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VAN POPE
6'0" 200 POUNDS BORN ON FEBRUARY 26, 1984    WILL BE 23 YEARS OLD NEXT SEASON
RIGHT-HANDED HITTING THIRD BASEMAN THROWS RIGHT
BORN AND LIVES IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
DRAFTED IN THE 5th ROUND OF THE 2004 DRAFT OUT OF
MERIDIAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN MISSISSIPPI
SIGNED BY SCOUT LONNIE GOLDBERG
VAN POPE G AVG. HR RBI H AB 2B 3B R SB CS
2006 - MYRTLE BEACH 127 0.263 15 74 123 467 31 1 78 7 4
2005 - MYRTLE BEACH 25 0.167 1 5 14 84 1 0 7 0 0
2005 - ROME 100 0.277 6 60 107 386 24 7 48 0 1
2005 - TOTALS 125 0.257 7 65 121 470 25 7 55 0 1
2004 - DANVILLE 60 0.270 5 39 63 233 18 2 39 5 1
CAREER TOTALS 312 0.262 27 178 307 1170 74 10 172 12 6
MORE STATS IBB BB K TB SF SH HBP DP OBP SLG OPS
2006 - MYRTLE BEACH 3 58 92 201 8 0 11 11 0.353 0.430 0.783
2005 - MYRTLE BEACH 0 9 21 18 1 0 1 2 0.253 0.214 0.467
2005 - ROME 0 42 70 163 5 1 2 9 0.347 0.422 0.769
2005 - TOTALS 0 51 91 181 6 1 3 11 0.330 0.385 0.715
2004 - DANVILLE 0 11 44 100 4 0 13 6 0.333 0.429 0.762
CAREER TOTALS 3 120 227 482 18 1 27 28 0.340 0.421 0.761
3B DEFENSIVE STATS G E TC FLD % PO A
2006 - MYRTLE BEACH 122 12 313 0.962 113 188
2005 - MYRTLE BEACH 25 7 89 0.921 26 56
2005 - ROME 96 15 267 0.962 75 179
2005 - TOTALS 121 22 356 0.944 101 235
2004 - DANVILLE 47 10        
CAREER TOTALS 290 44        
2006 SPLITS G AVG. HR RBI H AB 2B 3B R SB CS
AWAY 64 0.253 9 43 59 233 21 0 40 5 3
HOME 63 0.274 6 31 64 234 10 1 38 2 1
APRIL 24 0.222 0 5 20 90 5 1 10 2 1
MAY 27 0.212 4 16 21 99 7 0 11 0 0
JUNE 20 0.338 2 17 24 71 7 0 12 1 2
JULY 29 0.299 2 14 32 107 6 0 21 3 0
AUGUST 22 0.280 7 21 23 82 5 0 23 1 0
SEPTEMBER 5 0.167 0 1 3 18 1 0 1 0 1
AS A THIRD BASEMAN   0.264 14 71 117 444 29 1 74 7 4
AS A DH   0.227 1 2 5 22 2 0 4 0 0
VS. LHP   0.323 8 24 50 155 6 0 32 2 2
VS. RHP   0.234 7 50 73 312 25 1 46 5 2
BATTING THIRD 57 0.268 5 30 56 209 15 0 38 4 1
BATTING FOURTH 57 0.270 8 36 58 215 13 1 34 3 3
LEADING OFF   0.282 3 3 31 110 8 1 3 0 0
BASES EMPTY   0.263 5 5 61 232 18 1 5 0 0
BASES LOADED   0.200 0 5 2 10 1 0 12 0 0
RUNNERS IN SCOR. POS   0.235 6 57 36 153 9 0 65 0 1
RISP WITH 2 OUTS   0.188 3 17 13 69 3 0 24 0 1
RUNNERS ON   0.264 10 69 62 235 13 0 73 7 4
RUNNERS ON W/ 2 OUTS   0.219 3 18 21 96 4 0 26 4 4
2006 SPLITS G AVG. HR RBI H AB 2B 3B R SB CS
OVERVIEW
Going into the 2006 season, the Braves wanted to see some power from Van Pope. He had show glimpses in Rome and in
Danville that the power was here, but it had not translated into stats. Pope started off very slow, hitting only .217 through
the first two months of the season. But Pope turned it on in June, as he adjusted well to the league, and hit .295 the rest of
the season. But the power was the most impressive statistic. His 15 home runs were three more than he had hit in his first
two seasons combined, and he did it in a very tough pitchers league. The defense has always been there. Pope is a major
league third baseman right now with the glove, so the offensive improvement was crucial to his development. To be able
to accomplish the power surge in the Carolina League was very impressive. His success gave him great confidence, and he
simply looked like a more complete player with his 2006 season. He still needs to work on his hitting, but there's no doubt
that the progress he made in 2006 will go a long way in making him a more complete player. It's always a good sign when a
player shows the organization improvement in the area they were looking for him to improve, and Pope did that in 2006.
INTERVIEW WITH VAN POPE - SEPTEMBER 2006
Q: What were your goals for 2006?                    
A: 10 home runs, 30 doubles, and 70 RBI. I reached all three of those goals. Defensively I wanted to have only 10 errors, but
I had 12. So if I cut down on a couple of those throwing errors I’ll be alright.  
   
Q: Ten home runs for that park is a lot.  
A: The wind blows in a lot. That why I set it for ten. I thought if I could get ten there it would be like 15 at the next level.
   
Q: How important is it to win the Myrtle Beach Player of the Year award?  
A: I was surprised a little bit, but I had a good year.  
   
Q: How much better do you feel about yourself now than you did April 1st?  
A: A lot more confident. When you are a corner guy and you can prove that you can hit for power, in a league where it’s
 tough to hit for power, just a lot more confident.  
   
Q: Knowing that you wanted to turn the corner with your power and you did it has to make you feel good  
A: It was a good year. I wasn’t expecting to hit 15 home runs. So I’m proud of myself.    
   
Q: Do you feel like a more complete player now that the power has come?  
A: I guess the package is more complete. I’m just a better baseball player now.          
INTERVIEW WITH VAN POPE - AUGUST 2006
Q: Talk about your season for me.  
A: I had an eleven game hitting streak early on, and then struggled a bit. At the midpoint near the All-Star Break I started
picking it up. I just figured things out. I just let the ball come to me and not go out and chase it and get my pitch. Instead of
looking for fastball, you’ve got to guess off speed a lot. That’s what’s helped me – looking for off speed and not missing it.
   
Q: We’ve talked in the past about the power. That’s what they look for in any third baseman. You knew you had to improve
in that area. Coming to Myrtle was going to be a test. So how do you feel about the power you showed this season?
A: I feel really good. My goal at the first of the year – 10 home runs, 30 doubles, and 70 RBI. Coming here, I thought ten
home runs would be a good goal, and I passed that. I knew this was not a hitter’s park, but I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been
here this year.  
   
Q: For you mentally, to know you can hit home runs, has got to be good for you.  
A: Yeah. Out of the junior college when they drafted me they knew I had power, and I knew I had power too. I just had to
figure it out in the professional level. I figured my swing out. I feel good at the plate. I feel good.  
   
Q: You look better. You look more complete as a hitter. Do you feel better?  
A: Yeah I feel a lot more complete as a hitter. I feel strong at the plate. Last year I took a lot of weak swings, but not this
year. If I get my pitch, I usually put a pretty good swing on it and hit the ball pretty well. It’s starting to click.  
   
Q: And that’s got to be a good feeling.  
A: It’s an awesome feeling.  
   
 Q: Especially when a part of your game is so advanced, as your defense is, to know that if your power comes, or when it
comes, you are going to be more of a complete player.  
A: Defense has always been there for me. I feel I can play third base in the big leagues right now. Just knowing that the
hitting is clicking, it makes yourself feel good to come to the ballpark knowing that I’m figuring things out in this game. As
a young player, learning more everyday. Stubby and I get in the cage everyday and learning everyday makes you a better
player. It’s a humbling game. Nobody can figure everything out.  
   
Q: But seeing progress in your game is development. That’s what everybody here looks for.  
A: Right. Exactly. I feel that I’ve progressed a lot this year. I’m happy with my season.  
   
Q: When you have a part of your game that is so advanced, like your defense, does that make it easier for you to work on
the other part of your game that you had to improve on?  
A: Exactly. It really does. I don’t go out and take 100 ground balls like some people have to do. Knowing that I don’t have
to worry about third base as much, I’m almost thinking about my at-bats and how I can get better. It makes it a lot easier
knowing that I can concentrate on my hitting a lot more.  
   
Q: AA for next season. It will be special for you, and you’re going to be closer to the big leagues.  
A: It’s unbelievable. I’ve worked on this game since I was five years old. My dad taught me everything there was to know.
Knowing that I’ve worked so hard and I’m getting close to my goal is very exciting. Getting to play ten minutes from my
house next year, my family is going to be able to watch me. I’m pretty pumped about it. It’ll be a big year. Have a good year
and you’ll be knocking on the door of the big leagues. That’s what every guy in that clubhouse is playing for. I’ve got to
keep working.  
   
Q: Is it going to help you being at home or will it be a hindrance?  
A: I think it’ll be all right. My friends understand what my baseball career means to me. Baseball’s my job. They understand
I take it serious. I think it’ll be okay. My family will be able to watch me play. It feels good to play in front of somebody you
know. It gets you pumped up. It helps me out a lot. Being close to home will be good.  
   
Q: Is it natural for you to think, okay Chipper Jones will be 35 next year. He only plays 120 games a year. His contract is up
in a few years. Is that just natural to think about?  
A: Yeah. It runs through my mind. He’s possibly a Hall of Fame player. You don’t find many Chipper Jones. But it’s always
in the back of my head. I know my agent lets me know his contract is coming up soon. But I’ve got to do my thing in the
minor leagues. I’ve got to put my numbers up and play everyday and get better. Hopefully, I’ll take his spot one day.
   
Q: To know someone like Eric Campbell is behind you. Does that push you a bit, or does it matter?  
A: It doesn’t matter much. I push myself enough. He’s put great numbers up. I understand that and think about that a little
bit. I’m sure he thinks about me being ahead of him just a little bit. But I can’t worry about that. This is a business. I could
get traded tomorrow. I can’t worry about it tough. I just go play my game, play as hard as I can every night, and let baseball
take care of itself.                      
MYRTLE BEACH MANAGER ROCKET WHEELER
He started to show his power. He gets out on his front foot, and when you are out on your front foot you are just arm
swinging, so you have no power. The strongest part of hitting the ball is with your legs, and you got to have them under
you. He’s starting to realize that and he’s keeping his legs good and the ball is starting to jump off his bat. Now we need to
get that consistent. His defense has always been there. He’s a phenomenal defensive player. He’s got a 70, maybe even an
80 arm over there at third base. His range is excellent. He’ll dive. He’ll get dirty. He comes up and fires it across. He’ll come
in on the bunt play. He’s just a tremendous third baseman.              
MYRTLE BEACH HITTING COACH FRANKLIN STUBBS
Pope has improved tremendous from the first half to now. In the second half he’s really swung the bat very well. His defense
has always been solid. I’ve been very pleased watching him perform defensively. Offensively he struggled a little bit early,
especially with runners in scoring position. I think he’s really come on in the second half and is starting to really drive the
ball the way I envisioned him being able to do. The power has been there. You wanted to see him drive the ball, especially
with runners in scoring position. I think he’s starting to understand what pitchers are doing, what pitches to look for, what
kind of patterns pitchers get into. When he’s getting his pitches, he’s putting it in play for the most part. You always want
to get a guy to be a consistent line drive hitter first. Be consistent with your contact first. His power is there. I’ve seen him
hit rockets. We had to back him down a bit to make him understand that he doesn’t have to over swing to hit the ball. Just
stay within yourself. Let the pitcher throw the pitch. Look for your pitch. And then take a good swing at it. Allow that to
work for you instead of you working so hard to get to it. I think he’s starting to do that now. You can see when he does
that how the ball jumps off his bat. The power is going to be there. The thing you want him to be more consistent on is to
make good solid contact. I think he’s going to drive a lot more balls to right-center field as time goes on because he’s got
such a good swing that way. He just doesn’t use it yet. He thinks he has to pull everything, so there’s still a learning curve
he has to go through.                      
THE BRAVES SHOW'S BILL SHANKS WITH A 2007 OUTLOOK FOR VAN POPE
Van is going to go to AA Mississippi next season, and it'll be a treat for him since it's his home. He lives about ten miles
from Pearl in Jackson, Mississippi. But don't expect that to be a problem for Pope, who is very focused on what he has to
do to get to the big leagues. Confidence can do a great deal for a prospect, and when you watched Van Pope in 2006 you
saw a player that simply knew he was getting better. He carried himself more like a big leaguer. He knows that now he's
proven he can hit for power, he's on track to make it to the major leagues. That was the one thing the Braves wanted to see
from him, and he exceeded their expectations. So how much power can he generate? Well he might not hit 30 home runs in
the big leagues, which is what many people want from their third baseman. But with Gold Glove defense, Pope might be
adequate if he's able to hit between 20-25 home runs in the bigs. He might be comparable with Ryan Zimmerman, David Bell,
or Mike Lowell. The glove is going to make him more of a complete player and compensate for whatever lack of power he
might have. Pope will spend the 2007 season in AA and then probably head to Triple-A in 2008. With a good season next
year, he could be ready for the big leagues. However, with Chipper Jones under contract for two more seasons, there will
not be any room for Pope in Atlanta at third base. But that will give him time to continue to work on his offensive game,
which will simply make him a better player in two years. With Eric Campbell possibly moving to second base, Pope has
become the best candidate to replace Jones as the Braves' third baseman in the future. If he continues to make great strides
offensively, he could develop into a solid player that could anchor the hot corner for many years to come.