San Diego Padres: 5 Reasons Anthony Rizzo Will Be Their Best Player in 2011
The San Diego Padres simply couldn't wait any longer to make the call; luckily for them, Anthony Rizzo was waiting by the phone. Ranked dead last in Major League Baseball with 224 runs scored in 66 games (3.4 runs per game), the Padres were beyond desperate for some instant offense.
Enter Anthony Rizzo, ranked as the 75th best prospect by Baseball America prior to the 2011 season. Rizzo was one of four players traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Padres for Adrian Gonzalez.
Left-handed and measuring out at 6'3", 220 lbs, Rizzo certainly looks the part when it comes to finding a permanent replacement at first base for the recently departed Gonzalez.
Over the past five seasons, Gonzalez started at first base in 799 out of a possible 810 games, while averaging 32 home runs and 100 RBIs per year.
The good news? Anthony Rizzo may actually be better. Let's take a look at five reasons why Rizzo will be the Padres best player in 2011.
5. He Was the Best Minor League Player in All of Baseball
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In 52 games at the Triple-A level, Rizzo hit .365 with 16 home runs and 63 RBIs, with a ridiculous OPS of 1.159. By comparison, Babe Ruth has the highest career OPS in MLB history at 1.163. And no, I'm not saying he's the next Babe Ruth...yet.
Rizzo was drafted by the Red Sox in the sixth round of the 2007 draft after his senior year at Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. After 334 games and 1,280 at bats in the minors, Rizzo was called up by the Padres to make his major league debut on June 9th, 2011.
Rizzo hit 54 HR and drove in 243 runs while hitting .297 during his minor league career. These numbers multiply out to an average of 26 home runs and 118 RBIs over a 162 game major league season—two levels that Rizzo should easily reach.
4. He Will Lead the Padres in Batting Average
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This shouldn't be too difficult for Rizzo considering the Padres are hitting .231 as a team—third from last in MLB—and Chase Headley leads the team with a .269 average.
Rizzo is off to a good start: He's 3-for-7 with four walks and a HBP in his first 12 plate appearances, displaying the type of patience required to hit .300 at the major league level.
3. He Will Lead the Padres in Home Runs
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Again, how hard can it be? The Padres have 37 home runs as a team this season—third from last in MLB—and are led by Ryan Ludwick's eight.
In Rizzo's first game, he hit a 400 ft. triple off the wall, and in his third game, he hit the first home run of his Major League Baseball career.
Do you think he might hit a few more this season? Rizzo has the classic left-handed power swing, and it certainly doesn't hurt that he's 6'3" and weighs 220 lbs. Rizzo will likely play about 100 games for the Padres this year and will still hit more home runs than anyone else on the team.
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2. He Will Lead the Padres in RBIs
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What do you know, the Padres rank dead last in Major League Baseball with 211 RBI. Ryan Ludwick again leads the team with 38 RBIs. Can Rizzo catch him?
I wouldn't put it past him considering he drove in 63 runs in 52 games at Triple-A Tucson this year.
Rizzo will likely hit fifth in the Padres lineup behind Ludwick and should have plenty—well, not plenty—of opportunities to drive in runs for this anemic Padres offense.
1. He Doesn't Have Any Competition
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Quick, name the Padres best player. Adrian Gonzalez! Oh wait...
The Padres may force Major League Baseball to have to re-think their rule this year of making it mandatory that each team has at least one player in the All-Star Game.
At this point it looks like that player will be, drum roll please...Ryan Ludwick!
Rizzo has been on base eight times in 12 plate appearances and already has a double, a triple and a home run in his first three games.
At 21 years old, Anthony Rizzo will not only be the best player on the Padres this season, but for many years to come.
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