Closer look at Paul Goldschmidt’s remarkable 2013
May 20, 2013, 11:41 PM | Updated: May 21, 2013, 3:45 am
We’re more than a quarter of the way through the 2013 Major League Baseball season, and we’ve learned a few things.
We’ve learned that Mets pitcher Matt Harvey is really good.
We’ve learned that spending towering piles of money on talent does not pave the way to success. To wit — the Dodgers and Angels have $358 million committed to their 2013 payrolls and are a combined 34-52. Ouch.
And we’ve learned that Paul Goldschmidt is the real deal.
The Diamondbacks’ 25-year-old first baseman has been arguably the best player in the National League to this point of the season.
Goldschmidt is currently one of two players in the National League in the top ten in home runs, RBI, batting average and on-base percentage.
Oh, you want more? Goldschmidt also leads the league in slugging percentage and OPS (on-base plus slugging). He, along with teammate Gerardo Parra, have the best WAR (Wins above replacement) in all of baseball.
And the Diamondbacks are in first place in the National League West largely because of what the third-year big leaguer has done. It’s only 45 games, but Paul Goldschmidt has been the National League Most Valuable Player to this point of the campaign.
Here’s a look at Goldschmidt’s remarkable 2013 season by the numbers:
1.048
Goldschmidt’s OPS vs. left-handed pitchers
1.049
Goldschmidt’s OPS vs. right-handed pitchers
2
The number of Cy Young Award-winning pitchers Goldschmidt has homered off of this season. (C.C. Sabathia and Clayton Kershaw)
8
Of Goldschmidt’s 12 home runs, eight have either tied the game or given the D-backs a lead.
8-2
Arizona’s record when Goldschmidt homers.
422
Goldschmidt’s longest homer of the season — 422 feet off of Atlanta starter Mike Minor at Chase Field May 13.
396.9
Average distance of Goldschmidt’s 12 home runs this season.
43, 130, .329
Goldschmidt’s projected home run, RBI and batting averages for 2013.
245
The number of players drafted before Goldschmidt in 2009.
11
The number of first basemen drafted before Goldschmidt in 2009.
2
Of those 11, only two of the first basemen drafted before Goldschmidt have reached the Majors. (San Francisco’s Brandon Belt and Oakland’s Nate Freiman)
