Much like Freeman and Pasquantino, the left-handed-hitting Colorado Rockies first-base prospect isn’t looking to launch, but rather to drive balls into gaps. Grant Lavigne did the same when I talked to him during the Arizona Fall League. Vinnie Pasquantino brought up Freddie Freeman in his recent Talks Hitting interview, citing the six-time All-Star and 2020 NL MVP as an example of a first baseman who thrives with a line-drive approach. Klondike Smith went 1 for 4 against Boardwalk Brown. 315/.374/.503 line over 163 plate appearances.īobby Thomson went 4 for 8 against Thornton Kipper. Moreover, he raked in the postseason, putting up a. From 2004-2014, the sweet-swinging, switch-hitting catcher/first baseman slashed a robust. Martinez was arguably among the most-underrated hitters of this generation. He was really fun to watch hit, because he was playing chess up there a lot of times.”

“He would say, ‘I’m going to sit on a breaking ball here,’ then he’d spit on two fastballs, and when they hung a breaking ball he would hit it into the bullpen.

“Victor would go up there and call his shot,” said Barfield. Other former teammates who stand out for Barfield were Adrian Gonzalez, Mike Cameron, and Victor Martinez, the last of whom he called the most gifted hitter of the group. When all was said and done, Sizemore had just 29.7 WAR. A string of injuries followed, torpedoing what might have been a brilliant career.

He made three All-Star teams, won two Gold Gloves, and logged a 129 wRC+ with 107 home runs and 115 stolen bases over that four-year-stretch. Sizemore debuted with Cleveland and accumulated 27.3 WAR - only Albert Pujols, Chase Utley, and Alex Rodriguez had more - from 2005-2008 in his age 22-25 seasons.

Live For Today by Joe Barfield