BABS Triple Asset Threats

by Mark Simmons

When Branch Rickey first used coined “5 tool player”, his phrase separated Mays and Mantle as players in the game who could do it all. In BABS parlance, these elite, across-the-board talents are “triple-asset players.” 

In the August update, there were 22 players who are credited with possessing at least some of each of the three skills (hit tool, power, and speed) which matter to us. I won’t waste your time telling you it is good to own Javier Baez, Mookie Betts, Mike Trout or Jose Ramirez. Breakout rookies like Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna are among the 22 as well. Solid, across the board producers like Christian Yelich, Andrew Benintendi, and A.J. Pollock are here as well. These are no-brainers. Instead, let’s take a closer look at some guys you might not associate as gifted in all three skills (yet).

Among catchers, there is one player who BABS credits with all three assets, and it’s not the guy who came into the season with 28 SB in the past three seasons. Willson Contreras (p,s,a) has shown ability to contribute across the board. He only has four SB, but 22 doubles and five triples are proof that he can run. If he continues hitting in the middle of the order, don’t expect a jump in SB totals, but if the role changes, the speed is present.

Derek Dietrich (p,s,a)  is having a nice season, but his inclusion among these 22 is somewhat surprising given his two SB and league average 27.0 ft/sec sprint speed (per Statcast). Dietrich does have 64 runs, to go with his .270 average and 15 HR. He’s a solid option at a 3B option that isn’t as deep as it once was.

After the power display in his 2016 rookie season, many of us forgot that Trevor Story (P+, s, AV) has always shown assets other than light-tower power. In 2015, he posted 20 HR and 22 SB split between AA and AAA. His average was a concern coming off .239 last season, however, with solid hard hit (44%) and line drive (23%) rates, there were signs of the upside he’s shown this year. As for the speed, his sprint speed of 29.6 ft/sec. is on par with speedster Mallex Smith (who was highlighted in Chris Doyle’s article about early 2019 sleepers).

There are some sluggers on the list that make you scratch your head. Guys like Giancarlo Stanton (P+,s,a), Nick Castellanos (PW, SB, AV – pictured), and Miguel Andujar (p,s,AV) with nine SB total among them. All three of these guys exhibit sprint speed significantly above average, and while their positions in the batting order do not lend themselves to SB, they do have wheels which can allow them to take an extra base, and put themselves in position to score a run. Those are indirect benefits of possessing the speed asset.

Finally, there are players with three assets, but whose 2018 playing time has them well down the database. These are guys who could very well be sleepers for 2019. For some — Shohei Otani (P+,s,a) and Wil Myers (PW,s,a) — health has limited their playing time. Expect each to come with assets and liabilities for 2019. If your roster can absorb the risk, they can provide upside.

Other players have earned playing time late in the 2018 season, and demonstrated skills to convince BABS they possess all three assets. Tyler O’Neill (PW,s,a) has hit 31 HR this season between AAA and St. Louis. The No. 6 prospect in the Cards organization this spring, he has stolen as many as 16 SB in a minor league season and his 29.3 ft/sec sprint speed which is among the 25 best in MLB this season. Jake Cave (p,SB,a) was a 6th round pick way back in 2011, and after some knee issues, made his MLB debut this season with the Twins. He has exhibited double digit ability in both HR and SB in the past (although not in the same season).