Danny Espinosa...Underrated?

by soccerman0 on Aug 13, 2009 2:45 AM EDT

Nationals prospect Danny Espinosa has really been impressing me this year. As the year began, I had very limited expectations: he was an all glove, no bat shortstop with a very short ceiling. Those assumptions were quickly dismissed as Espinosa has shown not only power, but also an advanced batting eye with the Potomac Nationals (Class A Advanced) this year. Sure, his contact hitting rate has been greatly diminished since his college days (when he routinley hit over .300), but I theorize that this is due to a mechical change in his swing which has allowed him to hit for more power. He had a fantastic first half, and although he slumped a bit after the all-star break, he seems to be back to form. Here is how his last 10 games look: .354 average, (2) 2B, (1) 3B, (3) HR, 8 BB/4 SO, 6 SB....While playing a fantastic SS (only 17 errors on the year).

His season line is as follows:

.260-.375-.476 (.811 OPS), 41 XBH (12 homeruns, 3 triples, 25 doubles), 62-106 BB to SO ratio

All of this coming from a 22 year old switching hitting, smooth fielding shortstop.What do you all think about him

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I forgot to mention his fantastic SB numbers.....

25 SB on the year, with 10 CS. He is a definite threat on the base paths.

by soccerman0 on Aug 13, 2009 2:47 AM EDT reply actions

That's not fantastic at all... it suggests he has no idea what he's doing out there

Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving

by PaulThomas on Aug 13, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

well, to be fair...

71% success rate is not bad, but I agree that it’s not ‘fantastic’ either.

To say ‘he has no idea what he’s doing out there’ is wrong.

Dewey Finn = Dylan McKay, King Billy Royal = Zack Morris, RedSoxFaithful = Millhouse Van Houten, Paul Thomas = Steve Urkel, Galt = Screech Powers, Bravesin07 = Richard Stabone, Hero66 = Beavis, Slurve = Phoebe Buffay

by Dewey Finn on Aug 13, 2009 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed with Dewey...

Not fantastic, but clearly about average. He will end the year with 30+ SB, which is pretty damn good for a decent power hitting player at a premium position.

by soccerman0 on Aug 13, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Percentage

is pretty shitty, but if he has 30 SB speed there’s potential

by METSMETSMETS on Aug 13, 2009 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Potential, sure

That’s why I said he didn’t know what he was doing, not that he was some kind of slowpoke.

by PaulThomas on Aug 15, 2009 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Like him

but want to see him against more advanced competition before getting super-excited.

by Domenik_Hixon on Aug 13, 2009 7:25 AM EDT reply actions

This guy is the Nationals future at SS. Him and Zimmerman will be holding down that side of the field for a long to come. And don’t forget, he’s a Scott Boras client.

Be real with yourself.

by Daggerrrrrr on Aug 13, 2009 9:09 AM EDT reply actions

Boras

Which means?

by wobatus on Aug 13, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Which means Boras knows he will be a star or else he wouldn’t be his agent. This kid has talent.

Be real with yourself.

by Daggerrrrrr on Aug 13, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

re:boras

Come on, you can’t seriously believe that. There are plenty of reasons to like the kid without throwing that out there. Boras is not a better talent evaluator than everyone in baseball. He’s represented plenty of busts as well.

-1 and only member of the Jed Lowrie fan club!

by Jgaztambide on Aug 13, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

but they were some seriously talented busts

by METSMETSMETS on Aug 13, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions

That's an extremely unintelligent position to take

Scott Boras will take on any client that will make him money.

OrtizItThisOne: In the name of baseball! /does steroids

by CaliforniaJag on Aug 13, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions

And he was the starting SS in the “futures game” this year.

Be real with yourself.

by Daggerrrrrr on Aug 13, 2009 9:11 AM EDT reply actions

Looks interesting

Toolsy, no doubt. definitely worth a B, imho.

by METSMETSMETS on Aug 13, 2009 1:33 PM EDT reply actions

Not a bad prospect...

but the strikeouts are quite worrisome. Last I checked, he was averaging a strikeout a game. And considering he is slightly old for the league (but a college kid, so that’s not a big concern), I really worry about his numbers once he starts to get into the high minors and major leagues.

Adam Dunn: Proof that even sabermetrics doesn't have it right.

by Boxkutter on Aug 15, 2009 12:30 AM EDT reply actions

I have heard that he has been focusing on that recently.....

(Emailed a contact I had with Potomac), and it has really been showing. In the 12 games this month (comprising of 40 AB), he has been struck out 5 times, while walking 9 times. I am confident that his contact hitting ability will improve as he gets used to his new, powerful swing.

by soccerman0 on Aug 15, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions