In preparation for 23-year-old Cubs uber-prospect Kris Bryant’s long-awaited MLB debut this afternoon let’s all just stare at his final minor-league numbers, which were compiled in 181 total games spent mostly at Double-A and Triple-A:
- .327 batting average
- .426 on-base percentage
- .667 slugging percentage
- 55 home runs
- 49 doubles
- 107 extra-base hits
- 152 RBIs
- 147 runs scored
- 18 stolen bases
- 99 walks
- 206 strikeouts
For those curious, here are the highest OPS totals by a 23-year-old third baseman since 1960:
1.008 - Troy Glaus, 2000
1.004 - Ryan Braun, 2007
.998 - Miguel Cabrera, 2006
.965 - Gary Sheffield, 1992
.923 - Scott Rolen, 1998
.912 - David Wright, 2006
.889 - Evan Longoria, 2009
.885 - Aramis Ramirez, 2001
.878 - Eric Chavez, 2001
.870 - Dick Allen, 1965
Based on the incredible hype attached to Bryant a lot of people will probably be disappointed if he turns into, say, the next Troy Glaus instead of the next Mike Schmidt, but either way I’m just glad to have all the hot takes about service time manipulation put away until the next great prospect is ready for a call-up.
My gut-feel prediction for Bryant’s career is that he’ll hit for crazy power, post good but not great batting averages because of high strikeout rates, and make 10 or so All-Star teams.