By: Chris Terlop
“Offensively, there are no doubts about this one, _____ is one of the best hitters around.” –John Sickels, ESPN/Baseball Prospect Book.
Fill in the blank. Ryan Braun? Incorrect. Carlos Gomez? Nope. Scooter Gennett? Nice try. If you guessed Rickie Weeks you would be correct. This is Rickie Weeks' Scouting Report after he was drafted second overall in the 2003 MLB draft by Milwaukee.
The rest of the report gushes on Weeks, labeling him as a five-tool player. Hitting for average, check; hitting for power “not a homerun monster, but will hit at least 20 homers a season with plenty of doubles and triples.” Add above average speed, plus arm and range, and you might want to sit down for this, an ability to “control the strikezone”.
What happened to this can’t miss prospect? The scouting report is dead-on about Weeks, he was as good as they come coming out of college. Weeks is a career .249 hitter; not exactly one of the best hitters around. He has hit 20 homeruns three times, one can attribute his inability to play more than 130 games a season as a cause for this (has only done that twice in 9 seasons).
All of those things can take a hit coming from Southern University, through the minors and into the big leagues. When you face better pitching one’s average will go down, the speed is not as effective against great catchers, but what about his plate discipline? This is a player who impressed almost all scouts with his control over the strikezone, his ability to draw walks and rarely strikeout.
Weeks has averaged over one strikeout per game over his career and has walked once every two and a half games. Not what you would expect from a player with a great approach in college and throughout the minors.
At age 30, Weeks is having his worst season of all-time; hitting .183 with two homeruns and 43 strikeouts over 37 games. Defensively he has made four errors, the one part of his game that scouts predicted would be inconsistent. He has had one game where Brewers’ fans perhaps hoped he was ready to break out of it (going 3-for-4 with a HR vs COL Apr 3rd), but alas, he went back into his ways recording just four hits in his next nine games.
I think it is time to label the former second overall pick as a bust. He has not lived up to the gushing reports and high expectations throughout his career. In fact he has went from a serviceable second baseman with some pop to a liability in the field and in the lineup. The Brewers are hesitant to bring Scooter Gennett up from Triple A and start his clock, but they might not have a choice if Weeks continues to force their hand.
You can hear Chris M-F 4-6 pm on Sportsline and on Saturdays 8-9 am. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisTerlop
