What a nice progression Andy LaRoche has made over the past three years, from being drafted in round number 39 to becoming number 26 on our FAB 50 list.
Son of former major league pitcher Dave LaRoche, Andy won’t be 22 until September. He developed his power at an earlier age than older brother Adam LaRoche, who plays for Atlanta.
Last season, the 6-1, 215-pound LaRoche was one of the minors most prolific home run hitters. The right handed-hitting third baseman had 30 homers and 94 runs batted in between high Class-A Vero Beach and Double-A Jacksonville in the Dodgers’ organization.
His home run rate has slowed this season. Opponents are pitching around LaRoche more often. A slightly torn labrum has affected him, causing him to be more selective at the plate after working to shorten a long swing.
Back at Jacksonville, he batted .309 with just nine homers and 46 runs batted in but he also had more walks (54) than strikeouts (45). A year ago, when he was 40th on our FAB 50 list, he struck out nearly twice as often as he walked.
The return engagement at Jacksonville earned him a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas, where he entered August with a .333 average, five more homers and 13 RBI in 27 games.
After his first year at Grayson County Junior College, LaRoche played well enough in the Cape Cod League that the Dodgers gave the low draft pick a $1-million bonus. Since then, he has earned an in-season promotion each year.
A former shortstop, he shouldn’t have much trouble defensively at third base. He had totaled seven stolen bases during this season’s first four months.
He has spent the majority of his career in the Dodgers farm system with the shadow of Joel Guzman, also at third, on the depth chart ahead of him. Guzman, who has been on the FAB0 three times, has been touted as the prime prospect for the position, but his development pace has been slow at best, and his deal not as lucrative as LaRoche.
Andy came up and moved alongside Guzman in Las Vegas, where they platooned at third for a time.
The Dodgers depth debate at third was laid to rest before publication, when the club traded Guzman to the Devil Rays. We see LaRoche making a good case for himself playing in Chavez Ravine after next Spring.
- Lary BUMP
