Laurila: Q&A with Nolan Arenado, a Gold Glove Rockie
From SABR member David Laurila at FanGraphs on November 26, 2013:
Nolan Arenado excelled defensively in his rookie season. The Colorado Rockies third baseman won a Gold Glove, and he had the numbers to back it up. The rifle-armed 22-year-old ranked second at his position in assists, fielding percentage, and Defensive Runs Saved. He ranked third in UZR.
At the plate, he wasn’t as good. The right-handed hitter had a .267/.301/.405 slash line, with 10 home runs. Discipline was an issue, as his 4.5 walk rate was one of the worst in the National League.
His track record suggests Arenado will always be an aggressive hitter. His minor-league walk rate ranged between 4.8 and 8.1, and his strikeout rate between 8.0 and 13.0. Despite his free-swinging ways, he’s shown plenty of potential on the offensive side of the ball. In four-plus seasons on the farm, he hit .299/.345/.473.
Arenado talked about his offensive approach during the 2013 season.
Read the full article here: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/qa-nolan-arenado-a-gold-glove-rockie-on-hitting/
Originally published: November 26, 2013. Last Updated: November 26, 2013.