An Encouraging Billy Butler Comp

Check out these two lines:


Billy Butler, Age 23 season:  140 games, 45 2B, 17 HRs, 45 BB, 90 Ks, .303/.355/.487
Player X, Age 22ish* season:  140 games, 40 2B, 23, HRs, 41 BB, 90 Ks, .300/.350/.496


Here are their career minor league OPS's:

Billy Butler:   .336/.416/.561   (.977)
Player X:  .327/.388/.600  (.988)

Butler's had a slight edge during his early career in OBP, Player X a slight edge in the power department.  The mysterious identity of Player X is revealed following the jump....

*turned 22 in July

Player X = Alex Rodriguez.   This might be a bit disingenuous, actually, as Alex posted an OPS above 1.000 the year before, while Billy didn't clear .800 last year.  And Alex was a year and a half younger. 

But it's certainly something good to take away from this season.