Collymore's line-drive stroke catches Cards' eye

Canadian infielder Malik Collymore, taken by the Cardinals with the 305th overall pick, was moving up Draft boards a bit as the big day approached. Teams were intrigued by his athleticism and power/speed combination.

"He was on the radar screen for everybody for a while and I think having him still available in the 10th round was a bit of a surprise," scouting director Dan Kantrovitz said. "That was a situation where it definitely wasn't a cost-conscious move, it was more of a 'let's take the high-upside guy that is an excellent athlete on top of it.'"

Collymore has a short, level stroke from the right side, and he possesses good bat speed. He's mostly a line-drive hitter now, but there will be some power for him to tap into as he matures and develops a better approach at the plate. He runs well, but he's still learning to use his speed.

The Missouri commit has some arm strength, but he needs work defensively and could end up at second or the outfield. He gets high marks for his makeup and hustle on the field.

"He'll flash some serious raw power in batting practice as well as the games," Kantrovitz said. "He's got some flashy tools. If he can develop in our system, he's got a really high ceiling."