Top 50 Prospects: #46 – Michael Choice | The Golden Sombrero Baseball Blog | MLB, Fantasy, College & High School Baseball News

Top 50 Prospects: #46 – Michael Choice

#46 Michael Choice

Oakland Athletics

DOB: 11/10/1989

Previous Rank: N/A

ETA: 2013

Choice had a terrific first full season of professional baseball as a 21-year-old. He had an outstanding career at UT-Arlington and was deservedly selected with the tenth overall pick in 2010. With Stockton this year in the California League, Choice slashed .285/.376/.542 and went deep 30 times. He struck out 134 times but walked enough to justify it.

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA
2010 20 2 Teams 2 Lgs A–Rk OAK 30 130 109 21 29 10 2 7 26 6 1 17 45 .266
2010 20 Athletics ARIZ Rk OAK 3 9 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 .000
2010 20 Vancouver NORW A- OAK 27 121 102 20 29 10 2 7 26 6 1 15 43 .284
2011 21 Stockton CALL A+ OAK 118 542 467 79 133 28 1 30 82 9 5 61 134 .285
2 Seasons 148 672 576 100 162 38 3 37 108 15 6 78 179 .281
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/9/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB HR RBI BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2010 20 2 Teams 2 Lgs A–Rk OAK 30 130 109 7 26 .266 .377 .587 .964 64
2010 20 Athletics ARIZ Rk OAK 3 9 7 0 0 .000 .222 .000 .222 0
2010 20 Vancouver NORW A- OAK 27 121 102 7 26 .284 .388 .627 1.016 64
2011 21 Stockton CALL A+ OAK 118 542 467 30 82 .285 .376 .542 .918 253
2 Seasons 148 672 576 37 108 .281 .376 .550 .927 317
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/9/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff G Ch PO A E DP Fld% RF/G
2010 20 2 Teams 2 Lgs A–Rk OAK CF 29 63 60 1 2 0 .968 2.10
2010 20 Athletics ARIZ Rk OAK CF 2 3 3 0 0 0 1.000 1.50
2010 20 Vancouver NORW A- OAK CF 27 60 57 1 2 0 .967 2.15
2011 21 Stockton CALL A+ OAK CF 98 219 206 7 6 1 .973 2.17
2011 21 Stockton CALL A+ OAK DH 20 0.00
2011 21 Stockton CALL A+ OAK OF 98 219 206 7 6 1 .973 2.17
2 Seasons 147 282 266 8 8 1 .972 1.86
CF (2 seasons) CF 127 282 266 8 8 1 .972 2.16
DH (1 season) DH 20 0.00
OF (1 season) OF 98 219 206 7 6 1 .973 2.17
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/9/2011.

There is some swing-and-miss with Choice, but no part of any park can hold him, and his defense is far better than one would expect from this kind of power bat. There is a realistic chance that Choice can stay in CF, and if he can, then he will be an all-star year in and year out. While his speed is a 60, he doesn’t necessarily use it very well stealing bases. It is better reflected in the field and moving from base to base on contact.

The down tool with Choice is his arm, so his value drops considerably if he is forced to move away of center, but by no means is that move imminent or even likely. Michael Choice can take a huge step forward perhaps even into the top 10 with a big 2012 in the high Minors.


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