11-17-2015, 12:29 AM
(11-16-2015, 02:26 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I hardly paid any attention when we got a couple of 26 year old minor league players during the season, but Tyler Holt (claimed off waivers) and Adam Duval (acquired in Leake trade) have some really impressive minor league numbers. Sometimes guys play for years as what some people call "4-A" players. They tear up the minor leagues, but never have any success in the majors. But sometimes there are guys like this who are just "late bloomers", and they finally make that last step and contribute on the major league level.
Holt is a speedy outfielder who has only hit .219 in 102 major league at-bats over the last two seasons. But he has also accumulated 595 at bats at triple A level and looked pretty impressive. He hit .304 with 89 walks for a very impressive .398 on base percentage. He also stole 45 bases while only getting caught 9 times.
Duval is a Firstbaseman/ourfielder who has 137 career major league at bats with the Giants and Reds. He has only hit .204, but he has a lot of power. He has hit a HR every 17.1 at bats (8 in 137) which is better than what Frazier averaged last season (one every 17.6). Duvall's power is no fluke. Over the last two seasons he has hit 57 HR in only 856 at bats at the triple A level (one every 15.0). He has also hit for decent average (.278), and stroked 50 doubles and 5 triples compiling a very impressive .548 slugging percentage.
Either one of these guys could possibly start in the OF for us next year. I wouldn't hang out future on either one of them, but at least they have a chance. Without them we would not have a single minor league position player that would be expected to contribute on a major league level next year. Jesse Winker overcame a very slow start this year to finish with decent numbers. But he was just playing AA ball last year and did not look like he was close to skipping AAA.
On the 2010-2013 teams guys like that might have been the bench depth we needed. On this year's they might get a chance to start. Duval is interesting. I think Yorman Rodriguez will get a shot in the outfield, as well. These guys aren't exactly expected to start for us for the next 6 seasons, but if one or two pan out, then that's great. I guess the positive thing about having a couple of throw away seasons is that you get a chance to see what you have in certain guys.
I'd hope that perhaps guys like Winker, Ervin, Blandino, and Montgomery will be ready for the bigs by 2018 or so. On top of that, they'll have a really high pick plus they won an additional first in a lottery for 2016. They should be able to inject some talent in the next draft. If they don't expect to be competitive for a year or two, there's no need to rush guys to the bigs if they aren't ready.
