Keith Law’s farm system rankings for all 30 MLB teams

Keith Law Mar 2, 2020 245
As part of my prospect rankings, I’ve also ranked all 30 major-league teams’ farm systems here, with a brief explanation of why they’re in this order — although I think you’ll get an even clearer picture on any individual team by reading the team reports that rolled out last week (for the American League) and will roll out this week (for the National League). Bear in mind that these rankings only consider players currently in the system and eligible for the rankings, meaning they have not yet lost rookie status.

1. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays need a strong farm system to stay competitive, given their revenue constraints and unwillingness to spend big on their major-league payroll, but they have enough depth in their system right now that they can trade from it to keep the big-league team competitive. Not only do they have the top prospect in the game, but they also have substantial pitching depth — even after trading one of their top pitching prospects — and have benefited from a recent change in draft philosophy as well as increasingly productive classes of international free agents. They’ve also done well in stocking the system with middle-infield prospects, many of whom will eventually move to other positions but at least start out with the potential to stay up the middle. The only place they’re really weak at the moment is behind the plate. The Rays may not know where they’ll be playing for the next few years, but they should be competitive for some time to come.

2. Atlanta Braves
The pipeline in Atlanta continues, even though the team has been effectively out of the international prospect market for two years now. That’s thanks to the last fruits of the previous regime’s efforts and several very productive drafts in the time since, including a 2019 draft class that already looks like it’s yielding positive results. They have depth in pitching, even with several graduations of top pitching prospects the past two years, and behind the plate, which is always valuable. They are light in the middle infield, although Braden Shewmake’s emergence as a likely long-term shortstop is a very promising development.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers’ chain of elite prospects remains unbroken, to the point where perhaps we should no longer be surprised. Corey Seager was followed by Cody Bellinger, who is now followed by Gavin Lux. Julio Urías was followed by Walker Buehler, who was followed by Dustin May, who may now be followed by Josiah Gray. They’ve drafted well, they’ve fared exceptionally well internationally, and they’ve even added some prospects in trades while still contending, a neat trick few teams pull off more than once. They even have enough catching depth to put their third-best catching prospect, Keibert Ruiz, on the trade block. The Dodgers get credit for the money they spend but not enough for the players they develop on their own.

4. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks traded two major-league stars for a total of seven prospects, but those deals have little to do with their ranking here, with two already graduated and only one of the other five in the team’s top 10. It’s about everything else: very productive drafts, goosed by some extra picks and a little good fortune (e.g., the No. 4 player on my 2019 board, Corbin Carroll, getting to them at pick 16), and some strong early returns on international classes, including a payoff on an early, aggressive effort in the Bahamas. They’re even here despite trading their No. 1 prospect at the time, Jazz Chisholm, to Miami in July.

5. San Diego Padres
The No. 1 system in my rankings the past two years took a few hits in 2019, from the graduations of the top prospect in baseball last winter (Fernando Tatis Jr.) and five others from its top 20 to the trade of top 100 overall prospect Xavier Edwards this winter for Tommy Pham and Jake Cronenworth. The Padres have also seen a few guys stall in their progress, or at least hit some obstacles as they’ve reached High A or Double A, while the pipeline behind them isn’t quite as productive as it was right after 2016, when they spent over $70 million in bonuses and penalties in the international market. They do still boast the minors’ top pitching prospect and substantial pitching depth, as well as a large class of highly athletic position players all across the diamond who look like they could fill out most of a lineup in two to three years.

6. New York Yankees
The Yankees have clearly figured out some things on the development side, especially finding ways to help pitchers throw harder or throw higher-quality pitches (like boosting spin rates), and have also stayed active on the international side. Their Latin American contingent helmed one of the most lauded groups of short-season prospects I found during the process of assembling these rankings, with teams already asking for some of their GCL kids in trade talks. They’ve also got pitching coming, headlined by a risky first-round pick who’s worked out extremely well so far in Clarke Schmidt.

7. Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays system remains in the top 10 thanks to a little of everything. Their past two drafts, in particular, look very strong. Their international scouting department has added some of the highest-ceiling prospects they’ve had since before I worked there. They added two more of their top-10 prospects in the Marcus Stroman trade. And they’re developing well, with their top two prospects improving since they entered the Toronto system.

8. Miami Marlins
I think this is the highest I’ve ever ranked the Marlins, who were generally busy trading away salaries or skipping Latin America and then rushing the few prospects they did have to the majors. Now they’re adding talent everywhere they can and importing some of the development ideas their core baseball group brought over from the Yankees system. There’s a lot of ceiling here, and thus a lot of risk, but for the first time in more than a decade there are some possible star position players on the way.


Dylan Carlson (Joe Robbins / Getty Images)
9. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals just keep doing it, even with a complete washout draft in 2017 and misses on their first picks in 2015 and 2016. Their evaluation of Dylan Carlson appears to have been well ahead of everyone else’s, they keep finding and/or creating catchers, and they’ve been shrewd about adding prospects in selected trades to balance out some of the other prospects they’ve traded away. They’re light in the middle infield, but that catching strength, even after trading away Carson Kelly, is a Very Good Thing™.

10. San Francisco Giants
I feel like the whole exceeds the sum of the parts here; each individual Giants prospect of note has some significant risk of low or no return, but if you add them all up, there’s more than enough upside to start to feel optimistic about the Giants’ long-term future. The short term might be bleak as very little help is on the immediate horizon from the farm, but their crop of hitting prospects aged 20 and below is extremely strong and brings a lot of ceiling on one or both sides of the ball.

11. Seattle Mariners
This is not a typo: Seattle’s farm system is actually … good. Someone should check on Jerry DiPoto, who hasn’t traded a prospect away in several weeks now. They’ve also drafted better in recent years, and their two big signings in the July 2 market in 2017, Julio Rodriguez and Noelvi Marte, look like successes so far, ending a long drought of prospects from Latin America going back to Félix Hernández.

12. Kansas City Royals
Pitching they’ve got, thanks to a bumper crop of college pitchers selected in 2018 that should start to impact the major-league roster this year. The position player group lags well behind, with some very talented players in the system who have not converted their physical gifts into production yet, led by the troika of high-profile hitters — Nick Pratto, MJ Melendez and Seuly Matias — who struggled in High-A Wilmington last year, even as the parade of future rotation regulars passed through Delaware (paying a $4 toll).

13. Chicago White Sox
It’s the same story each year for the White Sox — their system has a small group of very high-profile prospects, several of whom are about to alter the big-league roster permanently, but the depth trails off quickly after the top 10. They deserve credit for diving into the high school pitching market again with their picks of Andrew Dalquist and Matt Thompson, the former a more advanced pitcher with less ceiling, the latter a high-ceiling guy who’s less advanced as a pitcher.

14. Pittsburgh Pirates
For all that went wrong in Pittsburgh the past few years — some of which is blamed on the previous regime but wasn’t their fault at all — Ben Cherington and company inherited a decent farm system, with a lot of athletes among their pitchers and position players who may just need different approaches to reach their ceilings.


The Twins’ Alex Kirilloff (David Dermer / USA Today)
15. Minnesota Twins
The Twins system as a whole had a down year in 2019, with some of the highest-profile players taking steps back or just failing to advance, but there is still enough depth, especially hard-throwing arms, to keep them around the middle of the pack. I’d like to see more up-the-middle impact to get them into the top tier, although that is harder to do when the major-league team is this good and you draft near the end of the first round.

16. New York Mets
They traded four of their top 10 prospects in the last year, and they’re still right around the midpoint of the list, thanks to still-productive drafts and a flow of seven-figure signings from Latin America who’ve come into pro ball and, by and large, produced right away. I can understand Met fans’ concerns that their elite prospects will be traded for short-term help in the majors, but there’s enough in the second tier of guys — after Ronny Mauricio and Francisco Alvarez and the 2019 draftees — to help patch the roster in July as needed.

17. Texas Rangers
Texas has a lot of guys you’d like to have, but perhaps not a lot of guys you’d go out of your way to trade for, although they certainly have some players in Category 1 who might get to Category 2. They tried some things on the pitching side that have not worked out, with a rash of Tommy John surgeries in the past year-plus that stands out even in an industry that seems to treat them like they’re paper cuts. There’s a lot of untapped athleticism in the system as well.

18. L.A. Angels
Jo Adell’s a stud, Brandon Marsh might be, too, but many of the other players with upside in this system took steps back last year or were hurt, and then the Angels traded away their first-rounder to clear Zack Cozart’s salary, so the system as a whole is in worse shape relative to their competitors than it was a year ago. It’s also really young – everyone’s system is young, of course, but this one seems especially so, with only one prospect drafted from college in their top 20.

19. Detroit Tigers
The most top-heavy system in baseball, the Tigers’ farm boasts three elite pitching prospects and a very high-upside outfielder, then drops off extremely quickly before we’re even out of the top 10. They’ve added some bulk with trades, both on the pitching side and with position players, while their top prospect signed by the Tigers on the July 2 front is only No. 15 in their system.

20. Colorado Rockies
Four of their most notable position-player prospects had down seasons in 2019, and their pitching depth is probably as thin as it’s been in several years. Their 2019 draft was college-heavy, but they rolled the dice on some upside after the first round, which should give Rockies fans hope the system will look stronger a year from now.

21. Cleveland
Cleveland’s full-season clubs were very light on potential regulars, but its short-season teams, down to the AZL, were loaded with talented position players signed as international free agents. The list of potential starters among the prospects is quite short, however, after a few years of producing not just impact starters but also quality back-end guys like Zach Plesac and Aaron Civale.


Alec Bohm (Brace Hemmelgarn / Minnesota Twins / Getty Images)
22. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies have made some quixotic decisions on the development front — pushing very young, often physically immature players to full-season ball, then starting college products like Alec Bohm and Spencer Howard in Low A — that seem to have held back their system as a whole despite better drafts the past 2-3 years and continually productive international classes.

23. Cincinnati Reds
This system might have been a lot higher had the Reds not traded three of their top five prospects in the past year-plus or tinkered with some prospects’ swings to try to get to more power. They’ve drafted quite well as long as you remember the players they’ve traded, but there isn’t a lot left here that can help the big-league team this season.

24. Baltimore Orioles
It’s still early in the rebuild and the Orioles’ first draft under Mike Elias was fine, but not a blockbuster. There’s some back-end pitching depth here behind the big two starter prospects, DL Hall and Grayson Rodriguez, and a few position players in the low levels who have upside beyond what they’ve shown so far. This team needs more total bulk in the system and to get active in Latin America again.

25. Boston Red Sox
Trades, promotions, and low draft picks have caught up with the Red Sox, whose major-league need for pitching won’t be satisfied by the fruits of the farm any time soon. Their top two pitching prospects have big questions — one is just coming back from Tommy John, the other may have to go spend a few years on a submarine — and beyond them it’s back-end starters or, more often, starters who project as relievers due to deliveries or lack of a third pitch.

26. Oakland A’s
Oakland has found value in a lot of unexpected places, from later draft picks or selections of unconventional players to buy-low opportunities in trades, but they’ve had worse luck when the opportunity costs were higher: drafting Kyler Murray only to see him choose football, drafting Austin Beck and Richie Martin in the first round, handing Lazarito $3 million to strike out 221 times last year. That means the system has a lot of guys who’ll play in the big leagues but not a lot of guys who will be impact big leaguers.

27. Houston Astros
It’s funny, but when you get rid of all of your amateur scouts, your drafts get a whole lot worse. If it weren’t for the work of the international scouting department, helmed by Oz Ocampo (now with Pittsburgh), this would absolutely be the bottom system in the majors.

28. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs’ drafts have just been fair the past few years, and they’ve fared especially poorly when they reversed course and tried to draft pitching high rather than going for the certainty of position players. Yet their system is still mostly guys they drafted with just a smattering of prospects from Latin America. There are a few names here who could pop in 2020, but I think we say that about the Cubs every year.

29. Washington Nationals
You don’t care, right, Nats fans? You got a ring! That’s what the farm is for, and Mike Rizzo and company worked the heck out of their system to get to that World Series. They’ve traded a lot of prospects, two of whom look like they’ll hurt (Lucas Giolito and Jesús Luzardo), but they have a world championship to show for it. That’s good, because it gets thin very quickly here, most notably on the pitching front.

30. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers have traded or promoted so much talent the past few years that a couple of misses on early draft picks are much more noticeable; they were the only team that came close to failing to place a prospect on my top 100 this year, and they were the hardest team to write up with my self-imposed minimum of 20 prospects per team, saved largely by some high-upside players signed in the past three years out of Latin America. This was a choice, to some extent — the major-league team came within one win of a World Series and continues to contend, at the cost of the long-term value of the farm system.

(Photos in top graphic: Getty Images)

For a team like the Tribe struggling to find bullpen guys, it's a bit ironic that Nick Goody, who the Indians let go for nothing, is mowing them down for Texas.

5 innings pitched...11 Ks

Maybe he's re-discovered his fastball. He's the kind of guy I would expect will continue to have upmonths and downmonths throughout his career.

Anyone checked in on Bauer or Kluber?

I did note yesterday that while most of the Yankees who were hurt last year still are [and several were improperly diagnosed extending their recovery times] Clint Frazier is looking good. Unlike the typical Indians' top tier OF draft pick, he's drawn 5 walks while striking out once and is hitting about 350 with plenty of extra base hits. We should forced NY to take Zimmer instead of Frazier, although I think both sides who the better talent of those two was.

Kluber 7 IP 4 H 3 R 3 ER 4 BB 6 K
Bauer 9 IP 3 H 1 R 1 ER 1 BB 8 K

Jeff Passan
MLB's investigation into the Boston Red Sox's sign stealing during 2018 revealed a far lesser scheme than the Houston Astros, with penalties accordingly less severe: Only a loss of a second-round pick and a replay operator banned, as @Ken_Rosenthal and @EvanDrellich reported.

Steve Dalkowski, inspiration for Nuke LaLoosh character in 'Bull Durham,' dies at 80

April 24, 2020


Former Baltimore Orioles minor-leaguer Steve Dalkowski, whose blazing fastball and incurable wildness formed the basis for a main character in the movie "Bull Durham," has died at the age of 80.

Dalkowski died April 19 in his hometown of New Britain, Connecticut, from what family members said were pre-existing health issues complicated by coronavirus.

Signed by the Orioles out of high school in 1957, the left-hander became legendary for how hard he could throw, with a fastball that was said to top 100 mph. Pitching with what has been described as a "buggy-whip" or "slingshot" motion, Dalkowski once struck out 24 batters -- and walked 18 -- in a single minor-league game.


Former major-league manager Cal Ripken Sr., who was Dalkowski's catcher in the Orioles farm system, once estimated his fastball was between 110 and 115 mph. However, his inability to control where it was going kept him from ever reaching the major leagues.

"Bull Durham" writer-director Ron Shelton, who spent five years playing in the Orioles farm system, modeled pitcher Nuke LaLoosh (played by Tim Robbins) after Dalkowski in his acclaimed movie about life in the minors.

Shelton said legendary slugger Ted Williams once faced Dalkowski in a spring training game and after one pitch, the lefty-hitting Williams exited the batter's box and said, "I never want to face him again." Among all the pitchers Williams saw in his career, he called Dalkowski the "fastest ever."

Over nine minor-league seasons, Dalkowski struck out 1,324 batters and walked 1,236 in 956 innings (12.5 K/9, 11.6 BB/9). He also threw 145 wild pitches, one of which was so wild it hit a team mascot -- and later inspired another memorable moment in Shelton's film.

The Bowden Big Board: Top 10 second basemen


By Jim Bowden 5h ago 38
The Big Board is a look at players from across the league at key points in the season: in the spring, at the trade deadline and in the offseason. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting the top players at every position — for whenever baseball resumes. We’ve already taken a look at first basemen, now let’s turn our eyes toward second base.

1. José Altuve, Houston Astros
Age: 30 B: R T: R Height: 5-6 Weight: 165

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .298/.353/.550 HR: 31 RBI: 74 SB: 6 WAR: 3.8 OPS+: 131

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 86.1 Hard Hit%: 34.5 wOBA: .374 xwOBA: .383 Barrel%: 8.1
Fld%: .984 DRS: 11 UZR: -6/4

Career Accomplishments: Six-time All-Star; Gold Glove; five Silver Sluggers; AL MVP.

Trending: Downward

Altuve remains the best all-around second baseman in baseball despite having his second consecutive year of a declining slash line and, for the first time since 2013, not making the AL All-Star team or winning a Silver Slugger at the position. Altuve did hit a career-high 31 home runs but his battle with numerous nagging injuries — including a left hamstring strain and fatigue and soreness in his right leg — were probably the root for his lower-than-normal offensive production. However, he’s completely healthy now and with a new manager in Dusty Baker, he’s expected to get back to stealing bases again, something he hasn’t done in earnest since 2017. Altuve has led the AL in batting average three times, hits four times (200 or more in all of them), led the league in stolen bases twice. With a career WAR of 36.7, he is on a direct path to the Hall of Fame someday.

2. DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees
Age: 31 B: R T: R Height: 6-4 Weight: 215

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .327/.375/.518 HR: 26 RBI: 102 SB: 5 WAR: 5.9 OPS+: 136

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 90.4 Hard Hit%: 43.8 wOBA: .352 xwOBA: .356 Barrel%: 4.4
Fld%: .993 DRS: 3 UZR: 4.0

Career Accomplishments: Three-time All-Star; three Gold Gloves; Silver Slugger, Top 4 AL MVP.

Trending: Sideways

The Yankees used LeMahieu all over the diamond last year: he played 40 games at first base, 75 games at second base and 52 games at third base due to a roster filled with injuries. In the coming season, LeMahieu is expected to return to his natural position of second base, where he’s already won three Gold Glove awards in his career. LeMahieu is a master at positioning with an elite first step and perfect angles to the ball. He’s as consistent as there is in the game at turning double plays. This past year, LeMahieu finished fourth in AL MVP voting while winning the first Silver Slugger of his career and appearing in his third All-Star Game. LeMahieu figured out early how to take advantage of the short porch in right field in Yankee Stadium, which helped him put up career highs in doubles, runs scored, home runs, runs batted in and slugging percentage. His leadership is special and he ended up being one of the best, if not the best, value free-agent signings of the 2018-19 offseason.

3. Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
Age: 26 B: B T: R Height: 6-1 Weight: 165

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .329/.389/.592 HR: 32 RBI: 92 SB: 10 WAR: 7.2 OPS+: 149

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 87.2 Hard Hit%: 32.8 wOBA: .337 xwOBA:.325 Barrel%: 4.6
Fld%: .990 DRS: -2 UZR: 0.2

Career Accomplishments: All-Star; Top 4 NL MVP.

Trending: Upward

Marte had his breakout year last season and the way he did it leads me to believe that it’s for real. Marte hit .349 against fastballs, .310 against breaking balls and .284 against changeups or off-speed offerings. That ability to hit all of those pitches at all velocities and locations in the strike zone usually means that the hit tool is legit. Marte does a great job of covering both sides of the plate, using the whole field and taking tough pitches early in the count. Like most major-league hitters last year, he demonstrated the most power of his career, belting a career-high 32 home runs to go along with his 10 stolen bases in 12 attempts. Last year, he played 83 games at second, 96 in the outfield and 11 at shortstop. This year he’s expected to be the D-backs’ full-time second baseman. He made his first All-Star Game in 2019, but what was even more impressive is that he finished fourth in the voting for NL MVP.

4. Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves
Age: 23 B: B T: R Height: 5-8 Weight: 170

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .295/.352/.500 HR: 24 RBI: 86 SB:15 WAR: 5.2 OPS+: 114

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 87.4 Hard Hit%: 30.6 wOBA: .340 xwOBA: .331 Barrel%: 5.6
Fld%: .994 DRS: 11 UZR: 2.2

Career Accomplishments: All-Star; Silver Slugger.

Trending: Upward

Albies is a complete player and has the potential of being the next generation’s José Altuve. A natural shortstop, Albies has above-average range to both sides and a strong arm. He’s a top-of-the-lineup table-setter who has the potential to join the 30/30 club once he gets to his prime years. He’s hit 24 home runs each of the last two years and stolen a combined 29 bases in just 36 attempts over that time period. He was an All-Star in 2018 and won his first Silver Slugger award this past season. The Braves signed him to a club-friendly seven-year, $35 million pact with club options for 2026 and 2027 before the season last year — a contract that shook the baseball world because there is no doubt that his talent will make this one of the most club-friendly contracts in the sport’s history. His high energy and enthusiasm are contagious and it’s only a matter of a few years before he ends up at the top of these rankings.

5. Keston Hiura, Milwaukee Brewers
Age: 23 B: R T: R Height: 5-11 Weight: 190

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .303/.368/.570 HR: 19 RBI: 49 SB: 9 WAR: 2.0 OPS+: 138

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 91.4 Hard Hit%: 50 wOBA: .388 xwOBA: .360 Barrel%: 13.9
Fld%: .949 DRS: -5 UZR: -8.2

Career Accomplishments: NL Player of the Week; NL Rookie of the Month.

Trending: Upward

Hiura was the Brewers’ first-round selection in the 2017 MLB Draft out of the University of California-Irvine. It was clear on draft day that he was the best overall hitter in the class, with the only question being if he’d end up playing second base or left field because of his well-below-average defense wherever you put him. Milwaukee decided he would be their long-term fixture at second base and Hiura has worked hard to improve defensively. Although he has a long way to go, if he continues to work as hard as he has been, he should be able to develop into an adequate second baseman in time. Hiura has a special hit tool and what stood out last year was that he hit .298 against fastballs, .310 against breaking balls and .293 against off-speed pitches or changeups. He has tremendous plate coverage and awareness — combine that with a hard-hit rate of 50 percent and it’s easy to project his future. The only offensive question when he was drafted was how much power he would have. Last year, he belted 19 home runs in only 314 major-league at-bats and although some of that has to be attributed to the lively ball, the truth is he profiles out to at least a 25-home run hitter who has the potential of winning a batting title someday.

6. Mike Moustakas, Cincinnati Reds
Age: 31 B: L T: R Height: 6-0 Weight: 225

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .254/.329/.516 HR: 35 RBI: 87 SB: 3 WAR: 2.8 OPS+: 114

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 88.7 Hard Hit%: 37.6 wOBA: .343 xwOBA: .344 Barrel%: 8.5
Fld%: .993 DRS: -2 UZR: 0.2

Career Accomplishments: Three-time All-Star.

Trending: Sideways

Moustakas finally got his long-term contract when the Cincinnati Reds inked him to a four-year, $64 million deal this offseason. Moustakas, who was a shortstop in high school, has spent most of his major-league career at third base — he’s played 1,042 of 1,131 games at that position. However, the Reds signed him to be their long-term second baseman, a position he’s only played for 47 games in his career. In an era of analytics, improved positioning and shifts, the Reds are comfortable that his offensive power will far make up for whatever defensive deficiencies are exposed. Moose has belted 20 or more home runs five different times in his career and is coming off the best power season of his career, hitting 35 home runs while making the All-Star team for the third time. Moustakas won a world championship when he was a member of the Kansas City Royals back in 2015, and has played in 10 different postseason series with the Royals and Brewers. He’s a winner, and his positive influence in the Reds clubhouse will certainly help and expedite the development of young emerging players like outfielders Nick Senzel and Aristides Aquino.

7. Kolten Wong, St. Louis Cardinals
Age: 29 B: L T: R Height: 5-9 Weight: 183

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .285/.361/.423 HR: 11 RBI: 59 SB: 24 WAR: 5.2 OPS+: 106

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 85.3 Hard Hit%: 29.3 wOBA: .319 xwOBA: .310 Barrel%: 3.0
Fld%: .987 DRS: 19 UZR: 5.2

Career Accomplishments: Gold Glove; Top 3 NL Rookie of the Year.

Trending: Upward

Throughout Wong’s seven-year major-league career, I would always describe his defense as Gold-Glove-caliber, yet he had never won the award. Well, in 2019, he finally won one while also finishing in the top 20 in NL MVP voting and stealing the most bases of his career, swiping 24 in just 28 attempts. The Cardinals signed Wong in 2016 to a five-year, $25.5 million contract with a team option for 2021. At the time it looked like a club-friendly contract as both scouts and analytic experts felt that when he got to his prime years, his performance would jump to another level. The contract ended up being fair for both sides as Wong has never hit more than 12 home runs, never stole 25 bases and never scored 75 runs in a season. Wong is an example of a player who had a much higher ceiling and too many expectations. However, he ended up being a solid slightly above-average major-league second baseman who plays the game with humility, passion and professionalism.

8. Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 25 B: L T: R Height: 5-10 Weight: 188

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .270/.336/.514 HR: 17 RBI: 51 SB: 5 WAR: 2.6 OPS+: 124

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 91.1 Hard Hit%: 46.2 wOBA: .354 xwOBA: .345 Barrel%: 16.3
Fld%: .989 DRS: 2 UZR: 1.4

Career Accomplishments: All-Star; Top 3 Rookie of the Year.

Trending: Sideways

The Tampa Bay Rays’ front office was so convinced that Lowe would develop into their long-term answer at second base that they gave him a six-year, $24 million contract with team options for 2025 and 2026, despite that fact he had played in just 43 major-league games and had punched out a staggering 38 times in just 129 at-bats in 2018. However, Lowe rewarded them in the first half of last season by slashing .276/.339/.523 with 17 doubles, 16 home runs and 49 runs batted in. His OPS+ at the time was 126 and his WAR an impressive 2.8. In the second half of the year, Lowe went just 3-for-17 before a strain in his left quadricep and a severe bone bruise on his right leg ended his season prematurely. Lowe ended the season with the fourth-worst strikeout rate of all major-league hitters, striking out 113 times in just 296 at-bats. His power is real but the swing-and-miss is probably not going to leave his game as he has huge holes at the plate, including difficulties with the breaking pitch, as shown by his .219 average against those pitches.

9. Cavan Biggio, Toronto Blue Jays
Age: 25 B: L T: R Height: 6-2 Weight: 205

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .234/.364/.429 HR: 16 RBI: 48 SB: 14 WAR: 2.9 OPS+: 113

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 88.7 Hard Hit%: 40.1 wOBA: .343 xwOBA: .345 Barrel%: 9.0
Fld%: .989 DRS: -1 UZR: -0.3

Career Accomplishments: Fifth-round pick by Blue Jays in 2016 MLB Draft.

Trending: Upward

Biggio, like Hiura and Moustakas, profiles more of as an offensive second baseman, but his elite baseball instincts and intelligence, coupled with advanced positioning and shifts should be enough to keep him at the position long term. Offensively, he brings to the table the potential of at least 20 homers and 20 steals for the 2020 season. In fact, last year at both Triple A and the majors, he hit 22 homers while stealing 19 bags in 20 attempts. One of his best traits is his knowledge of the strike zone and ability to spit on pitches just outside of the black edges of the plate. He walked 115 times in the minors in 2018 and 105 times at both the minors and majors combined in 2019. His career minor-league on-base percentage is .375 over 364 games in 1,288 at-bats and that translated to the majors last year — he got on base at a .364 clip. Biggio grew up in the game — he’s the son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio — and you can certainly tell by the way he carries himself with great professionalism.

10. Luis Arraez, Minnesota Twins
Age: 23 B: L T: R Height: 5-10 Weight: 178

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .334/.399/.439 HR: 4 RBI: 28 SB: 2 WAR: 1.8 OPS+: 123

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 86.9 Hard Hit%: 22.1 wOBA: .360 xwOBA: .336 Barrel%: 2.7
Fld%: .974 DRS: -8 UZR: -5

Career Accomplishments: Top 6 AL Rookie of the Year.

Trending: Upward

Arraez was called up to the majors for the first time on May 17 of last year and he quickly made a name for himself, slashing .334/.399/.439 in 366 plate appearances over 92 games. What really stood out was that he walked more than he struck out. That’s right, 36 walks and 29 strikeouts in just 326 at-bats. Even more impressive was that his strikeout rate of 7.9 percent placed him in the top 1 percent in the entire AL in that category. Arraez doesn’t have much game power and just average speed, but his ability to get on base could be a difference-maker as a table-setter with all the power the Twins have throughout their deep lineup. Defensively he has a lot of work to do but should develop enough with experience to at least become adequate in time. Clearly it was his special hit tool that allowed him to make this top 10 ranking.

(Photo of Altuve: Greg Fiume / Getty Images)

The Bowden Big Board: Top 10 first basemen


By Jim Bowden May 12, 2020 109
The Big Board is a look at players from across the league at key points in the season: in the spring, at the trade deadline and in the offseason. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting the top players at every position — for whenever baseball resumes. First up is the first basemen who will make an impact.

1. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
Age: 30 B: L T: R Height: 6-5 Weight: 221

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .295/.389/.549 HR: 38 RBI: 121 SB: 6 WAR: 4.0 OPS+: 136

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 90.0 Hard Hit%: 42.6 wOBA: .388 xwOBA: .401 Barrel%: 11.9
Fld%: .996 DRS: 1 UZR: -4.5 Def: -16.2

Career accomplishments: Four-time All-Star; Gold Glove; Silver Slugger; twice Top 5 MVP.

Trending: Upward

Freeman is the best all-around complete first baseman in baseball. He’s in the prime of his career with the potential to win a batting title as well as an MVP Award. He’s coming off a season in which he hit a career-high 38 home runs. He utilizes the entire field with consistent sweet-spot contact. Defensively, he’s coming off one of his worst years; however, he’s just two years removed from 9 defensive runs saved, a UZR of 7.8 and NL Gold Glove Award. He has above-average range to both sides and is elite at stretching. He’s a true leader on and off the field and the hitter you want at the plate with the game on the line. He underwent right elbow surgery to remove three loose bone fragments in the offseason but is expected to be at full health when play resumes. Freeman’s intangibles are off the charts and he’s best characterized as being all about winning.

2. Pete Alonso, New York Mets
Age: 25 B: R T: R Height: 6-3 Weight: 245

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .260/.358/.583 HR: 53 RBI: 120 SB: 1 WAR: 5.2 OPS+: 148

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 90.6 Hard Hit%: 42.3 wOBA: .384 xwOBA: 374 Barrel%: 15.8
FLD%: .990 DRS: -3 UZR: 1.8

Career Accomplishments: All-Star; Top 7 MVP; NL Rookie of the Year.

Trending: Upward

Alonso led MLB with 53 home runs last year on his way to the NL Rookie of the Year Award and his first All-Star appearance. He also won the Home Run Derby, edging out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in an epic battle. Alonso had the best barrel percentage of all first basemen in baseball, and his power is literally foul pole to foul pole. He worked extremely hard on his defense and was probably the most improved defensive first baseman in the game, albeit still below-average defensively, as shown by his 12 errors and -3 DRS. He’s always been a good fastball hitter, but has put in a lot of hard work to improve against breaking balls, as shown by his 10 homers off the breaking ball last season. His big personality has not only won over New York, but he’s quickly becoming one of the young faces of the sport thanks to his demeanor, humility and incredible sense of humor. His strong work ethic and ability to adjust makes it easy to project him improving his defense at first base and his ability to hit breaking balls and changeups.

3. Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
Age: 30 B: L T: L Height: 6-3 Weight: 241

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .293/.405/.520 HR: 27 RBI: 94 SB: 5 WAR: 3.8 OPS+: 137

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 88.8 Hard Hit%: 38.2 wOBA: 381 xwOBA: 379 Barrel%: 8.0
FLD%: .996 DRS: 2 UZR: 3.7

Career Accomplishments: Three-time All-Star; three Gold Gloves; Silver Slugger; Top 4 MVP.

Trending: Sideways

Rizzo was arguably the best defensive first baseman in baseball last year, winning the NL Gold Glove Award for the third time. He also led all first basemen on this list in terms of on-base percentage with a .405 clip thanks to his patient approach, which resulted in 71 walks and a league-leading 27 hit-by-pitches. Rizzo stands on top of home plate when he hits, something he’s modeled after the great Barry Bonds, which gives him phenomenal plate coverage (but also the hit-by-pitches). He remains extremely quick on inside fastballs and does a great job of staying back on breaking balls and changeups. Between his plate discipline and ability to hit every type of pitch on both sides of the plate, he remains a Top 3 first baseman in baseball. His career seems to have leveled off, but at an extremely consistent level as demonstrated by the fact he’s hit 25-30 home runs and had an on-base percentage of at least .375 in each of his last six seasons.

4. Matt Olson, Oakland Athletics
Age: 26 B: L T: R Height: 6-5 Weight: 230

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .267/.351/.545 HR: 36 RBI: 91 SB: 0 WAR: 5.4 OPS+ 137

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 92.3 Hard Hit%: 50.2 wOBA: .359 xwOBA: .370 Barrel%: 13.4
FLD%: .993 DRS: 18 UZR: 6.6

Career Accomplishments: Two Gold Gloves; Top 4 Rookie of the Year.

Trending: Upward

Olson has tremendous power as shown by his 36 home runs last year despite missing all of April and the first six days of May. His hard-hit percentage was a staggering 50.2 percent, by far the best of any first baseman in the league with an average exit velocity of 92.3 mph. In his short four-year career, he has averaged 40 home runs over 162 games and he’s just getting started. He has the potential of reaching the 50 plateau in time. His on-base percentage improved from .335 in 2018 to .351 in 2019 and getting to .365 is realistic. He is an elite defender, as he won his second consecutive AL Gold Glove Award thanks in part to an astounding 18 defensive runs saved. Don’t be surprised if Olson skyrockets to the top of this list over the next couple of seasons as he continues to develop as a hitter.

5. Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals
Age: 32 B: R T: R Height: 6-3 Weight: 228

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .260/.346/.476 HR: 34 RBI: 97 SB: 3 WAR: 2.4 OPS+ 113

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 91.1 Hard Hit%: 44.4 wOBA. 387 xwOBA .383 Barrel%: 11.6
FLD% .996 DRS: 0 UZR: 2.5

Career Accomplishments: Six-time All-Star; three Gold Gloves; four Silver Sluggers; three-time Top 3 MVP.

Trending: Downward

Goldschmidt quickly became one of the quiet leaders of the Cards’ clubhouse last season, leading by both example and voice. He blasted 34 home runs in his first season in a Cardinals uniform and it was the third consecutive year he’s hit 30 or more home runs. However, some of his other numbers are beginning to trend downward over the last three years, including his on-base percentage (.404 to .389 to .346) and his slugging percentage (.563 to .533 to .476), which is something to monitor. Of course, being traded from Arizona to St. Louis and leaving the dry, desert climate while joining a new team in a different stadium and city might have something to do with it as well. It also didn’t help that he didn’t have a lot of protection in the lineup around him, an issue that might not improve this year either after a slow offseason by the front office. Goldschmidt does play every day, as shown by his 155 games or more in each of the last five seasons. But 2019 was the first time he wasn’t on the NL All-Star team since 2012 and the first time he didn’t win the NL Silver Slugger award for first base since 2016.

6. Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers
Age: 29 B: L T: R Height: 6-0 Weight: 220

2019 Stats:
Slash Line: .251/.374/.515 HR: 35 RBI: 98 SB: 4 WAR: 5.7 OPS+: 133

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 88.9 Hard Hit%: 41.3 wOBA: .366 xwOBA: .372 Barrel%: 12.1
FLD%: .995 DRS: 8 UZR: 0.2

Career Accomplishments: All-Star; top 15 MVP twice.

Trending: Sideways

Muncy is a great story and example of perseverance. After being released in March 2017 by the Oakland Athletics, it looked like his career could be over. He later signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and made it back to the big leagues in 2018. He walloped 35 home runs in both 2018 and 2019 for L.A. and finished in the Top 15 in NL MVP voting both years. He’s played several positions for the Dodgers including 70 games last year at second base, 65 games at first base and 35 games at third base. It appears he’ll finally settle in as the Dodgers’ full-time first baseman this year. Muncy is coming off back-to-back stellar years, as shown by his 161 OPS+ in 2018 and his impressive 5.4 WAR this past season. His consistent power, ability to draw walks and 41.3 percent hard-hit rate are his best and most impressive traits.

7. Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates
Age: 27 B: B T: R Height: 6-4 Weight: 248

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .277/.367/.569 HR: 37 RBI: 116 SB: 0 WAR: 2.7 OPS+: 143

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 89.8 Hard Hit%: 39.7 wOBA: .350 xwOBA: 354 Barrel%: 8.5
FLD%: .988 DRS: -8 UZR: -7.5

Career Accomplishments: All-Star; Top 3 Rookie of the Year.

Trending: Upward

Bell finally had his breakout season, or, should I say, the first half of 2019. He slashed an impressive .302/.376/.648 with 30 doubles, 27 home runs and 84 runs batted in his first 88 games last season while making his first NL All-Star team. Bell changed his batting stance to a more straight-up approach and the results included career highs with 300 total bases, 143 OPS+, doubles, home runs, runs scored and runs batted in. He still has some work to do defensively which will be important if he’s to climb in these future rankings. However his strong character, makeup and work ethic point to him trending upward in all facets of his game. He won’t have a lot of protection in the Pirates lineup again this year, so it will be important for him to continue to draw his walks. His on-base percentage has improved from .334 to .357 to .367 the last three years and the analytic trend suggests he could reach the .377 level this season.

8. Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians
Age: 34 B: B T: R Height: 5-11 Weight: 213

2019 Stats:
Slash line: 281/.397/.515 HR: 34 RBI: 93 SB: 4 WAR: 4.6 OPS+: 136

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 89.8 Hard Hit%: 41 wOBA: .353 xwOBA: 361 Barrel%: 8.3
FLD%: .990 DRS: 0 UZR: 1.5

Career Accomplishments: All-Star; Silver Slugger; Top 15 MVP.

Trending: Upward

Who would have thought that Santana would have the best year of his career at age 33? But that’s exactly what happened last year when he put up his career-best in slash line, runs scored and runs batted in. He’s played in 152 games or more in each of his seven seasons which demonstrates his durability. Last year he drew over 100 walks for the fourth time in his career — he’s one of the best in the AL in working a count and spitting on balls outside of the strike zone. The Indians brass felt that Santana also had arguably the best defensive year of his career. One of his strong suits has been his strong leadership skills in the clubhouse. While most players start to decline in their mid-30s, Santana seems to be getting better like a 1999 bottle of Opus One.

9. José Abreu, Chicago White Sox
Age: 33 B: R T: R Height: 6-3 Weight: 255

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .284/.330/.503 HR: 33 RBI: 123 SB: 2 WAR: 2.9 OPS+: 119

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 90.9 Hard Hit%: 43.7 wOBA: 354 xwOBA: 357 Barrel%: 9.8
FLD%: .993 DRS: -8 UZR: -1.9

Career Accomplishments: Three-time All-Star; two Silver Sluggers; Rookie of the Year; Top 4 MVP.

Trending: Sideways

Abreu led the AL in runs batted in last year with 123 while belting 33 home runs. He’s been a model of consistency since joining the White Sox back in 2014, hitting 22 or more homers in every season while driving in at least 100 runs in all but one of his six years. His career slash line of .293/.349/.513 remains a consistent barometer in predicting his offensive production. What stands out is his respectable on-base percentage considering he doesn’t draw walks; he hasn’t walked more than 37 times in a season since 2016. However, he does know how to produce runs. With a man on third and less than two outs, White Sox fans can count on him driving in those runs, as shown by his AL-leading 10 sacrifice flies last year. Abreu is a below-average defender at first base, but makes most of the routine plays. His work ethic is sound and professional batting practice processes are good examples for the young Sox boppers like outfielders Luis Robert and Eloy Jiménez to emulate.

10. Yuli Gurriel, Houston Astros
Age: 35 B: R T: R Height: 6-0 Weight: 198

2019 Stats:
Slash line: .298/.343/.541 HR: 31 RBI: 104 SB: 5 WAR: 3.9 OPS+: 126

Statcast:
Avg. Exit Velo: 89.4 Hard Hit%: 38.7 wOBA: 341 xwOBA: .315 Barrel%: 3.0
FLD%: .996 DRS: -1 UZR: -3.3

Career Accomplishments: Top 4 Rookie of the Year.

Trending: Sideways

Gurriel is one of the most underrated consistent first basemen in baseball. He hit .298 in 2019, .291 in 2018 and .299 in 2017 while only striking out 62-65 times in each of those years. However, on the flip side, he still doesn’t walk enough; his 37 walks last season was a career high. Like most major leaguers, he had his career-best in home runs last season (31) while driving in 104 runs. It was also the second time in three years he’s hit 40 or more doubles. Defensively he made only three errors at first base for a fielding percentage of .996 at that position. He has solid range to both sides and scoops consistently. His postseason production was also impressive this past year, hitting over .300 in both the ALDS and World Series, while driving in 13 runs in his 18 postseason games with five extra-base hits, including two homers.

Triple Play today in the KBO

Nemesis: Generations of pitchers failed to suppress Pete Rose. One succeeded


By Andrew Baggarly May 29, 2020 34
It was impossible to keep Rickey Henderson from stealing bases. It was impossible to keep Hank Aaron in the ballpark. You couldn’t face Ichiro or Pete Rose without giving up a hit. Unless … you were their nemesis. This is a series about the game’s greatest players, and the less-heralded foes who got the best of them again, and again, and again.

No player in major-league history collected more hits than Pete Rose.

You knew that, of course. You also knew that Ty Cobb held the record before him. The number, 4,191, is probably etched into your baseball consciousness. So is 4,192, which glowed on the scoreboard that night at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium in 1985 when Rose singled off of Eric Show of the San Diego Padres.

But that wasn’t the final number. Rose would whirl around first base 66 more times before retiring as a player/manager in 1986. By the time his 24-year career came to an end, he held the major-league records for games and plate appearances, too. The all-time record for hits stands at 4,256, and if that number isn’t etched into your consciousness, it’s probably because nobody has come anywhere close to threatening it. And if prevailing trends in the game continue, nobody ever will.

But it’s only when you slice up that number — 4,256 — that you begin to understand just how impossible it is. There is only one way to amass that many hits. You have to play for an extremely, freakishly long time. You have to be extremely, freakishly consistent at the plate.

And because pitchers who hang around a long time tend to be pretty good, too, you have to be just as successful against the all-time greats as you are against the tomato cans. The four pitchers that Rose faced the most in his career were all Hall of Famers: Phil Niekro, Don Sutton, Tom Seaver and Gaylord Perry. He hit .283, .339, .286 and .304 against them, respectively. Juan Marichal, Steve Carlton and Bob Gibson — all honored in Cooperstown and on the short list of the game’s greatest pitchers — also make Rose’s top-10 “most frequently faced” list. He batted .341, .270 and .307 against them.

Rose was so gifted at the art of contact hitting that he not only hit .352 against J.R. Richard, who owned one of the hardest and most intimidating fastballs in history, but in 87 career plate appearances against Richard, he struck out just five times. And, of course, he hit in 44 consecutive games in 1978.

What Rose did against pitchers at the height of their craft was impressive enough. But to stand truly in awe of Rose’s relentless career is to measure it by its breadth. Rose batted .531 against an aging Warren Spahn and wore out a young Doc Gooden (.346). He sprayed singles against Sandy Koufax and Orel Hershiser. Long before he set the all-time record against the Padres, he got a hit against Johnny Podres. He faced all the Bobs: Bob Gibson, Bob Forsch, Bob Friend, Bob Knepper, Bob Veale, Bob Buhl, Bob Welch, Bob Shirley, Bob Bruce and Bob Moose.

He faced Don Larsen. He faced Dan Larson. He faced Tommy John, John Denny and Denny McLain. From Ted Abernathy to Oscar Zamora, Rose stood in a major league batter’s box and stared back at 809 different major-league pitchers over a career that began when John F. Kennedy was in office and ended in the midst of Ronald Reagan’s second term.

Rose amassed at least 10 at-bats against 363 different pitchers. Astoundingly, he collected a hit against 362 of them.

There was just one exception.

“I did what, now?” said Jim Nash, reached by phone at his home in Atlanta’s far northwest suburbs.

It’s a stretch to suggest that Pete Rose’s nemesis was a 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-hander unironically nicknamed Jumbo Jim who broke into the majors as a sensation with the Kansas City A’s in 1966 before a torn rotator cuff robbed him of his fastball. Rose and Nash didn’t face each other enough times to form anything resembling a rivalry. They did not do battle with a pennant on the line. There were other pitchers Rose faced more often — Koufax, Randy Jones, Al Downing — who held him under a .200 average.

The fact that Rose had at least 10 at-bats against 363 different pitchers and got a hit against all but one says more about Rose than it says about Jumbo Jim.

It was only 10 at-bats. But Nash retired Rose all 10 times. It’s a claim to fame nonetheless. It’s a bit of bar trivia that even Nash didn’t know.

“That may be my only claim,” Nash said with a laugh. “The only thing I was aware of is what a great hitter and ballplayer he was. You’re always trying to make good pitches, and against the great hitters, you’re always trying to move the ball in and out, up and down.

“I guess I’m just lucky. I know I didn’t strike him out much. He might have just hit the ball hard at somebody. With less luck, he might have gone 10 for 10.”

By the time Nash found himself in the Braves’ rotation in 1970, where he landed following a trade for Felipe Alou, he was no longer the overpowering and intimidating prospect who had gone 12-1 with a 2.06 ERA as a rookie and graced the cover of Sports Illustrated alongside fellow phenoms Catfish Hunter and Blue Moon Odom.

He was pitching through recurring shoulder soreness by the time he crossed paths with Rose, and no, those paths did not intersect often enough to turn them into rivals.

They only faced each other in four major-league games. On May 15, 1970, Rose reached on an error to second base, struck out and grounded out twice. Hank Aaron hit a tiebreaking, two-run home run in the eighth. Nash was working on a one-hitter before giving up consecutive singles to Johnny Bench and Lee May with two out in the ninth, then Hoyt Wilhelm came on to record the save in Atlanta’s 3-2 victory.

When they faced each other again two months later in Atlanta, the Reds won, 6-5, and Nash took no decision. But he held Rose to a pair of fly outs to center and a strikeout.

Ask Nash about facing Rose and that’s the confrontation he recalls.

“I know I threw him a ball that broke down and away and I remember he just stared at me,” Nash said. “Like, ‘Where’d that come from?’ And I struck him out on the same pitch and he walked calmly to the dugout.”

It took a lot to calm down Charlie Hustle.

“That name fit him perfectly,” Nash said. “The Reds had some great teams in ’70 and ’71, and, you know, the Braves weren’t bad, either. Whether it was the Reds or any lineup, you just had to pitch to your strengths. I was a fastball pitcher and I could make it ride up and in to right-handed batters. I could make it break away a little from a left-hander. If you can go up and down, in and out with your fastball, that’s basically four different pitches.”

When you throw hard, you can get away with mistakes. Nash was effectively wild at times with the A’s, but by 1971, he wasn’t missing bats and the Braves were using him in a swingman role.

On Sept. 13 of that season, the Reds and Braves met in front of just 7,144 fans at Riverfront Stadium. They were two teams playing out the string and slogging into the 13th inning when Rose won the game the way he usually did, through sheer force of will. He singled, advanced on a sacrifice, stole third and scored on an error.

Nash wasn’t on the mound in the 13th. He had come on in relief earlier. In the eighth inning, he got Rose to ground out to second base. In the 11th, Rose lined out.

They faced each other one last time in 1972, after Nash was summoned to protect a four-run lead in the eighth. Rose ended the game with a fly out to left.

Final line: 0 for 10, no walks, two strikeouts.

Not enough to be a nemesis. But it was enough for Nash to claim that he faced Charlie Hustle more than any pitcher without yielding so much as a single.

“That’s a lot of fun,” said Nash, 75, who retired from his second career in corporate communications for Bell South in 2005. “The only thing I can say is that against certain players, you had to concentrate a little harder. You knew you had to place the ball. Against a good hitter, you won’t get away with a mistake.”

Two months after Nash faced Rose for the final time in 1972, the Braves shipped him to the Phillies. A few starts later, he tore his rotator cuff.

“You didn’t have surgery back then,” Nash said. “Nobody was making big money. It was ‘See ya later’ and call up the next guy.”

Jumbo Jim’s career was over, and while it didn’t last long, it was far from forgettable. He still holds the A’s franchise record with seven consecutive winning decisions to begin his career, and he did it for a Kansas City club that finished under .500. He was a 23-year-old member of the rotation in the A’s inaugural 1968 season in Oakland, when he finished seventh in the American League with a 2.28 ERA.

In the Year of the Pitcher, he was one of the best in the AL.

One more thing: Nash was the pitcher on the mound on Opening Day in 1967, which will go down as a monumental day in A’s history. It was the first time they wore white shoes. After Nash’s first pitch to leadoff batter Vic Davalillo, Indians manager Joe Adcock announced to the umpires that Cleveland would play the game under protest. Those dazzling white cleats were too distracting to the hitter, he said.

But the white shoes weren’t a surprise to anyone who was paying attention. A few weeks earlier, Nash, Hunter and Odom had been wearing them on that Sports Illustrated cover.

“Kansas City was my favorite town to play in other than Atlanta,” Nash said. “I loved the people, loved the area of the country. There weren’t all that many fans, but they were supportive. And when we moved to Oakland, the fans there welcomed us with open arms.”

Nash has stayed in touch with the Braves and works with their alumni association. He makes appearances at senior homes where he puts on his Braves jersey and visits with Alzheimer’s patients. He happily shows up whenever he’s invited to alumni events and golf tournaments.

The next time he gathers with his former teammates, Jumbo Jim will have a new story to tell them. Say, did you happen to know …

“Well, of course, luck had something to do with it,” Nash said. “To get him out consistently, you had to get lucky. Because he usually hit it hard somewhere.”

Kluber left one inning with shoulder issues. Not looking good for a great competitor.

First health-related game delays of the season, on day 5. This season is still a very uncertain thing.

Eduardo Rodriguez of the Red Sox is having inflammation of a heart muscle that has been
observed in some patients recovering from the virus.

By continuing games during the pandemic, MLB is opening itself up to huge
lawsuits from players who suffer long term consequences from contracting
the virus during their MLB activities.

Playing these games is nothing but a money grab. Professional sports
are nothing without fans at the games.

Give it up already and go on to 2021.

I doubt they are liable Rocky.

Anyone could have opted out.