"Sandy Leon is an interesting guy for me. He was once a top ish prospect because that was back when framing started becoming a thing. The hope was that he would hit enough, and he had some decent years in the minors. But they, if course, never translated, and his catching prowess never reached the levels that Jeff Mathis apparently reached (or Sandy never found the material for blackmail) to become a guy who was always on a major league roster."
"He still has nearly 2000 PA in his major league career, and that's nothing, though that 56 wRC+ is close. On the flip side, Christian Walker is a hitter who became a really good defensive first baseman. 2025 has not been kind to him, though, as his league average wRC+ would attest. His Statcast is actually worse, to be honest."
Another Sunday presented another opportunity to avoid a sweep. Sandy Leon emerged as a notable prospect when pitch framing gained importance, producing decent minor-league seasons but failing to translate sustained offensive success to the majors. Leon's catching skills never reached standout levels, and he owns nearly 2,000 major-league plate appearances with a career 56 wRC+. Christian Walker developed into a strong defensive first baseman, yet 2025 has been difficult for him, with league-average wRC+ and weaker Statcast metrics. Still, Walker retains bat speed and exit velocity, suggesting a possible offensive rebound if shifted to a DH role, which would reduce his defensive value.
Read at Battery Power
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