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Going to start Opening Day with a story on a player I really respect, a player that has earned the honor he’ll receive today.
This is the thread of his minor league path. (1/8)
This is the thread of his minor league path. (1/8)
2013 - first full yr. Impresses in spring. Hard worker. Gets chance to fill in as High-A bench player. In May, gets a regular job in Low-A. In 17 games, hits 143/311/224. Sent down to short-season ball.
Had they drafted a dude that June at his position, perhaps he gets released.
Had they drafted a dude that June at his position, perhaps he gets released.
2014 - Earns Low-A regular job. Plays horrible. Demoted to short-season ball. Then back to Low-A as injury fill-in. Then back across country to Northwest League. At end of season, they need him for four games in Triple-A. Homers in first AAA game. Had 1 HR in previous 51.
2015 - For 3rd season, gets a try in Low-A. First guy off the bench. If his season sucks, his career is over. For four months, he mostly isn’t good. Final 25 games, has 806 OPS. Might have been enough to save his career. That and he’s always smiling.
2016 - truly org guy now. Starts yr as last guy on High-A bench. Then is sent back to Extended Spring Training. Then AAA needs a fill-in for 2 weeks. Then High-A for one game. Then AA needs an infielder for a week. It’s mid-June and he’s played just 25 games, started just 18.
2016, continued. Top prospect gets promoted from High- to Double-A. Our guy is given the A+ 2B job by default. There’s no one else to fill it. Last starting shot. And for 65 games, and then playoffs, totally inexplicably, he doesn’t stop hitting. 351/425/530. Wait, is he a guy?
2017. Has a AA starting spot. Mashes. 47 XBH. He’s a guy.
Then the Arizona Fall League, he hits 4 home runs in first 6 games. Dude likes a stage.
2018. Hold on, let me check notes. Yes, in fact, dude does like a stage.
Then the Arizona Fall League, he hits 4 home runs in first 6 games. Dude likes a stage.
2018. Hold on, let me check notes. Yes, in fact, dude does like a stage.
Because it has come in an era with so much success, and so many stories, the sheer insanity of David Bote’s rise to a Major League Opening Day starting lineup is somehow not appreciated enough. It probably can’t be. Literal years spent on the bottom. And now he’s here. Go get ‘em
