Two of the better shortstops in the Midwest League were the subject of a question in today's "Ask BA" segment. Click the link for the full article, or read below for the blurb about the players we all watched this past season:
Shortstops Dee Gordon (Dodgers) and Gustavo Nunez (Tigers) played in the low Class A Midwest League at age 21, are close to the same small size and posted very similar numbers as top-of-the-order dynamos. Both are fast, though Gordon is faster. Nunez is a better defender right now, with a strong arm and quick release. Is Nunez a legitimate prospect?
Chris Drouillard
Toledo
Though Gordon ranked No. 2 on our MWL Top 20 Prospects list and Nunez didn't make it, he is a prospect.
The biggest difference between the two is that Gordon projects to provide much more offense. He has less baseball experience, and thus more room to grow as a hitter. He has more speed and a better idea of how to use it, so he projects as a big-time basestealer, while Nunez got caught in 36 percent of his attempts. Gordon also projects to add more strength and hit for more pop, and he has more patience at the plate.
While some wonder if Gordon can smooth out his rough edges defensively, there's no doubt that Nunez will stay at shortstop. He's a good defender, and his ability to become a big league regular will depend on how much he hits. Most of his offensive value will come from his batting average, though he can steal a few bases.
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