At the beginning of last season, did anybody think that 30 year-old Ryan Ludwick would have 40 2Bs, 37 HRs, 113 RBIs, a 965 OPS, and 17 votes for NL MVP? Probably not.
Ludwick was seen as organizational depth in the outfield, spending parts of 8 seasons in AAA. He was traded from Oakland to Texas to Cleveland before he signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals.
Ludwick was considered a AAAA hitter – a hitter who could perform in AAA, but never put it together in the majors. Then he got his chance with the Cards at the end of 2007, and Ludwick blew up in 2008.
So are there guys out there who could be 2009’s Ryan Ludwick?? Here are some guys who could.
Nelson Cruz, OF (Texas Rangers), 28 Years Old – REALLY!
AAA – 383 AB, 18 2B, 37 HR, 99 RBI, 24 SB, .342 AVG, .429 OBP, 1123 OPS
MLB – 115 AB, 9 2B, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 3 SB, .330 AVG, .421 OBP, 1030 OPS
Amazing 2008 season – crushed the minors and continued to perform in the majors. In Texas, Cruz could go 30/20 playing everyday (minor league career 75% SB%). However, Cruz struggled in 330 PA during the 2007 season where his lack of consistent contact skills were exploited (26.2% K%). One note to the amazing 2008 season, Cruz had a .377 BABIP which is well above the league average.
With Milton Bradley’s departure in free agency, Cruz seems to have a starting position as the team’s right fielder or designated hitter.
Dallas McPherson, 3B (Florida Marlins), 28 Years Old – SERIOUSLY!!
AAA – 448 AB, 22 2B, 42 HR, 98 RBI, .275 AVG, .381 OBP, 999 OPS
Peaked as Baseball America’s #2 prospect in the Angels organization in 2005, Dallas McPherson has always been about power. The 2nd Round draft pick in 2001 out of The Citadel played his first full season since 2004 and led the minor leagues in HRs.
The Marlins, in a cost-cutting move, traded Mike Jacobs to Florida which opens up an infield spot. Florida has several options, and they will probably see what happens in the spring:
McPherson can slide over from 3B to 1B in the majors.
Some reports think Cantu slides to 1B with McPherson stepping in at 3B.
There is a chance that Florida uses recently acquired Emilio Bonifacio at 2B and slides Dan Uggla over to 3B squeezing McPherson out.
Josh Phelps, 1B (San Francisco Giants), 30 Years Old – C’MON!!!
AAA – 461 AB, 31 2B, 31 HR, 96 RBI, .291 AVG, .373 OBP, 941 OPS
Phelps hasn’t had a full-time gig since 2003 with Toronto. He has been with seven organizations since 2004 (TOR, CLE, TB, NYY, PIT, STL, now SF). Late-season success in 2007 with the Pirates continued in 2008 with the Cardinal’s AAA team. Unfortunately, Phelps was stuck behind the NL MVP Albert Pujols. Most of his time in the majors, Phelps has been used as a platoon player against lefties.
Phelps signed with the Giants this off-season, and he will have to attempt to beat out youngsters Pablo Sandoval, John Bowker and Travis Ishikawa for the 1B job.
**as posted on Baseball.RotoChamps.com**
