Position: 2B
Age: 21
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
B/T: R/R
Acquired: 34th Round of 2009 Amateur Draft
From: Columbia, South Carolina
Justin Trapp was drafted out of a South Carolina high school in the 34th round of the 2009 draft. Trapp who was recruited by Coastal Carolina to play quarterback had great athleticism and potentially some pop in the bat. The Royals knew he would take time to develop and as you can see by his progression, they have taken a patient approach.
Prior to 2010, Baseball America rated Trapp as the 31st best prospect in the Royals' system and selected as a sleeper for the organization. One year later Trapp was coming off a sub par season and didn't garner the preseason buzz that he had a year prior. But in 2011, Trapp showed some pop that we hadn't seen out of his bat before.
Yes, Trapp's batting average was the lowest of his career, but in seventeen fewer at bats, Trapp was able to knock ten more extra base hits than he did in 2010. While his Home Run on fly ball percentage was 11.5% compared to the Applachian League average 9.7%, I don't believe that his power surge was a fluke.
Trapp's strikeout percentage is still was too high at 22%, but for a middle infielder that showed some pop in the Appy League there is some promise here. The Royals gave him most of his reps at second base in 2011, I hope that this doesn't mean his days are a shortstop are over (although a .900 fielding percentage aint gonna cut it).
Trapp will likely get a shot in Kane County this summer, but if he struggles he could be sent to Arizona until short season ball begins. There is some reason to be optimistic here, but he is still a long way from establishing himself as a true prospect.
Picture credit to Burlington Royals' team site.
No comments:
Post a Comment