61.088– Prospect Watch – Shortstop

[RonCo]

Off Topic

2061 Season Snapshot


As noted in the second base snapshot, I am optimistic that Keith Williams, who is 23 as we type this, will be in the shortstop role for the foreseeable future. He’s been a little injury prone, but not horribly so. Perhaps we’ll see if we can shore that up in the off season? Dunno.

I don’t need to tell anyone else that shortstop is hard position to find real prospects in. The bottom line is that we have only four guys who could fit on this five-guy list. And two of them you’ve already see in the second base report, so we’ll just kind of refresh them here. They could, in a real pinch, be workable SS, anyway.

So, let’s take a look at them, shall we?


#1 – Abdul-Muta'al bin Essam

Abdul-Muta'al bin Essam (SS)	Age	OVR	CON	BABIP	AvK	GAP	POW	EYE
Level: R	18	20/55	3/7	2/7	3/7	3/5	3/5	3/5
Age: 18	*	IFR	IFE	IFA	TDP	OFR	OFE	OFA
Bats-Throws: L/R	*	9	7	7	5	6	5	5
Height: 6'3"	*	SPD	AGR	STE	RUN	CBK	CFR	CAR
Weight: 170	*	5	5	5	8	1	1	1
Source: TR

Essam has the proverbial “long way to go,” but he’s 18 now, and is coming off a fine season that saw him hit a respectable .254/.312/.366 in his third season in Rookie ball. I acquired bin Essam from Boise back in 2059, mostly because his ratings looked good, and because his intangibles were solid. He gives the vibes of a teenager who could grow into a team leader. He’s got the glove that makes scouts say he can handle the position, and the bat being from the left side of the plate makes him even more enticing. So, we will see what we will see.


2062 Projection: I would love to see the contact grow to “4” and for him to be able to put real numbers up at Port au Prince short-A.


#2 – Mitchell Cook

Mitchell Cook (SS)	Age	OVR	CON	BABIP	AvK	GAP	POW	EYE
Level: AAA	23	30/45	5/5	8/8	2/4	3/5	4/5	3/5
Age: 23	*	IFR	IFE	IFA	TDP	OFR	OFE	OFA
Bats-Throws: R/R	*	8	7	8	7	2	6	8
Height: 6'0"	*	SPD	AGR	STE	RUN	CBK	CFR	CAR
Weight: 165	*	2	4	3	1	1	1	1
Source: Disc

As I kind of noted in the second base write-up, the jury seems to be coming back that Cook has the profile of a utility infielder rather than a fulltime player. If the bat comes in that will change. As it stands, the fact that he can play the shortstop position while hitting a little bit means he should have a big league job for abut as long as he wants one.

Presumably, anyway.


2062 Projection:Another pass at AAA, with an in-season callup as needed.


#3 – Fernando Picot

Fernando Picot (SS)	Age	OVR	CON	BABIP	AvK	GAP	POW	EYE
Level: AA	24	35/35	5/5	5/5	5/5	4/4	4/4	4/4
Age: 24	*	IFR	IFE	IFA	TDP	OFR	OFE	OFA
Bats-Throws: R/R	*	9	7	6	6	2	5	6
Height: 6'0"	*	SPD	AGR	STE	RUN	CBK	CFR	CAR
Weight: 170	*	6	4	7	7	1	1	1
Source: D57.16

There’s not a lot to see here except that at age 24 he’s developed enough that he could play the position defensively in case of dire need. Consider him a “In Case of Emergency, Break Glass” kind of player. His window to make the parent team otherwise has probably faded. Except…

Well…

Except that there are those two numbers in his charts. 3.5 WAR in Lack City (A) in 2060, 4.4 WAR in Kamloops (AA) this year. Are those real? Do they mean anything? You got me, but I’ll admit I’m watching. Very little would be better than seeing the team’s 16th round pick in that Epic 2057 class rise up out of the pile to make a difference.


2062 Projection: Likely a full season in AAA


#4 – Habib Jabbar

Habib Jabbar (SS)	Age	OVR	CON	BABIP	AvK	GAP	POW	EYE
Level: R	17	20/45	3/7	2/5	2/7	2/5	2/4	2/6
Age: 17	*	IFR	IFE	IFA	TDP	OFR	OFE	OFA
Bats-Throws: R/R	*	8	5	6	5	7	3	6
Height: 6'2"	*	SPD	AGR	STE	RUN	CBK	CFR	CAR
Weight: 190	*	6	5	5	3	1	1	1
Source: Disc

As noted in his entry regarding second base, this is the year for Jabbar. All of the organization’s eyes are on him.


2062 Projection: Start full time in Ogden R-ball.