AL Rookies: Early Edition

Jason Michael Barker

If you've been a regular reader of Strikethree.com over the past year or so, you're probably aware of the American and National League Rookie Roundups, a pair of features which run each month profiling the top first-year players in each circuit.

While it's a bit early in the 2000 season to crown the next Rookie of the Year, it's certainly not too early to take a look at which youngsters are getting the job done and which should be packing their bags for Sacramento (the A's AAA affiliate in the Pacific Coast League, if you must know).

Adam Kennedy, 2B, Anaheim
Kennedy came over from St. Louis along with Kent Bottenfield in the Jim Edmonds trade, and was immediately anointed the team's starting second baseman. He's off to a great start this year, hitting .312/.379/.495 with six steals in six attempts. While the .312 batting average is in line with his minor league career, while the OBP and SLG are a bit higher than you might predict based on what he's done in the past. The biggest reason for his success this season, other than Darren Erstad getting on base 50% of the time in front of him, is that he's drawing walks at a better rate than he ever has. I still expect him to slip back a little bit, but if he can hit .280 and maintain his walk rate he'll be a very productive player.

Kazuhiro Sasaki, Closer, Seattle
It seems a bit odd to list him as a rookie, considering he's 32 years old and pitched for a decade in Japan. He's still technically a MLB rookie, however, so he's got just as much right to be listed here as say, Brian Daubach did last season. Sasaki is already something of a cult hero in Seattle, having saved back-to-back games against the Red Sox and Yankees during the opening homestand. More importantly, he's got the stuff to go along with the hype -- in eight innings so far this season, he's fanned 11 batters against only one walk. Lou Piniella seems still be adjusting to having a quality closer, and is still working on getting Sasaki enough work each week while saving him for key situations, so there may be an adjustment period. Not that coming over to the U.S. after years in Japan isn't an adjustment...

Kip Wells, Starter, Chicago
I was expecting big things from Wells this season, but thus far he's off to a rough start with a 6.33 ERA over his first five starts. Opposing batters are hitting .286 off of Wells, but his biggest problem so far has been his command, as he's walked 20 batters in just 27 innings. Giving up 30 hits over those innings isn't a big deal, so long as you're only walking five or six batters. Instead, he's allowing close to two runners per inning, and no pitcher in baseball has stuff good enough to overcome that sort of disadvantage. He may have been rushed after just one year and 25 starts in the minors, and while he's taking some lumps right now, he still has a great long-term outlook.

Mark Quinn, DH, Kansas City
Quinn has been pounding minor league pitching for several years now, so it's nice to see him get a full-time job in the majors. While his numbers look good so far -- .297/.358/.500 with three homers -- he still hasn't peaked. His batting average and OBP are right about where you'd expect them to be, but I think he's eventually going to hit for more power than this; specifically, he has yet to tap his home run power. I think he can hit 25 or 30 bombs, given the at-bats. In the meantime, he's a great cheap solution for a team that can certainly use a few.

Matt LeCroy, C, Minnesota
I love this guy, but really, what's not to like? His defense behind the plate, perhaps, but I'm much more concerned about his bat at this point. And what a bat it is -- LeCroy hit .288/.367/.533 in two minor league seasons before making the big club this spring. That's not quite Mike Piazza, of course, but not everyone can be the greatest hitting catcher ever, and LeCroy looks like he might draw a few more walks than Piazza. LeCroy is off to a slow start this season, .227/.288/.409/, but if he can add even 50 points to each of those numbers he'll be a very productive rookie catcher. Hopefully the Twins won't make him give up catching, because his value is highest behind the plate.

Mark Mulder, Starter, Oakland
Mulder has just two starts under his belt, but people seem to be raving about the guy. I'm not saying they're wrong, though, and Mulder certainly looks great on the mound -- he's a tall lefty with a great delivery. Looks don't always translate to performance, of course, but so far so good for the A's #1 pick in the 1998 draft. After an understandably shaky debut against the Tribe two weeks ago, Mulder put together a great start this week against the Orioles: seven innings, four hits, two runs, two walks and four strikeouts. He has very little professional experience, having spent just one year in the minors, so there may be an adjustment period coming.

about the author

Jason Michael Barker is just getting warmed up this season, and we believe that after an initial adjustment period, the rookie analysis will once again resume its natural rhythm. Why not send some blues to go along with it to jmb@strikethree.com?