Tyler Naquin was 2 for 3 today with a double and homer. Means very little since it is just a spring training game. But it does make me shake my head thinking about how this pure hitter got screwed by Tito last season.
Third in ROY voting. Led the team in on base percentage as a rookie. Had the highest slugging percentage on the team by a whopping 45 percentage points. Hit the third most homers per plate appearance. Was third on the team in batting average. All this on an offense that scored the second most runs in 2016 in the AL. Naquin was hitting 330 entering September that year only to fall victim to hitting a rookie wall over the final month.
But because he let a ball fall in in the first inning if game 6 of the World Series, Francona gave Tyler a 1 way ticket to Columbus for the whole 2017 season. Meanwhile, PED using cheater and his 230 batting average (Almonte) took Naquin's place on the roster. Incredible. To Naquin's credit. he continued his strong hitting. He ended up the season at Columbus hitting 299.
I'm sure Tito will figure out a way to screw this kid again this year. With Brantley and Lonnie likely walking after the season, Tyler will finally make his mark in 2019.