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2007 When Escobar slugged .584 as a 19-year-old in the Sally League back in the sunny summer of 1998, so many things seemed possible; if nothing else, the young man was on the fast track. He then missed all but three games of 1999, all of 2002 and 2005, and large parts of 2004 and 2006 due to injury. Suddenly he`s Roy Hobbs. Nats fans got to see little of him last year before he strained a hamstring, got an infected knee, and tore up a shoulder--all in little more than a month. What they did see gave them a peek into his tremendous ability--the man can cover ground, and has a quick swing and excellent power. If some heroes have feet of clay, Escobar`s appear to be made out of porcelain. Given his obvious fragility, a role as the fourth outfielder and defensive replacement in center, allowing him to be swapped in on double-switches for Snelling or Church, would provide solid tactical value while making sure he gets playing time. 2003 It’s pointless now to speculate where Escobar should be placed on prospect lists. He’s lost too much time to injuries, his minor league lines are cryptic and tainted by word that Mets coaches tinkering with his swing kept him confused and ill-at-ease. What do we know? Healthy, Escobar plays major league–quality defense in center field. He’s walked in a little under 10% of his minor league PAs, and he strikes out about a quarter of the time. He hits for some power. And now he’s 24 and has lost another year. Despite the pressure to see the once-prospect at the major league level, the Indians should let Escobar progress on his own, try to get him consistent hitting instruction, and see what happens. 2002 Escobar's debut at the big-league level-in fact, his whole season—was a bust. He showed occasional flashes of the tools that excite scouts, but his strike-zone judgment completely fell apart, and the results weren't pretty. He's still a good prospect, it's just time to remove the "potential superstar" label. Milton Bradley is a much better player right now, so Escobar faces an uphill battle in Cleveland. 2001 Alex Escobar is the crown jewel of the Mets’ depleted farm system. After missing almost the entire 1999 season with a pair of injuries, Escobar played nearly every day in 2000 and didn’t suffer any injuries until the second to last day of the playoffs. He was almost as good as advertised in Binghamton: he drew some walks, had good but not great power, and played a solid center field. The Mets were reportedly very pleased with his attitude and work ethic, despite rumors to the contrary. If he stays healthy, he’ll be a star. 2000 Escobar, who had two injury-plagued seasons in the Gulf Coast League prior to 1998, shot to the top of many prospect charts with a dazzling five-tool display that earned him the Sally League's 1998 MVP award. Unfortunately, the injuries came back this year; a stress fracture in his back kept him out until June. After two GCL games, he ruined his non-throwing shoulder while hitting a home run and was lost for the duration. He’s much too talented to disappear on that note. 1999 Tremendous talent who is in the process of putting his tools to good use on the diamond. I say "in the process" because he still has room for improvement, despite his great season. While his walk rate is adequate and improving, he still struggles with pitch selection. He’s also missed time in the last few years with leg injuries. All that aside, he's already the best hitting prospect in the system and one of the best in baseball, and he could get even better before he reaches the majors.
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