Meet D.J. LeMahieu

by subtle on Mar 7, 2011 10:48 AM CST

If nothing else, D.J. LeMahieu increased his name recognition yesterday by hitting a walk-off home run in a televised game. Now that more of the Cubs faithful have heard of him, I thought I'd break down LeMahieu's past and some of the future scouting reports on the shortstop.

via i.imgur.com

How did he get here?

D.J. LeMahieu was originally drafted out of high school by the Detroit Tigers in the 41st round of the 2008 amateur draft. LeMahieu passed for a scholarship to LSU but made a splash in the Cape Cod league that summer and was named the 6th best prospect in Cape Cod by Baseball America.

LeMahieu was a stand-out middle infielder at LSU, the alma mater of former Cubs Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot. In 2008 and 2009, LeMahieu led LSU to the College World Series. LeMahieu was moved back-and-forth between shortstop and second base while at LSU. Some scouts consider his range and his 6'4 frame be an obstacle for his future at shortstop. The Tigers won it all in 2009 and LeMahieu was named to the all-tournament team. Following his sophomore year, LeMahieu was drafted by the Cubs with the 79th overall pick.

The Story So Far

Following the 2009 draft, LeMahieu impressed in his short stint at Peoria. (LeMahieu made a brief trip through Arizona ball but it is common for all freshly drafted players to play at least a game or two in Arizona while they wait for their paperwork to clear with the organization. This is still a business at the end of the day...) In 38 games, LeMahieu carried a.316/.371/.368 line. We'll get to LeMahieu's lack of home run power in a minute.

The showing at Peoria impressed the Cubs enough to start D.J. in High-A Daytona in 2010. LeMahieu impressed again, hitting .314/.346/.386 with 2 home runs. LeMahieu spent half of his time in Daytona covering second base but spent the other half at shortstop and third.

The Future

Baseball America named LeMahieu the best hit-for-average prospect in the Cubs organization for 2011. While he did not crack a lot of top-10 lists, LeMahieu may now be among the top 10 Cubs hitting prospects following the Garza trade. LeMahieu "frustrates" a lot of scouts due to his lack of home run power in spite of his 6'4 frame. DJ's power is currently thought of as gap-to-gap, a great code word for "Why isn't this guy hitting home runs?" LeMahieu no longer has Hak-Ju Lee to compete with at shortstop and will probably start the season AA Tennessee this year but will probably remain at second base given the arrival of Starlin Castro as the future shortstop for the Cubs. Many scouts see LeMahieu as having a third base defensive skill set which will cause an issue if his home run power does not develop.

LeMahieu is a bit of an enigma for the Cubs organization. They seem to prefer prospects who show they can drive the ball, like Vitters or Jackson, rather than prospects who demonstrate hit-for-average skills. I have a lot of concerns about the quest to unlock DJ's power. Scouts claim that DJ needs to be pickier with the pitches he chooses to swing at. That would explain his low strikeout ratio but lack of a lot of walks to go with it. I don't know what the track record is on trying to teach prospects to swing at less pitches and drive the ones they do pitch, but Kirby Puckett was once a opposite field slap hitter, so there's hope.

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Comments

Nice writeup

I’m trying to think of a better comp for LeMahieu. Puckett was smaller but you are right that he had very little power his rookie year. Puckett however did basically jump from A to the majors and showed better slugging in the minors. If LeMahieu could start showing better doubles power then I think his prospect value would increase.

He was a second round pick though so there should be some optimism for him.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Mar 7, 2011 11:24 AM CST reply actions

You're right abotu Puckett.

I was kind of reaching on that one but I just can’t think of an infielder who looks like a first or third baseman but hits like a middle infielder quite in the way that LeMahieu does.

Honestly, his best comparison might be Jeter. Jeter is 6’3 195 lbs. He’s never been particularly quick as a shortstop (He shouldn’t be one actually). And Jeter’s career average for HR/season is 17.

by subtle on Mar 7, 2011 11:52 AM CST up reply actions

I thought about Jeter as well

probably better than Puckett.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Mar 7, 2011 12:18 PM CST up reply actions

One more thing about Jeter

Actually, I was wrong. Jeter was an animal at drawing walks in the minors and basestealing was actually one of his tools. So you can’t really make the comparison even though range has always been an issue for Jeter at shortstop.

by subtle on Mar 7, 2011 12:18 PM CST up reply actions

Great writeup...

One of my favorite players in this system. Excellent athlete, excellent hitter, and he was drafted because of how projectable he is…I hope he’s allowed to play 2B because my gut thinks he’d do well there.

The weight he put on this offseason makes him one of the most interesting players in our system this year.

by SenorGato on Mar 7, 2011 11:37 AM CST reply actions

Also...

can someone tell me how this powerless hitter from our garbage system (post-Garza of course) topped 70 RBIs last year? Guy really was a singles hitter last year…rare and weird to see a decent amount of RBIs from a singles hitter.

by SenorGato on Mar 7, 2011 11:39 AM CST up reply actions

He has a high average and got to bat with RISP a lot

This is the way RBI’s work. Power helps, but RBIs are mostly correlated to coming up to bat with runners in scoring position and less with power numbers.

by subtle on Mar 7, 2011 11:47 AM CST up reply actions

Yes I realize that...

that’s how RBIs work…My thought process is that 1. the FSL is famously a poor hitting environment…2. the OBP of that team was .319…9th out of 12th…yet they were 3rd in runs scored….3. while RBIs is a fairly meaningless stat, 73 from a possible MIF who still hasn’t even shown his power yet is more impressive than not.

by SenorGato on Mar 8, 2011 1:43 PM CST up reply actions

He did the same kind of thing in his previous MilB stops...

34 RBIs in 41 games in ‘09…It’s not hugely significant but little things like that tell me that this guy is one of the better players in our system…as does the high average and draft pedigree.

by SenorGato on Mar 8, 2011 1:46 PM CST up reply actions

Clutch

by Bradsbeard on Mar 8, 2011 3:07 PM CST up reply actions

damn you beat me to saying that

by hansman1982 on Mar 8, 2011 6:10 PM CST up reply actions

Yuch...

That word’s been illegal since ’02 at the latest.

I’d say good hitter…one who’s showing some ability to be a producer despite a lack of power….It’s just a weird thing to see tbh.

by SenorGato on Mar 8, 2011 11:28 PM CST up reply actions

Just because you can't measure it doesn't mean it doesn't exist!

I kid, I kid.

by Bradsbeard on Mar 9, 2011 1:26 AM CST up reply actions

He really packed on weight

to his frame this offseason. Camp Colvin just might be more than a fluke. Both DJ and Vitters look like they added about 15 lbs of muscle, while tightening up the rest of their body.

Especially with DJ, the added muscle is huge. At this time last year, I can tell you with certaintly that DJ would not have been able to turn on that fastball and plant it in the LF seats. His swing was an opposite-field line drive stroke; not condusive to hitting anything other than singles. If he can use this new muscle to his advantage, I am a bit excited as to his potential. I agree with SenorGato as well, in that I would love to see him get a fair shake at 2B. He definately won’t be able to stay at SS, but I think his range is good enough for 2B.

by RynoRooter on Mar 7, 2011 12:01 PM CST reply actions

Thanks for the follow-up

I hadn’t really done a lot of reading about D.J. until the homer yesterday. He really crushed it and I had no doubt for the moment he hit it. If he gets the power numbers, he’s sure to be a great addition. It must be hard to tell a 22 year old: “The only thing you have to do to be a big league starter is learn to hit home runs”.

by subtle on Mar 7, 2011 12:20 PM CST up reply actions

Don't get me wrong, I like DJ

but this was one home run. Let’s wait and see how the year plays out before presuming LeMahieu is a changed hitter. In addition to adding power, he also needs to add a little bit of plate discipline. I’m also worried that the new weight takes him out of the middle infield.

I think LeMahieu is in a good position to take a big step forward, but let’s not get too excited by one home run.

by Bradsbeard on Mar 7, 2011 12:46 PM CST reply actions

Only speaking for myself....

it is all about HOW he hit the bomb, rather than the fact that he hit one. He turned on a fastball and pulled it into the LF bleachers. As I wrote above, DJ was an opposite-field singles hitter. He had a little more authority than Theriot, but it was actually fairly close. Also important to take out of the game was the appearance of DJ. He used to be a skinny 6’4" kid, but after adding reportedly 25 lbs at Camp Colvin, he has filled out his frame nicely.

As for his discipline, it will be interesting to see what happens this year. In 2009, he walked at a 7.1% clip between two level (granted, it was only 180 PAs), and last year he dropped to 4.8% in his first full season. However, he really made big improvements on his K rate, which was only at 11% last year. If he could find his BB rate closer to the 7.1%, while still maintaining his terrific K rate, he would be fine. That’s essentially Aramis Ramirez in his first few years with the Cubs. Granted, even with some new found power, he wouldn’t be able to match Aramis there. But as a 2B, he wouldn’t have to. Nobody is annointing him the 2B starter of the future or anything; most of us are simply excited to see what results the offseason work DJ put in will produce.

by RynoRooter on Mar 7, 2011 1:04 PM CST up reply actions

I didn't mean to say that one home run got me excited

It was the demonstration that he may be able to achieve what he needs to do to become a big league starter. I don’t think he’s got superstar potential because of one dinger but it’s encouraging that the power could happen and he could be a contributor.

by subtle on Mar 7, 2011 1:06 PM CST up reply actions

Inasmuch as I don't like to read too much

into one swing of the bat, I kind of agree with you. LeMahieu crushed that thing. When he was drafted, there was always an assumption that a moderate power potential was there, but he hadn’t shown any of that during the minors. I don’t think it was just conditioning yesterday. It was a whole new approach at the plate.

Still, it’s one swing of the bat. It just means that a major storyline of this minor league season will be if LeMahieu starts driving the ball.

by Josh Timmers on Mar 7, 2011 1:11 PM CST up reply actions

He showed bunt on the first pitch

I don’t know if that was a tactic or if someone changed their mind, but I went from throwing things at my monitor to jumping up and down in the span of one pitch.

by subtle on Mar 7, 2011 1:39 PM CST up reply actions

It may have been a tactic, or...

… with a runner on first and nobody out in the bottom of the 10th, isn’t that a pretty obvious sac situation?

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by Al Yellon on Mar 7, 2011 1:57 PM CST up reply actions

I was surprised they would have him SAC bunt it in a spring training game

by subtle on Mar 7, 2011 3:31 PM CST up reply actions

Why?

That’s just the kind of thing you practice in a spring training game.

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by Al Yellon on Mar 7, 2011 4:11 PM CST up reply actions

I prefer practicing...

the fake bunt and 2 R walk-off HR!

"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman

by BucknerKongCardenal on Mar 7, 2011 9:40 PM CST up reply actions

They know DJ can make contact

The question is, can he drive the ball. That’s why I’m surprised he was asked to bunt. DJ will have all summer to bunt in this situation. Spring Training is the only chance the Cubs have to trot this guy out in front of the whole organization and see what he can do. You don’t see Car & Driver parralell parking Corvettes during test drives…

by subtle on Mar 8, 2011 9:20 AM CST up reply actions

but they do rate

the trunk capacity

by hansman1982 on Mar 8, 2011 6:12 PM CST up reply actions

It certainly

Appears as if DJ has put on a good amount of muscle this year. It’s exciting news for sure, but I would still be surprised if he hit more than 10 HR’s this year in the minors. That’s still a solid improvement over the 2 he hit last year.

by renocubfan on Mar 7, 2011 6:44 PM CST reply actions

Yeah, that would be pretty surprising

I have hope, but I’m realistic. That was a good sign yesterday, but don’t go penciling him into the 2012 lineup anytime soon.

by Josh Timmers on Mar 7, 2011 7:45 PM CST up reply actions

I would be elated to see 10 HR from LeMahieu this year in the minors.

by subtle on Mar 8, 2011 9:21 AM CST up reply actions

Not even when all he has to do is beat out DeWitt and Baker?

The bat speed looked pretty good in that HR AB, and that is the most noticable improvement the Cubs saw in Colvin last spring…bat speed.

I’d guess if DeWitt or Baker struggle early in the season and LeMahieu does very well in the minors, we could see DJ by June…probably not, but possibly.

"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman

by BucknerKongCardenal on Mar 7, 2011 9:59 PM CST reply actions

Don't know about DJ, but the Cubs are likely to be looking for a better solution at 2B pretty early in the season

If they can find the right guy in the minor league system, great.

by ClarkFan on Mar 8, 2011 8:19 AM CST up reply actions

I'd be shocked if he was given the promotion

He still needs development and I don’t think he’s played any 2B. Bringing him up to learn a new position and to get accustomed to MLB pitching seems like a bad plan to me also knowing that he still needs development.

by jerry morales rules on Mar 8, 2011 10:19 AM CST up reply actions

Castro still needs development.

D.J. spent half his time in Daytona last year at 2B, the other half at SS/3B. Plus transitioning from SS to 2B usually isn’t a tough switch.

"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman

by BucknerKongCardenal on Mar 8, 2011 11:29 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe I'm way off

because my baseball viewing was severely limited in the early to mid eighties due to being so young then, but wasn’t Sandberg much more of a speedy doubles/triples hitter until being encouraged to start turning on pitches? Granted, DJ doesn’t seem to have the same speed skills as Ryno, but there is still some hope for power. It’s early to tell, but hopefully Camp Colvin is going to be a success.

by portlandcubfan on Mar 8, 2011 11:13 AM CST reply actions

True to a certain extent

but Sandberg hit 11 home runs for AA Reading at age 20 and 9 for AAA Reading at 21. LeMahieu was 21 at high A Daytona last season and hit 2 home runs.

You can see that Sandberg actually had some power in the minors, but as a shortstop in his era, he probably wasn’t encouraged to develop it until Jim Frey managed him. Believe it or not, Dave Concepcion led all National League shortstops in HRs in 1980. He had five.

In retrospect, it’s easy to see that Sandberg had power, he just was discouraged by the biases of the time, which said shortstops should be little speedy guys who bunt a lot. That’s not LeMahieu’s problem. LeMahieu has been encouraged to hit for more power his whole career.

by Josh Timmers on Mar 8, 2011 12:01 PM CST up reply actions