Falling in love with... Eddie Rosario

[jimbo92107]

Eddie Rosario really looks like a baseball player, and I love it. Reminds me a lot of Brian Dozier, but even more natural, more complete right out of the gate. We'd all heard about his excellent hitting; Molitor talked about his great hands at the plate, but I'm seeing a natural game in every facet of his play. The guy moves like he's played all his life, making quick reads in the outfield that other guys seem to take years to develop. Rosario today reminds me of a cross between Cesar Tovar and Rod Carew. Hands like Carew at the plate, and baseball instincts like Tovar, who could play all nine positions. I get the same feeling about Rosario, that he'd do okay anywhere you put him on the field.

 

Can we keep him?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Eddie Rosario really looks like a baseball player, and I love it. Reminds me a lot of Brian Dozier, but even more natural, more complete right out of the gate. We'd all heard about his excellent hitting; Molitor talked about his great hands at the plate, but I'm seeing a natural game in every facet of his play. The guy moves like he's played all his life, making quick reads in the outfield that other guys seem to take years to develop. Rosario today reminds me of a cross between Cesar Tovar and Rod Carew. Hands like Carew at the plate, and baseball instincts like Tovar, who could play all nine positions. I get the same feeling about Rosario, that he'd do okay anywhere you put him on the field.

 

Can we keep him?

I'd like to see him coax a few more walks. He's having a DanSan season. I think he's got better potential to overcome when the BABIP wears off, and improving his eye at the plate and patience will help a lot.

[TheLeviathan]

Right now I like him in the 2 hole.  I hope tomorrow when Hunter is back that they keep things about the same and slide Hunter in at 5 instead.

 

Rosario just seems to get things started.

[twinsnorth49]

To me he just seems to keep getting better, his higher comfort level is obvious and it's showing in how he plays.

 

He's here to stay imo.

[drjim]

 

I'd like to see him coax a few more walks. He's having a DanSan season. I think he's got better potential to overcome when the BABIP wears off, and improving his eye at the plate and patience will help a lot.

 

His babip is high and will regress but doesn't strike me as preposterous for a guy with his hit tool and is certainly in line with his minor league numbers (outside of last year when he started the season suspended).

 

He will need to bump his bb rate slightly but I'm probably more interested in seeing him cut his k rate. It has been trending down and that is the key for his game to work.

 

If it all clicks, he'll be a decent avg, low bb, lowish k hitter with a little pop, good d and some speed. That is a little unorthodox in today's game but can certainly work. Fun player to watch too.

[Danchat]

I had some very similar thoughts about Danny Santana last season. Hopefully he can work on his plate discipline before his numbers regress...

[jimbo92107]

 

I had some very similar thoughts about Danny Santana last season. Hopefully he can work on his plate discipline before his numbers regress...

I think Rosario is a much better natural hitter than Danny Santana. The way Rosario shoots his hands forward at the ball carries the barrel in a longer sweep through the zone, where Santana snaps his bat in a more circular path. I predict that Rosario will generally hit well, regardless of whether he strikes out too much at the moment. He looks like a very reliable ballplayer. Soon we'll be calling him "Steady Eddie."

[drivlikejehu]

He does look good, there's no doubt about that. But his numbers in the high minors were bad and his plate discipline continues to be bad (as expected) in the Majors.

 

There is a scenario where he makes some realistic improvements and holds down a starting position, but his ceiling is limited.

[Madre Dos]

Eddie - the mastermind of the majority of mischief in my house while he was in Elizabethton.

 

[DaveW]

He does look good, there's no doubt about that. But his numbers in the high minors were bad and his plate discipline continues to be bad (as expected) in the Majors.

 

There is a scenario where he makes some realistic improvements and holds down a starting position, but his ceiling is limited.

 

He is only 23....his ceiling is hardly limited. Good lord, some people have no patience these days.

[drivlikejehu]

 

He is only 23....his ceiling is hardly limited. Good lord, some people have no patience these days.

 

He's not going to magically start taking a ton of walks or hitting for huge power. So, by definition, his ceiling is limited. 

 

I'm by no means convinced he's even a starting player. The upside is good average, below average OBP, average power, good defense. That's an OK player but nothing special. If you are expecting more than that, there is something wrong with your expectations.

[DocBauer]

Yes, he also appears natural and instinctive to me. Not picking on anyone, everyone has bad days and plays, but you se guys with tremendous ability and potential like Hicks or Santana...just to keep it close to home...then get picked off first, miss a sign, throw to the wron base, etc. But Rosario just has the look of a guy who loves the game, knows the game, and always has his head in the game.

 

Hard to say for sure where his full game is 3 years from now, but I think his potential is to hit just about anywhere in the lineup, potentially, except the 4 hole, and questionable at lead off. He has enough hitting, power and speed where he can start things, perpetuate things, and finish things as a hitter. I see him, or Polanco, in the 2 hole behind Buxton. If it turns out to be Polanco, then he probably hits anywhere from 5-8. And that's no knock, but rather, credit to how good and deep this lineup may be very soon, and credit to the versatile nature of his game to fit in at a variety of spots.

[TheLeviathan]

The kid likes to swing the bat and he's got a good stroke. The Jacque Jones comp continues to look pretty good, just a bit more speed. Jacque Jones was a good player, no need for anyone to "ba humbug" their way through analyzing him.

[HitInAPinch]

Seriously, what took you people so long? 

 

Rosario impressed the heck out of Molitor in Spring Training.  And continues to impress him with his in game adjustments, like yesterday.  He works hard and has the desire to play better.  He is rock solid.

[BrianTrottier]

 

He's not going to magically start taking a ton of walks or hitting for huge power. So, by definition, his ceiling is limited. 

 

I'm by no means convinced he's even a starting player. The upside is good average, below average OBP, average power, good defense. That's an OK player but nothing special. If you are expecting more than that, there is something wrong with your expectations.

 

If you want to get pedantic, by definition every player's ceiling is limited. That's why it's called a ceiling. And no, he won't "magically" start taking more walks, but he can improve his pitch recognition and command of the zone through repetitions, watching video, and hard work, which should translate to more walks.

 

Also, you might be undermining your own point about Rosario. If he's league average or better at hitting, power, and defense (and I'd add base running to that list), and the only thing you believe he'll be below average at is taking walks, then how is he not a starter? 

[drjim]

 

The kid likes to swing the bat and he's got a good stroke. The Jacque Jones comp continues to look pretty good, just a bit more speed. Jacque Jones was a good player, no need for anyone to "ba humbug" their way through analyzing him.

 

Indeed. A theme we do come back to here is that perhaps league average/good players can be a little underrated. His skillset can certainly play for a playoff team.

[Platoon]

"Plate discipline" is likely one of the last talents achieved by a young player. Hunter and Cuddyer come to mind. Both were chasing breaking balls down and away into their third year. Twins fans are going to learn this the hard way. There is going to be a learning curve here with all the young players. It's not going to be smooth and effortless.

[stringer bell]

 

"Plate discipline" is likely one of the last talents achieved by a young player. Hunter and Cuddyer come to mind. Both were chasing breaking balls down and away into their third year. Twins fans are going to learn this the hard way. There is going to be a learning curve here with all the young players. It's not going to be smooth and effortless.

Dozier is another example. He's able to lay off a lot of sliders that move out of the zone now and hence in the last year and a half he's drawn a lot of walks. Dozier will probably never have as high a batting average as a Rosario, but he has made a quantum leap as a hitter in part because of becoming better at recognizing pitches.

[DaveW]

The kid likes to swing the bat and he's got a good stroke. The Jacque Jones comp continues to look pretty good, just a bit more speed. Jacque Jones was a good player, no need for anyone to "ba humbug" their way through analyzing him.

I think Jacque Jones but with the ability to actually hit half way decent against most LHP. Jones was a nightmare against LHP.

 

The power will come for Rosario, most players not named Harper and Trout take a few years to start hitting bombs, I am guessing 20 HR power eventually.

 

The walks will come too, the kid is still 5 years away from his prime, plenty of improvement yet to come.

[drivlikejehu]

 

If you want to get pedantic, by definition every player's ceiling is limited. That's why it's called a ceiling. And no, he won't "magically" start taking more walks, but he can improve his pitch recognition and command of the zone through repetitions, watching video, and hard work, which should translate to more walks.

 

Also, you might be undermining your own point about Rosario. If he's league average or better at hitting, power, and defense (and I'd add base running to that list), and the only thing you believe he'll be below average at is taking walks, then how is he not a starter? 

 

His upside is as a starter. I stated that clearly. But there is downside potential as well. 

 

For the Twins, this isn't an academic point. They will have to make decisions based on their evaluation of Rosario. Getting those decisions wrong could be very costly.

[ScrapTheNickname]

Beware the small sample size.

 

In AA and AAA:

BA: .257.

OB: under .300.

OPS: under .700.

 

So many players have started strong (Parmelee, Vargas, Pinto, just to name 3), and then faded into the dim recesses of Twins' fans collective sad memories. Yes, I'm getting ahead of myself on Vargas, but you get my drift.

 

That said, go Rosario!

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

Eddie - the mastermind of the majority of mischief in my house while he was in Elizabethton.

Any stories you can tell?

[Willihammer]

 

Beware the small sample size.

 

In AA and AAA:

BA: .257.

OB: under .300.

OPS: under .700.

 

So many players have started strong (Parmelee, Vargas, Pinto, just to name 3), and then faded into the dim recesses of Twins' fans collective sad memories. Yes, I'm getting ahead of myself on Vargas, but you get my drift.

 

That said, go Rosario!

Should we discount the 2014 stats due to the suspension?

 

I am hoping it was a Kendrys Morales type blip in his career, due to the late start.

[jimbo92107]

 

Eddie - the mastermind of the majority of mischief in my house while he was in Elizabethton.

This actually plays into another observation about Eddie. He's a schemer, which puts him in rare company with guys like Bryce Harper. Rosario clearly is more than simply "engaged" in the action of the game, he's actively scheming, looking for ways to out-smart the other team. Evidence of this emerges in little ways, like when he instantly took advantage of a muffed fielding play to take an extra base on his triple. That was quick thinking while running. He does things like that all the time. Every manager wants a team full of guys like that, but actually they're pretty rare. Torii Hunter is one of them. When a talented young ballplayer is also a playful prankster, watch out for that one.

[twinsnorth49]

I don't buy the whole "let's not get ahead of ourselves" attitude, sorry. That can be said about each and every player who ever wore an MLB uniform. Rosario is showing great potential right now and playing very well, I 'm just enjoying the moment.

[Platoon]

Beware the small sample size.

 

In AA and AAA:

BA: .257.

OB: under .300.

OPS: under .700.

 

So many players have started strong (Parmelee, Vargas, Pinto, just to name 3), and then faded into the dim recesses of Twins' fans collective sad memories. Yes, I'm getting ahead of myself on Vargas, but you get my drift.

 

That said, go Rosario!

I am not sure Pinto, either as a hitter, or catcher has played enough at the major league level for his career obituary to be considered, not to speak of written. Parmalee? Possibly? It looks like Baltimore will find out that answer.

[Madre Dos]

 

Any stories you can tell?

What happens in Elizabethton....stays in Elizabethton.

[Bark's Lounge]

This kid has the moxie. Words cannot express how impressed I have been with his play. Sure he will have his struggles, but this guy is an MLB ballplayer.

 

I think this guy can have a Shane Mack career with more longevity.

 

And the Mack/Longevity argument is a story for another day.

[Boom Boom]

He may not take walks at all, but it looks to me like he's going to be a tough guy to strike out as he matures. He can drive the ball, but he's also got one of those "magic wand" two-strike swings.

 

Of course it's also refreshing to see a plus-defensive outfielder....

[Thrylos]

Few things about Rosario:

 

- His BABIP is about where is has been when successful in the minors (around .370,) so I don't think that there is a matter for regression here.  This is the player he is when he is good as far as balls in play go.

- His is a contact guy.  Does not walk and does not strikeout much (other than in the bigs.) He can cut his K% to half as he adjusts and matures.

- He is nothing like Dozier who is a .250 power hitter with high OBP.  Rosario is a .300 hitter with .330 OBP at this best.

- He is nothing like Santana who is a .250 slap hitter with lots of Ks and .300 OBP.

- Rosario's ceiling:  Tony Gwynn.  Rosario's floor: Tony Gwynn Jr.  That's the kind of hitter he is.

- Really glad that he seems to put what happened last season behind him