Why the Oakland Athletics Should Lock Up Josh Reddick
By Casey Witt
Don’t Run on Reddick
It’s plain and simple…
Don’t run on Reddick!
Sweet dreams will quickly turn into scary nightmares for opposing hitters — whether it’s fantasy or reality, Reddick has a Gold Glove arm in right field and his 14 outfield assists in 2012 proves that Reddick should not be messed with.
Scouting reports praise Reddick for his above-average range, arm strength and outstanding accuracy. His strong-suit is successfully reading the ball off of the bat and the wall — something many MLB players have difficulty doing. Reddick’s above-average speed is also a viable asset to have especially with the alternative routes he takes to get to the ball.
In his first season with the Athletics, the Georgia native recorded 310 putouts and 15 assists in 144 games. What’s more impressive was his .982 fielding percentage over the course of 1279 1/3 innings played. He also only committed just six errors — en route to his first Gold Glove award in his Major League career.
These numbers declined in 2013 and 2014 although it’s safe to say that a chronic wrist injury was the primary culprit. Nonetheless, Reddick’s “all-out” style of play is something the Oakland faithful admires and is beginning to return to 2012 form after a bounce-back 2015 campaign.
His veteran presence on the field and in the batter’s box are characteristics that cannot be replaced and should be considered highly valuable since he is surrounded by a series of rookies like Billy Burns, Mark Canha and Marcus Semien — who look to establish themselves in the majors.
Next: Who Would Roam Right Field?