Sickels: Not a Rookie: Corey Hart

Corey Hart: The Singles, Doubles and More!

I expect this to continue. While I don’t think he will ever be a walk machine, he doesn’t need to be. He doesn’t strike out that much for a guy with power, and I like his multi-skills. When Hart was just starting out he was compared to Richie Sexson due to his size and wingspan. I don’t think Hart will produce the kind of home run power Sexson did at his peak, but Hart is faster and move valuable defensively, and he does have some untapped power upside. It’s also possible he could stay where he is right now in the power department but add some additional batting average instead. Either way, I think Hart still has room for improvement, and given the fact that he’s already very good as it is, he could end up having some outstanding seasons heading forward.

...PECOTA really likes him. Comps include Sammy Sosa, Cliff Floyd, Joe Carter, Andre Dawson, Dave Winfield, Ron Gant, and Ellis Burks. The most negative comp is the second one, Wes Chamberlain. Top Sim Scores through age 25 are Bill Nicholson, Tommy Henrich, Ivan Calderon, Bobby Higginson, Jacque Jones, Jim Edmonds, Jon Nunnally, David Justice, and Larry Doby. Nunnally is the weakest player in the bunch. Both comparisons systems like what Hart is done and project him as a very solid player, even an excellent one.

Basically there is nothing not to like here. If Hart merely stays where he is right now, he’ll be a very good player. If he improves in some way, boosting additional power, or adding more batting average and OBP, or both, he’s a legitimate star. Some comparable players have ended up as Hall of Fame type talents. That’s an observation, NOT a prediction, so don’t go buying truckloads of Corey Hart cards. But it does show the direction some similar players have developed in.