Bubba Starling TTM Success

Sent: 5/29/2020 | Received: 6/9/2020 | 11 days
2/2: 2020 Topps, 2020 Topps Heritage
Address: Home (Paola, KS) from SportsCollectors.Net

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like Royals’ rookie Bubba Starling has been around forever. I see now that’s a mild exaggeration. The 27-year-old outfielder was selected out of high school with the fifth overall selection of the 2011 MLB draft. He received the second largest signing bonus ($7.5 million) in draft history.

Starling had an up-and-down tenure in the Minors, but the Royals stuck with him. Bookended highs: 10 home runs (and 10 stolen bases) over 53 games in Rookie ball (2012) and a .310/.358/.448 at AAA through the first half of last season, earning his long awaiting call to the Majors.

But in between those seasons, Starling had his struggles. In 2014, at high-A Wilmington, he hit just .218. In 2016, splitting time between AA-Northwest Arkansas and AAA-Omaha, he hit .183.

Just how much of his troubles can be attributed to injury is anyone’s guess. Though he has battled oblique strains, and a bizarre finger injury (he required surgery to repair his left index finger which he dislocated getting out of bed).

Starling was likely to serve as the Royals’ reserve outfielder this season. He’d look to improve on his .215/.255/.317 line he tallied in his first big league action last year.

I’ll add, not to disparage Bubba, but as a day-before the draft reminder that you never know: the following players were selected after Starling in the 2011 draft: Anthony Rendon, Francisco Lindor, Javier Baez, George Springer, Brandon Nimmo, Sonny Gray, and Kolten Wong.