16. Cory Vaughn, OF
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 225
Born: 05/01/1989 (Age 24)
Bat/Throws Right/Right
Contact: 35/45 Power: 60/65 Run: 50/50 Arm 50/50 Fielding 50/50
I have watched Cory Vaughn knock home runs since the beginning as an intern in Brooklyn. The 4th Rounder out of the 2010 Draft has impressive power that has been on showcase since the Brooklyn Cyclones, his first stop, where he hit 14 home runs. He is the son of Greg Vaughn, a powerful Left Fielder who once hit 50 home runs in a season and had a 15-year career, and Cory looks to have great power like his father.
This past season in Double-A, he was doing well, before enduring a right elbow strain, and missing two months of the season. In terms of health, he had a down year, but he was making strides with the bat in Double-A, hitting .267 with 10 home runs.
Vaughn has proved through every level that he can balls things far, but he has also proved that he can take a walk, and get on base. As a power hitter, you don’t see that enough. For his career, he has an on base percentage of .348, which shows that while he won’t hit for a high average, he can still find ways to be useful by drawing a walk. His potential in the major leagues would have his average around .260, with more than 25 home runs if lucky, making him a 2nd division regular at most, while others believe he would be a power bat off the bench.
His arm and fielding are rated as average, as much as his running, but they are adequate for right field. Prospect Outlook: Because of his injury, I could only see Cory repeating at Double-A, but just for a moment. At 24, Vaughn is on the cusp of losing prospect status, turning 25 in May. He will join his other outfield counterparts such as Darrell Ceciliani and possibly Alonzo Harris in Triple-A this year afterwards, and likely have a shot at making the bench if Chris Young or Cesar Puello falter. Long Shot, I know. ETA: 2014 or, more likely 2015. MMN Top 40 Prospects 40. Jhoan Urena 39. Patrick Biondi 38. Chris Flexen 37. L.J. Mazzilli 36. Miller Diaz 35. Hansel Robles 34. Robert Gsellman 33. Allan Dykstra 32. Akeel Morris 31. Wuilmer Becerra 30. Ivan Wilson 29. Travis Taijeron 28. Andrew Church 27. Wilfredo Tovar 26. Jayce Boyd 25. Jack Leathersich 24. Jeff Walters 23. Domingo Tapia 22. Luis Mateo 21. Cory Mazzoni 20. Juan Centeno 19. Michael Fulmer 18. Dustin Lawley 17. Robert Whalen