Oakland Athletics To Promote Jemile Weeks

Those aren’t three different batting averages above. That is the combined batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage for the Oakland A’s starting second basemen this season. The Minnesota Twins had the distinction of owning baseball’s worst second basemen last week, but the A’s aren’t too far behind.

The bottom line is Mark Ellis and Andy LaRoche haven’t gotten the job done. And now with Ellis potentially landing on the DL with a hamstring injury, it’s the perfect time to call up Jemile Weeks from Triple-A. And according to Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com, that’s what the A’s plan to do.

Weeks, the younger brother of Milwaukee Brewers’ second baseman Rickie Weeks, is killing it in Triple-A. He has a .321/.417/.446 slash line with three HRs and 10 SBs in 217 plate appearances.

While he hasn’t developed the power his brother has just yet, he will provide the A’s with something they are sorely lacking—a dynamic player. Outside of Coco Crisp, the A’s don’t have a single player in their everyday lineup that can make things happen on the basepaths. Weeks can certainly provide that dimension.

Here are some other things you should know about Jemile Weeks.

Age: 24

Bats: Both

Throws: Right

College: University of Miami

Drafted: 12th pick of the first round of the 2008 June draft by the Oakland A’s.

Minor League Stats

Year	Lev	PA	H	2B	3B	HR	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2008	A	90	22	3	1	1	6	13	12	.297	.422	.405	.828
2009	A+-AA	355	85	14	2	9	9	36	56	.278	.357	.425	.782
2009	A+	232	60	9	2	7	5	26	40	.299	.385	.468	.853
2009	AA	123	25	5	0	2	4	10	16	.238	.303	.343	.645
2010	AA-Rk	356	84	16	8	3	16	35	41	.272	.347	.405	.752
2010	Rk	44	11	2	1	0	5	7	4	.306	.432	.417	.848
2010	AA	312	73	14	7	3	11	28	37	.267	.335	.403	.738
2011	AAA	217	59	6	4	3	10	29	32	.321	.417	.446	.862
4 Seasons		1018	250	39	15	16	41	113	141	.286	.372	.420	.793
AA (2 seasons)	AA	435	98	19	7	5	15	38	53	.259	.326	.386	.713
A (1 season)	A	90	22	3	1	1	6	13	12	.297	.422	.405	.828
Rk (1 season)	Rk	44	11	2	1	0	5	7	4	.306	.432	.417	.848
AAA (1 season)	AAA	217	59	6	4	3	10	29	32	.321	.417	.446	.862
A+ (1 season)	A+	232	60	9	2	7	5	26	40	.299	.385	.468	.853

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/8/2011.

 

Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein's analysis:

"

The Good: Scouts and A’s officials remain convinced that Weeks could break out if he could just stay on the field, as his tools remain impressive. His incredible bat speed is reminiscent of older brother Rickie’s, which gives him the potential to hit 12-16 home runs annually with enough plate discipline to fit well at the top of the order. He’s a 60-65 runner on the scouting scale and has improved his defense considerably since his college days.

The Bad: Weeks has played just 176 games in his career, and never more than 80 in a season, leading some to already throw an injury-prone tag on him. He needs to learn how to use his speed in games more, but a variety of leg problems have limited him in that area. He remains an inconsistent defender who is equally capable of spectacular plays and booting the most routine of ground balls.

Ephemera: Weeks is the only player ever selected with the 12th overall pick in the draft to be announced as a second baseman.

Perfect World Projection: He could be an above-average everyday second baseman.

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