While the infield is solid with some decent hitting and above average defense, the outfield is expected to be slightly better when it comes to both offense and defense. Again, early indications are that General Manager Chris Wilson learned something over 41 years at the helm in Madison and has decided to at least focus some on the gloves on defense. For now. Like the infield, a few guys get outmatched one way or the other and a heavy platoon is expected this season when it comes to the outfield.
Portland sent 9 outfielders to Spring Training. Here is how those guys shake down heading into spring and into the season.
Off the top, Hernandez is a decent bat with a poor eye and not so good glove. He was acquired in the Bakitski trade with Yellow Springs. He's probably best suited as a pinch hitter or spot starter despite a 5.4 WAR last year in AAA. Tucker York III is a blast from the past to Madison as his dad was a former Wolves great. York projects to either spot start against lefties or be used as a DH. He can't field very good so DH is his best position. Kubo, also acquired in a trade, is the best glove of the trio but at the age of 20 and still on a minor league contract may have to really shine in spring training to make the roster. All 3 have options left so if there are better options at the other positions it is feasible that none of the three make the big league roster. Odds are one, maybe 2, of these guys begin the season with Portland.
First thing to note that all 3 of these guys are all on Minor League contracts at the moment. But at the same time, all 3 are possibly better all-around players than the leftfielders listed above. Kim is a decent bat, but only against righties. If he sees everyday starts against lefties then the Lumberjacks have better have some guys die during the season. Kim will play very good centerfield but can also play all 3 OF positions very very well. Question will be can he hit well enough to justify a corner outfield spot? Lopez isn't quite as good in the outfield defensively as Kim, but he's better than any of the trio at LF. The fact that he can hit against righties pretty well may justify utilizing him as a starting LF. Then there is BHO Jr. In all liklihood, he could contend, if not win, the Diamond Glove Award right now if he played every day in Centerfield. He can't play any of the other outfield positions now, but with some experience he could easily. But like Kim, can he hit well enough to justify playing him at the Corner? Unlike the LF spot, there is a good chance 2 of these 3 make the roster. All 3 have options still and Lopez and BHO are just 19 so could be kept down in the minors a little while longer if the teams wants to hoard up and build for the future.
A good trio of guys here and another reason why it could be justified to send down many of the LF options and even the younger CF options if the organization wants. Listed as a LF, we put Harsnett here just to balance out our analytical looking charts. He can play either corner outfield spot well and has the elite arm to be the starting RF. Has an ability to draw a walk, as well as strikeout. The Lumberjacks are rolling the dice he can return to a 2-3 WAR player at the age of 33. Oh was a 3.4 WAR player last year for Vegas as a DH. He's not great with the glove, but he's not completely inept either. Based on the fact it's expected that Dempsey gets a bulk of the starts at DH vs RHP, it's assumed Oh plays RF to start the season. And oh yeah, then there is Dempsey. He is 313 hits shy of 3,000. No, he's not going to get that many this year. But he's also 34. If he can get 150 this year and a similar total next year, then Wilson's dream of Dempsey collecting 3,000 hits will be fulfilled. He'll likely start at DH against RHP which likely pushes Oh to RF and Harsnett to LF.
So where are we now? All 3 RF will make the roster for sure. They have to. None of them have any options. So if it is assumed the club carries 5 outfielders (to use for platooning and such) then that means 2 of the 6 guys listed as LF and CF make the roster with the rest heading to Quincy to see daily action there. The early front runners suggest its Kim (he can play CF) and ?
The ? will be answered in Spring. With Kim not being able to hit LHP, it could be another CF makes the roster and all 3 LF head to Quincy. Kubo, still under a ML contract, is all but a lock to go back to the minors.
