Minnesota "Rookies" Getting a Chance  (5/29/2017)

Partially due to injuries but more due to turnover, the Berserkers have six of nine starting lineup spots held by players with less than a year of major league experience.   Together, they are making up the most fearsome Minnesota lineup since the inaugural season.   Four of the six players are from the 2015 draft, which could turn out to be an important turning point in Minnesota's future success.




1B Bob Brown was a fourth round pick in 2015.  He's currently leading the team with a .349 AVG and has a .921 OPS.   Called up late last season, the 24 year old has stabilized 1B defense as well, improving over Blanchard's double digit -ZR by simply hovering around average.




The 3B starting job went to rookie Alan Hurt, who was much talked about in last month's article and in the offseason.   Hurt continues to prove that he deserved a chance, with an .844 OPS thanks to seven HR in 43 games.  Hurt was a third round pick in 2015.

Luis "Patches" Rodriguez, one of the two Luis Rodriguez's on the team,  got his chance to start last season around the midway point when it was clear Minnesota was out of the running.  Patches has provided elite defense (a +4.4 ZR through May) and though he has been a below average hitter due to his struggles against LHP, he holds an .853 OPS against RHP.  Rodriguez was acquired on a minor league deal in 2014 as an international amateur.

Patrolling CF this season is Harley Fisher.  Acquired in a trade from Ann Arbor for 2B Reese O'Higgins, another 3rd Rd Pick but in 2013.   Fisher has been a late bloomer in Minnesota, growing in potential after getting the starting job late last season.   Thanks to an increased contact rate and power, he's produced a .952 OPS with a .333 AVG and 10 HR.  Maybe most surprising is his plus CF defense at +3.5 ZR.




A recent call-up due to injuries, OF Frank White has a .283/.367/.434 triple slash.  Not dominating but a good start after a sudden call-up.  Not that White needed more seasoning after a .998 OPS in AAA, but there just wasn't room on the roster for this #16 Pick in 2015.  White is another young player that has brought above average defense along with a decent bat and has a +1.3 ZR in just 13 games.


The second Luis Rodriguez, "Too," has gotten a start at SS after Chip Render and Sam Harper, the #1 and #2 on the depth chart, went down with injury.  Rodriguez was the fifth round pick in the 2015 draft.   He's made a big impact in just six games, hitting .440.   It's likely he'll be moved back down once the other starters get healthy since the front office wants him playing every day and would also like him to get experienced at 2B and 3B.

Minnesota fans should be excited by such a young core, that incidentally, also includes 23 year old Peter Blanchard, for years to come.