Mike Olt

if i had to guess

I would guess that it has more to do with not knowing where he will end up defensively. With the signing of Beltre, he is no longer a third baseman unless he gets traded. So, does he end up at first(that is where I’d love for him to end up, he will be much better than Mooreland), or do they try and convert him to the outfield? Where he ends up defensively plays a big part in how he ranks. I think he’s got more power in his swing than a lot give him credit for. He does draw walks, which is good, but he also strikes out a good amount too. Olt is the type of player that could shoot up to A-, or fall off a cliff because he strikes out too much(hello Chris Davis). Personally, I think he is much more likely to surprise rather than follow in Davis’ footsteps.

by rangersfan24 on Jan 25, 2026 3:53 PM EST reply actions

Reply fail

My reply to you is below, sorry.

by Ryne Alber on Jan 25, 2026 5:41 PM EST up reply actions

Isnt he being moved to the OF?

B+ is a high ranking, and:

positional questions
23 years old and only played A ball
strikeout concerns

by pedrophile on Jan 25, 2026 6:01 PM EST up reply actions

I thought that was only being discussed

When the Rangers were in the Prince-sweepstakes? I’ve heard talks of moving Olt to first but never the outfield, unless as a undesirable result of signing Prince.

by Ryne Alber on Jan 25, 2026 6:22 PM EST up reply actions

it's only been mentioned as a possibility

To my knowledge the organization has not made the decision to transition him to the OF

by rangersfan24 on Jan 25, 2026 6:27 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, I thought it was a done deal with Olt going to the outfield but it must have

been just speculation that I was reading.

by pedrophile on Jan 25, 2026 7:11 PM EST up reply actions

it probably would have happened

If they had signed fielder. Now with Fielder gone, he’s got a pretty goot shot at first

by rangersfan24 on Jan 25, 2026 7:44 PM EST up reply actions

Hmm

Why would anybody think a guy with a .260 avergae, at the age of 22, in high A, would make a good major league 1B?? Chris Davis tore apart the minors and has struggled and, Moreland is a better hiter as well.

All of Olt’s value as a prospect lies in his ability top play a solid, hot corner and the maybe of whether he’ll hit enough to hold the job, in my opinion. As a 1b… no prospect.

"Does it make your life easier to just throw a quick, racist term at somebody? A man who has seen the things I’ve seen… experienced the loss and pain that I’ve experienced… I transcend race, hombre." - Kenny Powers

by casejud on Jan 25, 2026 7:56 PM EST up reply actions

youre welcome to your opinion

and i respect it. but you’re wrong. this was going to be his first full season in the minors. you do not have to consider him a prospect. doesnt matter to me. he’s got the potential. i’d take him over a 1b prospect who puts up good numbers but has slow enough bat speed that a gm would come out and say it scared the &$#@ out of him. in case you arent sure who im referring to, i am taking about rizzo. with some prospects it takes time for their numbers to catch up to their abilities

by rangersfan24 on Jan 25, 2026 8:40 PM EST up reply actions

I do consider him a prospect

I think he’s a decent third base prospect, like Matt Dominguez. and, a pretty bad first-base prospect.

I don’t know why a guy who hits .331 in the PCL at the age of 21 would have better sucess against better pitchers than a guy who hit .264 in A+ ball at the age of 22, if he has some kind of problem with his bat speed? that doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to me but, maybe you are right. I suppose Theo Epstein doesn;’t agree with that thoufgh, for what that is worth.

"Does it make your life easier to just throw a quick, racist term at somebody? A man who has seen the things I’ve seen… experienced the loss and pain that I’ve experienced… I transcend race, hombre." - Kenny Powers

by casejud on Jan 26, 2026 4:06 AM EST up reply actions

Agree

I’m far from a Mike Olt-backer, but it seems that the belief in his defense was a major reason for his status as a noteworthy prospect in the vantage points of his supporters. Far better power prospects than this kid have been unnecessarily dissected for much less in my opinion in the past year or so from an offensive point of view so he’d better play a mean 3b.

by Matt0330 on Jan 26, 2026 9:00 AM EST up reply actions

Better than Mitch Moreland?

You really believe that definitively? I think that’s quite a leap.

by Matt0330 on Jan 26, 2026 8:53 AM EST up reply actions

I didn't think

Sickels put too much weight in the players in upper levels when grading his players. There are tons of players that are in Olt’s position then and their grade should reflect that, which I don’t think it does. Olt’s glove is too good to waste at first IMO, and his bat would become average. I could see him ending up as trade bait but that shouldn’t affect his grade.

by Ryne Alber on Jan 25, 2026 5:40 PM EST reply actions

very generous

… on the bat becoming average at first-base part. I think his bat will be lucky to be average at third. I agree with your overall point though but,
I’ll be pretty surprised if he hit enough in the big league to be an average first-baseman.
I meen, a guy like Lyle Overbay (an average first baseman) killed A+ ball didn’t he>?

"Does it make your life easier to just throw a quick, racist term at somebody? A man who has seen the things I’ve seen… experienced the loss and pain that I’ve experienced… I transcend race, hombre." - Kenny Powers

by casejud on Jan 26, 2026 4:18 AM EST up reply actions

i'll answer

Because the growth potential of an 18 year old ballplayer with Cuthberts skills and succes in full-season A ball is vastly higher than a 22 year old ballplayer player with Olts skills and success in high A ball.

I dont kniow why you woukld think that Cuthberts likely future outcomer would be Mike Olt? Cuthbert could languish around high A for three years and he would be where Mike Olt is. Developmentally, Cuthbert is much. much farther ahead.;Then again, I think that Matt Dominguez has accomoplished more than Olt.

"Does it make your life easier to just throw a quick, racist term at somebody? A man who has seen the things I’ve seen… experienced the loss and pain that I’ve experienced… I transcend race, hombre." - Kenny Powers

by casejud on Jan 25, 2026 6:01 PM EST reply actions

Yeah the Cuthbert comp was a bad idea in hindsight

But what about a player like Gyorko? Why is Gyorko ranked higher? Seems to me power/defense/ballpark concerns are bigger issues than potentially being blocked and an above average K-rate.

by Ryne Alber on Jan 25, 2026 6:24 PM EST up reply actions

you had me

Until you brought Matt Dominguez into this. Olt is a far, far better hitter than Dominguez is. Olt was doing pretty good until he got hurt. Then came back and tore the AFL a new asshole. As for comparing to Cuthbert, I agree with you 110% on that

by rangersfan24 on Jan 25, 2026 6:25 PM EST up reply actions

Is he?

Why, I would ask? Dominguez was hitting pretty well in high A wghen he was 20 and, played in AAA last year and, is still younger than Olt. Olt may look like a better hitter on the surface (personally, Im unimpressed with his inability to hit for average in the low minors at his age) but, he hasn’t even played AA ball yet. Its actually kind a classic, prospecting dillema.

Personally, I think if Dominguez had sepnt 2010 and, 2011 in high A he would have had a pretty darned good season there last year since he was pretty good in high A . . . in 2009!

"Does it make your life easier to just throw a quick, racist term at somebody? A man who has seen the things I’ve seen… experienced the loss and pain that I’ve experienced… I transcend race, hombre." - Kenny Powers

by casejud on Jan 25, 2026 7:51 PM EST up reply actions

He's doing okay at hitting for average

.279 career, .267 last season. That’s certainly not terrible. I think in modern baseball you have to really look at hit tool as “on-base tool”, also. Olt is walking a ton so it doesn’t bother me that he’s only exhibiting middling hit-for-average skills in A+.

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by OremLK on Jan 25, 2026 8:08 PM EST up reply actions

Should read .264 last season

My mistake

http://www.crawfishboxes.com

by OremLK on Jan 25, 2026 8:09 PM EST up reply actions

I disagree with this

I think walks have a lot of value in the major leagues but, I think it is more important, developmentally, for a 22 year old player in high A to show the hit tool. I think the low average is a red flag, no matter what the walks are.

Hypothetical question but, do you still feel that way If he bats .245 as a 23 year old in AA?

"Does it make your life easier to just throw a quick, racist term at somebody? A man who has seen the things I’ve seen… experienced the loss and pain that I’ve experienced… I transcend race, hombre." - Kenny Powers

by casejud on Jan 26, 2026 4:01 AM EST up reply actions

Olt looks better on the surface because

he can get on base and has moderate power, something Dominguez hasn’t shown since 2008. Other than the batting average being remotely close, I just dont see how a .255/.325/.418 line is close to being as good as .279/.386/.482. I understand age and league differences, but Dominguez’s stats in high A were .262/.333/.420, which at 19 is ok, but he hasn’t done any better at higher levels.

by Looney4baseball on Jan 25, 2026 8:42 PM EST up reply actions

I hear you

. . . but, you think Mike Olt could have put up those numbers in A ball, three years ago? That 2009 perfofrmance of Dominguez that you call "ok’, I think was a pretty outstanding performance. I know I stand prertty much alone right now with Domiguez but, I think his 2010 and 2011 seasons were pretty good too, all things considered.

"Does it make your life easier to just throw a quick, racist term at somebody? A man who has seen the things I’ve seen… experienced the loss and pain that I’ve experienced… I transcend race, hombre." - Kenny Powers

by casejud on Jan 26, 2026 3:51 AM EST up reply actions

you're just about the only person

i’ve come across that views dominguez as much more than a great defensive third baseman in the majors. of course you’re also welcome to take this argument up with john, seeing as how he gave olt a “B” and dominguez a “B-”, despite olt’s horrible batting average at his age. olt easily would have reached AA last season if not for injury. i think you are getting a little too focused on the whole age/level thing. it’s one thing when a guy just hasnt advanced. it’s another when you’re knocking a guy who was only in his second season in the minors, one that was cut short by injury. and by looking at dominguez’ numbers he never warranted a promotion in the first pace, despite those oh so wonderful 2009 numbers he put up(which incidentally don’t compare to the numbers olt put up this year). dominguez is getting to the majors on his glove. the best miami can hope for is that he doesn’t kill their offense. of course, now that hanley is over at third, he had better learn a new position

but, i do see your position on olt. it’s just my opinion that given another season or two(healthy ones hopefully), his numbers will catch up with his talent. i did before that he is going to have to cut the k’s down, but he can take a walk(walked nearly twice as much as dominguez, in almost 30 less games)

by rangersfan24 on Jan 25, 2026 9:03 PM EST up reply actions

The numbers DO compare

. . . unless you really think Mike Olt would have hit that well in A ball, three years ago.
I suppose I’d argue that you aren’t putting enough emphasis on the whole age/level thing. I;‘m even farther off the norm than you think. For a 22 year old, Olt’s 2011 season wouldn’t ecven be all that outstsanding if it happened at AA! Though it would be better.

I’m far more impressed with Dominguez’s performance at AA in 2010, at the age of 20. Guys who can hold thier own at age 20 in AA go on to have pretty good careers a lot… especially if they can contribute with the glove.

In my heart of hearts I thinjk they are similar talents… guys who can hold a buig league spot with the glover but, may or may not hit enough. I don’t see either as having abig edge with the bat. I could be wrong. We’ll see.

"Does it make your life easier to just throw a quick, racist term at somebody? A man who has seen the things I’ve seen… experienced the loss and pain that I’ve experienced… I transcend race, hombre." - Kenny Powers

by casejud on Jan 26, 2026 3:57 AM EST up reply actions

Beats me

Mike Olt is a B+, borderline top 50 type guy for me. Kid’s going to be a stud.

http://www.crawfishboxes.com

by OremLK on Jan 25, 2026 8:06 PM EST reply actions

I guess everyone's just going to ignore

His performance in the AFL?.415 ISO, .764 SLG?

by Ryne Alber on Jan 25, 2026 10:49 PM EST reply actions

yea, and his numbers in high A went down some when he came back from a six week injury

He was above .900 OPS for most of the year.

His test this year at a higher level will be interesting. Adjusting over a full year of upper level pitching will be really important to see.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." The JeDi

by blalock84 on Jan 25, 2026 11:35 PM EST up reply actions

ummm

isn’t the AFL the definition of “Small Sample Size”?

by JoelGuzman'sScout on Jan 26, 2026 12:08 AM EST up reply actions

Olt

is pretty good, but everyone’s stats were sky this year in the AFL.

Olt’s 2011 AFL year was surprisingly a lot like Brandon Wood’s a few years ago. Both of them basically led the league in K%, but mashed for ISO. We all know how that turned out…

by Mike Kaluk on Jan 26, 2026 11:56 AM EST up reply actions

I don't see a B as being down on someone

Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin

by t ball on Jan 26, 2026 12:02 AM EST reply actions

Everything is relative

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by OremLK on Jan 26, 2026 1:26 AM EST up reply actions

position

According to BA, the Rangers are trying him at 1B and LF in spring training and then plan to keep him at 3B during the season. To me, that’s just a trial to help their trade leverage.

If he and Beltre are on the same team though, I think Olt would spell Beltre at 3B enough to get fantasy eligibility there in most leagues since Beltre could DH when he’s resting.

by rlwhite on Jan 26, 2026 10:01 AM EST reply actions

Mike Olt

He’s simply old and non-athletic…

He could turn out to be Joe Randa or Casey Blake but thats about all i see from him.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/photo-logan-morrison-bryan-petersen-share-tub-drink-043548597.html

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Jan 26, 2026 12:55 PM EST reply actions

He's a very good defensive 3B

Not seeing that at all. Better athlete than Cuthbert, IMO.

I kind of reject the premise here. I have Olt as a significantly better prospect than Cuthbert and Gyorko.

Olt also has plenty of power.

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by alskor on Jan 26, 2026 1:18 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Really?

I have not seen Cuthbert pay as much as I’d lijke but, Olt had one triple and zero steals last season and, he didn’t appear to run particularily well when ui saw him in the AFL.

Do you question Cuthberts age or, just think that in four years (when he will be as old as Olt is now) that he won’t become a good hitter in High A ball? I would say that would be a bit stunning sinc3 he was a pretty decent hitter in A ball, as an 18 year old.

Liking Olt better, escpecially significantly better, seems like a fauilure to see the context of the two players environments and devel,opmental stages. Could Olt have been a good player in the Midwest League four years ago?

I might give you Olt over Gyroko, another 23 year old decent talent but, Cuthbert seems miles ahead just based on basic, prospecting logic. You aspiring scouts always want to try and see everything with your eyes. I trust my own eyes too but, you can’t “see” four years of development of an already talented player.

"Does it make your life easier to just throw a quick, racist term at somebody? A man who has seen the things I’ve seen… experienced the loss and pain that I’ve experienced… I transcend race, hombre." - Kenny Powers

by casejud on Jan 26, 2026 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

You're asking me if I think Olt could have hit .267/.345/.397 4 years ago?

Yeah, probably, and again, he’s a better third baseman than Cuthbert. Better defensive tools.

Olt has raked since he entered pro ball. He’ll strike out a lot and won’t hit for a real high AVG but he has plenty in the way of secondary skills (power and patience).

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twitter: @alskor

by alskor on Jan 26, 2026 6:03 PM EST up reply actions

agreed

The only knocks against Olt, age and positional concerns from an organizational standpoint, are out of his control. It’s not like he’s been fumbling around in the low minors or is putting up these numbers after repeating the level for the third time. Also, his defense is excellent, they should find a way to keep him there or trade him (or trade Beltre), since it makes him a much more valuable commodity than as a OF or 1B.

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by The Congo Hammer on Jan 26, 2026 8:05 PM EST up reply actions