Stats — WTM — Minor League Splits
The grounded-in-reason, science-based part of me hates scoutspeak. I like to see concrete numbers in players and projecting just makes me nervous. Andrew McCutchen is proof, though, that there’s more to judging minor leaguers than just stats. Having seen Tabata in person, I can definitely see why scouts project him to be a powerful hitter. He’s got a good, quick swing and though he’s short, he’s pretty solidly built. Really, seeing him in 2009 reminded me a lot of what I saw in McCutchen when I saw him in 2008; a very talented young player whose skill was evident, even though he was a little over his head in Triple-A. Sooner or later, I think that skill meets up with the level he’s out, and when that happens he’ll have his breakout year.
