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TopProspectAlert.com Minor League News & Autograph Blog HomeTop Prospect Alert - David Krynzel By Schuyler DombroskeDOB: 11/7/81, Age: 21, Height: 6’1’’, Weight:
180, Bats: L, Throws: L. Acquired: Brewers - Drafted in the 1st Round of
the 2000 Draft (Green Valley HS, Henderson, NV). 2002 Stats: (High-A -
High Desert) .268 AVG, 365 AB, 13 2B, 12 3B, 11 HR, 29 SB, 64 BB, 100 K,
.391 OBP, .460 SLG; (AA - Huntsville) .240 AVG, 129 AB, 2 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR,
13 SB, 4 BB, 30 K, .269 OBP, .349 SLG. 2003 Stats: (AA - Huntsville) .311
AVG, 161 AB, 3 2B, 6 3B, 0 HR, 19 SB, 19 BB, 32 K, .388 OBP, .404
SLG.
David Krynzel is a
high-risk/high-reward leadoff prospect in the Brewers’ organization. A
first round draft pick in 2000 out of a Nevada high school, Krynzel has
been aggressively moved through the system, landing at AA before his 21st
birthday in 2002. He appeared horribly overmatched at first, posting an
OBP of .269 in 129 at-bats last year, but has adjusted nicely so far this
season, increasing that figure to .388. Krynzel arrived in the pros almost
strictly as a pull hitter, but has cut down his swing quite a bit this
season. It was almost unfortunate that he benefited so greatly from the
bandbox at High Desert (11 HRs), because I think it exacerbated the
negative aspects of his game at the expense of some of the positive ones
that we are witnessing this year. He clearly has some power, as evidenced
not just by the 13 homers last season, but by the mind-boggling 21 triples
in his past 655 at-bats. His plate discipline, however, is the ability
that I am most concerned with currently. After walking just 4 times in 133
PAs last year, Krynzel has already walked 19 times this season in his
first 180 times up. With an OBP of .388 as a 21 year old at AA, he is
clearly learning what traits are of the greatest importance for the job
that he is being groomed for: batting leadoff. Speaking of batting
leadoff, Krynzel also has blazing speed in his favor, but he has yet to
harness it. Krynzel was 45/67 at two levels in 2001, and 42/64 last season
stealing bases. This year, after a 4/4 day this past week, Krynzel is
19/30. All three of these are unacceptable success rates, negating a good
portion of the positives attached to his OBP. He clearly has the speed to
be a positive contributor on the basepaths, but needs further coaching to
do so. Krynzel will probably be a 30 steal guy in the majors, but at what
cost is yet to be determined. Defensively, he is unquestionably a center
field prospect. He easily has the range and arm necessary for the job, but
similarly to his basestealing, he still seems to be a bit raw in this
portion of the game. The Brewers don’t have anyone claiming the CF job in
Milwaukee, so one can only assume it will be Krynzel’s with one more year
of reasonable development.
The Brewers no longer are
the laughingstock of baseball at every level. Their AA team in Huntsville
has JJ Hardy, Corey Hart, Krynzel, Luis Martinez, Mike Jones, and Ben
Diggins, all of whom harbor some sort of major league aspirations. High
Desert is pretty barren, but Beloit has some pitching (Manny Parra and Tom
Wilhelmsen) and some hitting (Prince). The Brewers could be a decent team
(read - not last) in three or four years with some luck. On the current
Milwaukee roster, I’m not sure there are ten players that would get major
time on a contending team, so there is room for any prospects that pan
out. Krynzel has one of the clearest shots to a job, in my opinion. He
could probably put up Alex Sanchez-type numbers right now (or better), but
with another year or two of progression, should be significantly better
than that. He is probably capable of being a .280 hitter with 15 homers
and 30 steals at his peak, which if he walks enough, will make him a
valuable leadoff man and center fielder for the Brew Crew. A scary player
comparison for him is Peter Bergeron, who looked like he would be a
fantastic top of the order CF for LA back in 1999 or so, but is now on the
path out of baseball. A better comparison for him would be Kenny Lofton,
at least on the optimistic side of things. Either way, Krynzel should get
his shot up in the bigs by the middle of next year at the latest. I’ll go
out on a limb and say he will be better than Bergeron was.
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