While the Pirates were off yesterday, Robbie Grossman was quietly writing his name in the Florida State League record books. In a 3-1 Bradenton Marauders win over the Charlotte Stone Crabs, Grossman drew his 100th walk of 2011. He’s already scored 110 runs on the season, which makes him the first minor leaguer since Nick Swisher to draw 100 walks and score 100 runs in the same season.
He’s turned the trick in 120 games and 554 plate appearances, which helps illustrate how much of a step forward he’s taken this year. Last year he played in 125 games for the Marauders and batted 562 times. He walked 66 times and struck out 118 times. He hit just four homers last year; last night in addition to his historic walk, he also hit his 11th home run of the year.
I’m still a little resevered personally on using this specific feat as a predictive tool for Grossman’s future career, but two things are clear this morning. One is that he made some huge strides forward in 2011 in the area of his game that needed the most work, and the second is that he’s had a heck of a season and he deserves some praise for it.
Here’s to him taking as big a leap forward in 2012 as he did in 2011.
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