April 17, 2014

Comparing the Future: Hunter Dozier and Tim Anderson

When you compare 2 players with one another it’s typically because they play the same position or they have similar characteristics. But in the case of Hunter Dozier and Tim Anderson, the only things they have in common is that they play in the same league and were drafted the same year. Both players were originally drafted as short stops but Dozier was immediately moved to third because his 6’6″ frame is better suited for the hot corner. The 8th pick in the 1st round, Dozier was slotted to be in the back part of the 1st round but due to his signability, the Kansas City Royals decided to take him much higher. Hunter ended his first professional season playing with the low A Lexington Legends. In only 15 games, he hit .327 with 18 hits and 9 RBI and apparently did enough to show the Royals that he deserved to start the 2014 season with the high A Wilmington Blue Rocks. In the first 12 games of this season, the 22 year old has struggled a bit. He is currently batting .174 with 5 RBI and 7 runs scored. Players tend to press when they make the move up but what concerns me the most about his step up is that in 27 games between the South Atlantic and Carolina Leagues, he has yet to hit a homerun.

The top 3 hitters in the Blue Rocks lineup has struggled which certainly doesn’t help Hunter from pressing at the plate. Adalberto Mondesi, the top rated hitting prospect in the Royals farm system, is batting leadoff at a .243 average. Bubba Starling, the 5th pick taken in the 2011 draft, is batting a miserable .098 and then you have Dozier in the 3 hole. Hunter tends to lunge at outside pitches helping pitchers get him out on balls outside the strike zone. Not only must he be more patient to help his own numbers but if he waited, it would make pitchers have to throw the ball over the plate to the two batters in front of him. Right now, Wilmington as a team is the worst hitting team in the Carolina League with a .204 average and the second worst in runs scored with 46.

Where Hunter has to be more disciplined at the plate, he appears to be an above average 3rd baseman. Ranked as the 10th best in the minors, he has decent range (especially to his glove side) and has a very powerful arm from across the diamond. He also has yet to make an error at 3rd which is very impressive for a young player playing the hot corner.

Tim Anderson, when being compared to Dozier, looks to be the complete opposite in both aspects of the game at this point in their young careers. Anderson was the 3rd shortstop taken in last years draft at #17 and was immediately sent to play for the Kannapolis Intimidators of the South Atlantic League. In 68 games last year he batted .277 with 45 runs scored and 24 stolen bases.

Tim is a free swinger, just like Dozier, tying for second in the Carolina League this year with 19 strikeouts. Although he struggles with the outside pitch, he can work the count more into his favor which has helped him to hit about 100 points higher then his Blue Rocks counterpart at .271. The #2 hitter in the Winston Salem Dash’s lineup, he has benefited from having one of the hottest players in the league hitting behind him in Courtney Hawkins. Hawkins is leading the Carolina League with 15 RBI which is in part because Anderson can create runs when he is on base. Anderson ranks 5th in runs scored with 8.

Simply put, Tim’s biggest problem with his game comes from out in the field. The 21 year old shortstop tends to rush his throws and has already committed 7 errors in just 11 games. He appears to have a strong arm but must learn to set his feet when he is making his throws to first. Range wise, I would say he is better than average. He reacts quickly to the ball off the bat and looks like he can cover the 3rd base hole better than he can towards the middle of the field.

Both players could see different obstacles from them advancing through their respective organizations. Dozier could hit a snag in his development if another top 3rd base prospect, Cheslor Cuthbert, makes adjustments while at AA North West Arkansas. Cuthbert is a more polished hitter and is slightly younger but they both seem to be about equal out in the field. If the White Sox feel like Anderson is not progressing at short, it is possible that they could see him moving to centerfield. He certainly has the speed to cover the outfield and looks like he could have the arm to do it as well.

Based on where they are right now, I would say that both players will need at least 2 years before they see any major league time. Hunter has the build to be a middle of the line up type hitter but must learn to use his legs and patience in order to create more power in his game. Tim looks like he could be a potential top of the order hitter but will only go as far as his defense takes him. Either way, I would say that both will be competing in the American League Central against one another for some time.