*** Around the Minors - July 24th ***
From The My Sportsbook
by Craig Rutter, Minor League Baseball Staff Writer
Hatboro, PA (My Sportsbook) - For most baseball fans, when you think of the third base position the first thing that usually comes to mind is defense. Baseball history is filled with good-fielding, but poor-hitting third basemen. What sets the elite third basemen apart from the rest of the pack is the ability to hit the ball out of the park as well as flashing the leather.Thinking of the greatest third basemen in history you find players that could do both in Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Scott Rolen and Eric Chavez. Today players like Dallas McPherson and David Wright are trying to add their names to that list. What follows is a list of the minor league's top third basemen this season.
DAVID WRIGHT, METS
Wright, a first round pick (38th overall) by the Mets, was considered one of the best pure hitters in the 2001 draft and is so far proving to be the best third base prospect in baseball. Wright is a complete player in that he can hit for power and average, he's solid defensively, and he has good speed. Before being promoted to Triple-A Norfolk, Wright was leading the Eastern League with a .363 batting average and a .467 on-base percentage. Since the call-up to Norfolk, Wright has continued his hot hitting. In 30 games with the Tides, he was batting .303 with 8 doubles, 8 homers, and 16 RBI. Wright's .579 slugging percentage and .388 on-base percentage would rank among him among the International League leaders if he had enough at-bats to qualify. Add in Wright's 22 steals and you could see why the Mets are refusing to include Wright in any trade deadline deals, even if the deal is for Randy Johnson. Wright was recently promoted to the show on July 20th and started at third base for the Mets on the 21st. It appears the Mets feel that Wright's time is now and he should be manning the hot corner for the Mets for years to come.
DALLAS MCPHERSON, ANGELS
McPherson has risen the top of the hot corner crop with his recent offensive outburst. His explosive power and ability to adjust make him one of the most complete hitters in the minors. Before being called up to Triple-A Salt Lake, McPherson was leading the Texas League in homers (20) and RBI (69) and added a .321 batting average, good for fourth in the league. In the 24 games since being promoted, Dallas has yet to slow down. In 95 at-bats he is hitting .305 with five doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 20 RBI. If he had enough at-bats to qualify, his .737 slugging percentage would lead the Pacific Coast League. With the emergence of McPherson don't be shocked to see the Angels either trade or let Troy Glaus walk as a free agent in the near future. If the Angels ownership decides to be buyers at the trade deadline McPherson could be a major part of a blockbuster deal.
ANDY MARTE, BRAVES
After a slow start to his professional career in 2001, Marte exploded in 2002 to lead the South Atlantic League in RBI with 105 and garner an all-star selection. The 2003 season was no different as he hit .285 with 35 doubles, 16 homers, and 63 RBI for Single-A Myrtle Beach and again finished as his league's all-star third baseman, this time in the Carolina League. His quick, line- drive stroke will only improve as his body matures. Marte got off to a slow, injury-plagued start to his first season in Double-A this year. However Marte has battled back and checks in hitting .273 with 20 doubles, 14 home runs, and 38 RBI for Greenville. If he qualified, his .550 slugging percentage would be second in the Southern League. Hard work has paid off in improving his defensive skills and the Braves see him as no worse than an average defender. With Mark DeRosa batting .234 with three home runs in 254 at-bats don't be surprised to see Marte manning the hot corner for the Braves before the season is over.
EDWIN ENCARNACION, REDS
To say the Reds got the better part of the deal that netted them Edwin Encarnacion for Rob Bell goes without saying. To add in the fact that the Reds also received outfielder Ruben Mateo in the deal is to say that the Reds committed highway robbery. A former ninth-round pick by the Texas Rangers in 2000, his lightning bat speed and ability to recognize pitches early have Cincinnati brass drooling. A demotion to Single-A Potomac at the end of the 2003 season because of attitude problems seems to have lit a fire under him. In 69 games for Double-A Chattanooga this season, Encarnacion is batting .298 with 23 doubles, seven home runs and 51 RBI. He's among the Southern League leaders in batting average, doubles and RBI. A new attitude and improved work ethic have Edwin on his way to becoming Cincinnati's everyday third baseman.
IAN STEWART, ROCKIES
Stewart, a first round (10th overall) selection of the Rockies in 2003, has not disappointed. After setting all kinds of offensive records in his senior year of high school, the California native dominated the Pioneer League with the Casper Rockies in 2003. With Casper, he hit .317 with 14 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs and 43 RBI. He has yet to slow down this season as he is hitting .297 with Single-A Asheville. Stewart's power numbers have only increased as he is crushing the ball all over the park with 19 doubles, seven triples, and 24 home runs. He currently leads the Sally League in home runs (24) and slugging percentage (.597). He's also among the league leaders in triples, extra base hits, runs scored and RBI. Stewart's defensive skills have been compared to Chipper Jones with a bat to match. Stewart will eventually replace current Rockies 3B Vinnie Castillo when his contract is up and he could possibly put numbers comparable to Castillo's.
MITCH MAIER, ROYALS
Simply put, this first-round draft pick (30th overall) by the Kansas City Royals in was drafted for his bat. An excellent athlete in high school, Maier had the opportunity to walk on the University of Michigan's football team as a safety but declined to play baseball at the University of Toledo. He led his conference in batting in both his freshman and junior years. Maier got off to a great pro start as he hit .350 with 14 doubles and 45 RBI in the Arizona League. He started this season with Single-A Burlington of the Midwest League and promptly hit .300 with 24 doubles, four homers, and 36 RBI. His 34 stolen bases ranked him second in the league before he was called up to Single-A Wilmington on July 10th. Since the call up, Maier has struggled as he is hitting just .188 in nine games with the Blue Rocks. Due to a weakness at third base throughout the organization, the Royals will continue to groom Maier to be the third sacker of the future but do not be surprised to see him roaming the outfield of Kauffman Stadium in a few years.
ERIC DUNCAN, YANKEES
Yankee scouts are reminded of Jim Thome when they see Duncan's plate approach and his left-handed power potential. Rated the No. 1 prospect in the Gulf Coast League last year, he hit .278 with 12 doubles and 28 RBI for the Yankees rookie club. After a late season promotion to Staten Island of the New York- Penn League, Duncan hit .373 with five doubles, four triples, two home runs and 13 RBI in just 14 games. He began this season with Battle Creek in the Midwest League and showed his power by hitting .260 with 23 doubles, 12 homers, and 57 RBI before being sent to Tampa where he is hitting .262 with 2 homers and 12 RBI in 17 games. Defensive issues at the hot corner may force Duncan, like Thome, to the other side of the infield as first base may be a better fit for him in the big leagues. Duncan may find himself filling Jason Giambi's shoes in New York within a few years.
JAMIE D'ANTONA, DIAMONDBACKS
D'Antona started to show the raw power the Diamondbacks drafted him for in his first pro season tying for the Northwest League home run lead with 15. A former Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, D'Antona projects to be a 40-homer guy in the majors. He can hit the ball to all fields with power and draws a large number of walks for a power hitter. He began the 2004 season with the Lancaster JetHawks of the California League and hit .315 with 18 doubles, 13 home runs and 57 RBI. The 57 runs batted in were tops on his team. Arizona promoted D'Antona on June 20th to Double-A El Paso of the Texas League. The transition has been slow as he is hitting just .211 in 22 games with the Diablos. The adjustment to Double-A pitching has shown in his power numbers as well because D'Antona has yet to leave the yard for his new team and has just seven RBI. His strong arm is ideal for third base but he will have to work on his hands and range to be a major league-caliber infielder. First base could also be a consideration.
