We come to praise Kolten Wong, not bury Mike Matheny. But one can hardly achieve the former without a bit of the latter. Last year, the St. Louis Cardinals’ 28-year-old second baseman enjoyed his finest overall season, batting .285 with a .784 OPS, stealing 24 bases in 28 attempts, and winning his first Gold Glove as well as a Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award as the best second baseman in either league.
It was a long time coming. Former first-round draft picks who zip through the minors usually need just a few years of major league ball to suggest that they’re A) darn good starters; B) competent role players; or C) not good enough.