Here’s a look at a couple of prospects who have been turning heads with
their solid play over the last month.
Gabe Alvarez, 3B Bats R Born 1974 Age 24
Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA 1995 R Cucmng Cal 208 60 9 1 5 22 32 29 0 0 148 .288 .357 .413 .269 1996 Memphis Sou 370 84 16 1 8 52 46 37 1 2 288 .227 .322 .341 .230 1997 Mobile Sou 419 106 18 1 10 39 50 49 1 1 314 .253 .317 .372 .239 1998 Toledo Int 249 65 9 1 17 26 35 49 2 1 185 .261 .331 .510 .282
Alvarez has showed excellent development this year, easily establishing a
career high in HR (and leading all the minors with 20) before Los Tigres
called him up. In his first major-league start, he recorded his first
major-league two home run game.
This is a nice rags-to-riches prospect story, and the home run stroke he has
exhibited thus far is for real. There’s an important footnote here,
though: Alvarez is a terrible defensive player. He has played at both SS and
3B in the minors, and has been a liability at both positions. If the Tigers
can stand his defense, they’ll have turned Travis Fryman into a cheap, young,
mediocre OBP but plus power player at the hot corner; if not, Alvarez does not
have the bat to move any further to the left in the defensive spectrum.
Of course, a trade would be the best solution. If Randy Smith can snooker
another club out of a Jeremy Giambi type talent, he’d really look good for
it in a couple of years.
Ruben Rivera, OF Bats R Born 1974 Age 24
Year Team Lge AB H DB TP HR BB R RBI SB CS Out BA OBA SA EQA 1993 Oneonta NYP 208 52 3 1 9 23 26 30 5 3 159 .250 .325 .404 .252 1994 Greensbr SAL 410 112 12 1 22 37 62 72 19 4 302 .273 .333 .468 .278 1995 Norwich Eas 265 80 15 5 11 33 51 51 12 6 191 .302 .379 .521 .303 1995 Columbus Int 173 44 5 1 13 24 28 35 6 3 132 .254 .345 .520 .288 1996 Columbus Int 357 75 16 2 9 38 38 35 10 7 289 .210 .286 .342 .216 1998 LasVegas PCL 104 13 3 0 2 9 3 2 3 0 91 .125 .195 .212 .112 1998 San Dieg NL 43 13 2 2 2 11 11 10 1 0 30 .302 .444 .581 .345
He started off terribly at Las Vegas this year, but when the Padres were forced
to call him up in May because of injuries, he started hitting and hasn’t
stopped since. Hey, whatever works.
Rivera is something of a forgotten man since his days as a Yankee property,
when he was frequently mentioned as one of the game’s top prospects. He’s
struggled with injuries since his trade to San Diego, but he could always hit.
The plate discipline he has shown thus far is very encouraging, and, unlike
Alvarez, Rivera is a legitimate major league defensive player. He’ll be the
Padres starting CF by Opening Day next year, at latest, and should stack up
well with his counterparts around the league.
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