Baseball's best young position players
06/06/2007
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Since the starting pitching staff was assembled two weeks ago, it’s only fair to compile baseball’s best young position players this week.
The rules are the same for the position players as they were for the starting pitchers – all players must be 24 years of age or younger and in the majors right now. This list isn’t a glimpse into the future from a minor league view; it’s a glimpse into the future of elite players from the here and now.
Some of you might be thinking, “Well, this is going to be easy”. There’s Albert Pujols for first base. Nope, he’s 27. Fine, Carl Crawford leads the outfielders. Nope, Crawford just misses the cut at 25. What about Curtis Granderson? Sorry, 26. Torii Hunter?! Okay, now you’re just reaching.
Names like Pujols and Crawford come to mind when thinking of the best young position players in the game, but when you start doing the research you realize most of the “young” guns are 25 or older. Unlike the NFL, where 22-year-old rookies can immediately contribute to a Super Bowl run, most baseball players ripen in the minors for several years before making their rookie debut in the majors. In fact, many players are shuffled between the minors and majors several times before finally staking their claim to a big league job.
Below is a 24-and-younger squad ready to compete against any team in the majors. I even put the team in lineup form for dramatic effect, with one player at each position. This club has power, can hit for average, is equipped with speed and even has a three-time All Star (you’ll have to guess who it is, though). The only problem is that there aren’t enough slots at third base. You’ll see what I mean when you get to that position.
1. Shortstop: Jose Reyes, 23, New York Mets
Blessed with exceptional speed, outstanding defensive skills and deceptive power, Reyes is without a doubt the complete package. He’s also a switch hitter, which is a skill that’s always useful, especially for our leadoff spot. Reyes leads the league with 30 stolen bases this season, giving him 11 more than the man in second, Brian Roberts. He’s also hitting .316, has already scored 42 runs and has proven he can go deep (19 homers last year). Florida's Hanley Ramirez, the reigning Rookie of the Year, is having a brilliant season as well (.314, 8 HR, 16 SB), but we're sticking with Reyes. For now, anyway.
2. Catcher: Russell Martin, 24, Los Angeles Dodgers
Due to the fact he’s a converted third basemen and had to show his quickness at the hot corner, Martin is one of the most athletic catchers in the game. While he’s still learning how to be an effective backstop, Martin’s plate presence is being felt around the league. A pure line drive hitter, Martin’s hitting .314 with seven home runs and 39 RBI. He’s also proven he can steal a base or two, swiping eight bags on the year. Martin is likely to be a future All Star and is by far the best young catcher in the game. Plus he strikes out significantly less than Grady Sizemore, so he gets the nod in the two-hole.
3. Third Base: Miguel Cabrera, 24, Florida Marlins
The hardest decision to make on the entire team was who to put at third base. Do I go with Cabrera or the Mets’ David Wright? Either way, I’m getting a solid hitter, but Wright’s defense is markedly better. Hmm…. Wait – Cabrera is still only 24? Really?! He’s been in the league forever, hasn’t he? From 2004 (his second year in the league) through 2006, Cabrera hit .318 with an average of 31 homers and 114 RBI a year. So far this season, he’s hitting .319 with 11 dingers and 40 RBI, well on pace to match his career numbers, proving that he’s amazingly consistent. Wright is without a doubt an excellent player, but Cabrera is just too good to pass up.
4. First Base: Prince Fielder, 23, Milwaukee Brewers
With a 260-pound Prince hitting cleanup, Team 24-and-Younger will never be short on power. In just his second big league season, Fielder has gone deep 20 times and even sports a solid .294 average. Fielder can also knock in runs – 45 RBI so far this season – and actually has decent speed for a guy who once pushed three bills. The one major knock on him, however, is his defense. He can turn the double play when needed, but shows limited range at first. Normally Prince’s lack of defensive prowess wouldn’t be a big deal, but Cabrera is shaky too, making the infield corners a major defensive liability. Oh boy, maybe I should re-think the David Wright decision.
5. Right Field: Jeff Francoeur, 23, Atlanta Braves
Francoeur is a five-tool player, but after a so-so 2006 season, many baseball analysts were down on him. So far this year, however, Francoeur is hitting a modest .286 with seven home runs and 41 RBI, and is starting to become the player the Braves and baseball elitist have been talking up for years. He has an outstanding swing, great bat speed and is learning how to be a more patient hitter. Once he puts it all together, he should make yearly trips to the All-Star Game.
6. Second Base: Robinson Cano, 24, New York Yankees
Tampa Bay’s B.J. Upton got a long, hard look at this position, but once you compare his career numbers against Cano’s, there’s just no argument. Cano hit .342 last year with 15 home runs, 78 RBI and 62 runs. He had similar numbers the year before, hitting .297 with 14 dingers, 62 RBI and 78 runs. The argument comes into play this season as Cano is only hitting .272 with three long balls, 26 RBI and 24 runs, compared to Upton’s .311 BA, 8 HR, 29 RBI and 31 runs. But Cano’s much more proven track record combined with Upton’s absolutely brutal defense make the Bronx Bomber my choice for this team’s two-bagger.
7. Centerfield: Grady Sizemore, 24, Cleveland Indians
Sizemore started the season on a tear, but slumped badly from the middle of April to about the middle of May. Still, most will agree he’s one of the best young centerfielders in the game and definitely worth mentioning for this team (such a distinct honor, I know). Houston’s Hunter Pence also deserves a look for his blend of power and athleticism, but he’s just not there yet. Sizemore is starting to heat up again and his defense has always been solid. One of the most athletic outfielders in the game, Sizemore takes good routes to the ball and shows excellent instincts. He can also swipe a bag as his 17 steals (in 18 attempts) indicate. Once again, I’d put him in the two-hole, but he strikes out way too often (he’s already got 56 K’s this season). Still, you can’t complain about a potential 30/30 guy hitting seventh in your lineup.
8. Left Field: Delmon Young, 21, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Here’s another player that has definitely slumped since starting the season off fairly hot. Young is a solid hitter with above average defensive skills, but he’s just so raw right now. Once he discovers more patience at the plate, Young could be a dangerous hitter – both for average and power – and eventually could be a star in this league. I thought he would easily take home the Rookie of the Year honors this year – and he still might – but he’s got to improve on his .245 batting average. For now, I’ll leave him at the bottom of the order, but he can definitely work his way up.
Questions or comments? Send them to astalter@bullz-eye.com.