Minor League Matters: corner infielders depth chart

So after last week's look at the catchers, it's time to move on to first and third base. 

I've decided to add some new statistics- namely K/BB and BABIP. I'm also going to link to First Inning for the minor league players. Onto the charts!

MLB

Miguel Cabrera- First Baseman- 26 years old

2009: .324 batting average /.396 on-base % /.547 slugging average, .348 BABIP, 106/66 K/BB

When sober, he's amazing and one of the best hitters in the game. The sauce is the only thing holding Miggy back, and if he's really stopping, he should continue to be amazing. And he'll be ours until 2015, barring trade. A lot to like here.

Brandon Inge- Third Baseman- 32 years old

2009: .230/.314/.406, .277 BABIP, 170/54 K/BB

Inge is a constant source of debate among Tigers fans- is he a god among men or a schlub who would be lucky to be playing in AAA? What nobody can argue with is that Inge has an amazing glove. His bat has had potential for years now, and if he hits like the first half of 2009 (.268/.360/.515), he's an All-Star. His BABIP was a little low (league average is around .300), which might help the average, and health will be important for turning his career around.

Jeff Larish- Corner Infielder- 27 years old

2009 (AAA): 257 PA .265/.397/.412, .336 BABIP, 56/42

A wrist injury sapped his power for most of the year, so he'll hit more than 6 HR in regular duty. Larish is a passable defender at first base, and he'll stand at third base or in the outfield corners with a glove, so he's nominally a four corners reserve. He's got good power and good on-base skills but he needs some plate appearances to get used to the league. Larish is nothing amazing, but he'd make an okay DH for a few years.

AAA/AA

Ryan Roberson- First Baseman- 26 years old

2009 (AAA): .227/.294/.363, .302 BABIP, 89/24 K/BB

Roberson's numbers make him look like organizational filler, but he's coming off a pair of good seasons (at Lakeland and Erie) so he merits a mention. Roberson has good power but doesn't walk nearly enough to warrant that strikeout rate. He probably got a little unlucky last year, as that BABIP is actually low based on his career numbers. But his strikeout rate also jumped. Odds are Roberson is a piece of organizational filler, but he could get a cup of coffee or serve as an injury replacement on a team in desperate need of a first baseman.

Santo De Leon- Third Baseman- 26 years old

2009 (AA): 315 PA .269/.295/.415, .326 BABIP, 66/11 K/BB

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the man who is second on Detroit's third base depth chart (not counting Jeff Larish). The probable starter in Toledo next year can't hit for average, can't walk and doesn't have a lot of power. Organizational filler.

Cesar Nicolas- First Baseman- 26 years old

2008 (AA): 364 PA .260/.390/.409, 60/55 K/BB ratio

He was hurt in 2009, I can tell you that much. I can't figure out what the injury is, but if he's healthy, Nicolas looks to be very similar to Jeff Larish. But he's old, has an injury history and has never hit in AAA. Organizational filler, but he has a slim chance to surprise.

Jason Stokes- First Baseman- 28 years old

I'd like to give you numbers for Stokes, but the only ones that would be remotely useful are from 2006... before he retired. Stokes was an injury prone first base prospect in the Marlins system and retired in 2007 to get healthy. He has very good power production... when healthy. That seems to be the problem, and I'd be willing to bet he retires sometime in the future due to health issues.

Ryan Strieby- First Baseman- 24 years old

2009 (AA): 360 PA, .304/.425/.567, .359 BABIP, 79/56 K/BB

Streiby is one of my favorite Tigers prospects (and one of Kurt's least favorite). I've listed him as a first baseman because that's his natural defensive position. But Strieby only has a future in Detroit in LF, so he'll probably spend time there in 2010. Realistically, he's a DH, but he's one that can rake. Expect the average to drop, but he could easily put up some good OBPs and can hit some homers. He's very similar to Jeff Larish, but with slightly better strikeout rates and a little more power production.

Michael Bertram- First Baseman- 25 years old

2009 (AA): 133 PA, .283/.353/.592, .321 BABIP, 31/13 K/BB

2009 (A+): 315 PA, .281/.327/.469, .316 BABIP, 54/20 K/BB

Shifted from third to first this year, Bertram put up decent numbers in A+ and AA, but his true line is probably closer to the one you see from A+. He handled his transition to AA fairly well, but his strikeout rate jumped- a bad sign. He'll probably top out as organizational filler- he's 25 and needs to take a step forward to help a big-league team anytime soon.

A+/A/SS

Jordan Lennerton-First Baseman- 23 years old

2009 (A+): 505 PA, .282/.370/.434, .374 BABIP, 127/64 K/BB

A first baseman with limited power and a huge BABIP? No thanks. While Lennerton can walk a little, he's probably a non-prospect at this point and needs to make a huge stride forward next year. Organizational filler.

Rawley Bishop- First Baseman- 24 years old

2009 (SS): 296 PA, .281/.375/.439, .335 BABIP, 51/29 K/BB

A 2009 draftee, Bishop was a third baseman in high school. He hit pretty well in his debut, but his tools aren't good and he probably won't end up as a major leaguer. At this level, there's still hope, but his age and propensity to strike out even at Class A are big warning flags. Organizational filler.

Wade Gaynor- Third Baseman- 21 years old

2009 (SS): 266 PA .192/.278/.282, .239 BABIP, 52/20 K/BB

Gaynor is a legitimate third base prospect, if not a good one. He hit well in 2009 before being drafted in the third round by the Tigers, and while he's not stellar with the glove, he can play the position. That low BABIP gives me some hope as to future performance, and while I wish he'd cut the strikeouts and increase the walks, we can't always get what we want. Here's to hoping Gaynor makes a leap forward next year.

James Robbins- First Baseman- 19 years old

Robbins is another 2009 draftee, and while the only numbers he has to his credit are 39 PA in the Gulf Coast League. But Robbins is a legitimate first base product that signed over-slot (not that it was hard for him to do- he was drafted in the 30th round). He's young, he's got good power and a good enough stick that the Tigers opted to keep him in the batters box as opposed to on the mound (he was considered as a pitching prospect as well).

Francisco Martinez- Third Baseman- 19 years old

Martinez's numbers have all come in the VSL and GCL, so I won't waste time posting them. I will say that he was an 18 year old that the Tigers brought to Lakeland to round out the season. He's toolsy, young and the organization likes him. Congratulations, Francisco Martinez, for being the best Third Base prospect on the Tigers!

Final Thoughts

There's a decent amount of depth at first base- Larish and Strieby both have a future in the Majors, though Larish may need a trade to realize it. But third base is a black hole of suckitude that won't be filled any time soon- even by players in the low minors. When your best third baseman is a toolsy 19 year old who has yet to hit in anything besides Rookie ball, then you have problems. But hey, it's not like Brandon Inge's contract is about to expire... oh wait.

Next: Middle Infielders and Part 1 of "How to Evaluate Hitters"