Diamond in the Rough
6/26/2008
C Pablo Sandoval, 21 (L/R), San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants)
Most people who try to forecast minor league players, from a major league scout to a number crunching stat head worrying about how a guy might perform on his fantasy team, will tell you catcher is the hardest position to get right.
The problem is most catchers who can hit great but play average or below defense usually get moved to a different position. You also get the guys who move from a different position to catcher. Russell Martin was a third baseman to start his career, which is likely why he wasn’t rated higher when he was called up from the minors.
The nice thing about fantasy baseball is we really don’t have to worry about position as much as we do about whether or not a dude can rake. Just look at Ryan Braun; he can hit with the best of them, and us fantasy geeks just don’t care how he plays defense. Braun will lose a little value next year when his 3B eligibility is gone, but I will happily take him on my fantasy team next year.
Pablo Sandoval may fall into the Braun category. The kid is showing he can hit. My question is at 5’ 11” and 245 pounds will he be able to stay at catcher? There is no doubt he has more fantasy value at catcher.
Sandoval is letting his bat do the talking in the California League. in 273 ABs he has a .359 BA with 25 doubles and 12 homeruns. Those are good numbers. But the best ones are the 23 walks and only 39 Ks. This shows his 33 doubles in 2007 was the real deal, since we all know that doubles indicate more power to come.
Sandoval was the reason I thought the Giants would pass on Buster Posey (top rated college catcher) and the extra money it will take to sign him in the 2008 draft. I was wrong in my mock draft selection. In my defense, I forgot how much the Giants like to spend…I mean waste money. See Barry Zito.
Sandoval should be on the move shortly to Double-A and then he is probably just a Benji Molina injury away from being called up. Any catcher that can hit like this kid is hitting needs to be followed closely.
2007 A+ (20)
.287 BA 401 AB 56 R 115 H 33 2B 5 3B 11 HR 52 RBI 16 BB 52 SO 3 SB 1 CS .312 OBP .476 SLG .788 OPS
2008 A+ (21)
.359 BA 273 AB 61 R 98 H 25 2B 2 3B 12 HR 59 RBI 23 BB 39 SO 2 SB 1 CS .412 OBP.597 SLG 1.009 OPS
