Is Jimmy Paredes for real?
Every season there are a couple players in Major League Baseball who arise from relative obscurity and become stars in our game. For example, the 2014 season saw players such as J.D. Martinez and Josh Harrison emerge and become key pieces to two playoff teams. Who will break out from nowhere this season?
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Well, the answer is the Baltimore Orioles’ Jimmy Paredes. Paredes is a 26-year-old utility player. He can play multiple infield and outfield positions, albeit none of them very well. When with the Houston Astros organization, Paredes was moved around from third base, second base and even right field to see if he could play adequate defense at any of those places, but he could not. His bat never justified his poor defense either, hitting just .234 in his stint with Houston.
The Astros finally gave up on Paredes after the 2013 season, designating him for assignment after hitting a measly .192 in 125 at-bats for them that year. He bounced around a few teams, but eventually wound up in Kansas City.
In Kansas City, Paredes picked up two hits in ten at bats and then found himself designated for assignment again in July. A few days later, Paredes was acquired by the Baltimore Orioles in a cash deal, the second time Baltimore had acquired him that year. No one really thought much of it. Just minor league depth, perhaps insurance for Manny Machado at third base. Turns out they would need him after Machado went down with a knee injury.
A few weeks after Machado went down, Paredes got the call. Long story short, Paredes raked. He hit .302 in 53 at bats down the stretch for the Orioles, even coming through huge in the clutch a few times. However, his defense at third base was very shaky and it led to him not getting much playing time in the Orioles’ postseason run.
Amid an Orioles offseason where he was speculated to be designated for assignment on every 40-man transaction the O’s made, Paredes stuck around. And he has rewarded the Orioles for hanging onto him.
After mashing all spring training long, Paredes had all but made the team. A back injury set him back for the first few weeks of the season, but ever since he has been activated off the disabled list, all Paredes has done is hit out of his mind.
This season, Paredes has hit .429 with three home runs, four doubles, a triple and nine RBI in only 35 at-bats, mostly out of the designated hitter spot. He is squaring up and crushing everything in sight. After this hot start, one has to wonder if he is for real. Now obviously he won’t hit over .400, but I think he is a legitimate player.
His minor league numbers are outstanding, with an average north of .300 in many Triple-A at bats. He is still pretty young, and I think he could hit .280-.300 with 15-20 homers for the Orioles this year.
If he could put up something like that, a player with his hitting/speed ability could really be a great fixture at the top of the Orioles’ lineup in the two hole. I believe Paredes is a 2015 version of J.D. Martinez or Josh Harrison. Do you?
Any feedback can be left below. I would appreciate some thoughts.