|
Top Prospect Alert Features |
Top Prospect Alert Baseball News Blog
Top Prospect Alert Fantasy Player Reports
Exclusive Prospect Interviews
Top Prospect Alert Original Stories
Prospect Photo Gallery
Top Prospect Alert Trivia
Top Prospect Alert Message Board
MLB Hat Store
Minor League Store
NFL Hat Store
NFL Team Apparel
NFL Player Jerseys
NCAA Hat Store
NBA Hat Store
NBA Player Jerseys
TopProspectAlert.com Minor League News & Autograph Blog HomeTop Prospect Alert - Hank Blalock By Schuyler DombroskeDOB: 11/28/80, Age: 22, Bats/Throws: L/R,
Height: 6’1’’, Weight: 195. Acquired: Rangers - Drafted in the 3rd Round
of the 1999 Draft (Rancho Bernardo HS, San Diego, CA). 2001 Stats: (High-A
- Charlotte) .380 AVG, 237 AB, 19 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 7 SB, 26 BB, 31 K, .441
OBP, .557 SLG; (AA - Tulsa) .327 AVG, 272 AB, 18 2B, 4 3B, 11 HR, 3 SB, 39
BB, 38 K, .412 OBP, .544 SLG. 2002 Stats: (AAA - Oklahoma City) .307 AVG,
387 AB, 32 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 2 SB, 34 BB, 61 K, .363 OBP, .457 SLG; (Maj. -
Rangers) .211 AVG, 147 AB, 8 2B, 3 HR, 20 BB, 43 K, .306 OBP, .327
SLG.
Hank Blalock is still, in
my opinion, the best third base prospect in baseball. Mark Teixeira is a
great hitter, but I’m not so sure that he will stay at third base, and I
have always liked Blalock better than Sean Burroughs. Blalock is a
complete offensive player, hitting for average and power with excellent
patience. Yes, he struggled mightily against lefties (2-30), and he didn’t
exactly tear it up when he returned to Texas at the end of the season
either (234/333/362 in 47 ABs). Unfortunately for those who rejoice in the
failures of top prospects (or just want to find another spot for Shawon
Dunston), every other piece of information that we have regarding Hank
Blalock suggests that he will be a very good hitter in the major leagues.
Even his AAA numbers last season, while not spectacular like his 2001
numbers, were quite good for a 21 year old. Put simply, most 21 year olds,
even the greatest players throughout history, have experienced some
difficulty in the majors at that age. George Brett, whom Blalock is
frequently compared to, hit 2 home runs in his first full season (age 21).
Brett happened to have the good fortune of a patient coaching staff, which
is something that Blalock has not had (although in their defense, even
though I disagree with the decision to demote him last year, there is
plenty of competition at 3B in Texas). Hank Blalock will be absolutely
fine, if everyone just lets him play. As a hitter, he uses all fields, he
is capable of hitting the ball anywhere in the zone, and he will turn on a
pitch with power. I expect him to be a .300 hitter, and I expect him to
hit more than 25 homers a season, with an OBP around .400. He struck out
quite a bit last year, even when sent back to AAA, which is something to
keep an eye on early in 2003. He is much too strong of a contact hitter to
be striking out 100 times in a year. On the basepaths, Blalock has average
speed. It isn’t a strength, but it is only a weakness when compared to his
other tools. Defensively, he is above average. He was athletic enough to
be considered for a move to 2B last year, and he was a SS in high school.
His range is good, his hands are solid, and his arm is good enough (but
not much better than average). He is as complete a player as you will find
coming up through a minor league system.
The Rangers have had an
offense-heavy system for a long time, and the current state of affairs is
no different. As far as I can tell, Kenny Rogers (rookie year - 1989) is
the last pitcher that Texas developed that has been better than the league
average (Rick Helling is exactly average, according to www.baseball-reference.com).
Because of this, the Rangers are constantly scuffling in the minefield
that the AL West has become. 2003 will likely be no different, as the
Angels, A’s, and Mariners are all strong clubs again. The Texas rotation
for this year looks like it will be Park, Thomson, Benoit, Lewis or Drese,
and Davis, which is not going to scare anyone. The lineup, on the other
hand, has literally four options for third base, which means that Mr.
Blalock will probably not have the longest of leashes once again. He
should, however, win the job in spring training, and ought to hold onto it
this time for at least the next fifteen years or so. Comparisons for
players this talented are difficult. Brett’s name gets thrown around a
lot, and it’s certainly a good one. Robin Ventura (before the sudden
decline) is another one, and Eric Chavez with a little power subtracted
and added to average might be another. No matter who you choose, Hank
Blalock should be the next star at third base, and although it might not
happen in 2003, he should perform well enough to be the starting third
baseman for Texas all season. He is, in all seriousness, a potential Hall
of Famer.
|
|
Top Prospect Alert is owned
by: © 1999 - 2004 All rights reserved to Top Prospect Alert.com. Do not copy without permission from the owners of Top Prospect Alert.com
| ||