With baseball season now underway, I’ve decided to whip up another MLB special. This won’t be your usual baseball special either. I won’t be talking about any superstars, won’t be talking about individual teams, and also won’t be giving my two cents on why certain players are starting off slow in 2014. Instead, I will be giving baseball fans insight on “low key studs.” These studs are certain players that have been catching my attention for the past 2-3 years. They also aren’t on the radar of your typical baseball fans. I will be talking about one low key stud for each division. So, I advise that everyone keep their eyes and ears open on these players because they will be household names some time in the future. This is part IV of the special, hope you all enjoy.
Stud Watch: NL Central
Matt Adams, 1st baseman, St. Louis Cardinals
Nicknamed Big City for his imposing size and ability to regularly hit long home runs, the Cardinals drafted Adams in the 23rd round of the 2009 MLB Draft from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Playing in the Texas League in 2011, Adams was recognized as that league’s Most Valuable Player and the Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year with a .300 batting average, 32 home runs and 101 runs batted in. He made his MLB debut in 2012. In his rookie season in 2013, Adams hit 17 home runs in 296 at-bats. The Cardinals let Albert Pujols walk via free agency during the 2012 off-season because the organization knew they had someone younger, cheaper, and someone who has great potential in Matt Adams.
Strengths
- Country Strong
- Hits for average
- Doesn’t strikeout much
- Stays healthy
When you see Matt Adams during a game, you will understand why his ball club started calling him Big City. Standing at 6’3 and a hefty 230 pounds, you can also understand why I call him country strong. Big City is very frightening standing at the dish, and not because of his size but because of his ability to kill a pitcher with the long ball or his ability to pepper the ball all over the field. For someone of his status, Adams doesn’t whiff as much as you would assume, he isn’t another Adam Dunn. Instead, he is a rare breed just like Frank Thomas, meaning he is able to hit for a high batting average, clobber 25+ homers, and strikeout no more than 100 times in a season. Adams has always been a hitting machine since his days at Slippery Rock, he holds the record of bating .473 during a season. For a player that plays pretty much everyday, you can say Adams is very sturdy, only landing on the DL twice and both requiring the minimum 15 days.
Weakness
- Doesn’t draw many walks
Matt Adams doesn’t have many weaknesses. Well, he only has one at that. He doesn’t walk very much for someone who has a great eye at the plate. It’s not as bad as you think either. Big City doesn’t miss many strikes the pitchers throw his way, he is able to put the ball in play. Ever since being called up, he has always been a free swinger, but a swinger that doesn’t swing at bad pitches. With him having the freedom to swing at strikes it allows Adams to make something out of nothing.
Overall
Matt “Big City” Adams stands at a scary 6’3 and big 230 pounds. Instead of being compared to someone similar like Adam Dunn, instead he hits like the Hall of Famer Frank Thomas. Adams is someone who can hit for a high average while also smash balls over the fence. He also doesn’t strikeout as much as people would think, he has a great eye in the batters box and is able to make something out of nothing most of the time. Hi sonly flaw is his ability to draw walks. Drawing less than 30 walks a year is pretty dreadful but with his offensive skills, his manager gives him a pass on that.