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TopProspectAlert.com Minor League News & Autograph Blog HomeTop Prospect Alert - Bronson Sardinha By Schuyler DombroskeDOB: 4/6/83, Age: 18, Height: 6’1’’, Weight:
210, Bats: L, Throws: R. Acquired: Yankees - Drafted in the 1st Round of
the 2001 Draft (Kamehameha HS, Kahuku, HI). 2001 Stats: (Rookie -
GCL Yanks) .303 AVG, 188 AB, 14 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 11 SB, 28 BB, 51 K, .398
OBP, .473 SLG.
Sardinha was the Yanks’ second
pick in the first round this summer, taken with the pick received as
compensation for Denny Neagle’s flight to thin air. “Bully” became the
highest drafted Hawaiian position player in draft history, but was
considered a stretch for the first round at the time. Sardinha’s main
strengths were (and are) his arm and his bat, meaning that the likelihood
that he will remain at short, especially considering the current situation
of the Yanks, is negligible. However, opinions of Sardinha began to change
rather quickly after his placement in the Gulf Coast League. He won game
after game with his bat, and showed much more pop than anyone expected
from an 18-year old. With 11 steals in 13 chances, his speed was a little
better than advertised as well, making him quite close to a five plus-tool
prospect. Sardinha did commit 15 errors in only 46 games, and even though
that isn’t unusual for a young shortstop, it furthers the belief that he
will eventually be converted to third base. He also struck out 51 times in
188 at-bats, and will need to make better contact to continue to move up
the ladder.
Sardinha’s weaknesses are very
common for a young player, but his tool set is not common at all. With the
struggles of Drew Henson, Sardinha may have an opportunity to become a
third baseman in the Bronx, but that time is still far in the future. I
would expect the Yanks to start Bronson in Greensboro next year, but I
wouldn’t be surprised if they waited for Staten Island’s season opener in
June. Either way, I can’t see him making an appearance in New York until
at least late 2004. It’s early, but his upside seems to be enormous right
now, perhaps along the lines of Adrian Beltre. I think the Yanks would
settle for a Mike Pagliarulo or Scott Brosius clone at this point, but
Sardinha is on a much better pace than that.
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