Georgia Tech Baseball: Jackets in the Pros 2018 season outlook
We take a look at each Yellow Jacket to play in the Major Leagues last season and they’re outlook for 2018.
Charlie Blackmon:
Blackmon signed a one-year deal worth $14 million with the Rockies this past off season and will be looking to earn his third straight silver slugger award. The former Yellow Jacket finished fifth in MVP voting last season and will once again be among the best outfielders in all of baseball this upcoming season. Last season, Blackmon lead the National League hitting .331 while also hitting 37 home runs and 104 RBI.
2018 will be Blackmon’s eight year in Colorado and could be in store for a monster contract if he is able produce at the rate he did a season ago. So far this spring, the 31-year old is hitting .385 over 13 at-bats and has two home runs to go along four RBI.
Derek Dietrich:
The former Tech third baseman is entering year six in the Major Leagues and seems to be one of the few main pieces that are still left in Miami for the Marlins. Last season, Dietrich hit .249 with 13 home runs and knocked in 53 RBI over 135 games.
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A lifetime .250 hitter, Dietrich will take on a bigger role on a Marlins roster that has been decimated by trades this past off season. That being said, the 8-year old is off to a slow start this spring hitting just .167 in eight games.
Jake Esch:
Esch only has appeared in four Major League games since being drafted in 2011 and was released by the Padres last summer. He’s still yet to sign with a Major League ball club.
Buck Farmer:
Through his first four seasons in the Major Leagues it’s been rough for this former Yellow Jacket. Farmer through his first 43 career games is 5-11 with a 6.80 ERA over 127 innings pitched.
This spring, Farmer has pitched three scoreless innings, walking two and striking out two. It was announced yesterday that the Tigers would not consider him for a starting spot.
Deck McGuire
McGuire made his Major League debut last season with Cincinnati, appearing in six games and starting two. In his six appearances, he had a 2.63 ERA in 13.2 innings pitched.
This spring, McGuire has been with the Blue Jays and has pitched six shutout innings. If he continues his strong spring, McGuire could find himself making Toronto’s bullpen.
Matt Wieters
After spending eight years in Baltimore, Wieters made the close move to Washington D.C last year to play for the Nationals. In his first season with the Nats, Wieters struggled at the plate hitting just .225 with 10 home runs and 52 RBI. Not exactly the numbers the Nationals were looking for outside the former first-round pick.
Wieters this spring has gotten off to a hot start hitting .385 with one home run and four RBI over 13 at-bats. He’ll be a huge part of the Nationals attempt to finally make a deep playoff run this season in their small window of opportunity.
Blake Wood
The former third round pick will be pitching in his seventh season in the Majors this upcoming season after spending last season with the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels. He went 3-4 with a 5.45 ERA over 74.1 innings pitched.
This season he’s back with the Angels but has struggled this spring, allowing four runs in less than four innings of work.