As much as I want a trade for a great 2B to happen, I figured I'd look at worst case scenario for next season. I turned to our minor league system to see who is in the pipeline. Looking at the AAA Rivercats I was very surprised with what I found. Take it as a grain of salt, but some of these guys are beginning to look like the real deal.
Colin Walsh
- I'm not sure why nobody is talking about this guy. Originally drafted by the Cardinals in the 13th round in 2010. Alumni of Stanford. He mainly plays 2B now, but can also be put in as an OF as well. He went through all 3 levels of the minors this year, and is currently killing AAA. Currently age 25.
2014 Minors (A+, AA, AAA) (239 PA) - .314/.402/.417, .818 OPS
2014 AAA (93 PA) - .316/.419/.430, .850 OPS
- Originally drafted by the Twins in the 2nd round of the 2008 draft. Has spent all of 2014 at AAA and split time pretty equally as a SS and 2B. Currently age 26.
2014 (AAA) (271 PA) - .305/.387/.429, .817 OPS
I'm not sure what to make of this. Those are both pretty small sample sizes, and they are in a hitter friendly PCL league. Still, I thought I was going to find no viable 2B options in the A's organization, but here are two. Potentially, if they both continue this pace for the rest of the season, that is very good news. Neither of them hit for much power, nor steal too many bases, but both have excellent contact rates and on base percentage. Just generally really good hitters. I would love to see both of them called up in Sep, when rosters expand. Who knows, maybe Beane doesn't have to look too far for the 2B of the future?
I would love to learn some more information on both of them. So if anyone knows anything else about them, or has seen them play, or has some analysis on them, tell the world!