Will Middlebrooks the next 3b?

[Palodios]

Middlebrooks promoted to AAA

[Dojji]

Congrats to the kid.

 

I don't look for him to get called up this September or anything, but we could see him by midseason next year if we have a hole to fill.

[BossSox]

Who has a higher ceiling ahead of them? Kolbrin Vitek or Will Middlebrooks?

[Dojji]

Middlebrooks, definitely, But Vitek is a lot better in the hitting discipline department.

 

Middlebrooks is most likely to become a superstar, but also the most likely to flame out. Vitek is probably destined for at least a bench role in the majors.

 

Vitek's extreme upside is kinda Muellerish, but I think this is roughly what we see. If we get any more than that, so much the better. Needless to say I'm not really all that high on him.

[jacksonianmarch]

And for the Doj, just a few stats to back up my Laird comparison...

 

Laird

Age 22 season- AA- .291/.355/.523 23HR

 

Middlebrooks

Age 22 season- AA- .302/.345/.520 21HR

 

In 2011, Laird played in AAA and was pretty average, with a .710OPS and 16HR, but the lack of patience was exposed at the higher level with Laird only drawing 17 walks. He did win the IL version of the gold glove at 3b, though.

 

Both can field their position. Both can hit the ball out of the park. Both have a problem with plate discipline. I think both of them end up as either utility guys (Laird can play 1B, 2B, and the corner OF slots as well) or a lower tier starting 3b. Neither of them will put up Youkilis or ARod (newer version) type offensive seasons, because their patience is incredibly limited.

[Dojji]

Middlebrooks is not Laird. Just because there's a relatively comparable guy in the same organization doesn't mean it'll turn out the same way for them.

 

Besides, the book on Laird is hardly written. You could easily wind up eating your words on both of these guys. Laird though is going to have to compete with A-Rod for playing time at his starting position, and I really doubt that's a winning proposition for him. If WMB is hitting there should be much better openings for him to get some work in and refine his skills at the MLB level.

 

I wouldn't write off the ability of either one to rake either for that matter. Maybe even put up some Silver Slugger years. What a kid is in his first and second year in the bigs isn't always all he'll be. Not every prospect that ultimately breaks out does so like Pedroia, in his rookie campaign, Look at Ellsbury this year if you want some big evidence of that

 

These high school type prospects require patience, but have a way of rewarding it. They're not comparable to the college guys at all. And that's never more true than when you start talking about slash stats, patience, discipline, etc. The development cycle is way too different for me to be that worried if they don't have a perfect progression through the minors and the first couple years of big league ball like we demand of a college pick. It's just a different animal.

[User Name]

There's another 3B in the MLB putting up big numbers despite an unpredecented lack of discipline. In fact, he's playing in the WS right now.

 

I don't think we know enough about Middlebrooks to be making comparisons to other minor league players. The stats don't always tell the whole story.