There's a reason why a picture of Brock Holt headlines this article.
We attempt to build the perfect bench in Major League Baseball. Before we dive into this task, we must define what a "bench," or "role," player is. The following are the criteria that were used in this process:
Criteria:
Accumulated between 50 to 250 PA in the 2019 season
Played multiple positions (not including pitcher)
Offensive production
Following this outline, we look for players that can provide a significant level of depth for a club. It is important to note that we chose players from the 2019 season with the focus on 2020 along with a player for each offensive position, including DH. We will also use a set of advanced metrics to rationalize our decisions.
If we missed a player, or players, let us know in the comments.
Without further ado, we introduce The Launch Angle's perfect bench:
Now, let's go player by player:
Alex Avila:
While he only played one position last year (not including the two innings he was a pitcher), Avila was a solid producer for Arizona in 2019. With 201 plate appearances, his walk rate of 17.9% is the highest on this list and his wOBA places him as an average on-base producer. At 33 years young, he should be a serviceable role player for Minnesota when the season starts.
Tyler Austin:
Having played for three clubs in 2019, Austin played four different positions and posted numbers that define "role player." While his walk rate of 13.4% is impressive, his wOBA and wRC+ are not as eye catching. However, his versatility does provide a level of justification as to why he makes our bench, especially if he can be a temporary fill-in for regular starters.
Mike Freeman:
Having played with five teams in four seasons in the Majors, most of Freeman's career production occurred in 2019 with Cleveland. In 213 plate appearances, his production was steady. Both his walk rate and wOBA would be considered by many teams to be a strong indicator of output. Coupled with the fact that he played six different positions last year, which is second on this list, Freeman would be a welcome addition to a team's depth chart.
Donovan Solano:
Admittedly, I did not know who Donovan Solano was when this research was started, but he is a very solid player. Having missed the last two seasons, he came back in a big way for San Francisco in 2019, with an above average wOBA and finishing 16% better than his peers in run creation. Playing four defensive spots last season, Solano is an ideal pick for a bench spot and arguably could crack the starting lineup if his production is sustained.
Brock Holt:
We broke our own rules in selecting the super-utility man, but can you really blame us? In 2019, Holt played seven positions, except for centerfield, catcher, and pitcher. While he had more than 250 plate appearances last season, his production was more than serviceable, as his wOBA and wRC+ are average, relative to other players. Brock Holt's versatility offers a team a unique premium when constructing a viable bench. To not include him would be bordering on the irresponsible.
Dominic Smith:
Former 2013 first round pick Dominic Smith has showed growth in his first three Major League seasons. With 197 plate appearances in 2019, he borders on being a great on-base player and is a run creator-plus. If he continues this progression, he may be a full-time starter with the Mets in 2020. For now, he is the perfect addition to the perfect bench.
Brad Miller:
The argument for Miller is similar to that of Smith, in that his offensive output is solid. Tied for third on this list in positions played in 2019 with five, he split time with Philadelphia and Cleveland last season, which spans his career with five franchises in seven years. While he would be placed in the outfield, Miller provides a position bonus in the infield as well.
Matt Joyce:
While he was signed by the Marlins to potentially be a starter, the 35-year old veteran would provide experience to any roster, especially with his offense. A walk rate of 16.0%, a wOBA of 0.372, and a wRC+ of 128 places him as one of the better players on this theoretical bench. While one could argue that he could be a starter, if a team is limited in certain spots and Joyce is a secondary option, the level of any fear would dissipate rapidly.
Charlie Culberson:
You could have put any player in the league fitting our criteria in the DH spot. We went with Culberson because of the positional versatility versus offensive production. A solid defender in some respects, he is a reputable option for any team's depth.
Thank you so much for turning to The Launch Angle for your baseball analysis! If you like this article, click this link for our previous post!
Comments