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You Can’t Hurry Love: Power #’s Take Time in Some Cases

March 18th, 2008 Jackson · 2 Comments

For those of you seeking a fix of gratutious stats for the day, here’s a list of players that hit at least 20 HR in a season (from 2004-2007) that put up meager power #’s in their rookie and A- ball seasons upon entering the majors.  Some of the numbers on the list may surprise you….

  • Steve Finley: 4 HR in A ball in first full season as 22 year old.  
  • Alex Rios: 1999: 234 AB’s, 0 HR (rookie ball).  2000: 274 Abs, 1 HR (low A, A ball). 2001: 480  AB’s, 2 HR.   2002:  456 AB’s, 3 HRs (A+ ball)
  • Mike Cameron: 3 HR total in 1st 748 minor league AB’s in Rookie/A ball.  0 HR’s in 400 plus AB’s first full season in A Ball (1993).  6 HR’s in over 400 AB’s in A ball during1994 season.
  • Shawn Green  1 HR in over 400 AB’s first full season in A Ball.  4 HR’s in second full season (400 + AB’s) in AA.
  • Melvin Mora: 1993 First Full season in A ball hit 2 HR in 365 AB’s.  0 in half season in rookie ball previous year.  8 HR was minor league best in 1994 followed by four full seasons of 5 or fewer home runs. 
  • Derek Jeter: 9 HR total 1,017 total AB’s in rookie + A ball.  Max HR’s in one season through AA ball: 5 in 515 AB’s (1993).  Totals in four complete minor league seasons (3.5 if you’re being technical) split between A-AAA ball.
  • Bobby Crosby: 318 Total AB’s in A ball split between 2001-2002.  3 HR total.
  • Johnny Damon:  Rookie league 1992: 4 HR (only 192 AB’s tho).  1993  A ball 511 AB’s, 5 HR.  1994: 470 plus AB’s, 6 HR’s
  • Eric Byrnes: 1999 Hit 6 in high A ball as 22 year old in 365 AB’s.
  • David Delluci: 3 HR in 165 1st AB’s between Rookie and A ball.   281 total AB’s in A ball hit 5 HR’s. 
  • Grady Sizemore: First 3 Seasons in minors:  1 HR in 205 AB’s in rookie ball (2000), 2 HR in 451 AB’s in first full A ball season (2001),  3 HR in 428 AB’s in A ball (2003).  
  • Randy Winn: 870 first AB’s in Rookie, A ball: 0 HR total.  
  • Carlos Beltran:  1995-1996 first two years split between Rookie and A ball: 7 HR total in 437 total AB’s.  
  • Dan Uggla: 278, 355 AB’s first two seasons in low A, A ball: 5 HR’s each season. 
  • Jimmy Rollins: 6 HR’s in first two full seasons in A ball, 560 and 495 AB’s respectively. 
  • Rich Aurilia: 1992: 205 AB’s, 3 HR.   A Ball, 440 AB’s, 5 HR.
  • Shea Hillenbrand: 723 first minor league AB’s in A ball over 3 seasons: 7 HR total  3 HR in 279 in low A, 2 HR in 444 the next season. 
  • Tags: Baseball

    2 responses so far ↓

    • 1 Shinsano // Mar 18, 2008 at 1:59 pm

      This is good stuff. I’m most surprised about Alex Rios. I remember when Uggla came up. He was more or less handed the job by default and wasn’t projected to be much of anything. Plus he had a funny name.
      Now, two years later I still can’t buy into him…and I’m wrong.

    • 2 Korea Beat // Mar 18, 2008 at 6:07 pm

      Is 20 homers really still the standard for being a decent home run-hitter? Seems like it should be more around 25 these days.

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