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After posting the one on Travis I noticed that this was there for Nick
41. Nick Blasi, OF:
Blasi had a break-through season.
Blasi had a dream season in 2007, coming out of nowhere to become a well-known name among A’s fans. The season didn’t start out well for Blasi, who was forced to repeat at High-A Stockton at the start of the season despite the fact that he hit .309 with an 848 OPS in 59 games for the Ports in 2006. Blasi didn’t get off to a great start with the Ports in 2007, batting only .239 with a 746 OPS in 28 games at the beginning of the year.
Blasi’s fortunes changed dramatically in early May when he was called-up to Triple-A Sacramento to fill-in temporarily for some injured players. He wasn’t expected to be with the River Cats long, but when Antonio Perez went down with a knee injury, Sacramento suddenly was in need of an everyday outfielder and Blasi stepped-up. In 92 at-bats in May, Blasi hit .348 with an 832 OPS for the River Cats. After that, he found himself as a regular outfielder for much of the rest of the season for Sacramento. His time with the River Cats was interrupted briefly in early August when was sent down to Double-A Midland after some of the River Cats’ injured players came back. Blasi hit .393 in seven games for the Rockhounds and was sent back to Sacramento for good at that point.
It was in the playoffs that Blasi really turned some heads. Batting lead-off for Sacramento throughout the playoffs, Blasi batted .457 for the River Cats in eight games. He was named playoff MVP for his efforts in helping Sacramento win the PCL title. Blasi, a 12th round pick in 2004, has seen his status within the A’s organization change dramatically with his efforts in 2007. Oakland A’s Baseball Operations Analyst Farhan Zaidi told OaklandClubhouse.com during the season that Blasi “has certainly raised his stock in the eyes of the organization with his performance and that is just really the definition of taking advantage of an opportunity.”
In a lot of ways, Blasi has a similar game to that of current A’s centerfielder Mark Kotsay. Blasi, like Kotsay, is aggressive at the plate and derives a decent amount of his OBP from his BA. Blasi doesn’t have blazing speed, but he is an above-average runner who can steal a good number of bases and cover a good amount of ground out in centerfield. Blasi doesn’t have Kotsay’s throwing arm, however, as his is only average, although accurate.
To take the next step, Blasi will have to first prove that his 2007 performance was not a fluke. Ideally, he would also add a little more patience to his game or at least cut down on the strikeouts, which were high last season for a lead-off hitter (128 in 124 games). Blasi has experience at all three outfield positions and he can run, which could make him a possibility as a fourth outfielder in the major leagues at some point soon. He will be 26 throughout the 2008 regular season.
Blasi had a break-through season.
Blasi had a dream season in 2007, coming out of nowhere to become a well-known name among A’s fans. The season didn’t start out well for Blasi, who was forced to repeat at High-A Stockton at the start of the season despite the fact that he hit .309 with an 848 OPS in 59 games for the Ports in 2006. Blasi didn’t get off to a great start with the Ports in 2007, batting only .239 with a 746 OPS in 28 games at the beginning of the year.
Blasi’s fortunes changed dramatically in early May when he was called-up to Triple-A Sacramento to fill-in temporarily for some injured players. He wasn’t expected to be with the River Cats long, but when Antonio Perez went down with a knee injury, Sacramento suddenly was in need of an everyday outfielder and Blasi stepped-up. In 92 at-bats in May, Blasi hit .348 with an 832 OPS for the River Cats. After that, he found himself as a regular outfielder for much of the rest of the season for Sacramento. His time with the River Cats was interrupted briefly in early August when was sent down to Double-A Midland after some of the River Cats’ injured players came back. Blasi hit .393 in seven games for the Rockhounds and was sent back to Sacramento for good at that point.
It was in the playoffs that Blasi really turned some heads. Batting lead-off for Sacramento throughout the playoffs, Blasi batted .457 for the River Cats in eight games. He was named playoff MVP for his efforts in helping Sacramento win the PCL title. Blasi, a 12th round pick in 2004, has seen his status within the A’s organization change dramatically with his efforts in 2007. Oakland A’s Baseball Operations Analyst Farhan Zaidi told OaklandClubhouse.com during the season that Blasi “has certainly raised his stock in the eyes of the organization with his performance and that is just really the definition of taking advantage of an opportunity.”
In a lot of ways, Blasi has a similar game to that of current A’s centerfielder Mark Kotsay. Blasi, like Kotsay, is aggressive at the plate and derives a decent amount of his OBP from his BA. Blasi doesn’t have blazing speed, but he is an above-average runner who can steal a good number of bases and cover a good amount of ground out in centerfield. Blasi doesn’t have Kotsay’s throwing arm, however, as his is only average, although accurate.
To take the next step, Blasi will have to first prove that his 2007 performance was not a fluke. Ideally, he would also add a little more patience to his game or at least cut down on the strikeouts, which were high last season for a lead-off hitter (128 in 124 games). Blasi has experience at all three outfield positions and he can run, which could make him a possibility as a fourth outfielder in the major leagues at some point soon. He will be 26 throughout the 2008 regular season.