Scott Thorman was a hot 3B prospect when he was selected as the Braves’ first choice in the 2000 draft. After six years and a move across the diamond to first, he’s still considered a prospect.  Playing in Richmond this year he’s technically next in line to the Atlanta first base job. Some have asked if he’s the future of first base in Atlanta, but I have a better question: Can we trust Scott Thorman? I’m not sure we can, and here’s the evidence against him.
- He’s Canadian
- He’s a huge fan of the early 90s Blue Jays (he cites Kelly Gruber as an idol)
- He hit .000 for Canada in the World Baseball Classic
To be fair, that’s really just one point: he’s a little too much like Chris Reitsma and Pete Orr, eh? And while I usually don’t hold national origin against someone, there’s a very real and possibly disturbing similarity between Scott Thorman and Adam LaRoche (who I’m pretty sure has a Canadian uncle).
This similarity was pointed out in comments by KC, so I thought I’d investigate. Looking at their minor league numbers, in fact, you’d be hard pressed to pick who’s who. They hit for similar average, similar power, walk at about the same rate, and strike out just as often. Consistenty, level by level, they are virtually the same player. 5 year totals for each:
So, if anything, Adam has an advantage. Let’s look at their age 23 seasons that they each split between AA and AAA.
- Adam hit .290 with 20 HR, 33 2B, 1Â 3B, 61 BB, 110 SO
- Scottie hit .293 with 21 HR, 31 2B, 5 3B, 37 BB, 118 SO
So they’re basically the same player. The walk rate, which for their careers is similar, is more in LaRoche’s favor by this point. Scottie hit more triples, for what it’s worth, and grounded into 6 double plays to Adam’s 12, so he’s a little faster.Â
The biggest difference between the two is what happens next. After Adam’s year 23 season he moves to Atlanta and starts to platoon with Julio. Thorman stays in Richmond, though, because Adam is “blocking” him.  This year, his age 24 season, Thorman is hitting .295/.367/.484.Â
So here are the questions: what would Thorman be doing in Atlanta this year? will he continue along the lines of Adam or will he improve with more AAA seasoning?  would Adam have benefited from more time in AAA?
I don’t know any of those answers, but the statistical evidence against Thorman is pretty strong: On paper, or lcd, he’s basically Adam LaRoche.
It looks like Thorman is a little bulkier than LaRoche. Out of curiosity, is there anything to know about Thorman’s glove? When LaRoche came up I remember folks were saying good things about his, but it seems he has become no better than a league average first baseman. All the same, I’d be interested to know what scouts say about Thorman.
Good post. I agree that we shouldn’t count on Thorman to help the big league team at all; the only people in the minors now that could contribute are the guys on rehab assignments, i.e. Kelly Johnson and Chuck James. James went 5 innings his last start so I have a feeling they’re stretching him out to put him in the rotation… but with the return of Horacio, maybe not.
To be honest, I don’t know a thing about his defense. After what the scouts said about Adam’s defense it’s hard to tell if they know anything either. He was drafted as a third baseman, but I don’t know if that really indicates anything.
Jay-
I’m wondering if your minor league knowledge extends into following/keeping up with drafts? I’d love to hear any insight you might have on the upcoming draft in particular. Do you think the Braves will go back to drafting highschool pitchers? Also, I get the feeling that outfield talent in the system is almost nonexistant (I remember Mac wrote a piece on this a few months ago). I know we have some extra picks b/c of losing Furcal and Farnsworth via FA.
Thanks for your minor league updates. I love reading about the future of the Braves.
I have the feeling next year Chipper makes the move to first and we go with Betemit. Renteria may have to move to first with the iron glove he has had this year.
I will be watching (or rather listening to) the draft on the 6th and 7th, and I’ll be posting some about it.
This years draft is loaded with pitching, both college and high school. The Braves will almost certainly be taking both. I’d look for them to be drafting OF too, as Brandon Jones is basically their only OF of note in the system.
I just do not believe we will trade Thomson. He has been solid at the #3 spot in the rotation and I don’t like the idea of Sosa, James or Ramirez as our #3. I do believe that some things are brewing. Chuck James will get a chance in the rotation at some point and that is why he is being worked back in at Richmond. I’m hoping we can package one of our outfielders (langer, diaz, kj), either Sosa or HoRo, and a solid prospect for some degree of confidence in the bullpen.
The Braves have a lot of picks between the last third of the first round and the end of the second round. We have our first rounder (24th overall), two sandwich picks (38th and 43rd), and three second round picks (51st, 69th, and 72nd).
Really, it’s not a bad spot to be in. The draft, from what I’ve heard, will be deep but very weak at the top; there is still no consensus #1 overall. The best pitching prospect (Andrew Miller) might project to a reliever. The next best pitching prospect (Tim Lincecum) has a history of being overused in college, plus he’s not a physical specimen and walks too many guys. The top high school hitter would have been a mid-round pick at best last year. Et cetera.
Hopefully Dayton Moore and co. can work some magic and get some quality HS arms. Of course a position player prospect or two wouldn’t hurt either.
hopefully horacio pitches well for 4-5 more starts so we can showcase him, trade him, and get something of value in return. i dont really know who would want him considering his track record of giving up a lot of dingers. on another note, what has happened with thomson? i know he had a ton of misfortunes in the 1st inning yesterday, but he was pretty awful after that, and has looked just as bad in the previous 3-4 starts. is it mechanical, or is he just not seasoned yet coming off the injury? whatever it is, it seems as though thomson and sosa played role reversal. hopefully sosa can continue on the good foot. i still would love to see betemit everyday and have kj, laroche, and pete orr as backups. jordan was hot early but needs to be let loose now. i would love a giles, renty, chip, druw, mccann, betemit, frenchy, langerhans lineup.
I think Dayton Moore is about to leave for the Royals.
The Maple Leaf Curse:
I think that upside down flag incident has cursed the Braves. The Canucks have put a curse on us. Orr and Reitsma are spies. Also, I’ve now taken my Canadian girlfriend to 4 Braves games, most recently yesterday’s debacle. The Braves are 0-4.
I will say that I tucked a straight razor into my sock yesterday, on the off chance that Bobby tried to put Reitsma in. Maybe security would have gotten to me, maybe I couldnt have cut all the way through the achilles, but dammit, I was going to try.
doubledawg,
The downtown precinct isn’t a fun place to be; neither is Reidsville.
Does Thorman also hit left handed?
On paper, or lcd, he’s basically Adam LaRoche.
On LSD, he’s Dock Ellis?
Yes, Thorman bats left, but throws right.
Lets try Laroche at pitching. His hitting isnt looking major league.
Big News today:
Mets promoted Milledge and put Nady on the DL, lets hope he sucks and they lose alot of trade value. I
Don’t forget we brought Marte up last year and he didn’t exactly star, but we still managed to get Renteria AND $8 million for him…
Shall we say thanks for leaving?
“The Yankees’ primary setup man, right-hander Kyle Farnsworth, is another question. In addition to sporting a 4.30 ERA, Farnsworth has allowed six of his 12 inherited runners to score, tying him for the 11th-worst percentage in the majors.
Manager Joe Torre told reporters Sunday that he could begin using left-hander Ron Villone in setup situations, but at this rate, the Yankees could be looking for help in their bullpen as well as their rotation.”
17 million to someone who wont even be a set-up guy, that sucks!
Astors just signed Clemens to 10.5 mil deal for the rest of the 06 season. Didnt give any time frames on when his first start will be
Cormier was just optioned to AAA according to the AJC. Tyler Yates has been called up.
Something tells me that Cormier had some options, or has he just looked bad recently? Forgive my ignorance…
I think that Thorman has a chance to be a different type of player than LaRoche. Yes, their numbers are similar, but that might not be decisive.
It strikes me that Thorman might be a better athelete: his development was slowed by two things: he is Canadian (and therefore probably did not have as much experience as players from the sunbelt) and injuries.
He has the reputation for being able to hit the ball farther than most hitters in the Braves’ system.
My gut feeling is that Thorman would hit for more power than LaRoche. He is not as slow and I suspect that he might become a better offensive force–if he ever gets the chance.
That said, at worst he (or LaRoche) could be useful in a trade, so a good year at Richmond could well justify the Braves’ belief in him–even if he does not don an Atlanta uniform.
I dont know too much about ball but can any of you guys help me out and tell me if Thorman has a girlfriend?
Are you kidding me. This article is ridiculous, quick question though, how many at bats did Scott Thorman have in the World Classic. I cant remember anything maybe 2 or 3 so unless he is God no wonder he hit .000 because he was on the bench. Scott Thorman is a power hitter and this is shown by his numbers at the plate within Richmond. Who else is going to lead Atlanta in the future because Thorman is leading the team in almost all categories if not all and was recently named IL player of the week. The FIRST for Richmond this year. So please tell us all who in fact is going to lead Atlanta if it is not Scott Thorman. And on that Canadian comment obviously you live under a rock in the United States because has anyone ever heard of Larry Walker? I can bet my life that you have, one of the best major league outfielders who was produced in a country other then the United States and did it clean. WHat about your players America?? Canada has up and coming talent including Scott Thorman. And I almost forgot Jay who won between Canada and the US in the Classic? You may have missed it living under your rock EH! Let me refresh your brain…8-6 CANADA. So DO NOT give us the excuse its because he is Canadian, Scott Thorman will be an amazing number 3 hitter, an anchor on the infield and an even better first baseman. And if you havent guessed I AM CANADIAN AND ONTARIAN. And i probably know more then most of you about the game of baseball. Better go finish building my igloo
Yeah, the subtleties of the American dialect are sometimes too much for our Canadian readers. All that Canadian nonsense at the beginning of the article was kind of a joke, alluding to the fact that the Braves have two Canadians on the team, both subpar. One is Chris Reitsma, the guy who is responsible for a good many of Atlanta’s losses so far this year. I don’t really count the fact that he didn’t get a hit in his one WBC at bat against Scott Thorman.
I’d gladly trade Canada our bad Chris Reitsma for your good Jason Bay. Walker is a little old, though.
Thorman . . . . what I said is that there’s little difference between him and LaRoche through the age 23 season. Now 2 points: 1)LaRoche isn’t that bad. He’s valuable and so will be Thorman. 2) I was looking at similarity of performance, not ability. Stats reflect what has happened, not what will. There may be a difference of ability between these two players that allows Thorman to develope more power and consistancy than LaRoche. I don’t know, though, I’m not a scout. I am a Braves fan, so I’m rooting for him.
Anyway, hope there’s no hard feelings, Adam Y.
Just thought i say Thorman had an amazing game even though hitting 0 for 4. It shows he has great potential and look for him to light up the Blue Jays. Scott will play well against them a team he idolized.
Adam Y
Cambridge, ontario