You could not have been watching the same player that I was.
Obviously not, but you were apparently watching one other people hadn't seen either. Escobar has no power to speak of, and was not a very good contact hitter in the minor leagues. His BABIP of .367 suggests that his average will drop a lot next season. So that leaves you with a ~.280-.290 hitter with insignificant power. In what universe is that a star? BA only had him ranked as the Braves' 10th best prospect coming into last season, and said:
Background: A Cuban defector who was a childhood friend of Braves catcher Brayan Pena, Escobar went in the second round after becoming draft-eligible just a month before the 2005 draft. He spent his first full season in Double-A, shifting between second base, shortstop and third base as part of a three-man infield rotation with Luis Hernandez and Martin Prado. He represented Cuba in the Futures Game last summer.
Strengths: Escobar has solid tools across the board. His smooth swing produces line drives from gap to gap. Though aggressive at the plate, he has good plate discipline and pitch recognition. He has consistent hands and a strong arm that's a plus at any infield position.
Weaknesses: Escobar hasn't shown the ability to drive the ball that many scouts projected before the 2005 draft. His modest range could prevent him from playing shortstop in the majors. He has just average speed and is a tick below average for a middle infielder.
The Future: A year ago, Escobar figured to be in a tight battle with Elvis Andrus as the Braves' long-term answer at shortstop. Because second baseman Marcus Giles was non-tendered, Escobar's best shot will probably come at that position or as a utilityman. He's ready for Triple-A.
If salaries weren't an issue, Renteria is obviously a lot better than Escobar, but they were so the Braves did the best they could I guess.
