A Thirdbaseman Turned Secondbaseman Named Ryne...

[CubsWin]

Ryne Malone played three seasons for the Seminoles and played reasonably well hitting .330/.423/.611 in 203 ABs his freshman year but declined every year after that to .316/.423/.503 in 263 ABs and .275/.377.500 in 240 ABs this season. Toolsy he is not, so he fell all the way to the 49th round, second to last, in this year's amateur draft. He was listed at the hot corner while at Florida State, but at 5'11" and a 185 lbs., he's hardly the protypical major league thirdbaseman. But he does fit the profile for secondbase pretty well and he had time there while in college, so the Cubs have tried him there as well as a little third.

 

Ryne is just 21 years old and won't turn 22 until January so he is age appropriate for Low-A Peoria where he is currently hitting .302/.391/.458 through 96 ABs. He's compiled 5 errors in just 27 games, so his defense may be lacking a bit, but especially for a guy who was drafted in the 49th round, this qualifies as a find.

 

He will need to continue to grow and maintain his current level of production at the higher levels if he hopes to be a major league starter, but even if his numbers regress as he rises through the system, he has a shot to be a decent utility guy.

 

The other Ryne was drafted rather late, in the 20th round, and wound up in the Hall of Fame. What can Wilken and the Cubs get out of this 49th rounder?

[rynefan]

I wish him all the best. My son is named Ryne, after Ryne Sandberg, so I love to see other Rynes have success!

[ChiefsVoice]

Toolsy he is not, so he fell all the way to the 49th round, second to last, in this year's amateur draft.

 

He was actually drafted late beacuse he was a junior and was going to go back to school and teams didn't think he would sign. But he grew up a Cubs fan and Wilken saw him in the Cape where he hit better with a wood bat than he did his last year in college so they took him late.

[KaiserCesar]

Toolsy he is not, so he fell all the way to the 49th round, second to last, in this year's amateur draft.

 

He was actually drafted late beacuse he was a junior and was going to go back to school and teams didn't think he would sign. But he grew up a Cubs fan and Wilken saw him in the Cape where he hit better with a wood bat than he did his last year in college so they took him late.

 

Sounds great, I was impressed by him at the plate and actually in the field last night.

[CubsWin]

Toolsy he is not, so he fell all the way to the 49th round, second to last, in this year's amateur draft.

 

He was actually drafted late beacuse he was a junior and was going to go back to school and teams didn't think he would sign. But he grew up a Cubs fan and Wilken saw him in the Cape where he hit better with a wood bat than he did his last year in college so they took him late.

Good points, Nate. Thanks. But he wouldn't be described as toolsy either, would he?

[ChiefsVoice]

probably not...he has shown a good bat so far....lots of doubles, some speed, good range at 3rd. And i do agree that he is better set at 2nd base than 3rd. Reynolds should be at 3rd for us but the injury to Dylan Johnston has a couple guys out of position