Reid Brignac has been a top prospect buried in the Rays vast farm system since 2004. Brignac was even rated by Baseball America as the nations 17th best prospect. That was back in 2007. Then he dropped to #39 and #78 the following two years. It’s generally not a good trend to have a prospect’s stock continually decline as he climbs the minor leagues. Brignac is now getting a chance to prove himself in Tampa Bay. Will he be worth owning on your fantasy team?
His prospect stock may have taken a huge hit, but he still has big potential as a hitter on your fantasy team. Let’s see how he stacks up by sending him through our Prospect Rating System:
Power. 35% Extra-Base hit percentage is very good, especially for a middle infielder. Brignac has 25 Home Run potential. Grade: B+
Contact. Brignac’s plate discipline is pretty awful. He strikes out too much, and walks too little. Whether or not Brignac improves his plate discipline will decide his future as a major leaguer. Grade: D+
Speed. Brignac is no snail on the base paths, but he’s not a cheetah, either. His speed and skill on the basepaths is pretty similar to Kelly Johnson’s. I would say his ceiling for stolen bases is 15. Grade: C+
Approach. I already mentioned how awful Brignac’s plate discipline is, but he makes up for some of that with his power. I think it’s unreasonable to ever expect a Batting Average higher than .275 out of Brignac. His good power stroke combined with his unwillingness to take a walk might make him the perfect candidate to be a “career pinch hitter”. Grade: C
Opportunity. Brignac made the Opening Day roster in 2010. He will split time with Sean Rodriguez, and fill-in whenever Bartlett needs a day off. Grade: A-
Hype. The Hype Machine was clicking in full force back in 2007. The hype dust has settled, and scouts are now being more reasonable with their expectations from Brignac. Grade: B+
Intangibles. Brignac’s 6’3″ frame has a lot of potential. However, the 180 pound stick-like figure could really use some time in the weight room. Grade: B
Overall Prospect Rating: 50 out of 80
A 50 out of 80 translates into a C+ or B- prospect rating. It means that Brignac is not a for sure thing, but he certainly has potential.
Comparable Players: Josh Hamilton, Adam Jones, Chris Aguila (yuck)
What to expect in 2010? In 2010, Brignac will likely play a role similar to that of a “clap-on” light. When the manager claps, Brignac is expected to perform. This can be a tough situation for a rookie to be in, and may affect his overall output. Barring injury to Bartlett or Sean Rodriguez, I think it will be hard for Brignac to find much more than 300 At-Bats on the season. Brignac is worth a look in a deep AL-Only league. If you can find a pattern of usage, he will be a solid platoon player. A SS/2B eligible player with 15/10 potential is nothing to sneeze at.
2010 Projection: 332 AB – 47 Runs – 11 HR – 40 RBI – 7 SB – .267 AVG
