Diamond in the Rough
6/19/2008

2B Jesus Guzman, 24 (L), Midland RockHounds (Oakland Athletics)

This is the kind of player that makes me love what I’m doing.  And the kind of pickup that proves all over again that Billy Beane is a genius. 

This past offseason Beane and company signed Guzman (then 23 a year old 3B out of the Seattle Mariners organization) via free agency.  It’s appropriate that a GM like Beane would see talent where the dysfunctional Mariners organization saw trash. That is why those two organizations are going in opposite directions.

Not that it would be odd for an organization to give up on a 23 year old who had failed at Advanced-A. 

Guzman however didn’t fail at all. In fact, most would say he was quite successful hitting, .301 with 25 HR and 38 doubles.  I can hear the argument now “It’s the California League and everyone can hit there…especially a 23 year old”.  Unfortunately for the fantasy faithful, too many people are too willing to slap a label on a player because of “common knowledge” concepts. That’s why you come to RotoExperts.com.

Because we don’t take anything for granted.

To some it might have seemed a correct assumption, but this 23 year old had only 85 Ks with 50 walks and spent his 21st and 22nd birthdays in Double-A.  While he hit only .258 and .257 in ’05 and ’06, he did reward the Mariners in ’07 with a quality performance. That’s what the minor leagues are for right, learning the game of baseball? It was a dumb call by the M’s, but a great scoop for Beane and company. 

Whatever the reason may have been, kudos to Beane and his scouts for doing their job and finding a “Diamond in the Rough”.  Guzman is listed at third base, but he is spending almost all of his time now at second base and hitting third in the RockHounds lineup.  That position switch may take care of any defensive issues he had at third, and if he comes up as a middle infielder, there is some nice power production to drool over.

Guzman started this year at AA and has been on fire, raking for a .354 average, 12 HRs, 19 2Bs, 2 3Bs and 5 SBs. 

For all you “Dynasty” or “Keeper” league players, this is a huge shout out to you.  You had better look and see if you can use this kid on your team NOW before the word gets out about him (Oops! It just did.) and someone else grabs him.  Don’t be the Mariners!  The rats are bailing from that stinking…um, sinking ship as fast as you can say Geronimo!

2007 A+ (23)
.301 BA 518 AB 102 R 156 H 38 2B 5 3B 25 HR 112 RBI 50 BB 85 SO 3 SB 3 CS .370 OBP.539 SLG .908 OPS

2008 AA (24)
.354 BA 291 AB 50 R 103 H 19 2B 2 3B 12 HR 66 RBI 25 BB 50 SO 5 SB 5 CS .404 OBP.557 SLG .960 OPS