Brendan Harris was acquired by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for the ubiquitous PTBNLOC (Player To Be Named Later Or Cash). It has been a trade that helps to cement a reputation of shrewd dealing because Haris quickly displaced the Opening Day SS Ben Zobrist and has continued to hit despite a 110 previous major league ABs that indicated otherwise.
What drew my attention in particular was his SLG. It is higher than the more acclaimed ROY candidate, Delmon Young, has been able to produce (.495 versus .405). (ed: By a lot!) I have a very difficult time believing that is sustainable, but their peripherals also favor Harris as he walked 18 times and struck out 39 times versus 13 and 57, respectively, for Young.
A look at Brendan Harris' minor league totals indicate this season was possible. He broke on to the prospect scene following a 2002 season in which he had 61 extra base hits. Tha was followed by a 2003 one in which 46 XBHs. In the following year, his HRs went up to 17, but he was now 24-year-old. He hit 13 in 2005 in the notoriously HR-unfriendly confines of New Orleans. A combined 10 in 2006 as a 26-year-old took the final luster off his star.
While Baseball America dropped Haris from its prospect guide, John Sickels did include him in his. he wrote:
Year | Team | Age | Level | AB | R | H | XBH | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | CR | BABIP |
2001 | Lansing | 21 | A | 113 | 25 | 31 | 10 | 4 | 22 | 5 | 17 | 26 | 0.274 | 0.37 | 0.442 | 77.00% | 0.325 |
2002 | Daytona | 22 | A+ | 425 | 82 | 140 | 54 | 13 | 54 | 16 | 43 | 57 | 0.329 | 0.395 | 0.532 | 86.60% | 0.358 |
2002 | W. Tenn | 22 | AA | 53 | 8 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0.321 | 0.345 | 0.547 | 90.60% | 0.326 |
2003 | W. Tenn | 23 | AA | 435 | 56 | 122 | 46 | 5 | 52 | 6 | 51 | 72 | 0.28 | 0.364 | 0.425 | 83.40% | 0.327 |
2004 | Iowa | 24 | AAA | 254 | 48 | 79 | 33 | 11 | 35 | 0 | 16 | 40 | 0.311 | 0.353 | 0.531 | 84.30% | 0.335 |
2004 | Edmonton | 24 | AAA | 123 | 20 | 35 | 12 | 6 | 24 | 0 | 10 | 21 | 0.285 | 0.345 | 0.48 | 82.90% | 0.302 |
2005 | NewOrleans | 25 | AAA | 470 | 67 | 127 | 39 | 13 | 81 | 9 | 40 | 77 | 0.27 | 0.329 | 0.417 | 83.60% | 0.300 |
2006 | Louisville | 26 | AAA | 148 | 22 | 48 | 20 | 5 | 28 | 2 | 14 | 29 | 0.324 | 0.384 | 0.534 | 80.40% | 0.377 |
2006 | NewOrleans | 26 | AAA | 219 | 37 | 62 | 19 | 5 | 32 | 3 | 26 | 56 | 0.283 | 0.379 | 0.416 | 74.40% | 0.361 |
2007 | Tampa Bay | 27 | MLB | 220 | 34 | 70 | 2 | 8 | 32 | 2 | 18 | 39 | 0.318 | 0.372 | 0.495 | 82.30% | 0.358 |