Rays 2009 player preview: Dioner Navarro

February 24, 12:45 PMTampa Bay Rays ExaminerRob Quinn

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Navarro's gunning for two straight All-Star Games AP/Mike Carlson 

If Major League Baseball gave out a "Most Improved Player" award like the NBA, Dioner Navarro would have been a strong candidate in 2008. Navarro improved his batting average from .227 in ’07 to .295 last year and made the American League All-Star team. Navi has always been a solid catching prospect, and last year he finally started playing up to his potential both offensively and defensively.

Navarro got off to a white-hot start at the plate. After going 4 for 5 with a homer and four RBI against the Angels on June 9, Navi was sitting at .349 with 3 homers and 24 RBI for the season. Navarro cooled off in the second half, but still hit .317 in the month of September to finish off the season on a high note.

Defensively, Navarro came very close to winning the Gold Glove last year. Only Jose Molina of the Yankees threw out a higher percentage of base-stealers than Navi. Navi was third in fielding percentage behind Gold Glove winner Joe Mauer of the Twins and Jason Varitek of the Red Sox. Mauer did catch 135 of Minnesota’s games, which is a high number. Navarro only caught 113 for the Rays. Navarro is in camp lighter and in better shape than ever, so hopefully he can rival Mauer in the games caught category, which will improve his chances of winning the Gold Glove.

My 2009 prediction: .276 BA, 10 HR, 63 RBI, 62 RS, 25 2B, 130 G, 466 AB

Navarro should settle into the .270 to .280 range offensively for the next few years. If he can find consistency at the plate and continue his brilliant defensive play, he should contend for the All-Star team year in and year out. I’ve already challenged him to make it back-to-back All-Star appearances this year. Let’s see if he comes through.

Navarro on Baseball Reference

Navarro on Retrosheet

Navarro on FanGraphs

Think a trimmed down Navi will be a good thing? Think it will backfire? Tell me in a comment.

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