Bats/Throws: R/R

Height/Weight: 5’10”/160

Acquired: NDFA 10/12/07

Born: 8/11/91

2010 Rank: NR

Why Ranked Here: Wilfredo Tovar can really pick it.  Listed at just 5’10” Tovar has true shortstop skills.  He has the hands, arm, range and body control to play an above average shortstop.  (My 2010 radio call highlights include a bunch of Tovar’s terrific defense at short.)

At the plate he makes contact, and when he’s at his best, works counts in a way that’s very impressive for a player so young. There’s little power to be had out of such a small frame, so his offensive game will have to be all about getting on base.

2010: Tovar took over at short in St. Lucie in May and got off to a quick start hitting .292/.327/.365 through 25 games but a 1-for-22 skid dropped his advanced-A batting line to .246/.276/.305.  At the All-Star Break in the middle of June, when Wilmer Flores was promoted from Savannah to St. Lucie, Tovar went the other way, joining Savannah.  Then in August, when Robbie Shields was ready to play short everyday in Savannah, and Rylan Sandoval got hurt in Brooklyn, Tovar slipped on down to help the Cyclones’ playoff push.

Dr. Pangloss Says: MLB shortstop who’s an asset based on his glove-work

Debbie Downer Says: Org guy who won’t hit enough to hang onto a fulltime big league job

Projected 2011 Start: Savannah

MLB Arrival: 2014