Who are these guys? - Third Base

Continuing ‘round the horn, let’s take a look at the deadbeats… er, I mean ‘prospects’ that might be manning the hot corner this year. Now that Joe Randa is keeping Austin Kearns in the outfield in Cincinnati, these fine gentlemen will be competing for time in the Royals infield.

Stats lines are for the 2004 season. Oh, wait. None of these guys even played in the majors in 2004, so never mind.

Chris Truby
DNP

The Royals wanted a stop-gap and they got Chris Truby. Truby showed some promise as a rookie in 2000, hitting 260/295/477 with 11 home runs in half a season with Houston. He has mostly bounced around the minors, though, last appearing at the major league level in 13 games with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during April and May of 2003.

In AAA last year, Truby hit 300/367/558 with 25 home runs in 130 games and a noticeable improvement in his power numbers. Whether this improvement marks a genuine step forward in the learning curve of a late bloomer, or just a career minor leaguer beating up on pitchers who aren’t ready for prime time, we’ll have to wait and see.

Chris Clapinski
DNP

Clapinski hasn’t been in The Show since he collected 105 at bats in 1999 and 2000. Those at bats resulted in 5 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run and 9 RBIs. He also stole a base, for which I’m sure his parents are quite proud.

His minor league numbers have been respectable the last few years in AAA, where he’s posted solid 300/375/495 type lines for several organizations, most-recently Clevland’s Buffalo affiliate. The depth chart has him slated as a back-up option at third, short and second base, so he’ll be a busy guy come February.

Mark Teahen
DNP

Teahen is another pick up from the Beltran trade of ought-four. He made the move to AAA in Oakland’s farm system last year and stayed there with Kansas City. Allard Baird has said publicly many times that he hopes Teahen will be ready by the mid-point of the season. However, local sportswriters keep asking if he might win the job in spring training.

I’m not sure how those questions make Chris Truby and Chirs Clapinski feel, but I’m guessing it’s not very good.

Fun Fact: Mark's middle name is Thomas!