Eric Munson

The jury is still out on whether Eric Munson will remain behind the plate in pro ball. He's got the arm for the position but struggles with his footwork and accuracy and is not a quality receiver. Blocking is the weakest part of his game. It's possible he will end up at first base but that won't jeopardize his draft position. The Tigers, with the third pick, have locked in on Munson's bat and are unconcerned that his catching skills are suspect. He should reach the big leagues quickly regardless of what position he plays. Scouts say he's more advanced at the same stage than former UCLA third baseman Troy Glaus, the third pick in the 1997 draft who reached the big leagues in his first professional season. He has outstanding power and can handle hard stuff or soft stuff equally well. Munson had a bull's-eye on his back from the start of the season. He started on fire and pressed a bit as his team, ranked No. 1 in the preseason, struggled. Then he was sidelined for several weeks with a broken hand that came when he was crossed up on a pitch. He returned to action three weeks before the draft and stamped himself fit.