A prospect that embodies the definition of a “pure hitter” is Nick Castellanos of the Detroit Tigers organization. Castellanos was drafted as the 44th pick in the 1st round of the 2010 MLB Draft. Over the last four seasons, this young Tiger cub has competed at every level within the club’s system, culminating in an eleven game September call-up in 2013. The 6’4”, 220 pound Third Baseman posted the following numbers over 410 games: .303 Avg, .359 OBP, .445 Slg %, .804 OPS, 485 hits, 223 runs, 212 runs, and 107 doubles.
Nick Castellanos has been described as a “natural hitter” by some scouts, as well as a middle of the order presence. Additionally, he has been projected as an “elite-level” hitter that can be a franchise cornerstone for an organization. Apparently, the frequently overused cliche of “different sound” when describing what’s heard when Castellanos’s bat hits a baseball is not an exaggeration. The ball explodes off his bat and he demonstrates the potential for out-of-the-park power, especially to right-center field.
The “natural hitter” tag is based upon the fact that Castellanos has outstanding hitting mechanics and exceptional bat speed. It’s been said that he exhibits uncanny hand/eye coordination and displays outstanding plate coverage. Some of the contributing factors are quiet hands and a balanced set-up. Because of these attributes, Castellanos has been able to reach pitches that are in/out of the strike zone and drive balls to all fields. By letting the baseball travel deep, Castellanos can decide late when swinging at a particular pitch.
Currently, Nick Castellanos is projected to be a valuable commodity for the 2014 Detroit Tigers. With the exodus of Prince Fielder, movement across the diamond for Miguel Cabrera, and the solidification of Ian Kinsler at Second Base, the Tigers seem ready for the official debut of this 1st rounder at Third Base.
Overall, this seems like a great move for the Tiger franchise. By allowing Cabrera to stay in the field at a less demanding position and having a proven player in Kinsler, the Tigers can promote Castellanos and let the kid hit. As long as Castellanos can refine his strike zone discipline and pitch recognition ability, we might bear witness to the evolution of a truly special offensive player.
Hey Vin, I know the guy came up for a cup of coffee last year, but what major league third baseman would you compare him to with his minor league numbers?
ReplyDeleteMike,
ReplyDeleteI think Castellanos has the offensive potential to develop into an Evan Longoria type of hitter, but his defensive skills are questionable at this point.