Let’s keep the Wild Predictions rolling looking at someone who could be one of the premier base stealers in the Major Leagues, the Rangers’ Julio Borbon. Last season Jacoby Ellsbury led the league with 70 stolen bases and I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that Borbon will match that total in 2010.
He made his presence felt in short order in 2009, stealing 19 bases in just 46 games. If you want to simply project that out for a full season (say he plays 150 games), it would translate into a 62 SB season. With Marlon Byrd now calling Chicago home, the playing time shouldn’t be an issue.
Word out of Texas has been that Borbon will be an every day player for the Rangers (he sat against lefties in ’09). Not only that, he will be hitting atop the lineup, which, with Michael Young slotted in as #2, will give him ample opportunities to wreak havoc.
In 2008, splitting time between Single and Double-A, Borbon stole 53 bases in just 126 games. There’s just no doubting his speed and his ability to successfully steal a base.
With tremendous speed, described by Baseball America as “plus-plus” prior to the 2009 season, and the opportunity to run wild on the base paths, the sky really is the limit. While 70 is hard to imagine anyone reaching, it also wouldn’t be very surprising.
Chance of Happening: 10%
What are your thoughts? Is there any chance Borbon reaches 70 SB? What do you see as his upper limit?
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Previous Wild Predictions:
I think he is a stud, I would be happy with 40 steals. What round do you think he would go?
Interesting. How do you compare him to Michael Bourn who is going in about the 9th round in mock drafts?
Bourn is a player I am currently re-evaluating, but he has that same type of potential. Lots of SB, in a high-powered offense could score a lot of runs and also has the potential to hit for a very good average.
I love Borbon as a later round speed option in all formats (and I’m glad I have him as a keeper in my auction league).
there are LOTS of big SB threats late…. borbon is another one.