Rankings: Who has the top SS in the AL Central?
By Brett Pnazek
Oct 17, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias (1) turns a double play over Boston Red Sox catcher David Ross (3) during the fourth inning in game five of the American League Championship Series baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
No. 4: Jose Iglesias (Detroit Tigers)
Jose Iglesias was part of the blockbuster deal that brought Jake Peavy to the Boston Red Sox and Avisail Garcia to the White Sox. He was injured for all of last season but has shown to be a better hitter than scouts had originally projected.
Iglesias lacks power with only seven career home runs in 847 plate appearances. He’s also not much of a threat on the base path, having 11 career stolen bases spread out over a four-year career.
He’s best suited to hit lower in the lineup, and like Ramirez, any offense he provides is icing on the cake.
The reason why he does not need to wow on the offensive side is because of his defense.
Iglesias is probably the best defensive player of all the shortstops in these rankings, because he just doesn’t make errors. He boasts a career .987 fielding percentage as a shortstop, and while his defensive WAR is only 1.3, it does not rate as high as one would expect.
The shortstop made the Tigers a better defensive team up the middle and was missed last year, because he is one of those guys that when you look at him on the field and see the plays he makes, he passes the eye test, even if the analysis doesn’t always back that assertion up.
His season outlook is more assured than Jose Ramirez’s, which is the reason for the No. 4 ranking. Iglesias is the clear starter for Detroit, but the Tigers could look to upgrade the position if he is really struggling offensively by the time the trade deadline rolls around.
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Next: No. 3: Danny Santana