Rock the Kazmar: Mets Sign Sean Kazmar

By Unknown author
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Wait. Scott Kazmir! Oh, Sean Kazmar. That’s just…so close. The Mets signed infielder Sean Kazmar to a Minor League contract yesterday, and will most likely assign him to Triple-A.

Kazmar was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 5th round of the 2004 draft. The 19 year-old struggled out of the gate, combining for a .249/.281/.384 line with 6 HR, 29 RBI, 34 R, and 6 SB in 311 PA’s. The right-handed hitter improved a bit in 2005, posting a .267/.329/.386 line with 10 HR, 48 RBI, 47 R, and 7 SB in 591 PA’s for Single-A. He also won “MID Player of the Week” during for his play during the month of August. Now 21, Kazmar slowly made his way up the lower-Minors ladder, swatting a .250/.327/.376 line with a career-high 13 HR, 72 RBI, 86 R, and 10 SB in 616 PA’s.

Despite the success at Advanced-A, the Padres had Kazmar repeat it in 2007. The 22 year-old duplicated his good hitting, posting a .284/.345/.428 line with 3 HR, 24 RBI, 27 R, and 4 SB in 222 PA’s. But when he was promoted mid-season to Double-A, Kazmar floundered. The infielder posted a horrific .208/.278/.327 line with 6 HR, 33 RBI, 30 R, and 6 SB in 299 PA’s. Even with his poor showing at Double-A, the Padres kept the 23 year-old there in 2008, where he posted an improved .264/.333/.359 line with 3 HR, 39 RBI, 53 R, and 7 SB in 433 PA’s. Perhaps for depth reasons, the Padres promoted Kazmar directly to the Major Leagues in mid-August of 2008. Kazmar started 11 games–all at shortstop–for the Padres, but only posted a meager .205/.289/.231 line. But that would be his last taste of Major League coffee.

The 24 year-year old spent all of 2009 (.235/.306/.314 line in 411 PA’s), 2010 (.275/.326/.381 line in 545 PA’s), and 2011 (.253/.311/.348 line in 519 PA’s) in Triple-A. The Padres even granted the infielder free agency after 2010, enabling him to sign with the Seattle Mariners.

Without much defensive skills (-14.4 UZR/150 in 98.6 innings at shortstop for the 2008 Padres), on-base abilities (career .317 OBP in 3875 Minor League PA’s), power (career .366 SLG in 3875 Minor League PA’s), or notable speed (career 62 SB’s in 8 seasons), the 27 year-old Sean Kazmar doesn’t seem to bring much of anything to the table. Barring sudden improvement, it wouldn’t be surprising if 2012 was Kazmar’s final chance in the Minors.

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