PT TOMORROW: AL West—Villar offers risk, reward

Houston Astros

Jonathan Villar (SS, HOU) earned $5 playing less than half of 2013 in HOU, fueled by 18 SB in just 210 AB. But along with a starting job and good raw tools, the 22-year-old Villar enters 2014 with questions as to the rest of his game and some playing time risk, both short-term and long. Despite flashes of patience—9% bb% over his last 665 minor league AB, 10% bb% in HOU— Villar's tendency to chase outside the strike zone and sub-par contact will keep a lid on his BA. Scarier still is the fact that his physical skills have not yet translated to reliable defense, where Villar has made 6 errors during the pre-season through Saturday. Even his SBs are a product of plus speed (140 Spd) and opportunity (41% SBO) vs. a polished...

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