PROFILE:
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200 lbs.
Throws: Left
Bats: Left
Positions: Left Field, Designated Hitter
Born: April 14, 1966, Cincinnati , Ohio
Drafted: Selected by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round of the 1985 free-agent draft.
Acquired: Traded by the Atlanta Braves with Marquis Grissom to the Cleveland Indians for Kenny Lofton and Alan Embry on March 25, 1997.
Personal Information: Attended Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, KY...A 1982 graduate of Covington Latin High School in Kentucky...Played baseball, basketball, soccer and ran track and field...Studies karate in the off-season...Other hobbies include swimming, basketball and billiards.
Scouting Report:
1999 Season:
David Justice's 1999 season was one of extremes. He was very good in the first half, hitting .302-17-67, and mediocre in the second half, batting .261-4-21. Justice drove in five runs in three different games during the season, but homered just twice in his final 126 at-bats.
Hitting:
Despite his size, Justice is not a big home-run hitter. He has had 21 homers and 88 RBI in each of the last two seasons. He has a pretty lefthanded swing, but it can get jumbled quickly. If he stays back and keeps his stride strong and balanced, he can drive balls into the gaps and out of the park. Justice has problems with breaking balls away. He once was known for his ability to pound lefties, but his struggles against southpaws made him basically a platoon player in the second half of last season. He has become a more selective hitter, drawing a career-high 94 walks last year
Baserunning & Defense:
In 1999 Justice managed to avoid most of the injuries that hounded him his first two years in Cleveland, and he started 88 games in the outfield after spending most of 1998 as a DH. He plays a decent left field, charging balls well and reaching most drives in the gap. Justice has an above-average arm, but doesn't go to the line well. With the exception of running through the occasional stop sign at third base, Justice runs the bases intelligently if not swiftly.
2000 Outlook: Justice went into the winter thinking he and his $7 million a year contract would be traded. He didn't endear himself to fans by sitting out the final game of the Division Series with a stiff neck. If he's still on the club in spring training, he'll compete with Richie Sexson, Jacob Cruz and Alex Ramirez for playing time in left field and as the DH
