Jonathan India is strictly the participant we have been anticipating the Royals to go after within the offseason. A leadoff hitter to set the desk for Bobby was desperately wanted, although it might have been good if he performed heart area. As a part of the commerce, they acquired Joey Wiemer who’s perhaps going to play some heart, presumably as a platoon possibility with Kyle Isbel. Who’s Joey Wiemer?
Joey was a fourth-round draft decide in 2020 who then moved fairly shortly up the prospect rankings after having an excellent begin within the minors. He made it into some high 100 lists earlier than being known as up in 2023. That first run within the main leagues didn’t go so properly, nevertheless. He hit simply .204/.283/.362 throughout 410 plate appearances. He was spectacular in Outs Above Common in heart, so there may be some hope he can add defensive worth, however we’re removed from having an enough pattern measurement to know what he’s precisely from a fielding perspective.
Wiemer was traded to the Reds as a part of the Frankie Montas deal this August. You must ask if Milwaukee traded from power or had determined Wiemer wanted to be traded earlier than the shine got here off an excessive amount of. There may be one main concern for me with him, and once more this commerce was far more about India, so I’m not saying that is some indictment of the Royals entrance workplace or something. That concern is that his early success was all BABIP-driven. His first yr within the minors he had BABIPs of .326 and .363 in A and high-A respectively. In AAA in 2022 he had a .326 BABIP. These usually are not amazingly excessive, so I can already hear protests from folks. Many hitters can maintain a .326 BABIP by being quick and hitting the ball onerous. He’s quick, however he doesn’t hit the ball onerous.
This was his 2023 run within the majors in keeping with Baseball Savant. He posted a 75 wRC+, although he did hit lefties properly at a 116, so perhaps platooning him covers up his weaknesses on the plate. Sadly, this season’s AAA numbers don’t again that thesis up. He posted a meager .542 OPS towards southpaws within the minors. That’s solely 110 plate appearances, so not a giant pattern, however nonetheless regarding. His OPS towards lefties was virtually .800 in 2023. When you’re drafted out of school and now have 4 full seasons within the minors with a little bit of main league work sprinkled in, youth is not an excuse. Wiemers is just not outdated but both, however he’ll flip 26 earlier than subsequent season, and the bat appears to be like far-off from main league high quality based mostly on what I can inform statistically.
Hopefully, the Royals have recognized one thing right here that they may also help him with. Their hitting improvement success has been spotty, however there have been some success tales. Michael Massey has was an honest energy hitter, and naturally Bobby Witt Jr. grew to become an MVP candidate, although I don’t understand how a lot credit score to provide anybody for Bobby since he is likely one of the most proficient gamers I’ve ever seen. It’s doable that Wiemers is available in and makes a splash. Additionally it is doable that the highest 100 prospect standing was slightly fluky and he has been traded twice over the course of some months for a motive.
