Profile

David Dahl was drafted in the first round (10^th overall) of the 2012 draft. He was drafted out of Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, AL. He was signed for $2.6M and was assigned to Grand Junction of the Pioneer League. The 18 year old left handed center fielder stands 6’ 1” and weighs 185 pounds.

Pundits

Baseball Prospectus has Dahl listed as the #40 prospect overall for 2013 and the #2 prospect in the Rockies system.

Baseball America touts Dahl as the 53rd prospect in baseball for 2013. He was voted the number one prospect in the Pioneer League this past season and the second rated prospect in the Rockies system.

Keith Law of ESPN ranks Dahl as the# 37 prospect in all of baseball in his 2013 top 100.

Production

Dahl’s track record in professional baseball is short, but impressive. Dahl signed early enough to get in 67 games in the Pioneer League. The Pioneer League generally has players a few years older than the 18 year old Dahl. Dahl was not impressed. He tore up the league over 306 PAs to the tune of a 379/423/625 line for an OPS of 1.015 (a total that led the league). He clubbed nine home runs and stole 12 bases (though he was caught seven times) all while showing a good batting eye (21 BBs and 42 strikeouts).

Projection

What will Dahl be when he grows up? Anything his little heart desires. Dahl seems to have all the tools necessary to be a solid five start contributor. At his peak (if he stays in Colorado), we could see a skilled hitter with good pop that will play up in Coors. He should be a .300 hitter during his peak years with 15 to 20 HRs and 30 SBs and the chance to do so much more. He has speed, he can defend and he may end up with more power than he shows now.

Prediction

Dahl is a shooting star – you make a wish and hope he works out. He’s got all of the tools in the toolbox to be successful, but that success is still years away. Dahl will begin his 2013 season back in the minors at Tri-City (one step up the ladder from the Pioneer League). The Rockies have been aggressive in the past with their assignments, so we could see Dahl move quickly through the system and be in Colorado at the end of the 2015 season and up to stay in 2016.

Fact to impress your friends: From 1979 to 2009, only three draft picks from the tenth slot of the pro draft haven’t made it to the majors.