Cameron Maybin Fantasy Baseball Profile: Will He Blow Up in 2010?

Cameron Maybin was on the short list of potential 2009 NL Rookies of the Year.

In retrospect, that was a pretty silly prediction given his track record. He hadn’t played Triple-A ball prior to last year, and he had mixed results in for Double-A Carolina in 2008.

He had impressive numbers with 73 runs, 8 triples, 13 HRs, and 21 SBs in 390 ABs. He did hit just .277, which is fine by big league standards, but far from elite in Double-A ball. Even worse, he had the 124 strikeouts. He struck out once every 3.1 at bats.

For a player with his gift of speed, not putting the ball in play is a crime.

Maybin started the year in the bigs, but struggled mightily. He hit just .202 with 11 runs, 1 HR, and 3 RBIs in 84 ABs. He struck out 31 times or once every 2.7 at bats.

He was sent down to Triple-A New Orleans, where he hit .319, but he wasn’t the force he was in Double-A with just 44 runs, 3 HRs, and 8 SBs in 298 ABs. He did manage to cut his strikeout total down to 58, or once every 5.1 at bats.

Maybin was able to translate those numbers to the majors when he received his September call-up from the Marlins. He hit .293 with 19 runs, 3 HRs, and 10 RBIs in 92 at bats. Even more importantly, he struck out just 20 times, or once every 4.6 at bats.

So does that mean he’s ready to break out in 2010? I don’t think so.

He’s still very young, he’ll turn 23 the day before the Marlins’ 2010 season kicks off, and he has a lot to learn. He has the potential to be a fifth outfielder, but he’s more likely a guy I’d either stash on my bench or plug in to get some SBs.

How about you? Are you high on Maybin this year or do you think he still needs time to develop?

Prediction: .265, 70 runs, 10 HRs, 40 RBIs, 20 SBs

Past profiles :
Arizona Diamondbacks:  Brandon Webb
Atlanta Braves: Yunel Escobar
Baltimore Orioles:  Adam Jones
Boston Red Sox:  Clay Buchholz
Chicago Cubs:  Geovany Soto
Chicago White Sox:  Jake Peavy
Cincinnati Reds:  Joey Votto  
Cleveland Indians:  Grady Sizemore
Colorado Rockies: Ubaldo Jimenez
Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera


Originally published at LestersLegends.com .