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When the Blue Jays signed Eric Sogard to a minor league contract, just before Christmas, I compared it to getting white socks for Christmas. I was wrong.
He’s been, it’s not even fair to call it surprising. If I played OOTP Baseball and Eric Sogard had this sort of season for me, I likely wouldn’t play the game anymore. It doesn’t seem like what he’s doing is within the realm of possibilities. When you look at his career before this season, no way would you predict this. But then, that’s the great thing about baseball, it can surprise.
Anyway, Eric is hitting .305/.372/.510 with 9 home runs, 22 walks and 32 strikeouts. He set a new career high for home runs on May 5th (and he didn’t start the season with the team, he played his first game April 16th).
He has a 1.9 fWAR, at mid-season, setting a career high.
A lefty batter, he is hitting LHP (.323/.375/.613) better than RHP (.297/.370/.464).
He’s been terrific hitting leadoff. He takes a lot of pitches, especially that first at bat of the game. He’s set a good example for the younger players. Of course the way he’s playing he’d be terrific batting cleanup.
Defensively, he’s played 2B, SS and 3B and he’s looked good at each, though I think putting him at short is stretching his abilities. And, of course, he’s also DHed for the first time in his career. And yes, if you told me that Sogard would be DHing for us, I would have expected the season wasn’t going well (and I’d be right, but that has nothing to do with Eric DHing).
One of the thing I love about baseball is it always can surprise. Eric Sogard at age 33 slugging .510 after never slugging .400 before in his career, that counts as a surprise.
I’d imagine teams will be asking about him at the trade deadline. I don’t know what kind of return we could get. I’d be happy keeping him around as an example for the younger players. But, if you can get someone who might be able to help out in the future, you’d almost have to do it.
Poll
For the first half I would grade Eric Sogard an
This poll is closed
-
86%
A
(469 votes) -
11%
B+
(60 votes) -
1%
B
(9 votes) -
0%
B-
(1 vote) -
0%
C+
(0 votes) -
0%
C
(0 votes) -
0%
C-
(0 votes) -
0%
D+
(1 vote) -
0%
D
(0 votes) -
0%
D-
(0 votes) -
0%
F
(1 vote)