Julio Borbon
OF, Tennessee (profile)
HT: 6'1" WT: 190 lbs.
2005: 60/59 GS/GP, .350 BA, .386 OBP, .450 SLG, 220 AB, 42 R, 77 H, 9 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 42 RBI, 12 BB, 33 K, 12/24 SB
2006: 55 GP/GS, .366 BA, .412 OBP, .481 SLG, 235 AB, 45 R, 86 H, 14 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 30 RBI, 19 BB, 15 K, 19/25 SB
Bio: Julio Borbon is one of the top college outfielders in a weak year for the position. To make matters worse, he'll be out of competition until mid-March because he broke his left ankle while sliding into second base during practice.
While Borbon was born in Mississippi he grew up in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and graduated from Colegio Dominicano De La Salle in 2004 before attending the University of Tennessee. He's done nothing to disappoint during his Vols career, exhibiting his ability to make contact with the ball consistently and to utilize his speed (he runs the 60-yd. dash in 6.29 seconds). He played left field during his freshman year but moved to his natural position of center for his sophomore year. Most scouting reports on his defense will tell you that he doesn't have great arm strength and many compare him to Johnny Damon as a result.
Here is what Patrick Ebert has to say about Borbon in his Brewerfan.net profile:
He has also proven himself effective with a wooden bat this past summer when he helped Team USA win the FISU World Championship. He hit .345 (40/116), 4 doubles, 4 home runs and drove in 20 RBI. He walked 17 times, struck out only 10 times and stole 14 bases in 16 attempts.
In this SECKids profile, Borbon lists former Rockie Juan Pierre as the player he models himself after. I don't think that's a bad thing at all, as long as he displays more power than Pierre.
Important Series:
3/23/07-3/25/07: vs. Georgia. He should face Josh Fields at some point in this series.
3/30/07-4/1/07: vs. Arkansas. On the 30th he should meet Nick Schmidt.
4/20/07-4/22/07: at Vanderbilt. He'll go up against David Price, whom Borbon lists as the toughest pitcher he has ever faced in that SECKids profile.
5/17/07-5/19/07: at Florida. Borbon will close out the regular season against some stiff Gator competition.