Ryan Harvey
Height: 6-5
Weight: 200 lbs
Position: OF
B/T: R/R
DOB: 08/30/84
Hometown: Clearwater, Florida
2004 Boise (shortseason-A)
He appeared in 58 games, going 61 for 231 with 42 runs, 8 doubles, 14 hrs, 43 rbi, 20 bb, 78 k, 2/4 sb,
.264/.327/.481/.808
2005 Peoria (low-A)
He appeared in 117 games, going 120 for 467 with 71 runs, 30 doubles, 2 triples, 24 hrs, 100 rbi, 24 bb, 137 k, 8/12
sb, .257/.302/.484/.786
On tools alone, Harvey is one of the toolsiest players in all of the minors. The Cubs took the five tool outfielder with the
sixth pick overall of the 2003 draft out of Dunedin High school. The previous draft the Cubs selected high school
teammate and fellow masher Brian Dopirak with the 56th overall pick.
Harvey was predicted to go higher than sixth overall in the draft but due to torn ACL in November and he missed the first
half of his high school baseball season, there were teams that were scared away with drafting him so high. Before his
injury, Harvey was projected to be the first overall pick. But the Cubs weren't scared away and threw 2.4 million at Ryan
for him to forgo his NCAA eligibility and commitment to Florida. In his limited at bats in high school, he hit 4 doubles and
5 hrs in 43 at bats.
In Harvey's only postseason experience, he carried the 2004 Boise Hawks on his shoulders. Many scouts say he only
really starting playing like he can during the playoffs. Hitting 4 homers and driving in 6 runs in the 3 game sweep.
Batting & Power: Harvey's power potential is on another world. He has the ability to slug 40 or more homers in a
season along with knocking 25+ doubles. The only other Cub prospect with near the same power was former high school
teammate Brian Dopirak. Like Dopirak though, Harvey has a huge whole in his swing which leaves him prone to
strikeouts and missing swings on offspeed pitches. Harvey's contact has been marginal throughout his professional career,
and it's likely to hover around .250-.265 or so for the rest of his career, unless he seriously alters his stroke.
Baserunning & Speed: Harvey has amazing speed especially for a guy his size. He's been recovering from his ACL
injury which slowed down the past few years, but this year he was 8 for 12. Expect him to keep that up if not steal a little
bit more. Harvey mostly relies on his natural speed rather than baserunning instincts, hopefully that changes in the near
future.
Defense: Harvey has a cannon of an arm that is definately MLB worthy of a RF. The only problem is Harvey plays an outstanding CF, covering tremendous ground and running good routes. His outfield arm is considered by far the best in the Cubs system. And his defense is also highly regarded, being outranked only by extremely speedy Felix Pie. If the Cubs keep both him and Pie, it will be one of the better two young defensive OF combos in the minors.
Harvey's glaring weakness is his BB/K issues are horrendous, and need much improvement. His contact skills aren’t ideal either.
Biggest Strength: Athletic ability
Harvey is a natural athlete. There are not too many 6'5 230lb guys out there that can run the bases like he can. Nor are there many with his superb arm, great defensive coverage, power potential and leadership skills. Another positive that Harvey has working in his corner are the Cubs conservative ways of promoting high positional players (especially draftee high-schoolers) very gradually since the Corey Patterson debacle.
The rest of the report
Height: 6-5
Weight: 200 lbs
Position: OF
B/T: R/R
DOB: 08/30/84
Hometown: Clearwater, Florida
2004 Boise (shortseason-A)
He appeared in 58 games, going 61 for 231 with 42 runs, 8 doubles, 14 hrs, 43 rbi, 20 bb, 78 k, 2/4 sb,
.264/.327/.481/.808
2005 Peoria (low-A)
He appeared in 117 games, going 120 for 467 with 71 runs, 30 doubles, 2 triples, 24 hrs, 100 rbi, 24 bb, 137 k, 8/12
sb, .257/.302/.484/.786
On tools alone, Harvey is one of the toolsiest players in all of the minors. The Cubs took the five tool outfielder with the
sixth pick overall of the 2003 draft out of Dunedin High school. The previous draft the Cubs selected high school
teammate and fellow masher Brian Dopirak with the 56th overall pick.
Harvey was predicted to go higher than sixth overall in the draft but due to torn ACL in November and he missed the first
half of his high school baseball season, there were teams that were scared away with drafting him so high. Before his
injury, Harvey was projected to be the first overall pick. But the Cubs weren't scared away and threw 2.4 million at Ryan
for him to forgo his NCAA eligibility and commitment to Florida. In his limited at bats in high school, he hit 4 doubles and
5 hrs in 43 at bats.
In Harvey's only postseason experience, he carried the 2004 Boise Hawks on his shoulders. Many scouts say he only
really starting playing like he can during the playoffs. Hitting 4 homers and driving in 6 runs in the 3 game sweep.
Batting & Power: Harvey's power potential is on another world. He has the ability to slug 40 or more homers in a
season along with knocking 25+ doubles. The only other Cub prospect with near the same power was former high school
teammate Brian Dopirak. Like Dopirak though, Harvey has a huge whole in his swing which leaves him prone to
strikeouts and missing swings on offspeed pitches. Harvey's contact has been marginal throughout his professional career,
and it's likely to hover around .250-.265 or so for the rest of his career, unless he seriously alters his stroke.
Baserunning & Speed: Harvey has amazing speed especially for a guy his size. He's been recovering from his ACL
injury which slowed down the past few years, but this year he was 8 for 12. Expect him to keep that up if not steal a little
bit more. Harvey mostly relies on his natural speed rather than baserunning instincts, hopefully that changes in the near
future.
Defense: Harvey has a cannon of an arm that is definately MLB worthy of a RF. The only problem is Harvey plays an outstanding CF, covering tremendous ground and running good routes. His outfield arm is considered by far the best in the Cubs system. And his defense is also highly regarded, being outranked only by extremely speedy Felix Pie. If the Cubs keep both him and Pie, it will be one of the better two young defensive OF combos in the minors.
Harvey's glaring weakness is his BB/K issues are horrendous, and need much improvement. His contact skills aren’t ideal either.
Biggest Strength: Athletic ability
Harvey is a natural athlete. There are not too many 6'5 230lb guys out there that can run the bases like he can. Nor are there many with his superb arm, great defensive coverage, power potential and leadership skills. Another positive that Harvey has working in his corner are the Cubs conservative ways of promoting high positional players (especially draftee high-schoolers) very gradually since the Corey Patterson debacle.
The rest of the report
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