Bats: Left, Throws: Left
2011 Stats (AA Akron): .179, 3 HR, 12 RBI, .666 OPS, 1.19 K/BB
After rocketing to prominence with 24 dongs in 2007 and dropping an .889 OPS on a half season of AAA in 2010, Nick one again succumbed to the scourge of injury. Having previously missed time with hand, shin, back, & thumb injuries; Weglarz tore the meniscus in his left knee during spring camp last year. He started rehab at Akron in early June and just never left. In addition to the inconsistency evident from his numbers, Nick missed additional time with a bruised eye. Ugh. Wegs has a whole lot to offer the big league club, most notably his combination of power and plate discipline. Nick had strung together four straight .800+ OPS seasons before the 2011 nightmare. Even as he limped his was to that sub-Mendoza batting average, his OPS was not horrific and his OBP (.360) was actually 2nd on the Aeros. Still, one would have hoped that Weglarz could have built some momentum through the year and finished strong. No such luck. Nick hit .130 with a .448 OPS in the second half. Here is the big ray of hope. Despite the injury history; Wegs is a big, powerful dude who just turned 24 and was polished enough to play for Team Canada during the 2009 WBC. Even better is the fact that he was drafted as a first baseman. While he has yet to play the position as a pro, if Nick can produce during spring training and/or early at Columbus, need may dictate that the already rostered (40-man) slugger move back to his natural position. Write it down.
Up Next: #21 LHP Kelvin De La Cruz
