Last time I talked about Desmond Jennings, I raved about his speed, but doubted his power. My opinion on Jennings has not changed. Jennings still has 60+ Stolen Base potential but his power is most likely maxing out in the 15-20 Home Run range.
Now that we have a Prospect Rating system in place, let’s see how Jennings grades out:
- Power. They say power is the last thing a hitter develops, which often leads to a lot of speculating. In this case, I don’t think the power will ever come. 20 Home Runs is probably the ceiling here.
Grade: C+ - Contact. This guy can flat out hit. His batter’s eye indicates that Jennings should become a .285+ hitter once he gets settled in at the major league level.
Grade: A - Speed. Truth be told, there aren’t a lot of players in the major leagues that can run the bases as effectively as Jennings. In terms of speed, Jennings is right up there with Taveras, Reyes, Ellsbury, Gomez, etc.
Grade: A+ - Approach. Jennings knows how to protect with two strikes, and he’s not afraid to take a walk. The tools are all set in place for Jennings to become a legit on-base threat in the major leagues.
Grade: A - Opportunity. Jennings has spent four years in the minors, and appears ready for the big show this year. Jennings should get a chance to showcase his talent in Tampa this season.
Grade: A- - Hype. Scouts back up what the numbers say, Jennings is a solid player, with All-Star potential.
Grade: A - Intangibles. Jennings has experienced some minor injuries during his minor league stints, but nothing to get worked up over. In the end, Desmond Jennings is a freak athlete who is going to make a lot of fantasy owners happy.
Grade: A-
Overall Fantasy Prospect Rating: 72 out of 80
My Thoughts: Desmond Jennings is fast, has a great approach at the plate, and can pop one over the fence occasionally. As a fantasy owner, Jennings is a must-own rookie as soon as his playing time is there. It’s hard to overlook a player with 50+ Stolen Base potential who doesn’t kill you in any other category.
2010 Projections (these are low end, expect this or more from Jennings in 2010)
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