Matt Holliday: Rising Star
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by user Timothy Moreland(Bball3345)
In 1998, the Colorado Rockies drafted Matt Holliday in the seventh round of the Amateur Draft. Eighteen-year-old Holliday hit .342 with 5 home runs in 32 Rookie league games that season.
Following his impressive minor league start, Holliday spent all of 1999 in single-A, hitting only .264/.342/.435. Nonetheless, Colorado promoted Holliday to high-A in 2000, as a 20-year-old prospect. Holliday experienced a power outage with the jump. His home runs dropped from 16 to 7 in two additional games.
Seeing Holliday needed more time to develop, they kept him in high-A for the entire 2001 season. On his second time around the Sally League, Holliday's OPS jumped from .724 to .833.
As a reward, the Rockies promoted Holliday to AA in 2002 for his age-22 season. Again, his power dropped, but the prospect posted a career-high .375 OBP. Colorado apparently was not overly impressed, as he spent all of 2002 and 2003 without a promotion to AAA.
In fact, Holliday has yet to see AAA. Starting outfielder Preston Wilson hit the DL on April 12th, leading to the call-up of Holliday. On April 16th, the Rockies penciled in Holliday as the starting leftfielder and number eight hitter. St. Louis went on to beat them that day 13-5, and Holliday debuted with an 0 for 3 day.
The 24-year-old, with no experience above AA, had been handed the starting position and has yet to let go. Holliday went on to play in 121 games, hitting .290/.349/.488 with 14 homers.
In Holliday's sophomore season, his batting improved across the line, highlighted by a .307/.361/.505 line. Not to mention his 14 stolen bases and improved defense in left.
Now in 2006, as a 26-year-old, Holliday has taken another step toward breaking out. This continues a three-year pattern of improvement. 110 games into the season, Holliday has a career-best batting line of .321/.369/.556 in the humidor-residing Coors Field.
The way in which he has improved can only be described as unorthodox. His walk rate has dropped from a bearable 7.2% to a poor 5.4%. As well his K rate has risen from last season's 16.5% to 19.4%. Combined, he has posted his worst BB/K rate this season, while simultaneously having his best year at the plate.
While his batting approach appears less patient, it seems if Holliday is waiting for the right pitch and swinging aggressively. The lack of walks and increased strikeouts have come with increased power. In 14 less games than last season, he has two more home runs. Holliday's ISO (Isolated Power) has leaped to .240, after back-to-back seasons of .198.
Some, after seeing this jump in power, may want to credit steroids or HGH, but the true reason can be seen in a new approach at the plate. Holliday has become more of an aggressive, free-swinger. This, combined with experience at the major league level, has Holliday in the midst of a career year. 2007 will be Holliday's age-27 season, and a huge breakout appears to be a possibility.
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Date
Fri 08/11/06, 1:09 pm EST
