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July 22, 2007

Future Shock

Positional Rankings - First Base

by Kevin Goldstein

The First Baseman list is similar to the catcher list in the sense that it’s about as deep as a wading pool. But unlike the catcher list, there are all sorts of players who will join this list later, as most first basemen don’t start there, they end up there. Plenty of fine hitters from the upcoming third base and corner outfield lists will be no more than first baseman in the end. But let’s stick to the players actually at the position for now. Again: minor leaguers only, and holding off on 2007 draftees.

1. Daric Barton, Athletics
Age: 21.9
Hitting: .316/.406/.480 at Triple-A (93 G)

Last year was a bit of a lost season for Barton, who began the year as a 20-year-old in the Pacific Coast League, struggled at first and then missed most of the season after breaking a bone in his elbow on a pickoff play collision. He got off to another slow start this year, hitting just .221/.306/.314 in April, but he’s been on fire ever since, hitting .347/.438/.536. Barton is among the best pure hitters in the minor leagues, but the power is probably never going to produce more than 15-20 home runs annually, as his level, contact-oriented swing offers little in the way of loft or backspin. A brief trial at third base proved to be a total disaster (at least defensively), but the A’s are trying to make a move to get Barton’s bat into their lineup for the final two months of the season, and he should be their starting first baseman in 2008. He's not the prototypical player for the position by any means, but he'll be a guy who should compete for both batting and on-base percentage titles on an annual basis.

2. Joey Votto, Reds
Age: 23.9
Hitting: .301/.399/.457 at Triple-A (89 G)

Votto is similar to Barton in that he’s probably major league ready, and the parent club is trying to deal a veteran (Scott Hatteberg) to make some room for his big league debut. Like Barton, Votto also got off to slow start this year, batting just .192/.347/.346 in April. After a trip to the eye doctor revealed that Votto was in desperate need of corrective lenses, he took off, hitting .335/.417/.492 since May 1st. He’s not the pure hitter Barton is, but he has at least average power, and should provide the Reds with an upgrade at the position, if not stardom.