The Diamondbacks have released first baseman Kevin Cron, according to MLB.com’s transactions page. Cron’s rights have been sold to a team in Nippon Professional Baseball, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.
Cron appeared in eight games with Arizona this season, recording only one walk and zero hits over 20 plate appearances. It was a disappointing output for a player who flashed some of his power potential over 78 PA in 2019, as Cron hit .211/.269/.521 with six homers in his rookie season. Since it became apparent that he wasn’t in the Diamondbacks’ long-term plans, Cron will now head to Japan for a new chapter in his career.
Originally a 14th-round pick for the D’Backs in the 2014 draft, Cron hit .280/.348/.529 with 151 home runs over 2765 PA in the minor leagues. Despite hitting at every level, Cron’s status as something of a traditional slugging, slow-footed first baseman (who was lacking in glovework) limited his prospect stock, not to mention the fact that Paul Goldschmidt was for years a big roadblock for any first base prospect in Arizona’s system. Cron didn’t crack the big leagues until his age-26 season, and while the NL’s adoption of the designated hitter led MLBTR’s Steve Adams to wonder if Cron could blossom in a DH role, Cron didn’t produce or even receive much of an opportunity in 2020.
he’s going to kill it over there
Dude’s numbers in AAA from 2019 are utterly ludicrous. Hope he can rake in Japan and make his way back to the bigs.
Numbers for many guys were boosted in AAA in 2019 by the juiced ball and the PCL ballparks.
Certainly true. Still think an ops over 1.2 with 39 bombs in 370 PA is notable, even in an admittedly surging offensive environment.
Good for him. Japan has always fascinated me and the opportunity to experience that culture for a year or two while playing baseball would be incredible.
Can’t believe he has to hear overseas. His power potential is huge, really hope he makes it back to MLB.
If he can’t hit a breaking ball he won’t rake anywhere.
That seems like a great opportunity for him, he definitely seems like a guy who could really tear it up in Japan and who knows maybe he’ll make some adjustments while he’s playing over there and come back to the states a la Eric Thames.
Seemed like a good option to pair with Guzman as a platoon in Texas, but we can always go get his brother for that too lol.
If the Rangers sign CJ it wont be to platoon with Guzman. CJ will hit everyday.
I really feel like he’ll be an incredible talent in Japan. And I don’t just mean a decent slugger, I mean like Wladimir Balentien or Mel Rojas Jr. in the KBO-type numbers.
Kevin Cron should be able to hit really well in the NPB. What NPB team is it though?