Through September 29, 2000
YR 2000 |
G 110
|
AB 343
|
R 41
|
H 75
|
2B 20
|
3B 4
|
HR 2
|
RBI 24
|
BB 51
|
SO 81
|
SB 1
|
CS 5
|
OBP .326
|
SLG .318
|
AVG .219
|
Profile
& Scouting Report
Height:
6-1
Weight:
180 lbs.
Throws:
Right
Bats:
Both
Positions:
Shortstop
Born:
February 13, 1970, Spokane , Washington
Drafted:
Selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the second round of the 1991 free-agent draft.
Pre-Majors Highlights:
3rd-team All-American following the 1991 season at University of Washington.
Scouting Report
1999 Season Kevin Stocker was off to a good start in proving his disastrous 1998 performance was an aberration, but then his season came to a premature end for the second straight year. In 1998, he was struck on the hand by a pitch and missed the final month. Last season he was bothered by left-knee inflammation starting in July, and underwent season-ending surgery on August 31.
Hitting Stocker returned to his old hitting style in 1999, choking up on the bat and taking short, aggressive swings. The change was especially relevant from the left side, as he improved from .194 in 1998, the lowest among American League regulars, to .316 last year. Stocker has little power and draws only a fair number of walks.
Baserunning & Defense Stocker came to the Devil Rays with a reputation for a steady glove, but at times he seems a step too slow on the fast Tropicana Field infield. Coaches think the sore knee was a big reason for his team-high 16 errors in just 79 games, because it prevented him from planting properly for throws. Stocker doesn't have a particularly strong arm either, and occasionally has to rely on bouncing balls off the turf. He's an average runner who never has shown an aptitude for stealing bases.
2000 Outlook Stocker is expected to be healthy for the start of spring training. He's entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $3.3 million in 1999, and has to prove that he can be the complete player the Rays are seeking at shortstop. If not, they're going to have to start looking quickly for a replacement, perhaps as soon as midseason. It's safe to say that they regret the expansion-draft trade that sent Bobby Abreu to Philadelphia for Stocker.
Scouting Report Source: STATS, Inc. Copyright 2000 STATS, Inc.
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