buxton: how his tools measure up

Baseball scouts use a rating scale ranging from 20 to 80. An 80 translates to a superstar-level player or skill. Here's how one baseball executive rated Buxton's primary tools:

Arm/80: While pitching in high school, threw a fastball clocked at 99 miles per hour.

Speed/80: Has stolen 25 bases at Class A.

Hitting for average/70 to 80: Can hit line drives to all fields.

Raw power/70: Is lean (listed at 189 pounds) but has excellent bat speed.

Fielding/80: Speed gives him exceptional range, and he has good baseball instincts, allowing him to get good jumps and take proper angles.

Game power/70: Biggest question about Buxton is how much power he'll display in majors, whether he'll hit 15-25 homers a year or become an elite power hitter.