Elvis Andrus about to show off his arm. Photo: Icon SMI
Elvis Andrus plays shortstop for the Texas Rangers. As a first year rookie in 2009, Andrus led the majors in fielding at shortstop, according to FanGraphs. The Rangers placed him at the position with the idea of shoring of the team’s defense and helping the pitching staff, and it worked.
Andrus is credited with three wins above replacement (WAR), based entirely on his defense. His offense, however, turned out to be better than what one might expect from his minor league numbers. To me, that’s a good sign for the future. One of the leading indicators for player success is getting a starting job in the majors at an early age. Andrus’s seasonal age in 2009 was 20, so he has a lot of time to develop into a better offensive player. Omar Vizquel, Ozzie Smith and Robin Yount all struggled at the plate before they became good offensive players. If Andrus can become a .350 OBP batter who hits some doubles and triples, his defense won’t be the only thing keeping him in the majors.
Posted by David Pinto at 1:25 pm | Players, Players A to Z | Permalink | No Comments
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