- Full name Kevin Eberwein
- Born
- Profile Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Eberwein is a solid third-base prospect but his chances of starting at the hot corner for the Padres have been remote ever since the club drafted Sean Burroughs four rounds ahead of him in 1998. Since then, San Diego has stockpiled several more hitters in the majors and minors who can play the positions Eberwein can, including Xavier Nady, Jake Gautreau and Taggert Bozied. Getting hurt isn't the best way to keep from slipping down the depth chart, but Eberwein injured his ankle in 2000 and missed the first three weeks last season following arthroscopic surgery. Upon returning, he played just 36 games before being lost for the year with a cracked bone in his right hand. Eberwein has plenty of power and the upside of a Richie Sexson. He needs to make more contact and remember to use the entire field. He's agile and athletic for his size, and he's might be the best defender of all the potential third basemen. Because he moves well and has a strong arm, the Padres may try him in the outfield when he returns to Triple-A in 2002. -
Eberwein is in the wrong organization. He's a competent third baseman but has no chance of playing the hot corner in an organization with Phil Nevin, Sean Burroughs and Xavier Nady. Eberwein has the bat to play at first base, where he moved in 2000 to accommodate Burroughs, but the Padres have big league starter Ryan Klesko signed through 2004. And even Eberwein's calling card, power that was rated the best in the system entering 2000, was surpassed when San Diego signed Nady. Eberwein isn't a bad athlete and probably has enough arm to try the outfield, though that also is Nady's likely destination. Eberwein drastically cut down on his strikeouts last season, though he still could draw more walks and must remember that he's more effective when he uses the whole field. He'll spend 2001 in Triple-A, where he would have been promoted last August if not for an ankle injury that ended his season and kept him out of the Arizona Fall League.