The Nationals have no qualms about Carter Kieboom as their starting third baseman despite an alarming lack of power, writes Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com. The 23-year-old has produced a meager .051 ISO over his first 165 plate appearances, including just a solitary double in 122 plate appearances in 2020. Kieboom hit 16 home runs in 2019 at Triple-A with a respectable .189 ISO, and Fangraphs gives him a 55-potential in-game power grade on a 20-80 scale. The Nationals believe the power will come. Luis Garcia, the Nats’ top offensive prospect after Kieboom, was rushed to the Majors in 2020, but he does not appear to be in serious consideration for an everyday role on the 2020 roster, notes Zuckerman. Starlin Castro enters camp as the starter at second base, while Josh Harrison lines up as the primary backup at all three non-first-base infield spots. The Nationals aren’t famous for boasting tremendous depth, though they do have non-roster invitees Jordy Mercer, Adrián Sanchez, and Hernán Pérez also in camp. Let’s check in on some coaching announcements in the National League…
- Jose Moreno, the Manager of the Year in the Venezuelan Winter League this season, will take over as manager for the High-A Dayton Dragons in the Reds’ system, per the Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans (via Twitter) and a press release from Dayton. It will be Moreno’s second season with the Reds after spending 19 years in the Seattle Mariners’ organization. As the Dragons make the move from Low-A to High-A, they’ll do so with with Darren Bragg, Brian Garman, and Daryle Ward on Moreno’s staff as a development coach, pitching coach, and hitting coach, respectively. Ward returns as the Dragons hitting coach after serving in the same role with the club in 2016 and 2017. Garman, meanwhile, was hired for the 2020 season before the cancellation.
- The Cubs announced their minor league coaches and coordinators for the 2021 season today. Among the additions, Dustin Kelly has taken over as minor league hitting coordinator after three seasons as a hitting coach in the Dodgers’ organization. He played three seasons in the minors after being drafted in 2004 by the Red Sox. Kelly replaces Chris Valaika, who was promoted to assistant hitting coach for the big league club, notes the Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma (via Twitter).
165 plate appearances lol
Seriously. Lol
Why the lol? He sucked miserably over those plate appearances. When you’re trying to return to being a contender, those numbers won’t cut it.
I get it, @dtdatl –
But, ya gotta give these guys a chance, man. When Aaron Judge came up in ’16, he struck out 42 times in 84(!) at bats. I was so onboard with trading him for Qintana.
Ooof.
That would have been disastrous. In a baseball sense, anyway.
Mike Schmidt had a rough start too.
Says the guy whose never played pro ball
So you think a 165 PA is enough to consider him a bust? Dang! That is harsh.
Mike trout had a disappointing start to his career. Dustin Pedroia another that comes to mind. I’m sure there are dozens I’m not thinking of.
I think Kieboom will be fine, I feel he has a floor as a solid big league regular with some all star potential
still believe in the guy, but he has looked flat out miserable in those PAs. bordering on Brinson and Urias bad. (and some know how quickly i soured on them)
though i guess looking back at them now they arent quite as bad and did improve from 2019-2020.
I need Kieboom to be at least decent to help our offense Like 265 20hrs 875 rbi
Well, he gets 875 rbi, he’ll be the MVP so that will help haha
Im an idiot meant to put 75 rbi but 875 wouldnt be to shabby
I would love to see him get 875 rbi!!!!!
That would be an all time record. More than five a game. I don’t see how they could lose a game if it happened.
Any above average player can get 875 RBI, why not dream big?
Why stop at 875? He’s clearly capable of breaking 1,000.
875 kinda meager, need a least 1015 for playoff contention.
Ok, 5 Rbis per game, no problem….
Mike Schmidt hit .197 and slugged .360 in 1972/73 in nearly 150 games as a 22/23-year-old before realizing he was Michael Jack Schmidt, the greatest 3B’man in MLB history. Kieboom is a year younger and has barely 150 MLB ABs. No, he’s not Schmidt, but it’s waaaayy too early to be writing him off.
Pass the Kool-Aid over here. You’ve sold me. I mean, “boom” is in his name. He is ordained to rake.
Probably not a good idea to compare Kieboom to arguably the greatest 3rd baseman of all time, but I do agree with your point. Too early to give up on Kieboom, especially after the odd 2020 season.
True, but there’s two ways of looking at comparisons. Never compare anyone to an all-time great, or simply note that even some all-time greats have struggled at the start, so even mortal players can be allowed to struggle before giving up in them. Let’s see. Which struggling pitcher can I compare to Greg Maddox?!
Maddux. I still don’t know why the edit feature doesn’t exist on the mobile app.
Haha. The lack of edit on mobile kills me. I agree with your reply though. Good post.
Exactly. I’m a Giants fan and Joey Bart was brought up too soon last year and got 103 ABs. Now everyone is writing him off like he’s a bust.
Nats are kinda stuck with Kieboom at 3B to start the season. No worthwhile options left on the market. They’d have to trade for a Bryant or (God forbid) Longoria at this point if Kieboom crashes and burns in the first half.
There is always Jake Lamb.
Still at least a half dozen decent unsigned veterans available with 3B experience. At least one will end up with an invitation from the Nationals to challenge Kieboom in spring training.
If he gives you .250, double digit home runs and fields somewhere around league average, he would be a useful player and a starter.
Clever collection of topics in that headline – Nats, 3rd base, Reds, Cubs.
Are teams down to one DSL and AZL/GCL team? Or are just the Cubs being stupid?
Hernan Perez should replace Wilmer Difo as the backup to the backup in Washington. Five bench spots and three already taken by Avila, Zimmerman, and Harrison, will the Nats keep an extra Infielder (who like Harrison, can also play corner OF) or carry two Outfielders? (Parra? Stevenson?)
That Nats are kidding themselves if they believe Kieboom, Harrison and even other assorted casts of charectors like Castro are the answer at 3rd base. They need to make a bold move to keep up with Atlanta, NY Mets and the Phils. Maybe they are trying squeeze possible trade partners like the Cubs for Bryant and possibly the the Reds for Saurez. As the rosters stand now I have the Nats finishing 3rd behind Atlanta (1st) and the NY Mets (2nd) and therefore missing the playoffs.
Wrong.
You dont draft a 1st draft round pick, spend years developing him, and then make panicky judgements after 165 ab’s. Give the kid a 400 AB season and then decide. i swear, MLB teams would feast off of some of you GM’s who cut bait on stud prospects after a handful of games.
Especially guys who were are rumored to have had a groin TEAR (not a pull) in 2020 as the team kept the injury quiet. Which explains his sudden lack of power and speed last year.
Injury aside, Kieboom also needs to stop striking out and putting pressure on himself. With the return of Castro and the Bell-Scwarber signings, it tales some pressure off him.