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Spring training is in full swing and the cream of the spring training crop is  beginning to rise to the top. The question GNUru receives every year is what to make of the spring training stats? Are they are reliable indicator of regular season success or is it just the time when the 25th man lays it all on the line to make the big club? Only time will tell but let’s look at who is tearing it up this spring….
2007 Spring Training Leaders
| Rank |
Player |
Team |
Position |
Games |
AB |
Hits |
OPS |
| 1 |
Hunter Pence |
HOU |
OF |
13 |
23 |
15 |
1.88 |
| 2 |
Eric Byrnes |
ARI |
CF |
9 |
23 |
12 |
1.55 |
| 3 |
Brad Eldred |
PIT |
1B |
10 |
25 |
11 |
1.53 |
| 4 |
Placido Polanco |
DET |
2B |
9 |
25 |
15 |
1.51 |
| 5 |
Josh Hamilton |
CIN |
CF |
10 |
28 |
16 |
1.44 |
| 6 |
Jason J. Ellison |
SF |
LF |
9 |
25 |
14 |
1.33 |
| 7 |
Ryan Zimmerman |
WAS |
3B |
8 |
22 |
10 |
1.32 |
| 8 |
Sammy Sosa |
TEX |
RF |
9 |
28 |
13 |
1.30 |
| 9 |
Morgan Ensberg |
HOU |
3B |
9 |
23 |
10 |
1.30 |
| 10 |
Hernan Iribarren |
MIL |
2B |
12 |
23 |
10 |
1.29 |
| 11 |
Ben Francisco |
CLE |
OF |
11 |
25 |
10 |
1.27 |
| 12 |
Ivan Rodriguez |
DET |
C |
10 |
28 |
12 |
1.24 |
| 13 |
Howie Kendrick |
ANA |
1B |
10 |
26 |
12 |
1.23 |
| 14 |
Adam Dunn |
CIN |
LF |
9 |
23 |
10 |
1.22 |
| 15 |
Todd Linden |
SF |
LF |
12 |
33 |
15 |
1.22 |
| 16 |
Brian Bixler |
PIT |
SS |
8 |
24 |
10 |
1.21 |
| 17 |
Johnny Estrada |
MIL |
C |
11 |
29 |
15 |
1.21 |
| 18 |
Kevin Youkilis |
BOS |
1B |
9 |
26 |
12 |
1.20 |
| 19 |
Jose B. Reyes |
NYM |
SS |
10 |
32 |
12 |
1.19 |
| 20 |
Terrmel Sledge |
SD |
LF |
9 |
31 |
11 |
|
We must always take spring training stats with a grain of salt, however, spring training is a time to keep your eyes and ears open. Spring training success can be an indication that a young player has finally arrived. For example, in 2006 Ryan Howard led all in spring training homeruns (11 HRS). While most knew Howard was a talented young player heading into the season, many still doubted the impact he would make. Further proof is Chase Utley's 6 homeruns in the spring of '05. Again we knew he had talent but not many would have felt secure relying on Chase to be their starting 2B.
Spring training stats can also be used to identify if players recovering from injury are healthy and ready to contribute once again. Case in point is Jim Thome 6 HRS and .404 average last spring that foreshadowed a monster 2006 season that led to the Comeback Player of the Year award.
Lastly, spring stats can help an owner determine players who are likely to get off to hot starts. In 2006, both Chris Shelton and Kevin Mench displayed some impressive power that carried over into the regular season. Although, they cooled down significantly as the season continued, many owners benefitted from their impressive performances. Those that were smart traded them away while their value was at its peak.
The key to looking at spring stats is the same as the key scouts use to evaluate talent- you must be able to look beyond the numbers. For example, Angel Pagan of the Chicago Cubs had an impressive spring in 2006 (outperforming players like Matt Murton) but scouts know the numbers are not necessarily indicative of talent. In the end its talent that wins out. While Hernan Ibarren isn't likely to evolve into a perennial 1st round fantasy pick, just maybe Howie Kendrick is on a similar path as Ryan Howard. Isn't fantasy baseball fun?
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