In homerun-happy professional baseball, it is not often when you can write a lead on a guy for his defense, but Charlotte Knights third baseman Josh Fields is smooth with the glove, and accurate with this throws.
It is tough to be that good, playing in a Chicago White Sox system that already has a young power hitting third baseman in Joe Crede at the top of the depth chart.
"It's just a matter of time," said Charlotte skipper Razor Shines. "Anybody who evaluates talent knows that Josh Fields is going to be a major league player. And soon. But you know, when you got a guy who's winning a Gold Glove on the major league level, with 20 plus homers and 60 plus RBIs, you have to wait. and he understands that.”
Mind you, Josh is gunning bee-bees over to first, not the perfect spirals he heaved during his days as a record-setting quarterback at Oklahoma State.
"Those days are behind me now," said Fields, who nonetheless is using his athletic skill to great effect.
Even though he is parked for the moment on the depth chart, Fields has come on like gangbusters this year, and isn't about to be stopped.
“He's getting his work in every day, and he's going about his job, as a profession," remarked Razor, which is about as high a compliment as any manager can pay a developing player.
Fields, speaks humbly but confidently about the strides that he has made this season.
"I'm very proud of the year I'm having," he said. "I know I need to stay consistent throughout, and finish up strong. But on this team, success kind of carries over from one person to another. And when you're having good success as a team, it's easy for it to get contagious."
For Fields, the real improvement has come from the neck up.
"Last year, I'd get so down on myself if in my first at bat, I'd strike out. But now, it's a matter of knowing that's going to happen, and just moving on. Try to take each at bat one at a time and getting better."
Shines said that Fields' progress shows up in all aspects of his game.
"He's playing defense as good as I've seen him play," he said. "And I've had him for a couple years now.”
Razor also notes Fields’ patience at the plate.
“He's making pitchers throw the ball in the strike zone. He's not going out of the zone, as much as he's done in the past. And I really like what he's doing. As you get older, you understand the game a little better. And that's what's happened."
Fields would be a top ten FAB50 player were it not for his positioning on the depth chart and some concerns voiced about his 27 years by a couple of our survey sources. He is so good though, and playing in such top form that, if he keeps up his current level, he will leave the White Sox with very few options other than to promote him or trade him. His high trade value keeps him high in the FAB50 rankings where he debuts at No. 11.
- Dan HICKLING
