Nick Madrigal could just hit his way into a prospect laden White Sox lineup (NBC Chicago)Like Morpheus searching the Matrix, I think I've finally found the one.
A slappy little fast guy without any real power who is worth rostering.
Nick Madrigal 2B Chicago White Sox Highest level: AAA Age: 22 ETA: Early 2020
Now most players who lack the ability to hit more than 10 home runs in a season should be left on the waiver wire, or at least be a catcher.
Madrigal has found a way to transcend his inability as a hitter by maximizing what he's good at, he doesn't strikeout.
Across three leagues last year, Madrigal set a minor league-low 3.3 percent strikeout rate.
Additionally, he's not just a tough out -- he produced a slash line of .331/.398/.424.
After being drafted by the White Sox in 2018, Madrigal seemed advertised as a guy who was going to be an asset at the top of the lineup as a single and maybe score kind of asset.
However, he took an even greater step by showing he's capable of pulling (pull rate of 46.2 percent at AA) and lifting (line drive rate 24.5 percent at AA) the ball last season.
After being prompted to AAA, his pull rate remained almost the same at 42.1 percent.
While Madrigal will probably be able to get out of the bandbox stadium at Guaranteed Rate Field a few times, his improvement shows he's capable of doing damage in the gaps.
Also, think about the potential lineup behind Madrigal while he gets on base as Zips projects him to do 33 percent of the time.
During his 29 game stretch in AAA, Madrigal scored 26 runs.
In the majors, he will be followed by some combination of Eloy Jiménez, Yoán Moncada, Tim Anderson or Luis Robert.
With that much pop in the lineup around him, Madrigal has the ability to produce somewhere around 100 runs in a full season.
Madrigal's speed is supposed to be as high as his bat to ball skills, but this skill has materialized yet.
In 120 games last season, he stole just 35 bases and the highest anyone projects him stealing in the majors is 20 bags.
However, my biggest concern comes from White Sox general manager Rick Hahn.
It seemed like Madrigal was poised to be fast-tracked at the beginning of last season, but the Sox placed him back in A+ where he ended his season.
Before the season, Hahn said, "He has a few more things to prove."
Hahn and the Sox have proven that if they believe players are ready they won't play the arbitration game of keeping a player down in order to extend a contract.
The Sox have made progressive moves by giving multi-year contracts to both Jiménez and Robert to make them day one starters.
So why not Madrigal?
The White Sox organization has pushed all-in wanting to go for it this season, but right now, the team is set to start the season with Leury GarcÃa at second base.
The idea is that he's just keeping the seat warm for Madrigal until he's ready, but why haven't we seen the Sox make the same kind of commitment they have to Jiménez and Robert?
Madrigal would probably already be an upgrade and he doesn't have much left to prove in AAA.
The only real conclusion to draw is the organization doesn't think he's ready.
Final assessment: Madrigal was easily one of the top 25 hitters in the minors all of last year.
The most comparable players to Madrigal's skill set all have black and white photos on baseball reference.
If he can continue to produce at the level anticipated, he's a unicorn we haven't seen in our lifetime.
However, this might be a good reason to be wary of what he's offering because a player like this hasn't existed for a long time.
If it turns out his bat to ball skills are as good as they say, he's a Top 10 fantasy second baseman this year.
Right now, fantasy players are just searching for a player who can be reliable at second.
While Madrigal will never be seen in the home run derby, he might just be considered the most reliable player at second base by next season.
Right now, what kind of spring training he has will be a major indicator of if the Sox think Madrigal is the one.
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Chris Steele
Is a prospect fanatic, and person who finds himself asking why he is so tired all the time while playing The Show at 2 a.m.
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