Cole Gillespie – Milwaukee Brewers OF

H/W: 6-1 205 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 6/20/84

Shadowed in relative obscurity, Gillespie quietly had a solid season for AA Huntsville, hitting .281 with 14 HR 79 RBI and 17 SB. Gillespie is an Oregon State alum that doesn't have the standout tools that other top prospects have, though his all around game and polish should translate well at the major league level. Gillespie works counts very well (75 BB/ 102 K), though he could be more aggressive at times. He has alley power that should produce 15-20 HR per season at the major league level. His arm and defensive range is average and will probably relegate him to LF. He has been widely regarded as a natural leader and tireless worker. The main knock on Gillespie is that he is not as projectible as other younger and more athletic stars. That said, whether it be the Brewers or another team, Gillespie is a near major league ready player who should be a productive #2 or #6 hitter in the major leagues.

2009 Projection: Gillespie will get a shot in spring training before heading to AAA Nashville. He battled some injuries last year that hampered his offensive production. Look for him to bump up his batting average 10-20 points in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Gillespie's major league debut should happen at some point in '09, though his future is widely contingent on the off-season destiny of Corey Hart as well as Mat Gamel's ability to stay at 3B. Don't be surprised to see Gillespie end up in a trade package at some point in the future.

Key Cole Gillespie Baseball Cards: