What does Giants outfield prospect Gary Brown bring to the table? Well, let's start with this: He is an 80 runner on the 20-to-80 scouting scale, posting times under four seconds to first base from the right-hand side. But does he have the rest of the package to go with it?

I've seen Brown play a few times since the Giants made him a first-round selection (24th overall) in the 2010 draft, from a brief stint in rookie league to spring training to Tuesday night, when I saw him play in the Carolina League versus California League (high-Class A) All-Star game.Brown has the speed and defense to play center field at the big league level. Although he's relatively new to the outfield, he has picked it up very quickly. He has good instincts, takes good routes to the ball and has the wheels to cover up any mistakes he makes. He has the package of a "plus-plus" defender -- he could be among the best in center field -- and although his arm strength is average at best, his throws are on target.Will Brown hit? That's obviously the big question. He has this season, hitting .328 with six homers and a .477 slugging percentage in the launching pads that are Cal League parks. The first thing any scout notices about him is a lot of pre-swing movement with his feet and body. It's a little less than when he was an amateur, though; he now does a better job of setting himself just before the pitch is thrown, and he works from a slightly wider base in his stance. However, his timing could be thrown off more as he advances up the ladder and faces pitchers who have better off-speed stuff, and when his timing is off, he will leak out and swing off his front foot."My balance is something I do have to watch," Brown said when I spoke to him earlier this week. "I'll get out on that front foot, and that's when everything starts to go. I have to make sure I stay back and get my hands in the right place."Despite the movement, Brown's hand-eye coordination helps him consistently square the ball up. He's never going to be a home run hitter, especially since he tends to hit the ball up the middle, but he's not a slap hitter, either. He's strong enough to turn on inside pitches and shoot the ball to the gaps, enough that he should be able to hit for a solid batting average in the majors.Brown's patience was an issue in college, and was the facet usually brought up right after talking about his speed. Very aggressive at the plate, Brown has drawn walks in just 8 percent of his plate appearances this season and will often chase pitches he can't drive. He makes a lot of contact despite his aggressiveness, and the easy comparison is to a player such as Juan Pierre, who has posted low walk and strikeout totals because of his ability to make consistent contact. Scott Podsednik once stole 70 bags despite a .313 on-base percentage, among other examples, so a low OBP does not necessarily limit high steals totals, though any improvement in Brown's patience at the plate would obviously help.Brown is very confident in his abilities, and that includes his base stealing, but it's still the area he most wants to improve on. "I definitely want to get better at stealing bases," Brown said. "I've been thrown out way too many times [he's 32-for-46 this season]. I've made some adjustments. Earlier in the season I was sliding too early and kind of getting stuck into the ground, but as a good runner I think I can steal on anybody."The 22-year-old Brown could advance up the ladder fairly quickly, and he projects to be a regular center fielder in the big leagues. He has the ability to hit for average, with doubles power and great defense (at a premium position), and rack up a lot of steals. That package can help a team overlook what is likely to be a low on-base percentage. He's not going to be a star, but he's not going to be Reggie Willits, either, and his wheels likely will make him a very useful fantasy player.Notes from the Carolina League-California League All-Star game• Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher prospect Tyler Skaggs, the key prospect in the Dan Haren trade, showed off his strikeout totals (he has punched out 102 batters in 83 innings in the Cal League this season). He started the game and worked a quick inning in which he showed three different pitches, including a 91-93 mph fastball and his plus mid-70s curve that simply overmatches hitters at this level. The southpaw won't move through the system that quickly, but he's a definite sleeper in deep keeper formats.• Drew Pomeranz, the fifth overall selection in last year's draft by the Indians, threw mostly in the 94-95 range in his inning of work, but he did show off his hard low-80s curve a few times. The tall southpaw has had no problems adapting to pro ball in his 12 starts thus far and should be on the move at some point in the second half.

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