Josh Kroeger redux?

by BobbyMac on Dec 2, 2007 6:33 PM EST

Josh Kroeger sort of re-emerged in 2007 in the Cubs minors. Given their lineup's "conservative" leanings (almost all rightys), they could really use a reasonable lefty bat. Do people think he has a chance to be that still?

I know that his age-20 and age-21 seasons (2003 and 2004) were spent in some of the best hitting environments in the minors, but the fact remains that he raked at levels which are normally very challenging for a guy his age:

Age-20 combined stats (Lancaster/El Paso):
.314/.369/.468 (513 AB) - Was GREAT in A+ (305 AB), bad@AA.

Age-21 combined stats (El Paso/Tuscon):
.331/.380/.587 (553 AB) - killed both AA and AAA.

At this point, he made it up to 5th on John's list, and 7th on the BA list for Arizona, with negtives being listed as:

"overly aggressive approach"

"already lost a step" (but still can play CF in a pinch)

"effort has come into question"

"Arizona outfield depth"

As many here surely know, he followed that with 2 really crappy seasons at ages 22 and 23 (2005 and 2006).

Now, after I'd written him off, the Cubs picked him up (Yay Cubs - they so rarely find good reclamation projects!) They sent him back to AA to begin 2007, and he turned the Southern league upside down for 225 AB (.382/.449/.609). And, while his AAA numbers weren't worth writing home over, .263/.338/.474 isn't exactly awful for a 24-year-old at Iowa.

So, what do people think is most likely for Kroeger in the next few years?

A. Becomes nothing more than a 5th-outfielder/PH, IF he gets major league jobs at all.
B. Becomes a reasonable 4th-OF/PH.
C. Becomes a decent left-side of a platoon.
D. Becomes a nearly "average" full-time major league OF.
E. Becomes an above-average MLB OF (or better).

Poll

3-year Kroeger outlook?

Becomes an above-average MLB OF (or better).

1 votes

Becomes nothing more than a 5th-outfielder/PH, IF he gets major league jobs at all.

8 votes

Becomes a reasonable 4th-OF/PH.

14 votes

Becomes a decent left-side of a platoon.

14 votes

Becomes a nearly "average" full-time major league OF.

3 votes

40 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

As a Cubs fan

I was quite happy to see Kroeger seem to improve. That said, I'm not banking on him anytime soon (that is, as a key role early in 2008). His discipline seems improved which is big.

My guess is he starts the year at Iowa in a sort of "prove it" mode. If he does well, and if the Cubs are still searching for an OF (not impossible sadly ... ), then maybe he gets the nod. If we have an OF at that point, then he might be a nice trade chip to offer up.

Long run, I think if last year was real ... then I think he could be a decent starter. I guess only time will tell (yes I realize this is sort of a cop out answer).

by toonsterwu on Dec 2, 2007 6:24 PM EST reply actions

LOL

Well, it appears you're not alone... I checked back after reading some other posts, and noticed that after just 6 votes, each of the 5 categories already had a vote (one had 2 votes obviously).

by BobbyMac on Dec 2, 2007 6:41 PM EST up reply actions

Can't hit

Hes hit like a future big leaguer three brief times in his career..
At Lancaster (hitting place extraordinaire) at 20, in the PCL at 21 and on a demotion repeat (considering all the AAA time he has had) of AA last year. The other 75% of his minor league career he has shown nothing that could reasonably make you think he is a future big leaguer of any importance considering he is a LF only

by nms on Dec 2, 2007 6:59 PM EST reply actions