Switch Hitting & the Draft

[bjkrautk]

For whatever it's worth, did anyone realize that the Brewers haven't drafted a switch hitting position player since 2003?

 

I don't know how this compares to other teams, but it had recently occurred to me that the Brewers haven't developed a switch hitter in quite some time now. And with only one member of the Power 50 hitting from both sides of the plate (Callix Crabbe), that doesn't appear to be changing too much in the years to come.

 

I was wondering what the cause of this trend might be. Are there fewer players learning to switch-hit now than there were 5-10 years ago? Is this a conscious decision being made by Jack Z? Or, is the best player available when the Brewers drafted seemingly never a switch hitter?

 

One would assume that there is more risk involved in drafting a switch-hitter....essentially, there are two different swings to scout, project, and ultimately, have to fix when / if something goes wrong. Considering the tactical advantage from a bench player who is even marginally good at hitting from the other side (the reason Magruder has a major-league job), is this a skill that the Brewers should be looking to develop / promote more?

[colbyjack]

To be honest, I think you're thinking a little too deep into this subject. I doubt the Brewers go out of their way to draft, or not draft (and develop) switch hitters.

 

It does seem as though there are less and less of them around these days. My brother and I were actually talking about this at the game last night (in regards to Jose Cruz Jr.) wondering why players that were significantly better from one side of the plate didn't just hit from that side all of the time. Maybe those switch-hitters are realizing that as well.