TotalZone on First Base Prospects

by erik on Apr 4, 2009 10:45 AM EDT Comment 4 comments

Travis Ishikawa gives thanks for the ability to pick it at first base.

Rally and Sackmann have given us TotalZone stats for minor leaguers, which can be found at position players' pages at Minor League Splits. Sackmann provided the data, Rally created TotalZone, which he has long used with major league players. To find out more about these stats and how they translate to the majors, I'll refer you here.

Here are the positions we've looked at so far:

SS | CF | 2B | 3B

We'll look at the top first base prospects now before finishing off with corner outfielders. Remember, as with any fielding metric, the usual caveats apply.

	Org.	Age	Level	Outs	Chances	Runs	Runs/150
Lars Anderson	BOS	20	A+	102	15	-2	-3
Logan Morrison	FL	20	A+	124	191	-4	-5
Angel Villalona	SFG	17	A	121	180	2	3
Kyle Blanks	SDP	21	AA	128	175	8	11
Freddie Freeman	ATL	18	A	124	198	-3	-4
Gaby Sanchez	FL	24	AA	86	117	5	11
Kila Ka'aihue	KC	24	AA	59	98	-5	-13
Travis Ishikawa	SFG	24	AA	68	91	5	14
Brandon Allen	CHW	22	A+	108	148	7	12
Beau Mills	CLE	21	A+	90	139	-2	-4
Chris Marrero	WAS	19	A+	74	109	1	2
Nick Evans	NYM	22	AA	70	98	5	13
Mike Carp	SEA	22	AA	69	95	4	11

Lars Anderson was -4 at two levels last year and -18 the previous. There were concerns about his defense when he was drafted, but the scouting reports say he drastically improved, and TZ agrees.
Same story for Logan Morrison; he improved upon a -11 last season.
Angel Villalona rates out as pretty neutral. Scouts like his hands and agility, yet at the same time they give the big fella a 0% chance of returning to third base.
Kyle Blanks is a massive human being, but he's shown some surprising fielding ability and the Padres believe he could possibly handle a corner outfield position. That may be a little wishful thinking on their part, but you can't blame them for wanting to get his bat into the lineup.
Gaby Sanchez was the favorite to win the Marlin's first baseman gig, but he missed most of spring training after a collision with Lasting Milledge and struggled after coming back. Sanchez will go down to AAA, while the Marlins moved Cantu over to first and will start the light-hitting Emilio Bonaficio at third. Not only was Sanchez solid at first last season, he was also +8 runs at third.
Salt in the wound -- Mike Jacobs was a -18 defender in TZ last year. -18! Kila Ka'ailhue may stink at 1B, but he can't do any worse than Jacobs. For Ka'ailhue's career ('05-'08) he's +8.
Travis Ishikawa came out of nowhere last year, not only on offense but also with the glove. Counting AAA, he was worth 13 runs. For now it looks like he will be the Giants' every day first baseman.
Scouts say Nick Evans needs to work on defense, but through '05-'08 he has been worth +22 runs.

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Nick Evans

Most underrated NY prospect ever…the guy killed AA last year, adapted after struggling in majors, has +defense…the guy will be Mets 1B 2010 and beyond

by viktor06 on Apr 4, 2009 5:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I sure hope so

Then they won’t need to sign Pujols

vivaelbeñsheets

by vivaelpujols on Apr 4, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Scouts hate him for some reason

I like him but for whatever reason there seems to be a consensus that he has a terrible approach at the plate and won’t likely ever be more than a 4th outfield type.

by Gina on Apr 5, 2009 4:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs