2015 Projections and Rankings: Jordan Schafer

In the last few days, we reviewed and made predictions about the 2015 seasons of the Twins infielders. Today, we continue to make our projections and rankings of the Twins outfielders by looking at the center field position.

Jordan Schafer will go into the season as the Twins starting center fielder. At some point in the season, we may see Aaron Hicks getting another opportunity. And, by the end of the season, there is some chance that we could get our first glimpse of Byron Buxton. Today, we’ll make predictions for Jordan Schafer.

MINNESOTA TWINS – JORDAN SCHAFER

Once a top prospect in all of baseball, Jordan Schafer has been through some personal demons. However, he got another chance with the Braves in 2013 and became a solid fourth outfielder. He began 2014 with the Braves. However, through the midway point in the season, he had just 93 plate appearances in 63 games played. He was basically just a late-innings defensive replacement and pinch runner. It would be difficult for anyone to put up decent numbers with that infrequent playing time. The Braves designated Schafer for assignment.

The Twins had just traded outfielder Sam Fuld at the trade deadline and wanted another outfielder. Schafer fits the Sam Fuld mold, probably a fourth outfielder, but capable of starting for a period of time too. In the season’s final two months, he played most every day. In 41 games (and 147 plate appearances), he hit .285/.345/.362 (.707) with 30 stolen bases. Did playing every day allow him to play well, or should we only note that in his 1,398 total big league plate appearances, he has a .229/.311/.310 (.621) slash line?

The reality is that it’s probably somewhere in the middle. Schafer is a different person, more mature and more experienced at age 28 than when he first came to the big leagues. What he did as a 23- or 24- or 25- year-old isn’t necessarily what he is today. And yes, playing every day should be better for him (or most anyone) than playing in one of two games and maybe getting four or five plate appearances each week.

Our Twins Daily writers make their predictions:

Seth – .268/.324/.351 (.675) with 16 doubles and 4 HR.

Nick – .250/.315/.340 (.655) with 15 doubles and 3 HR.

Parker – .260/.330/.350 (.690) with 10 doubles and 1 HR

John – .250/.330/.340 (.690) with 18 doubles and 2 HR (and 30+ SB).

AL CENTRAL CENTER FIELDERS

Opponent – Player – 2015 Age – 2014 Statistics

Chicago – Adam Eaton – 26 - .300/.362/.401 (.763) with 26 doubles, 1-HR

Cleveland – Michael Bourn – 32 - .257/.314/.360 (.674) with 17 doubles, 3-HR

Detroit – Anthony Gose – 24 - .226/.311/.293 (.604) with 8 doubles, 2-HR

Kansas City – Lorenzo Cain – 29 - .301/.339/.412 (.751) with 29 doubles, 5-HR

AL CENTRAL CENTER FIELD RANKINGS

#1 – Adam Eaton - Chicago

#2 – Lorenzo Cain – Kansas City

#3 – Michael Bourn – Cleveland

#4 – Jordan Schafer – Minnesota

#5 – Anthony Gose – Detroit

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

Give it a little thought and then go to the comments section below and post two things. First, make your statistical projection for Jordan in 2015. Second, how would you rank the AL Central center fielders? Then discuss your thoughts with the rest of the Twins Daily community on the Twins center field position. How will it play out throughout the season? Check back throughout this next week as we’ll do these same things for each of the positions.

PREVIOUS PREDICTIONS AND RANKINGS

Kurt Suzuki

Joe Mauer

Brian Dozier

Trevor Plouffe

Danny Santana

Oswaldo Arcia

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