Position: OF
Opening Day Age: 22
John Sickels' Grade: B-
Fangraphs Estimated Peak WAR: 4.5
ZiPS Projection: .292/.315/.400
Opening Day Age: 22
John Sickels' Grade: B-
Fangraphs Estimated Peak WAR: 4.5
ZiPS Projection: .292/.315/.400
I am going to be perfectly honest here. Peguero scares me, and that's not a good thing. In spite of his blazing speed, there are two reasons I am worried about him. The first reason is his BABIP. In high-A in 2010, he hit .329, which is an outstanding mark. However, it was propelled by a .382 BABIP, which is rather high. In spite of his speed, which would explain the high BABIP, it is very possible that this mark will regress, especially at the major league level. With it, his batting average, the only nice part about his slash line, will decline. The second reason I am very worried about him is that his walk rate is nauseating. In high-A in 2010, he walked at a whopping rate of 3.3%. A 3.3% walk rate would rank as the second-worst mark in the majors in 2010. Peguero's a speedy guy, with 40 stolen bases in 122 games in 2010, so in order to maximize his value, he needs to get on base. The plate discipline he's shown is simply unacceptable.
On a more positive note, he is highly touted for a reason, and his fantastic speed is very refreshing to see in the Giants' farm system. Along with Ehire Adrianza and Gary Brown, he could help to shape a new era in which the Giants aren't incredibly slow, but are instead fast. Speed is a skill the Giants seem to have neglected in recent years, but it can be important, as we've seen it significantly contribute to the success of some major league teams -- notably the Rays and the Rangers.
This John Sickels quote pretty much sums up Peguero: "If he doesn't hit .300+ at higher levels he'll have a problem, although his tools will get him to the majors and keep him there for some time."
His offense has some inherent flaws, but with the speed he has, he could easily enjoy success on a major league level.
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