Gage Workman
Physical Description: Tall and lean, but not skinny. Room for more mass, but plenty muscular and athletic now. Looks a bit like an NFL safety.
Hit: 35
Well below-average hitter overall, and near the bottom of the scale from the right side. Has parts of a successful hitter, including bat speed and strength, and when he hits the ball he hits it very hard. But his contact rates are far too low, and his swing decisions are poor. He struggles to ID pitches, can be beaten with quality sequencing, and he goes through extended hot/cold streaks. The footwork has been much more consistent.Â
Power: 50
Easy plus raw power from both sides. When he squares up the ball it goes a long way, to any part of the park. Contact issues mean the game power plays to average from the left side and below average as a righty.
Speed: 55
Average runner out of the box. Powerful strides push him to plus when he gets a head of steam. Good, instinctual baserunner who could steal 20+ bags a season.
Defense: 50
Fringe-average defender at shortstop. Shows the hands and actions for the position, but his range is a bit light, and he’s not quite consistent enough. Can make a spectacular play and then boot a routine one. Above-average glove at third base. Is very good at charging balls and making off-balance throws.
Arm: 55
Above-average pure arm strength. Can make accurate throws from deep behind third base and throws well when off balance.
Overall: Workman remains one of the more frustrating players in the system. He has four tools that are at least average, and his contact-to-damage ratio is enormous. When he’s on a hot streak, he scares the hell out of opposing managers. But his hit tool and strikeout issues threaten to unravel the whole package. Quality pitchers will target his weaknesses and exploit them mercilessly. It’s hard to picture any kind of MLB future without a major leap in plate discipline. But, if that leap comes, the supporting tools are strong enough to make him a regular.
Rogelio Castillo