Zach Granite - 2014

[Smcginnity]

I'll be following Cedar Rapids Kernals Outfielder (CF) Zach Granite and his progress. Granite is a native of Staten Island, NY and was selected by the MN Twins in the 2013 first year player draft in the 14th round. Granite played college ball at Seton Hall where he was a standout player.

 

Zach "The Flash" Granite as he was called at Seton Hall was a stolen base efficiency machine swiping 68 of the 79 steals he attempted during his three years at Seton Hall. His college freshman year he was named Big East co-freshman player of the year, awarded all-NJCBA first team honors, and selected to the Big East All-tournament team. His freshman year Granite batted .290 with a .396 OBP% and .342 SLG%

 

Granite's sophomore campaign included all-big east third team honors. Granite started all 41 games and led the team and Big East with 21 stolen bases. He tied for the team lead with 34 runs scored, ranked second on the team in batting average (.302), second on the team in walks (23), second on team in OBP% (.387) and second on team in triples (3). He also completed the season with a perfect fielding percentage and was honored as a Big East Academic All-Star. So...he's smart too!

 

In Granite's final season at Seton Hall (his junior season), he collected a ton of honors! He was named to the All-Big East first team, named to the Rawlings/ABCA All-East Region Second Team, named to the NJCBA First Team, named Seton Hall Junior Male Athlete of the Year, he started all 56 games in CF. Granite batted .304 with a .390 OBP% in his final season. Granite also led the team and ranked second in the Big East with 35 stolen bases. He led the team and ranked second in the Big East with 59 runs scored. He tied for second in the Big East with 6 triples. Granite also tallied 21 multiple hit games which was tied for second most on the team. He was named Big East Player of the Week when he batted .444 with 5 RBIs and 6 stolen bases in four games vs. Wagner and Houston. And AGAIN, he was named a Big East Academic All-Star in his final season at Seton Hall.

 

After Granite was drafted in 2013, the Twins were excited to get him. scouting director Deron Johnson had the following to say at the time "He can really run. He's a plus runner, not a lot of power, but he's got good bat control. He plays a small man's game. He's a good bunter and he can spray the ball around; he's a gap-type hitter."

 

Granite was sent to Elizabethton where he didn't slow down. Granite was inserted as the leadoff hitter and continued to rake. He finished the season batting .286 with a .386 OBP% and a SLG% of .343. He finished with 16 stolen bases which was 3rd in the Appalachian League. He was third in the Appalachian League in hits as well with 69. Granite also led the Appalachian League in at bats with 242. He was also ranked 5th in the league in runs scored. Granite was also the only Appy League all-star from the Twins organization in 2013.

 

This season Granite will start at Cedar Rapids as the starting Center fielder. You will also notice that Twins Daily ranked Zach Granite the most underrated hitter on the Cedar Rapids Kernals. Although Granite is not huge at 6'1 and 175 pounds, the boy can run which of course, can lead to hits and a potential long-term leadoff hitter if he maintains plate discipline. Granite bats left and throws left as well.

 

Here's a great image of the type of player he is:

 

[righty8383]

Anyone know why Zach hasn't played since the 1st week of the season?

[Steven Buhr]

Anyone know why Zach hasn't played since the 1st week of the season?

 

He was placed on the DL April 9 (retroactive to April 7) with a left rotator cuff strain. He stuck around CR for a while but my understanding is that he's back down in Ft Myers at this time.

[Smcginnity]

Zach Granite is back today! Ivory Thomas tried to provide the same level of play during his absence and wasn't able to sustain it. Ivory Thomas was released and Granite was brought off the DL to play today. Can't wait to see how it goes!