Sorry...this is coming a day late, will also post Day 5 shortly.
Probably a controversial choice, but here it is.......
NUMBER 7: Justin Huber - OF/1B/DH
Huber's been a name associated with this list for a little while now, and he's certainly been surpassed by more recent draft picks/acquisitions, but I've got to believe he's still got the ability to be a solid big league hitter. Huber - who's 25 years old now - is a right-handed batter who's recently been shifted to the outfield (a crowded position within the KC farm system). The acquisition of Ryan Shealy has likely made this transition a permanent one.
Huber has been a very solid hitter during his career, slipping a little in '06....probably somewhat due to the position shift, adjusting defensively, etc. He still hit .278 with an OBP of .358 for AAA Omaha, including 22 doubles and 15 HR in 352 at bats. Not exactly lighting the world on fire, but solid numbers.
He's pretty much been a line drive hitter, able to spray the ball around the field, and should be able to hit 15-20 homers at the ML level. He's not overly athletic, being a former catcher, but not bad...and he's got a strong arm, which is essential to play a good outfield. However, his athleticism is below par for an outfielder, making him raw and below average at that spot. He was a pretty solid defender at 1B, but he won't be playing there any time soon (for this franchise, anyway).
Most people probably wouldn't rank Huber this high on the list (if they ranked him at all), but I'm not ready to forget about him just yet. The main reason I'm ranking him at all is due to his possible trade value, and if the Royals can flip him to another team for a solid prospect at another position, then he's sort of served his purpose at this point of his career. I like the guy, but I think he's just been squeezed out of a job in KC.
PROJECTION:
Due to the presence of Shealy at 1B, plus a surplus of corner outfielders, I don't think Huber will make it through 2007 with this organization. If a deal can be made for him, I think Dayton Moore will pull the trigger and send Huber packing. I could see Huber joining another club as a corner outfielder or first baseman and batting a solid .270 to .290, with 15 homers, 30 doubles, and a decent OBP. He should be a solid player for someone at some point......and hopefully can help the Royals fill a need at another position (via trade).
2 comments:
Huber is one of my favorite Royals and how they've treated him is the worst tragedy in franchise history since the Chuck Knoblauch incident.
max - I agree. I've been a fan of Huber's and have looked forward to seeing him hit for the Royals, but they have bungled his development the past couple of seasons. I really hope they can make a trade happen, as I'd like to see the guy make it somewhere.
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