Xander Bogaerts is on the verge of a number of milestones. Barring damage, the 33-year-old San Diego Padres shortstop will attain and surpass 400 doubles, 200 dwelling runs, and 1,000 runs scored this season. He additionally has a shot at 2,000 hits, needing 178 extra to reach at that mark. After which there may be the defensive facet of the equation. Defying most expectations, Bogaerts is on the doorstep of getting began 1,500 video games at his middle-of-the-infield place.
As it’s possible you’ll recall, Bogaerts’s bat was his calling card when he ranked as the highest prospect within the Boston Pink Sox system. Few doubted his potential to hit, however the probability that he would stay a shortstop was one other story. Echoing the opinion of many all through the business, our December 2011 writeup of the then-19-year-old Oranjestad, Aruba native included the next:
“Defensively he performs a strong shortstop however he’s anticipated to decelerate and shift over to 3rd base earlier than he reaches the majors.”
I’ve addressed that chance with Bogaerts a number of instances through the years, initially for a print-publication story I wrote when he was in Double-A. Quoting a scout, I titled the piece, “Seems to be Like a Shortstop to Me.”
All these years later, Bogaerts remembers the conjecture surrounding his future within the discipline. Once I caught as much as him at Padres camp final weekend, it was the very first thing he talked about once I posed this query: Had you been advised at age 20 that your profession would observe the trail it has, would something have stunned you?
“Sure,” Bogaerts replied. “Perhaps a special place. Lots individuals thought I’d have moved on. Again then, I used to be type of often called a hitter, so I needed to actually work onerous if I wished to remain there.”
You Aren’t a FanGraphs Member
It seems such as you aren’t but a FanGraphs Member (or aren’t logged in). We aren’t mad, simply disenchanted.
We get it. You wish to learn this text. However earlier than we allow you to get again to it, we might wish to level out a number of of the nice the reason why you must change into a Member.
1. Advert Free viewing! We can’t bug you with this advert, or another.
2. Limitless articles! Non-Members solely get to learn 10 free articles a month. Members by no means get lower off.
3. Darkish mode and Basic mode!
4. Customized participant web page dashboards! Select the participant playing cards you need, within the order you need them.
5. One-click knowledge exports! Export our projections and leaderboards to your private initiatives.
6. Take away the images on the house web page! (Actually, this does not sound so nice to us, however some individuals wished it, and we like to offer our Members what they need.)
7. Much more Steamer projections! We now have handedness, percentile, and context impartial projections out there for Members solely.
8. Get FanGraphs Stroll-Off, a personalized 12 months finish evaluation! Discover out precisely the way you used FanGraphs this 12 months, and the way that compares to different Members. Do not be a sufferer of FOMO.
9. A weekly mailbag column, completely for Members.
10. Assist assist FanGraphs and our whole employees! Our Members present us with vital sources to enhance the positioning and ship new options!
We hope you will contemplate a Membership at present, for your self or as a present! And we notice this has been an awfully lengthy gross sales pitch, so we have additionally eliminated all the opposite adverts on this article. We did not wish to overdo it.
A followup was so as. Did he assume he would find yourself transitioning away from the place he’d grown up taking part in?
“Perhaps outgrow it, sure,” Bogaerts admitted. “Play dangerous sufficient that I needed to transfer, no. However outgrow… I used to be skinny then. You possibly can see how a lot weight I’ve placed on since my minor-league days. Folks most likely projected that I’d get greater, and I think about they based mostly their opinions on that. However I’ve tried to keep up my quickness, my velocity, keep lean. I’ve been capable of keep a shortstop.”
As for what he’s gone on to do with the bat, Bogaerts was his humble self when requested in regards to the milestones he’s about to succeed in.
“Once you’re younger, you hope you’ll have one thing like that,” stated Bogaerts, who has a 115 wRC+ and 43.9 WAR for his profession. “You hope, however you don’t actually know. I’ve been very blessed, and I’m very completely satisfied. Might it’s higher? All the time it may be. We may all be higher. I’m simply making an attempt to keep up and proceed as I become older.”
Bogaerts has eight years remaining on the free-agent contract he signed with the Padres previous to the 2023 season, and whereas he could or could not retain the talents wanted to play that lengthy — at any place — one factor is definite. He stays a child at coronary heart.
“I nonetheless love the sport,” Bogaerts advised me. “Some guys play for a sure period of time and are like, ‘No, I’m performed; I wish to do one thing else.’ However I actually get pleasure from it. I even get pleasure from a number of the complications that this recreation can deliver, the struggles that you just undergo. The whole lot is simple when issues are going nicely. You present up, get a few hits. However when it’s not, there may be the homework it’s worthwhile to do to beat that. I get pleasure from that homework. I imply, I benefit from the recreation as a lot as I did once I was younger. I am going dwelling, I watch baseball. Some guys go dwelling and don’t wish to have a look at baseball. I’ll play so long as I can.”
———
RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Rondell White went 11 for 15 towards Sterling Hitchcock.
Mickey Vernon went 11 for 15 towards Bob Trice.
Ned Yost went 10 for 12 towards Tommy John.
Gary Carter went 10 for 14 towards Donnie Moore.
Amos Otis went 10 for 16 towards Woodie Fryman.
———
Colt Emerson was a highly-regarded 19-year-old shortstop within the Seattle Mariners system when he was featured in Sunday Notes on December 8, 2024. Fifteen months later, he’s much more extremely regarded. On the heels of a 2025 season that noticed him put up a 129 wRC+ throughout three ranges, Emerson ranks eleventh on our 2026 High 100 Prospects record.
How does he differ from {the teenager} I talked to throughout his erstwhile Arizona Fall League stint?
“I’m a bit smarter, a bit stronger,” Emerson advised me at Seattle’s spring coaching advanced final week. “Clearly a bit older. That’s about it, actually. I attempt to preserve issues so simple as doable. It’s been a superb first few years. I’ve had nice teammates and nice coaches. Actually, I’ve simply been discovering myself, figuring issues out in an org that has been nothing however nice to me.”
The younger hitter has been rising into his energy — his left-handed stroke propelled 16 dwelling runs final 12 months — however not as a result of he’s been packing on kilos. Emerson nonetheless ideas the scales within the 185 vary, and, as he defined, “weight doesn’t essentially imply you’re robust.” He credit strength-and-conditioning coaching that helps preserve him lean and agile, permitting him to deal with the shortstop place.
He additionally hasn’t made any mechanical changes for the aim of including juice to his offensive profile. Emerson did change from a leg kick to a toe faucet about midway by means of final season, however that was about consistency, not added energy. As he put it, “I’ve confidence in my swing that if I barrel the ball, it could actually exit. I simply wish to have the identical [mechanics] each time.”
After we spoke in 2024, Emerson advised me that “hitting is difficult.” Does he nonetheless really feel that method?
“For certain,” he stated. “Hitting is all the time onerous. Anyone who says that it’s straightforward is mendacity. I imply, on the finish of the day, we’re all opponents. I by no means wish to let the pitcher beat me, however it’s going to occur most of the time.”
What isn’t going to occur fairly often is his making a miscue whereas fielding a batted ball. That’s to not recommend Emerson is the second coming of Ozzie Smith or Omar Vizquel, however he profiles as strong. As said in his High 100 Prospects writeup, “Defensively the arrow is up.” As for the diploma to which he’s improved, that’s a matter of opinion.
“I feel my protection has all the time been there,” Emerson stated. “Folks can say what they need, however on the finish of the day, I’ve confidence in my glove. Like I stated, the group has been actually nice to me. I’ve been capable of study from a number of nice guys. Bone [infield coach Perry Hill] says, ‘If you wish to be an incredible infielder, you possibly can’t get uninterested in fundamentals.’ I actually take pleasure in making the performs within the field — take into consideration a field 4 toes by 4 toes sq. — making the routine performs each time. You’ve bought to try this at each place, each single time. I really feel I can do this.”
Which brings us to Emerson’s arrival time in Seattle. Nonetheless simply 20 years previous, is he prepared for the massive leagues? It is determined by the way you parse the query. In the end, should you’re ok, you’re sufficiently old.
———
A quiz:
Carl Yastrzemski had 2,262 singles, probably the most in Boston Pink Sox franchise historical past. Who ranks second in that class on the staff’s all-time record? (Successful: he ranks third in whole variety of hits.)
The reply could be discovered under.
———
NEWS NOTES
MLB has promoted two umpires, Tom Hanahan and Brian Walsh, to full-time positions. They’re changing Mark Carlson and Phil Cuzzi, who’ve retired after 26.5 and 27 seasons respectively. In a associated transfer, Jordan Baker has been promoted to crew chief, a job that Carlson had held.
Bruce Froemming, an MLB umpire from 1971-2007, died earlier this week at age 86. The Milwaukee native referred to as 5,163 video games, third-most in historical past behind Joe West (5,460) and Invoice Klem (5,375). Froemming was on the sphere for 11 no-hitters.
Wayne Granger, a right-handed reliever who appeared in 451 video games whereas pitching for seven groups throughout the 1968-1976 seasons, died earlier this week at age 81. A local of Springfield, Massachusetts, Granger was credited with 108 saves, together with an NL-best 35 for the Cincinnati Reds in 1970.
Chris Krug, a catcher who appeared in 79 video games whereas taking part in for the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres throughout the 1965-1969 seasons, died final month at age 86. Later a coach and a minor-league supervisor, Krug counted 5 dwelling runs, all as a Cub, amongst his 41 MLB hits.
The winners of the 2026 SABR Analytics Convention Analysis Awards have been introduced yesterday. The information could be discovered right here.
———
The reply to the quiz is Jim Rice, with 1,618 singles. In the event you guessed Wade Boggs or Ted Williams, they ranked third and fourth respectively.
———
Left on the cutting-room flooring from my current dialog with Ryan Waldschmidt was what he advised me about his draft expertise. Now the group’s top-ranked prospect, Waldschmidt was chosen thirty first general in 2024 by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of the College of Kentucky.
“My brokers acquired a number of calls from anyplace between 15 and once I bought picked,” recalled the 23-year-old outfielder, who — together with topping the D-Backs rankings — is thirty fifth on our 2026 100 High Prospects record. “There have been some second-option situations, with individuals saying, ‘If this man will get picked, we’re going to take you.’ Issues didn’t observe in my favor, I assume, however on the finish of the day, I fell into the best spot. I really feel that I bought picked by the best staff.”
Waldschmidt had a pre-draft interview with the Diamondbacks that he felt went particularly nicely, so he knew that there was severe curiosity. Even so, he “didn’t actually hear from them a lot on draft day,” growing the probability — at the least in his thoughts — that he could be going elsewhere. As is all the time the case with the newbie draft, potential signing bonuses have been additionally at play.
“I had a few groups provide offers for afterward if I wished to attend for the second spherical,” Waldschmidt advised me. “They have been providing me extra money than a [later round] first-round decide would get, so I had a bit little bit of leverage on a few of these different groups. What I perceive is that the Diamondbacks have been keen to offer me across the similar quantity with their decide, at 31 (Arizona additionally had the twenty ninth general decide, which they used to pick Slade Caldwell.) They could have had their draft-strategy plan in place, the place if I used to be nonetheless there, they’d take me.”
———
A random obscure former participant snapshot:
Troy Mattes has the very best batting common in Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals franchise historical past amongst gamers with at the least 15 plate appearances. A right-handed pitcher whose MLB profession comprised eight video games for the Expos in 2001, Mattes went 7-for-15 (.467) with a double and one sacrifice hit. On June 19 of that 12 months, he went 3-for-4 whereas additionally hurling seven innings for the win in a 12-3 pummeling of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
His finest mound effort got here ten days earlier in his major-league debut when he tossed seven shutout frames in a contest the Expos finally misplaced to the New York Mets. Mattes’s general pitching document wasn’t practically as spectacular as his debut efficiency (nor as his 162 wRC+ as a hitter). Over 45 innings, he logged a 6.00 ERA, a 6.16 FIP, and was taken deep 9 instances. His won-loss document was 3-3.
———
LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
The Athletic’s Andrew Baggerly wrote about how Daniel Susac is hoping to show a Rule 5 alternative right into a dream debut with the San Francisco Giants.
MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, Sam Dykstra, and Jonathan Mayo teamed up to offer us every staff’s high power-hitting prospect.
MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson sees a Cy Younger Award lurking in Dylan Stop’s proper arm.
Jose Ferrer hopes to deliver enjoyable and ‘muchos ceros’ to the Mariners bullpen. Shannon Drayer has the story at Seattle Sports activities.
The Detroit Tigers toured Japan in 1962. Andrew Forbes wrote about it for SABR’s Asian Baseball weblog.
———
RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Colorado Rockies prospect Charlie Condon is 7-for-13 with three dwelling runs to date this spring. TJ Rumfield, one other Rockies prospect, is 5-for-12 with three dwelling runs.
The Athletics’ 40-man roster contains 12 gamers drafted by the A’s, two signed as worldwide free brokers, 15 acquired by way of commerce, 5 claimed off waivers, and 6 signed as free brokers (4 to an MLB contract, two to a minor-league contract).
Garrett Crochet and Cristopher Sánchez every made 32 begins final season. Crochet had a 2.59 ERA over 205-and-a-third innings. Sanchez had a 2.50 ERA over 202 innings.
Logan Webb leads all pitchers in video games began (132) and innings pitched (820) over the previous 4 seasons. He ranks second in WAR (19.1) and fifth in FIP (2.94).
Bruce Kison threw 20 scoreless innings in his first seven postseason appearances. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander went 4-0 in these video games, with one of many wins coming within the 1971 World Collection. All advised, the lanky right-hander toed the rubber 10 instances within the postseason, going 5-1 with a 1.98 ERA.
The St. Louis Cardinals signed Willie Montanez as an newbie free agent on at present’s date in 1965. 5 years later, the left-handed-hitting outfielder/first baseman was despatched to the Phillies as a PTBNL substitute for Curt Flood, who had refused to report after being traded from St. Louis to Philadelphia. A Phillie for elements of seven seasons, Montanez completed his 14-year profession with 1,604 hits, 139 dwelling runs, and a 99 wRC+.
Gamers born on at present’s date embrace Chris Barnwell, an infielder who appeared in 13 video games for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2006. A local of Jacksonville, Florida who performed for Crew Canada within the 2009 World Baseball Basic — his father was from Nova Scotia — Barnwell went 2-for-30 and swiped one base throughout his MLB cup of espresso.
Additionally born on at present’s date was Farmer Vaughn, a local of Ruraldale, Ohio who performed for 5 groups, primarily the Nationwide League’s Cincinnati Reds, throughout the 1886-1899 seasons. A catcher/first baseman/outfielder, Vaughn suited up for a pair of American Affiliation golf equipment in 1981, one in all them the Cincinnati Kelly’s Killers.