Its my perception, and that should be taken with a shaker of salt since I have no inside sources in the clubhouse or organization, that Mondesi is a very sensitive young man who perhaps lacks some of the self confidence that a player with his immense physical gifts should have. I remember watching him at the beginning of the last Covid shortened season, wearing his mask everywhere on the field while nobody else was. He looked freaked out by the whole situation, and was clearly uncomfortable. Its an interesting comparison to make to compare him to Bobby Witt, Jr. Both had fathers who were highly successful MLB players. Both have freakish athletic ability for baseball players. Both play SS. Witt has an obvious swagger to him, Mondesi does not. Hopefully Witt won't have a .500 OPS after his age 21 season in 200 PA like Mondesi did. That can't do anything for your confidence. On the flipside, he is still in his age 25 season. He has the floor of Alcides Escobar with more speed and highlight reel defensive ability and more power, and the ceiling of Lindor with fewer walks, and probably less power. Anything in between wouldn't surprise me at this point. I'd be happy with a 105 OPS+, great defense, 140+ games played, and a lot of steals.
Its my perception, and that should be taken with a shaker of salt since I have no inside sources in the clubhouse or organization, that Mondesi is a very sensitive young man who perhaps lacks some of the self confidence that a player with his immense physical gifts should have. I remember watching him at the beginning of the last Covid shortened season, wearing his mask everywhere on the field while nobody else was. He looked freaked out by the whole situation, and was clearly uncomfortable. Its an interesting comparison to make to compare him to Bobby Witt, Jr. Both had fathers who were highly successful MLB players. Both have freakish athletic ability for baseball players. Both play SS. Witt has an obvious swagger to him, Mondesi does not. Hopefully Witt won't have a .500 OPS after his age 21 season in 200 PA like Mondesi did. That can't do anything for your confidence. On the flipside, he is still in his age 25 season. He has the floor of Alcides Escobar with more speed and highlight reel defensive ability and more power, and the ceiling of Lindor with fewer walks, and probably less power. Anything in between wouldn't surprise me at this point. I'd be happy with a 105 OPS+, great defense, 140+ games played, and a lot of steals.