Phuture Phillies

Everyone knows the deal. Coming into spring training, Donald was going to see time at 2B and 3B in the event that Chase Utley or Pedro Feliz wouldn’t be ready for Opening Day. It appears both guys have a shot to be in the opening day lineup, Utley seems a better bet than Feliz. That raises the question, what happens with Donald? He’s hitting .379 this spring, much of it coming after a slow start where he appeared to be pressing a bit. He’s also drawn 6 walks. But if he isn’t looking at full time at bats, what is going to happen to him? I personally think he’s going to be one of the last cuts from the squad and sent to AAA where he’ll play both 2B and 3B, mostly 3B. But have your say here

Can’t say I agree with him ranking this low, but I’m not all that surprised. Scouting excerpt

He can do it all as Donald split his AFL days playing second, third and short. He doesn’t have a dynamic tool, but one scout raved, “When you look at this list five years from now, he’s going to be a good ball player.” He squares the ball up, makes hard contact and shows power.

In the article talking about Chase Utley’s injury, its mentioned that Donald won the AFL’s Darrell Stenson Award, given to the player who displays hard work, leadership, and unselfishness. A nice way to cap off his 2008. He better rest up, because I think he’s going to end up playing a big role in 2009.

The reports on Jason Donald this fall remain the same. He’d be fine at shortstop, but he doesn’t have prototypical power to play third base, and he’d be more valuable to the Phillies in a trade. Well, lets consider the composite batting lines for the 3B position over the last few years

2008: .266/.336/.436
2007: .273/.342/.443
2006: .276/.347/.458
2005: .270/.338/.435

Of course, this line considers all players who appeared at 3B, its not a standard for players who started at the position and played a large chunk of games. So to do that, I looked at all 3B who had at least 400 PA in 2008. The line, when considering these 27 players, is

.271/.355/.457

This tells us a bit more, its not radically higher, but it is a bit higher. So then we have to figure out what kind of hitter Jason Donald is in the majors.

Career: .297/.384/.459
2008: .307/.391/.497

Donald’s 2008 was his best minor league season, betting his numbers across the board, while doing it in AA. Is he a .280/.360/.460 hitter in the majors? If he is, then he’d be a league average 3B. I guess time will tell.

Saw this at BA, thought I’d pass it along.

“I was really excited,” Donald said after taking batting practice at the Double-A Eastern League All-Star game. “My mind just started racing just thinking about everything. I don’t think I really heard too much after they told me that I made the club. Now hopefully it starts to sink in a little more. I still have a little bit, a couple more weeks here, l and I’m going to do my best to finish it out with Reading and then go on to Beijing and try to win a gold medal.”

Donald, 23, is batting .301/.381/.493 in 302 at-bats this season for Double-A Reading. One of the better offensive shortstops in the minors, Donald doesn’t have any experience playing in international competitions, but his sound approach at the plate and line-drive stroke should be assets when the Olympics begin next month.

“You hear things, obviously with Cuba just because of our history with them, and I know just how good of a baseball country they are, but you know I really don’t know too much,” Donald said. “I know they’re going to bring their best, as are all the teams, so I’m just looking forward to the opportunity.”