"Joe was absolutely outstanding for us last season in Birmingham," glows the Barons' Director of MediaRelations, Ryan Gerds. "Whenever we needed a big hit, he came through."

Judging by his numbers, a .295 batting average, with 27 home runs and 98 RBI's, Joe Borchard came through a lot.

He is a 6'5", power switch hitter, who can crush the ball from either side.  His build and power potential has led Joe to be compared with, and hailed as "the next Mark McGwire".

The biggest concern surrounding Borchard appears to be poor plate discipline, compounded by the fact that Joe struck out 158 times in 133 games. Some of those concerns may be alleviated by the fact, that in his first full professional season; Joe is still getting used to the higher competition and use of a wooden bat versus an aluminum bat.

On the upside, he is extremely athletic and a former quarterback at Stanford, which helps explain his rifle arm and perhaps his tremendous work ethic.

"He's the first one on the field for early batting practice and last one off the field," explained Gerds. "When he was done with his swings, he didn't go sit in the dug out and goof-off. It was grab the glove and go into the outfield. I don't know if it comes from playing football, or what, but I've never seen anyone with his work ethic; to just want to get better and better when they're already good."