Michael Chavis, SS: 2014 MLB Draft 26th overall

Beomoose

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What will it take to convince you Pedroia is healthy? I love the guy, but I don't see it. Since the ASB in 2017 he's played in 43 games and turns 36 in few months.
Yeah, that's sorta the point I was dancing around: we've got to see a healthy Pedey before we make a big roster change that turns on his being a starter. I don't know what besides playing time will convince me he's healthy...which might be a catch-22 in regards to the roster moves.
 

Merkle's Boner

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Yeah, that's sorta the point I was dancing around: we've got to see a healthy Pedey before we make a big roster change that turns on his being a starter. I don't know what besides playing time will convince me he's healthy...which might be a catch-22 in regards to the roster moves.
Agreed and I think that’s the tough spot Cora is gonna find himself in. I think he will feel, whether he should or not, that he needs to give Pedroia every opportunity to win back his job. He’s gonna want to keep Chavis in the lineup while this occurs, which is why I suggested maybe giving him some ABs at first. It’s gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out. I also think Lin is a better utility option than Holt because I trust Lin more at SS in a pinch.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Agreed and I think that’s the tough spot Cora is gonna find himself in. I think he will feel, whether he should or not, that he needs to give Pedroia every opportunity to win back his job. He’s gonna want to keep Chavis in the lineup while this occurs, which is why I suggested maybe giving him some ABs at first. It’s gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out. I also think Lin is a better utility option than Holt because I trust Lin more at SS in a pinch.
Lin is a better defender at every position than Holt and has hit surprisingly well in his small sample size.

Re: 1st Base, If Moreland goes down with an injury, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ockimey called up. He doesn't make any sense as a Peace replacement though.

Ockimey vs R this year: 106 PA, .288/.462/.738, 24bb/27k
Ockimey vs L this year: 39 PA, .063/.205/.250, 6bb/12k

2018 vs R: 336 PA, .273/.393/.531, 57bb/100k
2018 vs L: 145 PA, .186/.269/.295, 13bb/49k

2017 vs R: 397 PA, .278/.403/.432, 69bb/102k
2017 vs L: 150 PA, .264/.333/.442, 14bb/41k

2016 vs R: 418 PA, .234/.385/.446, 80bb/108k
2016 vs L: 81 PA, .192/.272/.329, 8bb/21k

2015 vs R: 174 PA, .288/.368/.458, 19bb/63k
2015 vs L: 55 PA, .196/.291/.304, 6bb/15k

2014 vs R: 85 PA, .197/.282/.224, 9bb/29k
2014 vs L: 43 PA, .176/.326/.265, 5bb/7k

Those are some pretty huge splits.
 
Jul 5, 2018
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Agreed and I think that’s the tough spot Cora is gonna find himself in. I think he will feel, whether he should or not, that he needs to give Pedroia every opportunity to win back his job. He’s gonna want to keep Chavis in the lineup while this occurs, which is why I suggested maybe giving him some ABs at first. It’s gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out. I also think Lin is a better utility option than Holt because I trust Lin more at SS in a pinch.
Platooning him at 1B is not going to get him anywhere close to playing every day and Boston has young starters that don't need days off. If he is going to play everyday, the choices are putting him in left and bumping JBJ, or keeping him at 2nd. An ageing Pedroia with a gimpy knee is a long shot for generating a positive WAR, but JBJ's offense has been so bad the decision is close to being a coin flip.
 

Byrdbrain

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Left field isn't an option in the short term, there was one report that he stood in the outfield one time looking at flyballs. There is zero chance he goes from that to playing in the field, if you thought Hanley in left was an adventure then look out. If you start hearing reports that he is consistently working in the OF then maybe they are beginning to think about putting him out there in a game.

There is no reason to believe Pedey will be back with the Sox in the short term. If he does come back he won't be playing nearly every day.

Chavis play 2B most of the time with an occasional appearance at 1B and 3B if and when there is another competent 2B on the roster.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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Platooning him at 1B is not going to get him anywhere close to playing every day and Boston has young starters that don't need days off. If he is going to play everyday, the choices are putting him in left and bumping JBJ, or keeping him at 2nd. An ageing Pedroia with a gimpy knee is a long shot for generating a positive WAR, but JBJ's offense has been so bad the decision is close to being a coin flip.
Having him play 2/5 at 2nd. 1/5 at first and 1/5 at 3rd would be fine, no?
 
Jul 5, 2018
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Having him play 2/5 at 2nd. 1/5 at first and 1/5 at 3rd would be fine, no?
Devers is 22 years old and decent against left-pitching so I would, absent injury, play him in all 162 games which brings us down to 3/5. Playing Chavis at first only makes sense against leftys so about 75% of the time Cora would have to decide between Pedroia or Chavis at 2nd or putting JD in the OF.

There's probably a better chance of JBJ starting to hit well, than for Pedroia being healthy and playing well. If Pedroia was a FA, he would probably only receive a minor league contract so it's hard to justify keeping his position open for him.
 

geoduck no quahog

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The only outfield option that makes sense is Martinez in LF, Benintendi in CF and Betts (RF), with Chavis at DH and Moreland/Pearce platooning...and I don't know how much sense that really makes.

I mean, here are the rotation options:

1B: Moreland / Pearce / Chavis / (Holt)
2B: Pedroia / Chavis / Holt / (Nunez)
3B: Devers / Nunez / (Holt)
SS: Bogaerts / Holt / (Nunez)
OF: Benintendi / Bradley / Betts / Martinez / (Pearce)
DH: Martinez / Chavis / Pedroia / (Holt)
C: Vazquez / Leon

First of all, that's a 26 - man roster.

The least useful of those players is Nunez, but that means Holt is the only backup 3B (with Dalbec a bus ride away?) unless an 11-man staff is used.

The full time at bat options for Chavis are then 2B (Pedroia sits), DH (Bradley sits) or 1B (Moreland/Pearce sits)...or 7 players (8 when you throw in Holt) for 6 positions - which is perfectly acceptable. Meaning Nunez is gone, Holt is gone, or Pedroia retires.

Am I missing some math?
 

Merkle's Boner

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The only outfield option that makes sense is Martinez in LF, Benintendi in CF and Betts (RF), with Chavis at DH and Moreland/Pearce platooning...and I don't know how much sense that really makes.

I mean, here are the rotation options:

1B: Moreland / Pearce / Chavis / (Holt)
2B: Pedroia / Chavis / Holt / (Nunez)
3B: Devers / Nunez / (Holt)
SS: Bogaerts / Holt / (Nunez)
OF: Benintendi / Bradley / Betts / Martinez / (Pearce)
DH: Martinez / Chavis / Pedroia / (Holt)
C: Vazquez / Leon

First of all, that's a 26 - man roster.

The least useful of those players is Nunez, but that means Holt is the only backup 3B (with Dalbec a bus ride away?) unless an 11-man staff is used.

The full time at bat options for Chavis are then 2B (Pedroia sits), DH (Bradley sits) or 1B (Moreland/Pearce sits)...or 7 players (8 when you throw in Holt) for 6 positions - which is perfectly acceptable. Meaning Nunez is gone, Holt is gone, or Pedroia retires.

Am I missing some math?
I think the only things I would add is that Chavis can back up 3B, it's what he had been playing in the minors. And I would pencil in Holt for OF duty if needed. There's no way Holt and Nunez can both be on this roster if Pedroia is healthy.
 
Jul 5, 2018
430
The only outfield option that makes sense is Martinez in LF, Benintendi in CF and Betts (RF), with Chavis at DH and Moreland/Pearce platooning...and I don't know how much sense that really makes.

I mean, here are the rotation options:

1B: Moreland / Pearce / Chavis / (Holt)
2B: Pedroia / Chavis / Holt / (Nunez)
3B: Devers / Nunez / (Holt)
SS: Bogaerts / Holt / (Nunez)
OF: Benintendi / Bradley / Betts / Martinez / (Pearce)
DH: Martinez / Chavis / Pedroia / (Holt)
C: Vazquez / Leon

First of all, that's a 26 - man roster.

The least useful of those players is Nunez, but that means Holt is the only backup 3B (with Dalbec a bus ride away?) unless an 11-man staff is used.

The full time at bat options for Chavis are then 2B (Pedroia sits), DH (Bradley sits) or 1B (Moreland/Pearce sits)...or 7 players (8 when you throw in Holt) for 6 positions - which is perfectly acceptable. Meaning Nunez is gone, Holt is gone, or Pedroia retires.

Am I missing some math?
I think the only things I would add is that Chavis can back up 3B, it's what he had been playing in the minors. And I would pencil in Holt for OF duty if needed. There's no way Holt and Nunez can both be on this roster if Pedroia is healthy.
One problem is that first or third only makes sense against left-handed pitching and as I wrote above, there's no reason to sit Devers and if they're going to platoon Chavis at first, they need to release Pearce. X is only 26 years old so I play him everyday as well.

It's been addressed in the other thread, but releasing Pedroia is the only way out of this quagmire. Pedroia can no longer preform at the level anticipated by the contract, but the Sox are on the hook until the end of 2021. Expecting the Sox to hold the position open for him is just as unreasonable as expecting Pedroia to walk away from the contract.
 

Merkle's Boner

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One problem is that first or third only makes sense against left-handed pitching and as I wrote above, there's no reason to sit Devers and if they're going to platoon Chavis at first, they need to release Pearce. X is only 26 years old so I play him everyday as well.

It's been addressed in the other thread, but releasing Pedroia is the only way out of this quagmire. Pedroia can no longer preform at the level anticipated by the contract, but the Sox are on the hook until the end of 2021. Expecting the Sox to hold the position open for him is just as unreasonable as expecting Pedroia to walk away from the contract.
Well I don’t believe that’s going to happen until Pedroia has shown he is not up to the task even when healthy, or that he will never be healthy enough again to play every day. That time may happen later this summer but it’s gonna be a few more months.

And obviously Xander and Devers can play everyday. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have viable backups for both and, in fact, give them the occasional day off. It has to be a month since X has had a day off. Cal Ripken’s not walking through that door.
 

soxhop411

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Coming for you, SoSH...
Boston Sports Info‏ @bostonsportsinf 1h1 hour ago
Michael Chavis is tied for the most HR’s in Red Sox history thru his first 14 career games
Michael Chavis 46 AB - 6 HR
Sam Horn 50 AB - 6 HR
3/4 with another 2 HRs so far tonight. There is no way they can take him out of the every day lineup at this point.

According to ESPN, it's the most by a Redsox player in his first 14 games in the last 100 years, tied with... Sam Horn who had 6 as well in 1987.
Chavis also joins Sam Horn I having a 5RBI game in his first 20 games
Another day ANOTHER Sam Horn reference...

Perhaps we should just rename this site SOMC?

Fastest Red Sox ever to 10 career HRs: George Scott (21 games), Michael Chavis (28 games), Sam Horn (31 games)
 

brandonchristensen

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Incredibly exciting to watch. Every at bat is must see right now.

Won tonight’s game with another bomb. We are spoiled by our farm production.
 

Merkle's Boner

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FWIW, Chavis is starting at 1B today. It would appear Cora will do what he can to keep him in th elineup, as he should.
 

soxhop411

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Per Bill Koch of the Providence journal, Cora is contemplating having Chavis lead off against lefties.
 

pokey_reese

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Well, with the announcement that Pedey is suspending his rehab assignment/attempt to come back for now, it looks like Chavis doesn't have to worry about where he is going to find playing time. He is the starting 2B for the rest of the season, most likely. With Holt back, Nunez is the one who has to wonder how he fits...
 

Cesar Crespo

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First 14 games: 58 PA, .354/.466/.771, .393 BAbip, 9bb/14k
Last 16 games: 73 PA, .279/.329/.456, .357 BAbip, 3bb/22k.
Last 21 games: 96 PA, .221/.302/.360, .288 BAbip, 8bb/30k.

He's striking out quite a lot lately and not drawing walks. Hopefully he adjusts soon.
 

joe dokes

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First 14 games: 58 PA, .354/.466/.771, .393 BAbip, 9bb/14k
Last 16 games: 73 PA, .279/.329/.456, .357 BAbip, 3bb/22k.
Last 21 games: 96 PA, .221/.302/.360, .288 BAbip, 8bb/30k.

He's striking out quite a lot lately and not drawing walks. Hopefully he adjusts soon.
Glad Holt is back.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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BaBiP and league pitching has caught up to Chavis: (baseball reference)
5/10 (his high point in OPS) to yesterday (6/4) has seen him bat (98 plate appearances): .233/.296/.389 (.695 OPS for those of us that can't add). 4 extra base hits (1 3B and 3 HR's) His BaBip is still actually relatively normal (.315... so scratch that BaBiP catching up with him... just levelling out to normal from absurdly high up until 5/10.)
32K's. 6BB's.
When are people going to start demanding he be sent down to AAA to face inferior pitching and not actually improve against ML pitchers? People were screaming this about Devers all last year and the first month of this year.
I'm not too sure how bullish I am on Chavis (I was VERY and still am of course (F'in duh!) on Devers)... he's always had some red flags. Of course, who doesn't... Devers surely did...
I'm just not as confident in Chavis... likely pure subjective call on my part. He's just got to keep it together there at 1B until Moreland (time frame for return?) gets back. I'm hopeful he can be a long term solution at 1B or 2B... just not confident. I feel he's falling somewhere between Wil Middlebrooks and Devers on ability to stick long term.
 

chilidawg

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BaBiP and league pitching has caught up to Chavis: (baseball reference)
5/10 (his high point in OPS) to yesterday (6/4) has seen him bat (98 plate appearances): .233/.296/.389 (.695 OPS for those of us that can't add). 4 extra base hits (1 3B and 3 HR's) His BaBip is still actually relatively normal (.315... so scratch that BaBiP catching up with him... just levelling out to normal from absurdly high up until 5/10.)
32K's. 6BB's.
When are people going to start demanding he be sent down to AAA to face inferior pitching and not actually improve against ML pitchers? People were screaming this about Devers all last year and the first month of this year.
I'm not too sure how bullish I am on Chavis (I was VERY and still am of course (F'in duh!) on Devers)... he's always had some red flags. Of course, who doesn't... Devers surely did...
I'm just not as confident in Chavis... likely pure subjective call on my part. He's just got to keep it together there at 1B until Moreland (time frame for return?) gets back. I'm hopeful he can be a long term solution at 1B or 2B... just not confident. I feel he's falling somewhere between Wil Middlebrooks and Devers on ability to stick long term.
Isn't the difference between Middlebrooks and Devers about 90% of everyone who's played MLB?
 

shaggydog2000

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Isn't the difference between Middlebrooks and Devers about 90% of everyone who's played MLB?
I dunno, there were a lot of crap players in the 70's and 80's before they figured out that stealing bases at a bad rate and having a low on base percentage was a bad thing. But they were good bunters!

So it's probably more like 85% of MLB players?
 

Cesar Crespo

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He's had better results the past 6 games but since 5/5: 147 PA, .211/.286/.353, .311 BAbip, 12bb/54k. 36.7% K rate. Awful
Last 6 games: 25 PA, .273/.360/.500, .500 BAbip, 3bb/11k. Still striking out way too much.
 

AB in DC

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Glad Holt is back.
This offseason is going to be interesting. Moreland, Pearce, Nunez, and Holt are all scheduled to be FAs, so that leaves 1B and 2B wide open for 2020. Hopefully Chavis fills one of those slots but how much money will be left for the other one?
 

Mueller's Twin Grannies

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This offseason is going to be interesting. Moreland, Pearce, Nunez, and Holt are all scheduled to be FAs, so that leaves 1B and 2B wide open for 2020. Hopefully Chavis fills one of those slots but how much money will be left for the other one?
I think there's a bit of a wait-and-see element to this because of the possibility of JDM opting out to get a new deal. If he does and Boston wants to bring him back (and they should), it's going to mean paying him more. That's going to cut into any money budgeted for other players. I could easily see Moreland coming back for another year to platoon with Chavis (he fits well here) or just bringing in some veteran 1B. David Freese, Justin Smoak, Lucas Duda, and a few others are UFAs at that position after this season. Smoak would be great if they can afford him. If they can, Chavis may make a full-time switch to 2B or could even be trade bait (not in favor of this but they don't need two DHs and he'll need to play nearly every day if he's on the big club coming out of spring training) to get an elite arm for the 'pen or another starter (if Rick Porcello is not brought back, which I still don't think he will be despite he and Chris Sale's wishes to the contrary).

I think Holt comes back because he's a perfect utility player for the team and a glue guy, but maybe he gets a blow-away offer and chases the money. Núñez may not even finish the season here and I think he's gone no matter what.

There are a LOT of UDA infielders after this season, so it may not be particularly difficult to find one to fill the void.
 

BaseballJones

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This offseason is going to be interesting. Moreland, Pearce, Nunez, and Holt are all scheduled to be FAs, so that leaves 1B and 2B wide open for 2020. Hopefully Chavis fills one of those slots but how much money will be left for the other one?
Moreland would be great on another deal like the one he just got. Holt seems to be worth keeping on the team. Pearce and Nunez can go, their contributions to last year's championship notwithstanding.
 

E5 Yaz

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Throwing this out there: what about a Chavis-Ockimey platoon at 1B, to shave a few million off the old AAV?
I don't understand the Ockimey love. He's struck out 70 times in 198 AB this year.

People are already all over Chavis for his strikeouts.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

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I don't understand the Ockimey love. He's struck out 70 times in 198 AB this year.

People are already all over Chavis for his strikeouts.
Well, assuming (and I don't have time to look) that they both bat from their strong side platoons, assuming most of their respective K's are possibly from their weak side platoon.... mebbe those K's collectively don't turn out so bad? Speculating, not advocating.
 

shaggydog2000

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Well, assuming (and I don't have time to look) that they both bat from their strong side platoons, assuming most of their respective K's are possibly from their weak side platoon.... mebbe those K's collectively don't turn out so bad? Speculating, not advocating.

Chavis (in MLB) has a 34.5 k% against L, 32.4 k% against R.

Ockimey (in AAA) has a 29.2 k% against L, 27.7 k% against R.

So platooning them is not making a difference, at least not to their strikeout rates.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Not that there are better options but he's been pretty meh of late while also being incredibly lucky. It looks like a recipe for disaster but he's young and developing.
First 14 games: 58 PA, .354/.466/.771, 9bb/14k, .393 BAbip 24.2% K%, 15.5% BB%
Last 46 games: 199 PA, .235/.296/.361, 14bb/74k, .359 BAbip. 37.2% K%. 7.0% BB%

Over his last 149 PA, he has 9bb/60k. A K% of over 40%. He also has a .392 BAbip during this stretch.

For the season he is at .260/.335/.446 with a .366 BAbip. 34.2% K%, 8.9% BB%. I'd hate to see what his line would look like with normalized luck. His LD% is at 21%, league average is 25%, so it's not because he's hitting lasers.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Chavis (in MLB) has a 34.5 k% against L, 32.4 k% against R.

Ockimey (in AAA) has a 29.2 k% against L, 27.7 k% against R.

So platooning them is not making a difference, at least not to their strikeout rates.
His assumption is wrong anyway. Chavis has hit righties better during his career although doesn't really show much of a split.
Combined numbers (AAA+MLB)
2019 vs RHP: .278/.361/.474 in 238 PA
2019 vs LHP: .194/.254/.452 in 67 PA

2018 vs RHP: .303/.383/.568 in 149 PA
2018 vs LHP: .282/.378/.436 in 45 PA

2017 vs RHP: .287/.353/.563 in 397 PA
2017 vs LHP: .267/.331/.560 in 127 PA

2016 vs RHP: .230/.317/.343 in 271 PA
2016 vs LHP: .262/.294/.477 in 68 PA

2015 vs RHP: .229/.283/.395 in 327 PA
2015 vs LHP: .209/.264/.425 in 144 PA.
 

soxhop411

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Good article on Chavis by Christopher Smith of MassLive
“Stick with me.”

That’s what Michael Chavis told manager Alex Cora in the midst of his lengthy slump. Chavis batted .205 with a .281 on-base percentage, .328 slugging percentage and 49 strikeouts in 32 games (135 plate appearances) from May 5-June 10.

He never doubted whether he belonged in the big leagues.

"If anything, the bigger concern was I hope I just get the opportunity to get out of it,” Chavis said. “Because I knew I was capable of hitting up here. I knew I belonged up here. I was just hoping I was given a chance and it didn’t get to the point where I needed to get sent down (to Triple-A Pawtucket) and they needed to bring somebody else up. I was just hoping I’d get the opportunity to get out of it and show that I can overcome it.”
The 23-year-old rookie, who plays first, second and third, said he’s “incredibly thankful” to Cora and the organization for giving him the opportunity to break out of the slump in the majors, not the minors.

“I told him to stick with me," Chavis said. “I said that to a couple guys just because I knew I could do it. Losing some ballgames, there were a lot of situations where I felt like I could have done something to change the course of the game. And that’s upsetting. But I think just being open and having that conversation, that dialogue was kind of what helped me.”

Who else did he tell “stick with me”? Not just a couple people, actually ...

“Probably everybody, honestly,” Chavis said. “Like everybody I talked to because I knew I could do it. It’s one of those things where I kept getting kicked in the face and I knew I could do it. It was just one of those things, I was like, ‘Just stick with me. I know I’m horrible. It’s tough to watch right now.’ But I knew I was going to get through it.”
https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2019/07/michael-chavis-told-boston-red-soxs-alex-cora-during-lengthy-slump-stick-with-me-i-was-just-hoping-i-was-given-a-chance.html
A bunch more quotes from Chavis at the above link on how he worked/working thru his slump.
 

Van Everyman

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Interesting to see the title of this revive, that Chavis was drafted as a SS. His lateral movement is fine but his body seems way too thick to be playing short.