All-DBAP Team: Shortstop Finalists
After Evan Longoria took home All-DBAP Team honors at the Hot Corner last week, we’re down to our final infield position this week at shortstop. Of the three finalists, two spent considerable time in a Rays uniform, while the other is attempting to join the Big League club this spring.
After taking a glance at our finalists below, remember to vote for who you think is most-deserving of a spot on the All-DBAP Team by voting on the Bulls’ Facebook page. Simply leave a comment on Facebook with the name of your selection on the official finalist announcement post and you’re done!
Tim Beckham
Tim Beckham, the first overall pick in the 2008 draft, has spent time with the Bulls in each of the past four seasons, despite entering this season at age 25. Since his promotion to Durham towards the end of the 2011 campaign, he’s appeared in 233 games for the Bulls, including 122 back in 2013 when he set a career-high with a .276 batting average. That season, he was the everyday shortstop for the Governors’ Cup champion team, while also swiping 17 bases. As a September call up that season, he appeared in five games for Tampa Bay, the only five games of his Major League career. His 2014 season was shortened considerably, after tearing his ACL prior to the start of the season.
Career Numbers with Durham: .266–15–96, 131 R in 233 games (2011–2014)
MLB Career: .429–0–1, 1 R in 5 games (2013)
B.J. Upton
BJ Upton (who in case you missed it now goes by Melvin) spent parts of three seasons in the Bull City from 2004–2006. Over that span he was a dangerous combination of power and speed, cracking 38 homers and swiping 107 bases. In 2005 he totaled the third-most hits in a single season in Durham’s Triple-A history (165), the fourth-most runs (98) and the third-most stolen bases (44). He spent the first eight seasons of his big league career with Tampa Bay, before signing with Atlanta as a free agent prior to the 2013 season.
Career Numbers with Durham: .294–38–152, 236 R in 316 games (2004–2006, rehab in 2007)
MLB Career: .243–139–508, 636 R in 1,233 games (2004, 2006–2014)
Ben Zobrist
After he was traded by the Astros to the Rays for Aubrey Huff during the 2006 season, Ben Zobrist was the Ben Zobrist Rays fans came to love, as he was a productive, consistent, underrated player over parts of three seasons in Durham. Though he totaled fewer than 100 games with the Bulls he accumulated 109 hits, with 34 going for extra bases. Before he was traded to the A’s this offseason, “Zorilla” was a two-time All-Star with the Rays, while playing 150 games or more five times in in six full seasons at the major league level.
Career Numbers with Durham: .301–11–41, 69 R in 99 games (2006–2008)
MLB Career: .264–114–511, 565 R in 1,064 games (2006–2014)
Cast your vote here.
Next Week: Outfield
