A Major Leaguer Playing out of His League

Jose Bautista looks like he needs to be promoted.  You know those stupid stat lines that immensely talented guys put up in the minors before they get promoted?  Like what Eric Hosmer was doing this year in AAA when he hit .439, with a .525 on-base percentage or last year when Mike Stanton hit 21 homeruns in 53 games in AA.  That’s what Jose Bautista is doing right now.  I wrote an article about Bautista earlier so this one will serve as an update on his unbelievable performance over the first quarter of the season.  A good friend of mine who knows more about baseball than anyone I know says that Bautista is putting up Bonds in his prime type numbers so, with that in mind I want to compare Bautista with the second best player in the league this year and with Bonds from ’01 (when he hit 73 HR).  For a refresher on what these statistics mean go here.

OBP:  Bautista is in Purple, 2nd Place in Blue, and Bonds in Green

wOBA:

ISO:

HR Through May 15th:

So, Bautista is better than everyone else in the league at everything.  He’s better than Bonds in 2001 when he hit 73 Home Runs in a lot of stuff.  We’re seeing something historic here.  I laughed when I read the quote by Joe Maddon about how pitching to Bautista is like pitching to Bonds in his prime but, the numbers back it up.  Max tells me I have to convince you guys that Bautista is the real deal because nobody thinks he’s actually that good.  I say keep watching the games, keep watching the homers, keep looking at these numbers and Bautista will show you he’s the real deal.

Jose, I’m sorry but there’s no higher league for you to get promoted to.  You can keep clubbing balls out left and right but, this pitching is the best the world has to offer.

Here’s the three balls Bautista hit out yesterday.