When evaluating prospects, I find that there is a blend of statistics and physical attributes that each possesses that tell a great deal about what to expect from them at higher levels. A hitter that struggles with plate discipline often finds his batting average and on base percentages suffers against more refined pitchers. Batters that hit for a good number of doubles and triples as youngsters(18 to 21 yrs old) tend to build strength as they mature and hit for more power. These along with several other characteristics often hold true, but every once and awhile a player pops up that defies my parameters of conventional wisdom, leaving me scratching my head.
Meet Johnny Whittleman.
The Texas Rangers’ young 3B prospect has an athletic build (6-2 195 lb.) and, at age 22, has the frame to build more strength as he matures. Whittleman was a personal favorite sleeper of mine after his successful 2007 season that saw him hit .262 with 17 HR 72 RBI and 34 doubles at two full season Class A stops. Formerly a 2nd round pick in the ’05 draft, Whittleman shows a disciplined approach at the plate uncharacteristic of most prep to pro players. Last season at High-A Bakersfield, Whittleman drew 82 walks while striking out 113 times in 118 games. Despite a mediocre HR total of just seven and a batting average well below California League standards (.257), Whittleman smacked 38 doubles, leaving promise of power to come.
Fast forward to 2009 and you would find Mr. Whittleman’s numbers diminishing even further. His batting average sits at just .224 (boosted about 20 points after his 4-5 performance yesterday), though his on base percentage is more than 100 points higher, due to his fine 31 BB/42 K ratio. 16 two baggers puts him on pace for his third consecutive season of 30+ doubles but he hasn’t been able to log in with his first HR yet.
What do we make of this going forward? Prior to Michael Young’s five year extension with the Rangers, I would have been more enthusiastic about Whittleman. The Rangers, for all their organizational depth, are quite thin at 3B. The talent is still there for Whittleman to carve out a major league career, but there’s a great deal left for him to prove.
Today’s top prospect is Cincinnati Reds SS Zack Cozart. The former 2nd rounder smacked two homeruns and three RBI in the first game of a double header and then followed it up with a two hit, RBI showing in the nightcap. Cozart has been blistering hot during the month of June, batting .339 with 6 HR 10 RBI and 4 SB. A blue collar player through and through, Cozart skipped over High-A ball and has attacked AA pitching with aplomb, hitting .290 with 8 HR 35 RBI and 17 doubles. Ahead of Cozart is the sweet swinging Chris Valaika who just returned to Louisville’s lineup after missing a month with a broken hand. Valaika’s bat is more polished at this point than Cozart’s, but Zack is a better defensive shortstop. Given that he has already skipped a level this season, it would not be surprising to see the Reds keep him in AA for the duration of the regular season. Watch to see if Cincy places him in the Arizona Fall League this offseason. If so, there may be a good opportunity for Cozart to get a decent look by the Reds in spring training 2010.
AA Player of the Day—ZACK COZART
Other Notable Performances
Hitting:
- Rene Tosoni—1-3 2B R 2 RBI BB
- Gorkys Hernandez—2-3 2B R
- Jose Tabata—1-3 RBI SB(4)
- Cale Iorg—2-4 R 2 RBI
- Josh Thole—3-5 2B 3R 2 RBI BB SB(4)
- Ryan Kalish—2-3 R BB
- Nick Evans—2-4 2R HR(3) 2 RBI
- Matt Whitney—4-5 2B R
- Yonder Alonso—3-6 RBI SB(1)
- Zack Cozart—2-4 2 HR(8) 3 RBI BB (Game 1)…..2-4 RBI (Game 2)
- Tyler Colvin—2-5 2 HR(5) 2 RBI 2R
- Darwin Barney—1-4 HR(2) RBI
- Juan Francisco—1-5 2B R RBI BB (Game 1)…..3-4 HR(13) 4 RBI 2R (Game 2)
- Chris Heisey—1-2 3R
- James Adduci—2-3 2B 2R BB SB(16)
- Josh Bell—3-4 2 2B R RBI SB(2)
- Eduardo Perez—2-5 HR(6) 2 RBI 2B
- Taylor Green—1-3 HR(4) 3 RBI BB
- John Shelby Jr.—2-4 2B
- Tyler Flowers—1-2 HR(10) RBI 2 BB
- Christian Marrero—1-4 HR(8) 2 RBI
- C.J. Retherford—2-5 2B R RBI
- Matt Mangini—2-3 R RBI BB
- Drew Locke—4-6 2B R 5 RBI
- Wladimir Sutil—3-6 4R RBI
- Mitch Moreland—3-6 2B R
- Marcus Lemon—3-5 2B 2R 4 RBI
- Johnny Whittleman—4-5 2 2B 3R 2 RBI
- Timmy Smith—4-5 R 2 RBI
- Luis Durango—2-4 2B 2R BB
- Lance Zawadzki—2-3 HR(11) RBI 2 BB 2R
- Brian Joynt—3-5 2B HR(1) 2 RBI
- Chris Carter—2-4 HR(10) RBI 2B BB
- Matt Spencer—1-4 2B RBI BB
- Daryl Jones—3-5 R
- Cole Garner—2-4 2B 3 RBI
- Daniel Mayora—4-5 2B 2R 3 RBI
- Mark Trumbo—3-4 2 2B 3B 4 RBI
Pitching:
- Mark Rzepczynski—7 IP 5H ER BB 8K
- Tim Bascom—7 IP 3H 2 BB 7K
- Ryan Pope—5.2 IP 5H 4K
- Tyson Brummett—7 IP 4H 2 ER 5K
- Travis Wood—5 IP 8H 3 ER BB 6K W (7-3)
