Prospect Retro: Ben Zobrist
by John Sickels on Jun 19, 2009 11:52 AM EDT
16 comments
Prospect Retro: Ben Zobrist
Ben Zobrist was drafted by the Houston Astros in the sixth round in 2004, out of Dallas Baptist University. He was a very successful college player, leading Olivet Nazarene to the NAIA World Series in 2003 as a sophomore before transferring to Dallas Baptist for '04. Scouts liked his speed, strike zone judgment, and steady defense, but there was mixed opinion about his range at shortstop, which kept him out of the first five rounds. He played brilliantly in the New York-Penn League after signing, hitting .339/.438/.463 with 15 steals, winning the league batting title and showing strong plate discipline with a 43/31 BB/K ratio in 257 at-bats. I was very impressed with him, and gave him an aggressive Grade B in the 2005 book, looking at him as a major sleeper.
Zobrist began 2005 with Lexington in the Sally League, hitting .304/.415/.413 in 68 games with 16 steals. Promoted to Salem for the second half, he continued to rake in the Carolina League with a .333/.475/.496 mark. His plate discipline at both levels was strong, and there was little to quibble about with his bat, though scouts continued to doubt his range. I gave him a Grade B- in the 2006 book, writing that he looked like a fine prospect to me.
2006 began in Double-A, and he hit very well for Corpus Christi with a .327/.434/.473 mark in 83 games. On July 12th, he was traded to the Rays along with pitching prospect Mitch Talbot for Aubrey Huff. He ended up getting into 52 games in the majors, hitting just .224/.280..311, but considering that he was jumping to the majors with little high-level experience, he clearly deserved more chances.
As you know, he struggled with the bat again in 2007, hitting just .155 in 31 games, though he continued to show excellent plate discipline in Triple-A. He hit .253/.339/.505 in 62 games for the Rays last year, and is at .310/.420/.678 this year. In his minor league career, Zobrist is a .318/.429/.459 hitter in 364 games. In the majors, he's hit .245/.319/.452 in 652 at-bats, with 29 homers, 32 doubles, 15 steals, 71 walks, and 120 strikeouts. His overall batting average and OBP are still hungover from his '06 and '07 numbers, but in '07 and '08 he's hit a combined .280/.377/.586.
Zobrist has shown more power the last two years than expected. As we have detected in past reports on surprising players, one thing that stands out in his minor league record is excellent plate discipline....a high walk rate with a low strikeout rate.
Notable Shortstops drafted ahead of Ben Zobrist in 2004:
Stephen Drew (1st round) , Chris Nelson (1st round) ; Trevor Plouffe (1st round) ; Brian Bixler (2nd round) Matt Bush (1st round) Reid Brignac (2nd round)
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hitting instructor
In apologia for the poorly executed and recived steroid joke I made, I am posting this link regarding Zobrist and the hitting instructor article. Jibs linked to it over in the SS who will stay shortstops fanpost thread (although he is now Mr. Play wherever they have an opening it seems).
It is from DRaysBay. Tommy Rancel (sic?) i believe is the poster. Rob Neyer linked to it inApril. It is pretty interesting, although as John notes he had the good eye in the minors, and maybe that approach and maturing is the real key and not so much the instructor, but whatever works (this for some reason reminds me of Josh outman throwing low-mid 90s with his father’s offbeat approach, but he still throws hard with his now “normal” motion).
http://www.draysbay.com/2009/4/23/849233/cracking-the-zobrist-code-what-is
I am not sure but I seem to recall when i first read this the instructor saying Ben would not strike out more, but when I checked I thought he was.n So maybe he was just swinging harder (see below).
Jason Bartlett, i have no idea what got into him. I like maddon’s swinging harder theory (to which he attributed Zobrist’s success). The game is morre all or nothing now. Look at Howard and Mark Reynolds.
by wobatus on Jun 19, 2009 12:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
well
his k rate now seems about in line (I recall checking when the Neyer article came out, but I may have not looked at his career line). His walk rate has gone up from his initial partial seasons, and his flyball rate is up. His homers to flyball rate is WAY up. Used to be single digit percentages, 17% last year. 24% this year (Howard is 25%, reynoldsd 27%). His babip was low last year, .255, but not outlandish this year, .318.
by wobatus on Jun 19, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jaime Cevallos
I was just about to post this draysbay.com link also, so wobatus saved me the trouble. Zobrist worked with Jaime Cevallos, whose theories seem to center on drawing the back elbow in toward the body. If you read the link posted above, you’ll get a better idea of what he means by that, but if you just want the visual, John has posted the perfect illustrative pic at the beginning of this article. Notice how Zobrist’s trailing elbow is drawn in toward his body.
Cevallos can explain it much better than me, but speaking from a purely intuitive POV, this would seem to allow the batter to better control the swing, and transfer more energy from the arms to the wrists. Cevallos claims this explains his power. His web site (linked from within the link above) is worth checking out, because Zobrist is now a legit power threat — there’s nothing fluky here — and his power surge does coincide with the work he did with this guy.
Just a thought.
by myersb68 on Jun 19, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
One of my favorite prospects
I was amazed by Zobrist’s plate discipline. I wondered why he wasn’t progressed faster when he was old for leagues and completely mastered each level he was at. I am very surprised in his HR power lately. I wish he was in an Astros uniform though.
My first mistake was assuming you knew what I was talking about.
by Shamus on Jun 19, 2009 1:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I had no idea
Zobrist and Reid Brignac were in the same draft together since one is still a youngster and the other is in his prime.
Funny stuff
by nms on Jun 19, 2009 1:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
college and HS.
not that funny/surprising
by daveh33 on Jun 19, 2009 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
geez dude
yes I’m aware Zobrist was college senior and Brignac was a HSer. Hell I can even tell you that Zobrist is from Eureka, IL and was drafted out of Dallas Baptist after starting his college career at Olivet Nazerene while Brignac is a Cajun boy out of a HS in St. something-or-other (either St Amant or St Johns Parish).
I wasn’t saying it was impossible.
My point was that you don’t really think of the two as having the same amount of pro experience. They have played together for a few years now in AAA and in the bigs and Zobrist has been seen as the veteran role player while Brignac is the talented youngster trying to put it all together.
My point was just that being reminded that the two were drafted the same year puts things in perspective in a way
by nms on Jun 20, 2009 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Zobrist is a stud!
why the Twins took Plouffe over him, eeeek
JK JK – lol -hindsight is everything
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Jun 19, 2009 11:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
geez dude
yes I’m aware Zobrist was college senior and Brignac was a HSer. Hell I can even tell you that Zobrist is from Eureka, IL and was drafted out of Dallas Baptist after starting his college career at Olivet Nazerene while Brignac is a Cajun boy out of a HS in St. something-or-other (either St Amant or St Johns Parish).
I wasn’t saying it was impossible.
My point was that you don’t really think of the two as having the same amount of pro experience. They have played together for a few years now in AAA and in the bigs and Zobrist has been seen as the veteran role player while Brignac is the talented youngster trying to put it all together.
My point was just that being reminded that the two were drafted the same year puts things in perspective in a way
by nms on Jun 20, 2009 12:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is the power for real?
I know his minor league numbers, I know he can take a pitch in the minors (and the majors) and I know that his power numbers are surprising. The real question is, are the power numbers for real? Let’s take the easy question off the table and all agree he will not slug .678 over the course of the year. Will Zobrist slug .500 over his next 1000 at bats? .550?
by okbluejays on Jun 20, 2009 4:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hmmm
combination of peak age and career year I guess. i think he might slug over .500 for the rest of the year. though I’m pretty SURE he will slug over .500 for the season ;)
by RollingWave on Jun 20, 2009 4:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Zobrist and playing time
Is he a lock to get regular playing time for the remainder of the season? Will he have a primary position or will he move around?
I’m a believer and hope he continues to thrive with his hitting this season.
2009; John Lester becomes an ace?
by bodyiq on Jun 20, 2009 10:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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