Check out my
AAA errors by position and
AA errors by position posts for more numbers and information. Those higher levels are straightforward: all thirty major league teams have one affiliate in one league at each level. Thus each level has thirty teams split between two leagues (in AAA) or three leagues (in AA). Teams in AAA play around 144 games per season while AA teams play around 140 games. Once you get to A ball, however, things get more complicated.
There are seven different leagues in Class A ball. The playing level of these leagues are not all equal, though, so the class is broken up into three separate sub-classes. First is A+, or High A+, or Advanced A ball. This consists of the California League, the Carolina League, and the Florida State League. All thirty major league teams have an affiliate at this level. These teams play 140 games per season.
There's also good, old-fashioned, regular A ball. Only two leagues, the Midwest League and South Atlantic League, occupy this level. The two leagues contain thirty teams, one for each major league club. All of these teams play the standard 140 games per season.
Finally, there is A-, or Low A, baseball. This level consists of only two leagues: the New York-Penn league and the Northwest League. Only twenty-two major league teams have affiliates at this level. What's more, these leagues play abbreviated schedules running from June until September. The fact that each team plays around 75 games leads to these being called short-season leagues. Usually these leagues are home to recent draftees and other young minor leaguers. Many times a young player spends April until June on a major league team's regular A ball affiliate before being assigned to a short-season affiliate to get regular playing time.
As you can guess by the title, today I am looking at errors committed at each position in A+ ball. The format is going to stay the same as that in my previous two posts. Since teams play roughly the same number as games as teams in AA and AAA, there shouldn't need to be changes to the minimum total chances for the fielding percentage leaderboards.
A+ Pitchers
| A+ Pitchers Sorted By Most Errors |
|---|
| Name | Team | Org.
| TC
| E | FPct. |
|---|
Eric Niesen
| St. Lucie
| NYM
| 31
| 7 | .774 |
Anthony Varvaro
| High Desert
| SEA
| 30
| 6
| .800 |
R.J. Rodriguez
| Lake Elsinore
| SDP
| 28
| 6
| .786 |
Esmil Rogers
| Modesto | COL
| 33
| 5
| .848 |
Jesse English
| San Jose
| SFG
| 26
| 5
| .808 |
Kyle Schmidt
| Frederick | BAL
| 14
| 5
| .643 |
11 tied with
|
|
|
| 4 |
|
| A+ Pitchers Sorted By Lowest FPct. (minimum 20 total chances) |
|---|
| Name | Team | Org.
| TC | E | FPct. |
|---|
Eric Niesen
| St. Lucie
| NYM
| 31
| 7
| .774 |
R.J. Rodriguez
| Lake Elsinore
| SDP
| 28
| 6
| .786 |
Anthony Varvaro
| High Desert
| SEA
| 30
| 6
| .800 |
Jesse English
| San Jose
| SFG
| 26
| 5
| .808 |
Ernesto Frieri
| Lake Elsinore
| SDP
| 22
| 4
| .818 |
Rafael Gonzalez
| Sarasota | CIN
| 22
| 4
| .818 |
James Heuser
| Stockton | OAK
| 22
| 4
| .818 |
Esmil Rogers
| Modesto | COL
| 33
| 5
| .848 |
Brandon Durden
| Modesto | COL
| 20
| 3
| .850 |
Ryan Ouellette
| Frederick | BAL
| 20
| 3
| .850 |
| CAL Pitchers |
|
| 2684 | 171 | .936 |
| CAR Pitchers |
|
| 2131
| 141 | .934 |
| FSL Pitchers |
|
| 2903
| 164 | .944 |
| A+ Pitchers |
|
| 7718 | 476 | .938 |
The Florida State League had the most total chances, as expected of the league with the most teams (12, against the California League's 10 and the Carolina League's 8). Part of it may be having the fewest teams, but the Carolina League only had one representative on the lowest fielding percentage board (Ouellette in tenth place). That's interesting considering the league as a whole had the worst fielding percentage for pitchers. The Carolina League's leaders in pitcher errors had four. There were three hurlers tied for that honor.
A+ Catchers
| A+ Catchers Sorted By Most Errors |
|---|
| Name | Team | Org. | TC | E | FPct. |
|---|
Carlos Santana
| 2 Teams
| 2Tm
| 850
| 19 | .978 |
Tyler Flowers
| Myrtle Beach
| ATL
| 769
| 12 | .984 |
Ed Easley
| Visalia | ARI
| 757
| 12 | .984 |
Michael McKenry
| Modesto | COL
| 775
| 11
| .986 |
Eddy Rodriguez
| Sarasota | CIN
| 542
| 11
| .980 |
Jackson Williams
| San Jose
| SFG
| 435
| 11
| .975 |
Travis Scott
| High Desert
| SEA
| 566
| 10
| .982 |
Alan Robbins
| Clearwater | PHI
| 280
| 10
| .964 |
5 tied with
|
|
|
| 9
|
|
| A+ Catchers Sorted By Lowest FPct. (minimum 400 total chances) |
|---|
| Name | Team | Org.
| TC | E | FPct. |
|---|
Jackson Williams
| San Jose
| SFG
| 435
| 11 | .975 |
Josh Donaldson
| Stockton | OAK
| 402
| 9
| .978 |
Carlos Santana
| 2 Teams
| 2Tm
| 850
| 19
| .978 |
Eddy Rodriguez
| Sarasota | CIN
| 542
| 11
| .980 |
Chris Hatcher
| Jupiter | FLA
| 482
| 9
| .981 |
Travis Scott
| High Desert
| SEA
| 566
| 10
| .982 |
Jonathan Still
| Lancaster | BOS
| 479
| 8
| .983 |
Matthew Morizio
| Wilmington | KCR
| 424
| 7
| .983 |
Koby Clemens
| Salem
| HOU
| 488
| 8
| .984 |
Ed Easley
| Visalia | ARI
| 757
| 12
| .984 |
Tyler Flowers
| Myrtle Beach
| ATL
| 769
| 12
| .984
|
| CAL Catchers |
|
| 11675 | 163 | .986 |
| CAR Catchers |
|
| 8852 | 117 | .987 |
| FSL Catchers |
|
| 12875
| 168 | .987 |
| A+ Catchers |
|
| 33402 | 448
| .987 |
Unlike the catchers' errors leaders in AAA and AA, Carlos Santana doesn't show up on top because of his remarkable durability. He caught the second-most innings (880.2) in A+ ball this year, behind Mitch Canham (918.1) of Lake Elsinore. Santana started 101 games against Canham's 104. Santana just happened to be error-prone last year, though he did finish with only the third-lowest fielding percentage among qualifiers. All three leagues wound up pretty even in terms of fielding percentage.
A+ First Basemen| A+ 1B Sorted By Most Errors |
|---|
| Name | Team | Org. | TC | E | FPct. |
|---|
Ernesto Mejia
| Myrtle Beach
| ATL
| 1177 | 23
| .980 |
Mark Trumbo
| Rancho Cucamonga
| LAA
| 1020
| 20
| .980 |
Matthew Fields
| Vero Beach
| TBR
| 1252
| 17 | .986 |
Kent Sakamoto
| Lynchburg | PIT
| 1114
| 13 | .988 |
Brandon Allen
| Winston-Salem | CHW | 850
| 13
| .985 |
Logan Morrison
| Jupiter | FLA
| 1154
| 12
| .990 |
Brian Dopirak
| Dunedin | TOR
| 798
| 11
| .986 |
Brandon Snyder
| Frederick | BAL
| 765
| 11
| .986 |
Stephen Chapman
| Brevard County
| MIL
| 707
| 11
| .984
|
5 tied with
|
|
|
| 10
|
|
| A+ 1B Sorted By Lowest FPct. (minimum 500 total chances) |
|---|
| Name | Team | Org.
| TC | E | FPct. |
|---|
Mark Trumbo
| Rancho Cucamonga
| LAA
| 1020
| 20
| .980 |
Ernesto Mejia
| Myrtle Beach
| ATL
| 1177
| 23
| .980 |
Stephen Chapman
| Brevard County
| MIL
| 707
| 11
| .984 |
Brandon Allen
| Winston-Salem | CHW
| 850
| 13
| .985 |
Johnny Woodard
| Fort Myers
| MIN
| 525
| 8
| .985 |
Brandon Snyder
| Frederick
| BAL
| 765
| 11
| .986 |
Brian Dopirak
| Dunedin | TOR
| 798
| 11
| .986 |
Jeremy Hunt
| Lake Elsinore
| SDP
| 729
| 10
| .986 |
Andrew Lefave
| Potomac
| WSN
| 515
| 7
| .986 |
Matthew Fields
| Vero Beach
| TBR
| 1252
| 17
| .986 |
| CAL 1B |
|
| 13276 | 170 | .987 |
| CAR 1B |
|
| 10814 | 147 | .986 |
| FSL 1B |
|
| 15255
| 165 | .989 |
| A+ 1B |
|
| 39345 | 482
| .988 |
A pretty straight forward set of leaderboards. The top two errors guys are also first and second in fielding percentage. Mejia was second in innings played at first base behind Matthew Fields. Despite finishing second in errors, Mark Trumbo was only eleventh in innings played. Besides Fields and Mejia, Logan Morrison and Michael Paulk were the only other A+ first basemen to top 1000 innings played.
A+ Second Basemen| A+ 2B Sorted By Most Errors |
|---|
| Name | Team | Org. | TC | E | FPct. |
|---|
Travis Jones
| Myrtle Beach
| ATL
| 519 | 19
| .963 |
Angel Gonzalez
| Lynchburg | PIT
| 437
| 18 | .959 |
Miguel Abreu
| Frederick
| BAL
| 547
| 17 | .969 |
Chih-Hsien Chiang
| Lancaster
| BOS
| 301
| 17 | .944 |
Eric Sogard
| Lake Elsinore
| SDP
| 563
| 15 | .973 |
Ryan Mount
| Rancho Cucamonga
| LAA
| 372
| 13 | .965 |
Daniel Descalso
| Palm Beach
| STL
| 497
| 12 | .976 |
Jose Vallejo
| Bakersfield
| TEX
| 371
| 12 | .968 |
Manuel Ferrer
| Visalia
| ARI
| 322
| 12
| .963
|
Renny Osuna
| Bakersfield
| TEX
| 303
| 12
| .960
|
Damon Sublett
| Tampa
| NYY
| 191
| 12
| .937
|
| A+ 2B Sorted By Lowest FPct. (minimum 250 total chances) |
|---|
| Name | Team | Org. | TC | E | FPct. |
|---|
Chih-Hsien Chiang
| Lancaster | BOS | 301
| 17
| .944 |
Angel Gonzalez
| Lynchburg | PIT | 437
| 18
| .959 |
Renny Osuna
| Bakersfield
| TEX | 303
| 12 | .960 |
Manuel Ferrer
| Visalia | ARI | 322
| 12
| .963 |
Travis Jones
| Myrtle Beach
| ATL | 519
| 19
| .963 |
Ryan Mount
| Rancho Cucamonga
| LAA
| 372
| 13
| .965 |
Frank Martinez
| Stockton | OAK | 297
| 10
| .966 |
Jose Vallejo
| Bakersfield | TEX | 371
| 12 | .968 |
Miguel Abreu
| Frederick | BAL | 547
| 17
| .969 |
Scott Sizemore
| Lakeland | DET | 266
| 8
| .970 |
| CAL 2B |
|
| 7001
| 218 | .969 |
| CAR 2B |
|
| 5299
| 142
| .973 |
| FSL 2B |
|
| 8131
| 207
| .975 |
| A+ 2B |
|
| 20431
| 567
| .972 |
The Rangers organization has the unusual distinction of placing two players on the list. Not only did they split time in the field, they split time ineffectively. However, both players had better years with the leather than Chih-Hsien Chiang. Collectively, all three did their part to ensure the California League had a low fielding percentage compared to the other leagues.
A+ Third Basemen| A+ 3B Sorted By Most Errors |
|---|
| Name | Team | Org. | TC | E | FPct. |
|---|
John Whittleman
| Bakersfield | TEX
| 308
| 27
| .912 |
CJ Retherford
| Winston-Salem | CHW
| 356
| 24
| .933 |
Billy Rowell
| Frederick | BAL
| 295 | 22
| .925 |
Zak Farkes
| Lancaster
| BOS
| 148
| 22
| .851 |
Jhon Florentino
| Salem | HOU
| 338
| 21 | .938 |
Cesar Suarez
| Vero Beach
| TBR
| 290
| 21
| .928 |
Jim Negrych
| Lynchburg | PIT
| 239
| 21
| .912 |
Jesus Gonzalez
| Dunedin | TOR
| 282
| 19 | .933 |
Jared Goedert
| Kinston
| CLE
| 271
| 19
| .930
|
Taylor Green
| Brevard County
| MIL
| 273
| 18 | .934
|
| A+ 3B Sorted By Lowest FPct. (minimum 125 total chances) |
|---|
| Name | Team | Org. | TC | E | FPct. |
|---|
Zak Farkes
| Lancaster | BOS | 148
| 22
| .851 |
Leonard Davis
| Potomac | WSN | 148
| 14
| .905 |
Jim Negrych
| Lynchburg
| PIT | 239
| 21
| .912 |
John Whittleman
| Bakersfield | TEX | 308
| 27
| .912 |
Leivi Ventura
| St. Lucie
| NYM | 129
| 11
| .915 |
Jorge Jimenez
| Lancaster
| BOS
| 138
| 11
| .920 |
Austin Gallagher
| Inland Empire
| LAD | 126
| 10
| .921 |
Michael Bertram
| Lakeland | DET
| 139
| 11 | .921 |
Joshua Lansford
| Daytona | CHC | 177
| 14
| .921 |
Ricardo Sosa
| Visalia
| ARI
| 214
| 16
| .925
|
Billy Rowell
| Frederick | BAL | 295
| 22
| .925 |
| CAL 3B |
|
| 3636
| 286 | .921 |
| CAR 3B |
|
| 3212
| 236
| .927 |
| FSL 3B |
|
| 4439
| 304 | .932 |
| A+ 3B |
|
| 11287
| 826
| .927 |
Alright, I admit that I changed the minimum threshold for the fielding percentage list down from 150 total chances to 125 total chances. I did this because there were relatively few third baseman who reached the former minimum. Changing the number to 125 allowed for the inclusion of the two worst fielders. Like the Texas Rangers in the second baseman list, the Boston Red Sox have the dubious distinction of two players in the fielding percentage leaderboard. Once again the California League lags behind the others in fielding.
A+ Shortstops| A+ SS Sorted By Most Errors |
|---|
| Name | Team | Org. | TC | E | FPct. |
|---|
Marcus Lemon
| Bakersfield | TEX
| 532
| 43
| .919 |
P.J. Phillips
| Rancho Cucamonga
| LAA
| 628
| 37
| .941 |
Ruben Tejada
| St. Lucie
| NYM
| 580
| 30
| .948 |
Fidel Hernandez
| Clearwater | PHI | 554
| 30
| .946 |
Daniel Mayora
| Modesto | COL
| 393 | 30
| .924 |
Chris McConnell
| Wilmington | KCR | 556
| 28
| .950 |
Jairo de la Rosa
| Vero Beach
| TBR
| 349
| 28
| .920 |
Carlos Rivero
| Kinston | CLE | 459
| 24
| .948 |
Luis Sanchez
| Dunedin
| TOR | 497
| 23
| .954 |
Greg Paiml
| Winston-Salem
| CHW | 416
| 22
| .947 |
| A+ SS Sorted By Lowest FPct. (minimum 250 total chances) |
|---|
| Name | Team | Org. | TC | E | FPct. |
|---|
Marcus Lemon
| Bakersfield | TEX | 532
| 43
| .919 |
Jairo de la Rosa
| Vero Beach
| TBR | 349
| 28
| .920 |
Daniel Mayora
| Modesto
| COL | 393
| 30
| .924 |
Carlos Triunfel
| High Desert
| SEA | 337
| 21
| .938 |
Brent Brewer
| Brevard County
| MIL | 322
| 19
| .941 |
P.J. Phillips
| Rancho Cucamonga
| LAA
| 628
| 37
| .941 |
Fidel Hernandez
| Clearwater
| PHI | 554
| 30
| .946 |
Greg Paiml
| Winston-Salem | CHW
| 416
| 22
| .947 |
Carlos Rivero
| Kinston | CLE | 459
| 24
| .948 |
Ruben Tejada
| St. Lucie
| NYM
| 580
| 30
| .948
|
Seth Bynum
| Potomac | WSN | 252
| 13
| .948 |
CAL SS
|
|
| 6575
| 342
| .948 |
CAR SS
|
|
| 5296
| 254
| .952 |
FSL SS
|
|
| 7735
| 381 | .951 |
A+ SS
|
|
| 19606
| 977
| .950 |
A Rangers prospect committed the most errors in AA as well. This time, Marcus Lemon and P.J. Phillips are almost stunningly head and shoulders above the rest of the league. Then again, looking at the fielding percentage table shows that he would have had company in the 40+ errors club if not for a lack of playing time given to other players. The California League still has the lowest fielding percentage of the three, but it's back to being pretty close to the other two leagues.
A+ Outfielders| A+ OF Sorted By Most Errors |
|---|
| Name | Team | Org. | TC | E | FPct. |
|---|
Carlos Peguero
| High Desert
| SEA
| 125
| 12 | .904 |
Michael McBryde
| San Jose
| SFG
| 269
| 11 | .959 |
Jason Place
| Lancaster | BOS
| 250
| 10
| .960 |
Javis Diaz
| Lake Elsinore
| SDP
| 148
| 10
| .932 |
Jermaine Mitchell
| Stockton | OAK
| 214 | 9
| .958 |
Cory Patton
| Dunedin
| TOR
| 191
| 9
| .953 |
6 tied with
|
|
|
| 8
|
|
| A+ OF Sorted By Lowest FPct. (minimum 200 total chances |
|---|
| Name | Team | Org. | TC | E | FPct. |
|---|
Jermaine Mitchell
| Stockton | OAK
| 214 | 9
| .958 |
Michael McBryde
| San Jose
| SFG
| 269 | 11
| .959 |
Jason Place
| Lancaster
| BOS
| 250
| 10
| .960
|
Anthony Norman
| Rancho Cucamonga
| LAA
| 222 | 8
| .964 |
James McOwen
| High Desert
| SEA
| 224 | 8
| .964 |
Salvador Sanchez
| Winston-Salem | CHW
| 210
| 7
| .967 |
Ezequiel Carrera
| St. Lucie
| NYM
| 245 | 8
| .967 |
Paulo Orlando
| Wilmington | KCR
| 260 | 8
| .969 |
Peter Clifford
| Visalia | ARI
| 210
| 6
| .971 |
Charlie Fermaint
| Brevard County
| MIL
| 221
| 6
| .973 |
Truan Mehl
| Bakersfield | TEX
| 259 | 7
| .973 |
| CAL OF |
|
| 8655 | 267 | .969 |
| CAR OF |
|
| 6597
| 152 | .977 |
| FSL OF |
|
| 10114 | 226
| .978 |
| A+ OF |
|
| 25366 | 645 | .975 |
Carlos Peguero had such an iron glove that he managed to lead the entire level in errors without amassing enough total chances to appear on my fielding percentage leaderboard. He
didn't spend much time in the field in 2007, so this probably isn't a fluky year. Javis Diaz also appeared on the errors board without qualifying for the fielding percentage board. Without looking up an inch to get the answer, take a wild guess at which league had the lowest outfield fielding percentage. I know offense is skewed by the altitude of some California League parks. I wonder how much those conditions affect defense for those teams.
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