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	Wednesday, August 30
	Austin Kearns By John Sickels Special to ESPN.com
	REPORT FILED: AUGUST 25 We've done a lot of pitching lately, so let's shift gears a bit and look at a power-hitting outfielder in the Class A Midwest League, Austin Kearns. Austin Kearns Cincinnati Reds Position: OF Height: 6-4 Weight: 210 Born: 5/20/80 Bats: Right Throws: Right Year Team Level G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS BA OBP SLG 1999 Rockford A 124 426 72 110 36 5 13 48 50 120 21 8 .258 .346 .458 2000 Dayton A 124 448 102 133 34 2 23 95 84 85 17 4 .297 .410 .536 For years, the Cincinnati Reds skimped in the draft. Jim Bowden and his front office crew have been changing that over the last few years, as a key part of their plan to revive the long dormant Reds farm system. They've been focusing on high ceiling high school talent in recent draft efforts, including 1998, when they drafted Kearns in the first round. From high school in Lexington, Kentucky, Kearns was considered a top pitching prospect entering the 1998 draft year, but he didn't pitch well his senior season. A two-way player in high school, Kearns had hit .476 for the Team USA junior club in 1997. Kearns' power bat was very impressive even if his pitching was a disappointment, so the Reds chose him with the seventh pick overall and signed him to a $1.9 million bonus. He hit .315 in rookie ball and showed good command of the strike zone, leading the Reds to think he could move quickly through the system. 1999 was an unexpectedly difficult year for Kearns. He slumped early, lost confidence, and his previously good strike zone judgment deteriorated. He did better in the second half and ended his season with Rockford with a promising 36 doubles, but overall it was a major disappointment for a player who had done well against tough competition as a prep. Kearns came back to the Midwest League in 2000, in part because of his 1999 struggles but also because the Reds farm system lacks a high-level Class A team. He has done extremely well for Dayton, and looking at his numbers you can see why. He has regained his confidence, and is no longer pressing at the plate, resulting in a recovery of his strike zone judgment. His walks have shot way up, while his strikeouts have dropped. Not coincidentally, his numbers have improved across the board; he leads the league in RBI and extra-base hits, is second in home runs, and third in slugging percentage. Kearns isn't a fast runner, but he is very heady and can steal bases because he knows how to read pitchers and get a good jump. He is also a good defensive corner outfielder with a strong arm, and scouts like his work ethic and attention to detail. Because he is repeating the league, we do need to have just a bit of skepticism regarding his progress. However, Kearns is still just 20-years-old, and given his across the board improvement, I think he is an excellent prospect. Mailbag questions Peter Lapre' writes: Hi, I'm Peter Lapre' and I'm 16-years-old. What do you think of Pat Strange and Sean Burroughs? They both were doing amazingly well in A-ball and seem to be struggling a little at Double-A. Strange was overmatching Class A with his combination of control and stuff, but he's struggled a bit in Double-A, with a 4.47 ERA in eight starts and a poor K/BB ratio of 33/25. There's nothing wrong with his arm, and I think it's just the standard struggles that a lot of young pitchers have when they first reach Double-A. That's the biggest jump in pro ball, from Class A to Double-A. If Strange stays healthy, I think he'll come around. Burroughs is hitting .291 but has only two homers. I'm not worried about him. He's drawn 58 walks with just 45 strikeouts, meaning he makes excellent contact and is hard to fool. Given his youth (19-years-old) and natural strength, I think the power will come eventually. Be patient. Mike D. writes: I am hearing a lot on this youngster from the Red Sox, Casey Fossum. What's the overall scouting report on him, and do you think he will be a good major league pitcher? Fossum is 8-9, 3.38 for Sarasota in the Florida State League, with a solid K/BB ratio of 137/34 in 138.1 innings. He was a supplemental first-round pick out of Texas A&M in 1999. He doesn't have a blazing fastball, but has a strong curve and changeup combination, and he knows how to throw strikes and change speeds. I like Fossum and my feeling is that he is going to be a good pitcher, but he'll have to prove himself in Double-A before we know for sure. He could be something like John Tudor, but he could also turn into Kevin Morton. Scott H. writes: What do you think of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans' 2.50 team ERA? Is there anybody down there we should watch out for? The Carolina League is good for pitching, and Myrtle Beach is a pitcher's park, but still, you have to be impressed by how well that staff has done. But keep in mind that while having an impressive Class A pitching staff is good, it certainly does not guarantee major league success in the future. Injuries and adjustment problems waylay most young pitchers on the way up. We'll have to see how this group handles Double-A as they advance before we know how good they really are. Still, there are some guys to watch on this staff. Matt Belisle and Juan Bong have just 10 and five starts respectively with the Pelicans, but both are considered among the best prospects in the Braves system. Christian Parra (152/55) and Horacio Ramirez (123/38) have impressive K/BB ratios to go with sub-2.70 ERAs, and that is often a better marker for future success than gaudy ERAs. The bullpen has been exceptional, but even the best Class A relievers often struggle as they move up, so we'll have to see about guys like Billy Sylvester (0.79, 16 saves) and Brad Voyles (1.20, 18 saves). John Sickels is the author of the STATS 2000 Minor League Scouting Notebook. You can email your questions to him at JASickels@AOL.com.		ALSO SEE Down on the Farm archive