Right field is a position primed for upgrade this offseason.
MLB:
Mike Yastrzemski: .231/.302/.437, 9 3B, 18 HR, 3 SB, 474 PA.
Jerar Encarnacion: .248/.277/.425, 5 HR, 119 PA.
YtY is the current incumbent, possibly in a R-L platoon with Jerar or Luis Matos. This is one of the more likely positions for Buster to look for an upgrade starting with the consensus #1 free agent on the market, Juan Soto. Speaking of Juan Soto, is it just me or has his defense in much easier RF's to play been disastrous in the World Series? Other free agent RF's include Teoscar Hernandez and Anthony Santander. If one is signed by the arbitration tender deadline, I could see YtY not getting a contract offer or he could be moved to a 4'th OF role backing up all 3 positions.
AAA:
Hunter Bishop: .248/.318/.388, 9 HR, 10 SB, 413 PA.
If Bishop can build on a healthy season after missing all of 2023, I could see him getting a midseason call up depending on organizational needs at the MLB level. 2025 is probably his last chance to find traction on his pro career.
AA:
Victor Bericoto: .261/.309/.384, 11 HR, 6 SB, 479 PA.
As commenters have said, don't sleep on Victor Bericoto. He's a hitter. I could see him busting out in Sacramento and getting a midseason callup, again determined by needs at the MLB level.
A+:
James Tibbs III: A: .415/.429/.512, 2.4 BB%, 26.2 K%, 42 PA. A+: .134/.216/.239, 2 HR, 9.5 BB%, 33.8 K%, 74 PA.
Rodolfo Nolasco: .234/.331/.418, 10 HR, 9 SB, 10.9 BB%, 35.3 K%, 275 PA.
Tibbs had a disappointing pro debut for a first round draft pick out of a major college conference, but it's a small sample. He needs to start 2025 at A+ and get his K rate below 30% while keeping his BB% closer to 10 than 0. Nolasco has in interesting power/speed combo but needs to cut down on his K rate.
A:
Cesar Quintas: .228/.320/.386, 12 HR, 3 SB, 8.6 BB%, 21.8 K%, 440 PA.
Saw him play. Good looking young hitter. Smoked a HR to LF that went out on a line. K/BB looks good but needs to hit for more average. Maybe his low BABIP of .270 will positively regress?
ACL:
None
DSL:
Carlos Concepcion: .244/.362/.366, 3 HR, 7 SB, 11.6 BB%, 30.7 K%, 199 PA.
18 yo who regressed a little in his second DSL season.
Summary:
Opportunity to upgrade RF seems to align with available free agents. Buster's challenge is getting one signed.
Never very high, YtY's power against LHP has all but disappeared as all 18 HRs last year were against RHP, confirmation of a trend. When the game is close with a Giant lead at Oracle, he should always be the late inning RFer. He plays there like no other.
ReplyDeleteFWIW, Soto's defense has never been positive, and it contributed to one of the WS losses.
ReplyDeleteTeoscar Hernández and Anthony Santander are arguably both worse than Soto in the field.
ReplyDeleteSantander as a switch hitter hits both sides fairly evenly.
Hernández, RHB, is good against RHP but really takes it to LHP.