2014 Texas Rangers Draft Preview: Michael Chavis

Beginning in 2011, I started doing capsule reports on possible Texas Ranger draft picks.  No one I profiled in 2011 was actually taken by the Rangers that year, but I each of the last two years one of the players I profiled actually was picked (Nick Williams and Travis Demeritte).

This year, the Rangers don't have their own first round pick, having lost that for signing Shin-Soo Choo, but they have a supplemental first rounder (#30 overall) for losing Nelson Cruz.  While just one high pick makes the draft a little less exciting, I think its still worth taking a look at some guys who may be options for Texas at #30.  So in the next few weeks, I'll do little write-ups on some players who could end up being drafted by the Rangers.

For our profile for today, we are looking at Marietta, Georgia high school infielder Michael Chavis.

Michael Chavis is a smallish (5'10", 192 lb.) righthanded hitter who is currently playing shortstop, but is expected to move to another position, likely third base, in the pros (although Baseball America says he could potentially end up behind the plate).  Baseball America has Chavis ranked #26 on their pre-draft top 100, and ESPN has Chavis ranked #27.

Chavis is considered one of the best prep hitters in the draft, with BA praising his plus bat speed and plus power.  Chavis is the flip side, in a lot of ways, to Michael Gettys, the Georgia high schooler we profiled yesterday...he doesn't have a huge upside or a lot of athleticism, but he is projected to hit, with BA calling him a "high-effort gamer."

Chavis sounds similar to Demeritte, the Georgia high school shortstop who the Rangers drafted in the first round last year, and currently have playing second base (and a little third base) at Hickory this year.

Some Chavis video: