Through October 1, 2000
YR
2000 |
G
143
|
AB
510
|
R
75
|
H
143
|
2B
41
|
3B
1
|
HR
11
|
RBI
82
|
BB
95
|
SO
28
|
SB
1
|
CS
2
|
OBP
.394
|
SLG
.429
|
AVG
.280
|
Profile
& Scouting Report
Height:
6-2
Weight:
200 lbs.
Throws:
Left
Bats:
Left
Positions:
First Base
Born:
June 28, 1964, Winston-Salem , North Carolina
Drafted:
Selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 15th round of the 1984 free-agent draft; did not sign ... Selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 24th round of the 1985 free-agent draft.
Acquired:
Re-signed by the Chicago Cubs as a free agent on Dec. 19, 1995.
Scouting Report
1999 Season
As is his custom, Mark Grace enjoyed another productive season that was virtually indistinguishable from his previous ones. He missed only one game, hit better than .300 for the fifth straight year and played his usual Gold Glove-caliber defense. An offseason workout regimen kept him strong throughout the entire season. His durability and consistency gained some recognition after he finished with the most base hits of any batter in the 1990s.
Hitting
Grace provides an ongoing clinic on how to hit .300. He works the count in his favor, waiting for his pitch or settling for a walk. When he gets what he's looking for, he uses a short, quick stroke to hit the ball on a line where it's pitched. With this approach, he rarely strikes out and remains dangerous in all situations, even with two strikes or a southpaw on the mound. He has less home-run power than a typical middle-of-the-order hitter, but his singles and doubles bring home a decent number of runs and create more RBI opportunities for the batters after him.
Baserunning & Defense
Grace has earned a reputation as one of the smoothest-fielding first basemen around. With soft hands and quick reflexes, he's able to dig throws out of the dirt and snare hard-hit balls down the line. His arm isn't particularly accurate, but it seldom costs him. Though he has no foot speed whatsoever, he runs with alertness and intelligence, and always knows when to go for an extra base.
2000 Outlook
Grace signed a one-year extension worth $5.3 million last August. He should keep cranking out .300 seasons as long as his body allows. It's clear he's yielded nothing to age so far. Grace is a Cubs icon and probably will remain with the club to the end of his career, though he made noise about possibly joining his hometown Padres after his contract expires.
Scouting Report Source: STATS, Inc. Copyright 2000 STATS, Inc.
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Profile
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