0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Heading to Washington is 23-year old outfielder Erik Komatsu, who has put up wOBA marks of .399 and .372 over the last two seasons at High-A and Double-A. He has several attractive skills, including patience at the plate — he walks more than he whiffs — and smarts on the bases evidenced by his 41 steals since last season. Word has it that the downside to Komatsu is his lack of position. Despite his baserunning abilities, his speed is merely adequate in center field.He isn’t a full-time starter up the middle, but his ability to play all three outfield positions and take a walk makes him a quality fourth outfielder. While that might sound like a back-handed compliment, teams need those types of players, and all the Nats had to give up was an aging veteran under contract for two months.
Komatsu's best attribute is his plate discipline, which is among the best in the minors. He's collected more walks than strikeouts this year, showing the ability to work deep counts and lay off pitches outside the zone. His quick, line-drive swing and advanced approach at the plate help him hit for a high average and get on base at a strong clip. He ranks fifth in the Southern League in walks (53) and on-base percentage (.393). The questions for Komatsu are the typical tweener profile issues: Will his defense be enough for center field, and will he have enough power for a corner outfield spot? His speed is a tick above-average and he gets good jumps off the bat, but he doesn't have the pure range to stack up against most regular big league center fielders. At 5-foot-10, Komatsu has below-average power, a difficult tool to live with from a corner outfielder and a reason why his OBP could take a tumble as more advanced pitchers attack him with greater aggression. Still, the Nationals did well to turn Hairston into a player with some on-base skills who will almost certainly be a big leaguer in some capacity, though his ultimate role might be as a solid backup.
Receiving a usable piece to a future team like Eric Komatsu in exchange for a role player of your own during a non-contending season is a victory for Mike Rizzo and the Washington Nationals. Jerry Hairston fills a void for the Brewers, and in return the Nats get Komatsu, who profiles as a fourth outfielder on a contending team or a potential second-division regular. Komatsu controls the strike zone well, walking as much as he strikes out, and he can play center field, although probably isn't a true center fielder. The Nats have kept Komatsu in Double-A and he could be playing a role in the majors around the time the team begins to compete.
Eric Komatsu, OF: The Brewers drafted Komatsu in the eighth round in 2008, from Cal State Fullerton. He missed most of 2009 with injuries to his hamstring and wrist, plus complications from a concussion, but returned to health in 2010 and hit .323/.413/.442 for High-A Brevard County, with 68 walks and 28 steals. This year he's hitting .294/.393/.416 with 53 walks, 44 strikeouts, and 13 steals for Double-A Huntsville. A 23-year-old left-handed hitter, Komatsu lacks power but has decent speed. He has excellent strike zone judgment and is a very polished hitter, but as a tweener-type who lacks big power, he'll likely fit best as a reserve outfielder. I gave him a C+ pre-season but he's probably more on the upper edge of a straight Grade C as a useful future role player.
Author
Topic: Follow the Prospects: Erik Komatsu, OF (Read 5869 times)
