[討論] B.Eibner Has Become Complete Player
by David Hill
A minor league player who shows solid power potential is always intriguing,
even if they are not a top prospect. That is definitely the case for Kansas
City Royals fans, as their franchise has generally been devoid of a true
slugger for most of the team’s history. After all, the Royals are the only
team that is yet to have a forty home run hitter in franchise history, with
Steve Balboni still holding the record for most home runs in a single season.
Perhaps this is what has made Brett Eibner so interesting during his minor
league career. While Eibner has never been a top prospect, nor has he hit
twenty home runs in a minor league campaign, he has flashed enough power
potential to make one wonder if he could produce at a major league level. He
had traditionally produced a low batting average and struck out quite a bit,
but that power potential allowed Eibner to rise through the ranks.
This season, everything appears to have come together. Eibner has tied his
career best with 19 home runs, and has produced a stellar .309/.368/.524
batting line, far outpacing his career .241/.331/.433 rate. With this
increased production, Eibner has also reduced his strikeouts, striking out
only 73 times in 378 at bats. Over the course of the season, Eibner has
transformed into a completely different player.
Brett Eibner is not the only member of the Kansas City Royals farm system to
suddenly break through this season. Jose Martinez and Balbino Fuenmayor have
gone from minor league free agents to suddenly transforming into players that
have far exceeded their minor league track record. Eibner, without the cult
following that Fuenmayor had developed or the assault on the Pacific Coast
League single season batting record, has slipped a bit under the radar.
However, Eibner’s resurgence should not be an afterthought. Even though he
is not on the Royals 40 man roster this season, Eibner’s performance could
be enough to get a long look in Spring Training next year. With his ability
to play all three outfield positions and an offensive profile that is
starting to come together, Eibner could be playing his way towards a
potential spot on the Royals next season.
There was a time in the not so distant past when a player like Brett Eibner
would be in the majors and likely starting for the Royals. Players like Emil
Brown and Mitch Maier received quite a bit of playing time, and had Eibner
come through the Royals system a few years earlier, he may have had that
chance as well. Now, the fact that he is still in AAA speaks volumes to the
depth that the Royals have on the major league level.
Brett Eibner may get a chance with the Kansas City Royals at some point, and
that may even happen next year. This season, Eibner has become a more
complete player than he had been before, which will make a difference for his
chances next year.
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