Aaron Herr, 2B, Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals)
This isn't technically a Double-A Transition report, since 2005 was Herr's second full season at that level, but he's an interesting case and I want to take a look at him. Herr was drafted by the Braves in the supplemental first round of the '00 draft, 40th overall, out of high school in Pennsylvania. He hit just .223 in rookie ball, and was mediocre offensively in '01 and '02. He improved a bit in '03, hitting .267 with 13 homers at Myrtle Beach, though with a poor 19/99/416 BB/K/AB ratio. Last year he hit .272/.341/.431 in 94 games for Double-A Greenville.
The Mariners picked him in the minor league Rule 5 draft last winter, but he didn't make the team and asked for, and received, his release. The Cardinals picked him up, and he had a good season in Double-A, hitting .298/.336/.498 with 21 homers for Springfield. At age 24, is this real progress? Possibly, although note his BB/K/AB mark: 15 walks, 108 strikeouts in 426 at-bats. That's really dismal, and it is remarkable he had the season he did with plate discipline that bad. Herr should get a full shot in Triple-A next year, and it will be extremely interesting to see if he can produce similar numbers against better pitching.
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