Rankings: Who has the top SS in the AL Central?
By Brett Pnazek
Sep 17, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79) is tagged out stealing second base by Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar (2) in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
No. 2: Alcides Escobar (Kansas City Royals)
Alcides Escobar is second in the AL Central shortstop rankings. He was a key chip in the Zack Greinke trade between the Milwaukee Brewers and Royals in 2010, and it has paid off for the Royals.
Escobar lacks power with 21 career home runs in his seven-year career, but he does have speed with 128 steals in the same time frame.
He’s been up-and-down as a hitter, posting a career-high .293 batting average in 2012, but has had two seasons in the .230s.
As a defender, he is above average and has posted a positive dWAR in five consecutive seasons. For his career, he is six wins above replacement, so though he doesn’t hurt you, he does not do anything special either.
Escobar is entrenched as the shortstop for the Royals for the future. Even if the Royals fall out of contention this year, his contract is team-friendly, so I doubt he’d be moved unless he can bring back some top prospects.
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