40 for 40 Presents: Alex Bregman

Who Am I?

Alex Bregman

Infielder

Age: 22

Height: 6′ 0″

Weight: 180

Bats right, throws right

How Did I Get Here?

Bregman was the second overall selection of the 2015 draft – a draft pick that the Astros received as compensation for their failure to sign Brady Aiken with the 2014 draft’s first overall selection. (So if you want to think of Bregman as, effectively, the Astros’ 2014 pick, I wouldn’t argue with you.)

Bregman was added to the 40-man roster and called up in July 2016.

Contract Status: Bregman still has three option years remaining and will not be eligible for arbitration until 2020.

Why Am I Here?

Bregman can play either spot on the left side of the infield, and is slated to be the Astros’ third baseman (and, barring surprises, second hitter).

What Are My Strengths?

Bregman is a gifted, polished hitter – as evidenced by his move from college to the majors in only one year. He displayed surprising power upon his arrival – if you look at his last 39 games, once he broke out of his initial slump, he hit 13 doubles and 8 homers; that would translate to 55 doubles and 34 homers over a full season.

What Are My Weaknesses?

Bregman has a slightly below-average arm for third, and his footwork appeared to get away from him a few times; this may be a result of the transition from short to third.

Bregman also has less speed than I would have expected from someone of his size.

Loves to hit: The first pitch. Bregman put the first pitch in play 34 times for a .455/.441/.818 line (there was one sacrifice fly.) It will be interesting to see if Bregman adopts a more patient approach as pitchers adjust to him.

Hates to hit: Sliders. Bregman went only 3 for 34 (2 singles, 1 double) against the slider.

What is my future with the Astros?

It would be easy to say that Bregman is the Astros’ third baseman of the future. He certainly looks like he can handle it defensively, and his bat seems good enough. I don’t think it is that simple.

First of all, the Astros already spent over $40 million on someone they thought would be their third baseman of the future – Yuli Gurriel. Neither of them have even half a season in the majors, so it’s premature to say that either one has the job locked down.

Secondly, many people have long predicted that Carlos Correa will need to move to third base. If Bregman can handle short, you might see the two switch places.

But most importantly – a player who CAN play shortstop, but is NOT playing shortstop, is potentially more valuable to other teams than to this team. With a front office that is willing to quantify everything possible, it hardly seems out of the question that Bregman could be included in a trade – more than likely, for a front-line starting pitcher.

What is my projected 2017 performance?

Who else would I remind you of?

As a hot infield prospect who immediately changed positions upon coming to the majors, I’m reminded a bit of Brett Lawrie.