Spring Preview: It's Lastings First in Left Field

By Paul Ladewski

POSTED: February 4, 2010

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This is the third in a 10-part series that will break down the storylines at each position in advance of spring training. At the plate today: left field.

What happened last year: Nyjer Morgan started a team-high 61 games at the position before he headed to the Washington Nationals in a four-player trade. In return, the Pirates acquired Lastings Milledge, who assumed the position for 56 starts.

Overall, Milledge hit .279 with four home runs and 20 RBI in 65 games. He said a right hand injury limited his power early in the season, and his numbers in the final 17 games (.300 batting average, two homers) suggested as much. In the field, he displayed above-average range and a good arm.

Brandon Moss (19 starts) and Garrett Jones (16) also filled in here.

In the hunt this year: Milledge, Brandon Jones and John Raynor. This is a crucial season for Milledge, 24, who can solidify his future whether it's in Pittsburgh or elsewhere.

For his part, Milledge at least has put himself in position to fulfill his potential as the 12th pick in the 2003 draft. In the off-season, the Bradenton, Fla., native took part in the team weight and condition program, and he looked the part at PirateFest last week.

Jones, 26, was claimed one week after the Atlanta Braves had designated him for assignment last month. He had a .281 batting average, seven home runs and 57 RBI in 107 games for Class AAA Gwinnett last season. Two years ago, Baseball America ranked him as the No. 4 prospect in the Braves organization.

Jones and Raynor are among several candidates for a reserve spot. The fact that Jones bats left-handed doesn't hurt his chances. Unlike Moss, he has one option left on his contract.

In its continued pursuit of more athletic types, the front office took a flyer on Raynor in the Rule 5 draft in December. In 123 games, he hit .256 with six home runs, 36 RBI and 19 stolen bases for Class AAA New Orleans last season. He also struck out 121 times in 447 at-bats.

The leader in the clubhouse: Milledge. In fact, those are the words that pitcher Ross Ohlendorf alluded to the other day, when he singled out his teammate as a leader this season. By all accounts, this is a far more mature guy than the one that earned a bad rep in stops at New York and Washington earlier in his career.

Player to watch: Raynor. At 26, he has yet to make his big league debut, but maybe a change of scenery will be all that's needed to jump-start his career. The Memphis native is an excellent bunter and base-stealer-he has an 83 percent success rate in his career -- traits that are a good match for an offense that will have to find ways to manufacture runs this season.

If Raynor isn't a member of the parent club at the start of the regular season, then the Florida Marlins have the right to take him back again. Given that he spent four seasons in their farm system already, a trade would seem to be a more likely option.

The big picture: Milledge has the greatest upside among the group by far, but with a career home run rate of one for every 38.5 at-bats, he has yet to show the kind of long-ball capabilities necessary to hold down the corner spot on a regular basis. If Milledge falls short of expectations, veteran Ryan Church could enter the picture in a platoon role. Prospects Gorkys Hernandez and Jose Tabata also could figure here eventually.

The best scenario of all: Milledge becomes a fixture as a consistent run-producer and home run threat.

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