Bats: Right; Throws: Right
2011 Stats (AA Akron): .262, 16 HR, 70 RBI, .782 OPS, 2.84 K/BB
So, following up two AAA National Championship seasons, the pickins will be a bit slim in Columbus this season. Between the failed prospects (Matt LaPorta), utter has-beens (Jose Lopez was an All-Star), and people that I've never even heard of (who the hell is Chris Seddon?), Mike Sarbaugh is gonna have to break out the big coaching guns this year. One ray of sunshine will be catcher Chun Chen. Despite suffering through an injury plagued season (not to worry, none of them should be chronic), Chen led the AA Aeros in both home runs and RBI. True, his OPS was down (.924 in 2010) and his K/BB was way up (1.35 in 2010), but a great a deal of his focus was on improving his defense. While Chun is considered about an average receiver, that's pretty high praise for a kid who hadn't played the position before 2008. In fact, Akron skipper Chris Tremie (formely the organization's catching coordinator) helped him to 34.5% caught stealings, good for 3rd in the Eastern League. Even so, Chen certainly shows more big league promise as a hitter than as a defender. The 16 homers of 2011 were a career high and if he can replicate the gap power a year earlier (38 doubles), he might just be the right-handed bat that the club needs on the lakefront. Alternatively, both his English and Spanish are works in progress and would preclude MLB catching duties if they are not ready when his bat is. Remember that he is young and will likely see only a September cup of coffee in 2012. Regardless of whether he is a year away or where he might play, it is nice to see a talented youngster with a big righty bat, who is not significantly hindered by injuries.
Up Next: #12 - OF Luigi Rodriguez
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