Adam Heether's Projectability

[Ando Calrissian]

I was just going through some of the minor league stats from the end of the year and noticed that Heether had a nice 2nd year at Huntsville. According to the info on his player index page, he's 25. Is he projectable at all at the MLB level as a future option for the Crew? Maybe not as a starter, but as a utility infielder?

[And That]

Heether had a back problem (IIRC) that derailed his 2006 season and carried into the first bit of 2007. He wasn't young for his level in the first place - even though he's healthy and had a good year in AA, he's facing down AAA for the first time as a 26 year old. He scuffled around some in the AFL before finishing strong. Adam is a very good third baseman defensively. He's athletic enough to play corner outfield spots as well, maybe even second base and obviously first base. It works against him that he doesn't play SS.

 

He doesn't have the power to project as an every day option at third base unless you're willing to accept an ISO in the Craig Counsell range, maybe slightly higher. I'm also not confident his bat will play as well in the majors as it has in the minors. He does have decent plate discipline, and drawing some walks might be his best major league skill right now. I don't see him as being a starter in the bigs for any extended time - his 2008 AAA campaign will go a long ways in determining how much of a shot he'll get at being a role player. His defense makes him valuable but his bat will tell the story. That's a 50/50 proposition in my eyes.

[Ando Calrissian]

Thanks for the reply, And That. Considering his age and only now making it to AAA, I wouldn't have figured him as a future starter. Is his power really as bad as Counsell's? He did put up an OPS just over .800 this season, which is quiet good (from what I understand), considering it came at Huntsville. I guess he'd be a more exciting prospect if he'd done that at age 22 or 23 at the same level.

[colbyjack]

I definitely think Heether has a shot at being a solid utility player, and could very well end up being a lot like Joe Dillon when it is all said and done. Before Dillon was in the system, Heether always reminded me of a right-handed hitting verison of Rob Mackowiak.

 

I agree that Heether isn't likely to be a long-term option as a starter, or even a short-term option for that matter, but that doesn't mean he won't have value at the big-league level at some point in his career, possibly as soon as this season. As important as it has been for the Brewers to develop their own impact players from within, it will also be important for them to develop the complementary players to round out their roster. They're going to need the money they're paying Craig Counsell very soon.

[Ando Calrissian]

colbyjack wrote:

 

As important as it has been for the Brewers to develop their own impact players from within, it will also be important for them to develop the complementary players to round out their roster.

That's a great point, Colby, and it's something that I often forget about when thinking about future players on the MLB roster. If we've got the in-house options to "fill in the blanks", so to speak, when it comes to the role players, that has an impact when it comes to decisions that need to be made with the starting players. It's good to be reminded that the Brewers approach to developing talent has a lot more at stake than how many blue chippers we can crank out.

[colbyjack]

I always remember how Jim Leyland handled some of his young prospects when he was the manager with the Pirates. I remember him having a few talented young OFs that were blocked by the likes of Bonds, Van Slyke and Bonilla, but he always found a way to use them as pinch hitters, runners, etc.

 

I bring this up because people will often comment about how players such as Heether, Escobar, Gamel and others are blocked at the big-league level, but really they're not, at least not entirely. Those players at some point in time will be counted on to contribute to varying degrees in limited roles, from Gamel's lefty bat to Escobar's slick glove, and by earning close to the league minimum for a couple of years the Brewers may be able to keep someone like Prince Fielder around an extra year or two by paying him and not players like Counsell, Graffinino and Mench. In a year or two Gross and Dillon may cost a couple of million bucks each as well.

[DrWood]

how is heether a utility guy? hasn't he played 3b just about exclusively?

[And That]

As has already been stated, Heether is more than athletic enough to play either of the corner OF slots and first base as well as third. I also happen to think he could adapt to 2B pretty easily, though he wouldn't be a star there. That's how he is a utility prospect.

[dadofandrew]

Heether really isn't a prospect at all. He kind of reminds some of a guy like Dillon, but he has not proven he can play multiple positions or hit like Joe.

 

The only reason he is "projected" as a utility guy is because he doesn't hit enough to be a regular.

 

His two most likely scenarios are a cup of coffee or he never sees the bigs...somewhere down the list is a 2-3 year career as a utility fella.

 

Now, if he can play SS at even a below average level, or be a decent 2B in the field, then, you got something.

[And That]

Now, if he can play SS at even a below average level, or be a decent 2B in the field, then, you got something.

A large part of the reason he's played exclusively at third with Milwaukee is that he's been on the same team as Hernan Iribarren most of the time. Iribarren is limited to second base defensively, so Heether never would have been able to show he could play there regularly. Like I said, I believe he can play there, and that projection is big piece reason I hold him in the esteem I do.

What it all comes down to is that Adam is going to have to show something next year in AAA, or his window might close pretty quickly.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

Considering he was available in the rule 5 draft this year and nobody took him, I'd say he projects as a utility guy at best.

[madbad2000]

Heether can most definately play second base because I seen it with my own eyes in Beloit. Adam is a fun player to watch because he really gets after it on defense and doesn't give up. I can't remember a game where he wasn't diving around making a great play. I think one of the big reasons why Heether was moved to third base was our system was very thin with third basemen at the time and players like Iribarren and Crabbe and Weeks were moving through the system at second.

[DrWood]

wow, heether only played two games at 2b in Beloit, making no errors in 5 chances. You must have gone to a lot of games. He played one game at SS in AZL.

[colbyjack]

how is heether a utility guy? hasn't he played 3b just about exclusively?

 

People aren't saying that Heether IS a utility guy, they are saying that he COULD become one. Just because he doesn't have much experience playing anywhere other than 3B doesn't mean he couldn't become a valuable and versatile player at the big-league level.

[DrWood]

If he's at nashville, there will be plenty of opportunity to get some broader experience, particularly if they want rottino and nelson to get some time at 3b.

[Brily0204]

Adam Heether with another good day at the plate today has his OPS up to .806: not thrilling for the PCL overall but enough to show that last year's nice season in Huntsville was likely not a fluke. I have no idea exactly how good he is away from 3B, but he's logged significant time at SS and some each at 2B and LF. Is he a possible utility guy next year in Milwaukee (a lighter hitting but better fielding Joe Dillon/better hitting but lighter fielding Craig Counsell), or is he doomed to AAA?

[dadofandrew]

Heether's ceiling appears to be as a backup, but I don't see him as anything more than AAA depth until he shows more. Compare his AAA numbers to Dillon's for example. Adam is near his peak as well, so he doesn't have much more ladder to climb.

[DHonks]

Seems like Heether has played a bunch of games at SS this year, including a game last week. not sure how well though

[yoda knows all]

All I know is that is nickname on the club is "The Glove", and not because he dresses like Michael Jackson.

[Brily0204]

Yoda, I know he has always had a good reputation at 3B, but does his nickname apply to his work at SS and 2B? I know he's 26 already, but a guy who can hit at all and can play decently or better at the three toughest infield positions could have a solid career as bench guy somewhere, if not in Milwaukee.

[And That]

Heether will still be with the organization next year and seems to be a decent candidate to get called up at some point, should the need arise for a utility guy. He's gritty like Chris Barnwell, but with a better bat and glove.

[JJHardy7]

I know the pitchers love when Heether is playing anywhere in the field. They really feel that any ball that he can get to he'll make the play and it gives the pitchers a lot of confidence that they don't have to strike every guy out.

 

Let's not forget Heether can also pitch...maybe not well, but he can pitch.

[igor67]

Translation of Heether's current season would give him a .255 EQA to Counsell's .248. Heether seems to have more power at this stage by a noticeable amount and a tad less OBP (though it's not clear it a significant amount). He'd be a seriously better option than paying Craig Millions next year.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

Heether would need to be protected if we want to keep him next year. Unless of course he doesn't get picked in the rule 5 draft, but then he probably would not have much value if no one picked him.

 

I think he makes for great AAA depth and could get a cup of coffee for some team. Anything more than that is unlikely, but ya never know.

[dadofandrew]

Heether is unlikely to hold a candle to Craig's D, even though Counsell is my age. At best, Heether sounds like a no range/good glove SS and 2B, and a good defensive 3B/1B.

 

It's mighty difficult to see him as a prospect. His ceiling is probably a cup of coffee.

 

I can't imagine a scenario in which he'd be taken in the rule 5. He's got organizational soldier written all over him.