 07/13/2004 6:12 PM ET
Lindsey is minor leaguer of week
Slugger's big bat helps lifts San Antonio into first place
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| John Lindsey's numbers rank among the best in the Texas League. (Mariners)
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The San Antonio Missions have been playing solid baseball as of late, winning seven of their past 10 games and vaulting into first place in the West Division of the Double-A Texas League.
A major reason for their success has been 24-year-old John Lindsey, the Mariners Minor League Player of the Week. The first baseman/designated hitter has gone 14-for-41 (.341) in his past 10 games with a home run and six RBIs and over his past five he has been even hotter, posting a .450 batting average with four RBIs.
While Lindsey's current stretch has been impressive, his season-long stats are proving what kind of a commodity Lindsey could become in the future. Lindsey is in the top 10 of the Texas League in doubles, home runs, hits and RBIs. His owns a .299 batting average.
"(Lindsey) has done everything we've asked of him," said Mariner Director of Minor League Operations, Greg Hunter. "He's swinging the bat consistently, has
some power, and is consistently making hard contact."
A Forrest County, Miss., native, Lindsey experienced success early in his career, winning the Mississippi state baseball title at Hattiesburg High School in 1994. A year later Lindsey was selected in the 13th round of the 1995 amateur draft by the Rockies.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Lindsey spent his first four seasons in the Rockies organization with his last being his best. In that season, Lindsey batted .275 with 14 home runs and 73 RBIs, all career highs to that point.
In 1999, Lindsey joined the Astros minor league ranks and spent three years with Salem of the Single-A Carolina League. After an adjustment year, Lindsey went on to hit .280 in back-to-back seasons with 88 RBIs in 155 games.
Becoming a free agent at the end of 2001, Lindsey signed a contract with the Mariners and has really taken his game to another level. Playing for Inland Empire in 2002, Lindsey set career highs in batting average (.297), runs (75),
doubles (30), home runs (22), and RBIs (93).
Last year, Lindsey got his first taste of Double-A ball and didn't shy away from the challenge. His .296 batting average in 88 games was consistent with his Single-A numbers from the year previous and Lindsey even showed a little quickness, stealing nine bases in ten attempts.
Lindsey also has a knack for producing in pressure sitations. A year ago in the Texas League Championships, Linsey went 3-for-8 with two runs and an RBI
in four games. He also posted a .320 (31-for-97) batting average with runners in scoring position and had 22 multihit games including three four-hit games
during the 2003 season.
Perhaps the biggest hole in Lindsey's game is his defense, but there are signs of improvement. Lindsey only made two errors last season after seven the year before and this
season he has three while seeing more time in the field.
"His glove's a little suspect, but he's getting better and has worked hard to improve," said Hunter.
With little left to prove at the Double-A level, it seems a move to Triple-A Tacoma would be on the way for the right-hander.
"If he keeps swinging the bat well, you never know," said Hunter. "Plus he's a free agent at the end of the year, so we need to know what he can do at the Triple-A level." CJ Bowles is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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