Matt Chapman has already had a great start to his career with the Oakland A’s, but we could be missing out on something special.
Based on hypotheticals, a baseball player’s prime years are considered to be from age 27 through age 32. It is during that time where players are not only at the peak of their physical prowess, but also when the reflexes are there to match. Time eventually erodes those skills and reflexes, but for those prime years, a player can truly burnish their standing in MLB history.
That is where Matt Chapman finds himself. The Oakland A’s third baseman turned 27 years old on April 28, and is presumably entering the beginning of his prime. However, due to the shutdown caused by the pandemic, and the inability of the owners and players to come to an agreement, that first year is being wasted.
As it is, it is difficult to imagine how much better Chapman could be. He has been one of the A’s best hitters since his arrival, producing a .257/.341/.500 batting line with 74 homers and 101 doubles in his 385 career games. He has also saved 40 runs at third, the best mark in the majors since his debut.
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Because of his solid offensive contributions and stellar defense, Chapman has been one of the most valuable players in the league. He has produced exactly 8.3 bWAR in each of his first two seasons, ranking third in the AL each year. He has also been an All Star in each of those seasons, while winning the Platinum Glove due to his defensive excellence.
In theory, that is just scratching the surface. Chapman has already been one of the best players in the game, but he is now entering his prime. He has had the opportunity to learn the opposition, understanding how pitchers want to attack him and how to position himself at the hot corner. Those two years before could be just the beginning.
For now, all we can do is speculate and imagine. The idea of a Chapman that is even better than what the A’s have already received is certainly tantalizing. But we will not know if Chapman can take another step for the foreseeable future, with the continued stalemate and ongoing pandemic putting the 2020 season in jeopardy.
Matt Chapman is being robbed of the first year of his prime. And Oakland A’s fans are being robbed of a chance to see him possibly be even greater than he already is.