Fred Lewis

by cincyinco on Apr 25, 2006 3:33 PM EDT

Fred Lewis is off to a good start in AAA. He did quite well in the second half of AA, but overall his AA season was not as good as hoped.

So far in for the Grizzlies, he has put up the following:

.324/.439./.471 with 7BB and 9K. 1HR, 2 2b, 10R, but only 2RBI.. also 16TB. Anyone know where he is hitting in the lineup? And I would love to hear what everyone thinks the future holds for this kid.

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fred lewis

4th outfielder

by sanchez101 on Apr 25, 2006 5:04 PM EDT reply actions

He's hitting leadoff

by marc w @ Minor League Ball on Apr 25, 2006 5:18 PM EDT reply actions

I wrote him off after the first part of last year, but I think that what he did in the last half of last year and the beginning of this year is a testament to his work ethic and his desire to be a good player, if next year is truly the beginning of the post Bonds era in San Francisco I would look at him to be a good everyday player.
He's getting older but I don't think his skills have finished developing

Keenlow

by Keenlow on Apr 25, 2006 6:42 PM EDT reply actions

Fred Lewis

Fred Lewis has always displayed a knack for getting on base that no one seems to respect. No matter where he's played, he's managed to have an OBP-BA of about .100.

I remember after the 2003 season when he played for Hagerstown in the Sally League. He hit .250 but had a .360 OBP. Apparently someone in the Giants organization jokingly said something about him drawing walks by "accident," and BA referenced that in their scouting report. They went on to say that Brian Buscher, who hit .275 but with a terrible OBP for the same team had a "much better approach at the plate."

Lewis had a great season for high A San Jose in 2004. Last year he was invited to Spring Training where Marquis Grissom took him under his wing. Grissom and Felipe Alou advised him that he needed to be more aggressive at the plate. Lewis tried to implement their suggestions during the first two months at Norwich. That, combined with a difficult environment for hitters due to weather and league factors caused him to put up terrible numbers. Around the first of June, there was a note in BA that he said he was going back to his old approach. His performance started improving almost immediately.

From around June 1 on, Lewis had a BA of .300 with an OBP of about .400 and for that last two months it was a lot better than that.

I am not at all surprised by his performance early this year. He suffered a temporary setback with a pulled hammy, but came back strong from the injury.

Lewis is extremely fast, but still needs to refine his basestealing skills which improved last year. He has doubles and triples power with occasional HR power, so his OBP's should be sustainable in the majors. He probably still has upside on power as he fills out and gets more confident at the plate.

The biggest question with Fred is his fielding. He clearly has the tools to be an excellent OF, but he seems to lose concentration easily and has dropped several easy to catch balls. He also tends to not get great jumps or take the best path to the ball. He would have much more value as a CF, but it is not clear that he is a good enough fielder to play there in the majors.

His ceiling is as a very good, high OBP everyday leadoff hitter. Not clear he will reach that ceiling, but the odds are improving.

by DrBGiantsfan on Apr 25, 2006 8:56 PM EDT reply actions

By the Way

Fred Lewis hit his second HR of the season tonight against Tacoma. He also committed his second fielding error.

by DrBGiantsfan on Apr 25, 2006 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Wasn't

Fred a two way star as well? Both football and baseball? Doesn't it typically take longer for these kind of athletes to "get it".. ? I've always been a big fan of his, and I think he could do well if given the chance in SF.

by cincyinco on Apr 26, 2006 12:03 AM EDT reply actions

I believe it was B.P. that wrote...

"Between Fred Lewis and Marcus Sanders, the Giants could have the best receiving corps in San Francisco."

by multiphasic on Apr 26, 2006 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

re: Wasn't

Yes, I believe he was more of a football star than a baseball star but the Giants offered him good money to pursue baseball instead.

I think he will be in the mix for the outfield in the next few years.

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Apr 26, 2006 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

it can

Sometimes it does take a little longer but as usual there is no steadfast rule. Joe Mauer and Jeff Francouer are two that got it pretty quick while Drew Henson and Roscoe Crosby never did. I think Lewis could help a major league club at some point.

by PolkCountyRay on Apr 26, 2006 12:10 PM EDT reply actions