ESPN's Dan Szymborski is a computer and stat guru, and we love getting a look at his projections. Here are his numbers for the 2014 Texas Rangers.
Position: Center field
Player: Leonys Martin
Last year: .260 batting average, .313 on-base percentage, .385 slugging percentage, 8 home runs, 49 RBIs, 36 stolen bases, 508 plate appearances
2014 projections: .264/.318/.406, 9 home runs, 48 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, 451 plate appearances
Martin's numbers last year came from a hot start and a hot June and July when he got on base via bunt or weak single, for the most part, and then caused havoc on the bases with his 36 stolen bases. He's got speed and some power, especially gap power for extra-base hits. His BABiP (batting average for balls in play) was also very high, suggesting pretty accurately that he got "lucky' more often than not.
Martin's spring has been awful, as was his brief winter ball tenure this offseason. He's still young, and the Rangers still have high hopes for him moving forward, but he needs to get off to a good start to the season and kill the woeful hitting stretch he's been in for a while now.
