Today's Baseball Prospect of the Day

Eric Campbell is a corner-infield prospect in the Braves system. Originally drafted out of Gibson Southern High School (Indiana) back in 2004, Campbell is one of two hard-hitting baby Braves laboring in Chipper Jones's very large shadow.

An Appy League MVP in 2005 and the Southern League's home run champ in 2006, Campbell's rapid rise took a painful detour in 2007, as a series of minor injuries kept him hobbled most of the year and made a mess of his numbers. He still managed to show his plus power, though, slugging 14 home runs in only 81 games, a pace that would have been a career best if he'd been able to stay in the lineup.

A line-drive hitter power, Campbell has a reputation as a driven competitor on the field, though not one very dedicated to practice or conditioning in between games. Still, once the game is on, he's a force to be reckoned with, with plus power to all fields and an improving batting eye that's helped him increase his OBP year after year.

In the field, Campbell was once a shortstop but has been moved to third to allow for his limited range. He has an average glove and a strong arm. He's a bit lost with the footwork around third base though he makes up for it with raw athleticism and a very good arm ("He plays like a Cuban", according to one Braves coach). He may need to move to the outfield if he can't learn to play the corner with a little more grace.

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Height: 6-0

Weight: 195

Birthdate: 8/6/1985

Bats: R

Throws: R

Team: ATL

Birthplace: Evansville, IN

College: Gibson Southern HS

ABs pre-2008: 0