Rasmus thoughts

Bits have been asked to provide some thoughts on Cardinals phenom Colby Rasmus. This is my attempt to answer that.

If you have a particular player you want profiled, email me: motle@fantasybits.com and I will provide information.

Colby Rasmus      

Position: Centerfield | Bats: Left | DOB: 8/11/1986  6-1, 195

Year   Team                            AB      OBP    SLG    AVG    R         XBH    HR       RBI      SB       BB       SO

2005   R-Johnson Cty             216     .362    .514    .296    47        21          7        27        13        21        73

2006   A-Quad Cities             303     .373    .512    .310    49        25        11        50        17        29        55

2006   A-Palm Beach            193     .351    .404    .254    22          9          5        35        11        2        35

2007   AA-Springfield           472     .381    .551    .275    93        69         29       72        18        70      108

Colby is yet another one of the young guns rumbling through the low minors.

After breaking Bo Jackson’s Alabama state high school single-season homerun record, Colby was the Cardinals 1^st round pick in 2005, the 28^th player chosen overall. Colby hit .296 in his first pro tour in Rookie League with a .876 OPS.

In 2006 as a 20-year-old he hit 16 HRs and drove in 85 runs in 496 combined ABs in two levels of single-A. He also fanned 90 times in that span and drew 56 walks a spiffy 1.7:1 K:BB ratio. Last year Colby dominated Double A ball, smashing 29 dingers with 69 extra base hits. His Slugging percentage spiked up to .551, however his batting average dipped to .275.

In his pro career he’s managed a 147/271 trade off on BBs and Ks in 1184 ABs while hitting .280.  Again the 2.1 K:BB ratio is strong but that’s more strikeouts than you want to see. That K rate is ok for a pure power hitter of course but he’ll need to contain his whiffs better to become the well-rounded hitter we think he can be.

Colby is ready to start the season as the Cardinals starting centerfielder, however he’ll have to unseat Ryan Ludwick with a strong showing this spring.  He has tamed his tendencies to pull the ball with his quick hands and he can take the ball with power to all fields. He’s also shown the ability to make adjustments when required.

Having gained 20 pounds from his ‘06  campaign to his current weight, Colby is close to his desired body mass (remember that he’s only 21 years young.)    Colby projects quite comfortably to 20/20 at the major league level in ‘08 and there’s potential for significantly more power down the road.