Kipnis 2.0? I like that he has a strong arm. Could move quickly through the system with the lack of quality OFs.
Who compared this guy to Kipnis? Kipnis had infinitely more pop in his bat and a much shorter, compact swing.
In 2009 (his last season at ASU), Kip batted .384 with a .500 on base percentage and a .709 slugging percentage as the team's leadoff hitter, with 16 home runs, 71 RBIs, 27 steals in 33 attempts, and 51 walks vs. 32 strikeouts.
So Kipnis hit in the same lineup slot (leadoff) and blew Naquin's college numbers completely out of the water (in 5 fewer AB's). Slightly better BA, 40 points higher on the OBP%, 170 points higher SLG%, 20+ more RBI's, 13 more HR's and twice as many walks. Kipnis was a fantastic college hitter, not only for average but for power as well and he was considered a reach as an OF.
His 2 years at ASU he hit .378 with 30 home runs, 144 RBIs, 142 runs, 37 doubles, 10 triples, and 51 stolen bases in 474 at bats.
Those are absolutely monster numbers for a leadoff hitter. Naquin was nowhere near that and Kip was what? A mid 2nd round pick?
That's my issue with Naquin, is that the Indians essentially drafted a singles hitter in the middle of the freakin first round. The only way it remotely makes sense is if he can turn in to a quality MLB leadoff hitter. If not, having a corner OF who can't SLG worth a crap is a huge waste at a premium power position.
I also don't buy that he "could have hit more HR's if he wanted to". He's going to be playing in larger parks, against better pitching and he'll be using a wood bat. Maybe as he ages he'll add some power but he looks like a guy you just hope can get on base.
We'll see if it works out but you win at the MLB level, especially in the playoffs, with dominant arms. The Indians have zero (on every level), so even if you're going to blow through half of your bonus pool, it may as well be on a HS arm who has a 100 MPH fastball. Had it not been for a
non structural elbow injury, Giolito would absolutely have NEVER been there at #15…The Indians were gifted a massively talented young arm and instead they took a 3 year college player with no power who plays a corner OF position. :weirdo: If this pick doesn't work out, they're going to look really stupid in my opinion.