Suzuki, Kurt

- Catcher, Oakland A's

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Baseball Player Info

AL
Age	27
Bats or Throws	Right

Editor review

Kurt is Grander, Son

Dollar Value:

Reviewed by SteveP
April 05, 2009
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Last updated: March 01, 2010

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Several years ago someone asked me about Jeremy Brown, an Oakland A's #1 draft pick in the famous (or infamous) 2002 "Moneyball" draft as immortalized by Michael Lewis in the best-seller of that name. I replied that I thought the A's had another catcher. "Daric Barton?" he asked (the 2003 first-rounder then catching in the A's system) and I replied, no, Kurt Suzuki.

Suzuki is now the A's catcher and with 88 RBI in 2009 and for good measure 8 stolen bases, a darn good one. The question is not whether he is this good, because the former .400 hitter for Cal-State Fullerton clearly is this good and has been more or less the identical player the past two seasons. The questions are whether he can continue to catch 147 and 148 games and whether the A's will provide him with any context. The answer is barring some injury for the very durable Suzuki, yes and reservedly yes. .275-85-15-80-5. 550ABs

Positives / Upside	The tendency will be to project Suzuki by splitting the difference between his 54 RBI in 2008 and his 88 in 2009 and between his 7 and 15 home runs. The 2008 A's mounted a .318 team OBP "good" for third worst in the majors and .369 slugging which took home the roses for slugging futility. Not to say that their .328/.397 was wonderful in 2009, but the main difference was context and this season's context should be, for Suzuki, comparable or better. .280-90-15-80-8. 575ABs
Negatives / Downside	Suzuki is "that" good, but how good is "that?" Points for showing up, sure...but a .734 OPS in 2009. a .421 slugging? How long can a real team continue to bat him second or even third (29 games of .221 with a .643 OPS)? Sooner or later doesn't this mean batting 8th and all those RBI disappearing? .270-60-10-60-3. 475Abs
Recommendation	Buy at cost
Draft Position	146