Full Name: Cory Vaughn
Born: 05/01/1989
Birthplace: Carmichael, CA
College: San Diego St.
Height: 6′ 3″
Weight: 225
Bats: R
Throws: R
Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 43rd round of the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft and the New York Mets in the 4th round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft. The son of former Major Leaguer, Greg Vaughn.
I remember watching Greg Vaughn and being impressed by the 6’0” husky OF who had a nice power stroke and a very good MLB career with a run at an MVP title one year. When I look at Vaughn’s son Cory… I see… well… Cory is three inches taller, looks a whole lot leaner and fast. Though, in the end… the stats don’t look like they’ll wind up that different.
This spring has been a bit of a coming out party for Cory, who has shown off his impressive hitting abilities with a lot of power in a small sampling of games. For those not familiar with Vaughn, he’s currently a corner outfielder with the solid range it takes to cut it in center. I do not believe he can cut it as an everyday CF in the majors, but I have heard good things about his arm suggesting that right field is a likely future home.
Now… This is MINOR LEAGUE spring training (though technically Vaughn is competing above his level) it’s been only a little over half of a 14 game schedule. It will be far more telling once the halfway point of 2012 rolls around and Vaughn’s numbers begin to crystalize into a future. I would say he still has a shot to be a star of the caliber of his Dear Old Dad, but a lot will depend upon the next two years.
In 2012: Cory needs to prove that what the Mets saw in 2010 was the Cory Vaughn they’ll eventually look to promote to the majors. He has the power, he has the contact and he even has the potential to be a patient hitter, but he needs to show he can do that at Port St. Lucie or higher in 2012 or he will no longer be looked at as a potential future starter.
In 2013: Assuming he has a solid year in 2012, 2013 will be about fixing the final flaws in his game and waiting for a spot top open up with the parent franchise… which could be 2014. The nice thing, in terms of finding a role, is that Cory does have going for him is that unlike Duda, Nieuwenhuis and Den Dekker, he’s a righty. That’s not a true feather in has cap as Cesar Puello and Juan Lagares aren’t lefties either.