TD Top Prospects: #8 Eddie Rosario

Rosario is my pick to be the Danny Santana of 2015.  If Arcia's back acts up again or Hunter pulls a hammy he should be the first OF called up. Once he's here, hopefully he'll make it tough for the Twins to send him back.

"With other stronger defensive center fielders in the system, it seems likely that he’ll have to play a corner outfield spot in Minnesota. That means he’ll have to show he can hit for power."  

I've never really cared for these comments especially when I have so often seen Twins hitters in the past (Mauer, Punto, Valencia, Young, Morneau, Cuddyer) try to hit for more power only to have their OBP and average diminish without adding much if any power..    If the Twins of the near future have Sano, Arcia, Dozier, Vargas, Buxton and maybe Plouffe then table setters become more valuable and if we have Arcia in one corner then I definitely want speed in the other corner to go with Buxton.   If he hits for power then fine but I primarily want to see that OBP from Rosario.

"With other stronger defensive center fielders in the system, it seems likely that he’ll have to play a corner outfield spot in Minnesota. That means he’ll have to show he can hit for power."  

I've never really cared for these comments especially when I have so often seen Twins hitters in the past (Mauer, Punto, Valencia, Young, Morneau, Cuddyer) try to hit for more power only to have their OBP and average diminish without adding much if any power..    If the Twins of the near future have Sano, Arcia, Dozier, Vargas, Buxton and maybe Plouffe then table setters become more valuable and if we have Arcia in one corner then I definitely want speed in the other corner to go with Buxton.   If he hits for power then fine but I primarily want to see that OBP from Rosario.

Precisely!

It's not about trying to hit for more power, it's about growing into one's body and swing. If Rosario wants to stick at a corner OF position, he's going to have to be either an OBP machine or he has to hit for power.

 

Rosario is not an OBP machine.

One would think that that would also be a requirement of someone who plays 1st base, which is also a traditional position that power is often expected. A high OBP can be a consolation to tradition. Here's to hoping Rosario finds one or the other, then. 

Give me a Lyman Bostock-type player or give me death!!

I loved watching him hit opposite-field triples! Checkout his 1977 numbers. 

Regarding the needing power in a corner OF, I think in 1-3 months this team may be screaming for better defense out of the corners and Rosario very well might be the prescription (like more cow bell). So I think it is a bit of a trade off. If the guy hits .280, 15 HR, 35 2B and provides an additional CF in the corner, that replaces a DH out there....I think it is a good trade off. 

 

The question is how much does someone like Arcia need to outhit Rosario to accept the defense?

I like the high standards.   However, since the defense in the corners aside from a year of Span in right field has never really been that great the last 10 year and since only 4 outfielders overall have matched your criteria for offense in the last 10 years I think the standards might be a bit high.   In fact, if we got those stats along with GG defense from Buxton eventually I would probably be just fine with it.    It was easy research for the last 4 years because just a .280 average stuck out like a sore thumb.    I might have missed one or two but Cuddyer did it in 2011 and 2006 (just ok Defense).   D Young did it in 2010 (horrible D).,  Kubel in 2009 (ok D) Hunter in 2007 (great D).   Cuddyer and Hunter had another year that was close.     If we could get good corner defense from Rosario to go along with .330 OBP and 40 extra base hits of any kind that would be worthwhile.   Aside from the good D its what I would expect from Hunter this year. 

_{Respectfully, Rosario has been an extra base hit machine.  He has shown enough pop to hit double digits in HR as well as a gap hitter with speed.}

 

_{2010 - 17 XBH in 64 games.   9-3-5  2B-3B-HR}

 

_{2011 - 41 XBH in 83 games. 10-10-21  2B-3B-HR}

 

_{2012 - 65 XBH in 136 games.    44-4-17   2B-3B-HR}

 

_{2013 - 59 XBH in 172 games.  36-10-13 2B-3B-HR}

 

_{2014 - 31 XBH in 87 games.  20-3-8  2B-3B-HR}

_{His average is .285 in the minors, with last year really dragging that down.   .280 might be somewhat lofty but not out of the question}

_{I guess I didn't actually respond to your original premise of the comparison to Arcia mainly because I don't expect Rosario to be battling for that spot.   Rosario with good defense and even a bit less than your standards for offense would get me excited for him being in center this year and taking over for Hunter either this year or for the following years in a corner.     We are not at cross purposes here.  I have been high on Rosario and hope he meets your expectations because that is a really good stat line..}

With athleticism, quick hands, nice hit tool, and the capacity to continue to grow physically, I've always seen him as a 15 HR guy once he settles in at a level and stays. I would be surprised at a 20 HR season or two at some point in his career. But 30+ plus doubles yearly plus a few triples along with 15 homers and high Avg hit tool, I am SO OK with him in a corner OF spot.

I agree with Seth.  A corner OFer with 30+ doubles and 15 HRs should be able to stick in a corner spot.   Especially if you have a 2B who is hitting for power.

That being said:  TR does use terms like "Corner bat".  What does that tell you about management thinking?  Maybe they expect Power from the corner spot.   One would think  Arcia; Sano; Dozier; and Vargas would be enough Power for any team.  Especially when you account for the number of guys who can hit anywhere from 15 to 20 homers (Buxton; Mauer; Plouffe; & Pinto).

I am concerned about the report that came out a couple days ago alleging that Rosario basically refused to run the hill in FM when the other minor league guys were running it. The impression i got was that a. he felt he was above that or b. he was too lazy to run it. I have no idea whether the report was valid or not but if so, I find it troubling.

Count me with Chief being nervous as to Rosario's attitude/application.  Slightly off topic, Chattanooga could have a spectacular line up at least early in the season this year.  Imagine:

Polanco SS

Rosario LF

Buxton CF

Sano 3B

Walker RF

Kepler 1B

Harrison DH

Michael 2B

Turner C

Berrios starting with Reed setting up for Burdi.

Almost worth a road trip, even from Australia!

I will preface my comments by saying that I am not dismissing Rosario as a prospect with potential. 

I do have two major concerns: his swing is somewhat suspect, and some would say unsound.  There have been successful MLB hitters without classic swings but it certainly isn't desirable.  Who knows if his quick hands can make up for it at the major league level.  I also still have a concern about the drug suspensions.  When it happens more than once, that indicates either an attitude of "I'm going to do what I want" or an addiction problem.  This will be a very interesting year to watch him.

Confused.

I don't like pot. I don't advocate pot. But I don't hold it against those that do like it. And honestly, I don't care if Rosario tokes off the Diamond. But unless things like counting push-ups by 5's is just his sense of humor, I might just have a problem with Rosario's attitude.

I am a big believer in what Rosario offers. I have been since the beginning. I hope I'm right. But I'm really confused how he can miss 50 games last season, never really seem to hit a groove when he comes back and put up mediocre numbers, and yet have TR and Molly both speak in terms of him being a viable candidate for the CF job. Is this some sort of secret motivational coach/GM speak for all the guys involved? Or do the "slow to promote" Twins actually feel Rosario is that close?