solid defender there, with the ability to fill in at short. He’s a good baserunner, though he has just average speed. Whether Lee becomes a regular or utility infielder will depend on how much he hits. He’ll be tested with a full-season assignment in 2011, likely at high Class A Winston-Salem because he’s already 23.

Hit the link for reports on Nevin Griffith, Christian Marrero, and Jose Martinez.

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