Long before major league clubs started heavily prioritizing defense, speed, and versatility during the analytical revolution, scouting directors everywhere eschewed bat-first prospects with limited defensive versatility in search of the rare five-tool prospect. These players, well-rounded athletes with the potential to do everything at a star level on the baseball diamond, are nearly impossible to find. Even can’t miss players who look the part as prospects — Justin Upton and Delmon Young are two recent examples — often fall short of lofty expectations.
Perhaps just as rare, though, is the lumbering slugger talented enough to get teams to forget about all those athletic wunderkinds.