Drafted in the 44th round (1,314th overall) by the New York Mets in 2002.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
The Red Sox had high hopes for Bladergroen when they acquired him from the Mets for Doug Mientkiewicz in January 2005. The national junior college home run champ with 32 in 2003, he made a run at the South Atlantic League triple crown in 2004 until tearing a ligament in his left wrist in July. Despite having surgery, Bladergroen wasn't nearly at 100 percent in his first season in the Boston system. He had a stress reaction in the wrist, which caused him to be shut down for two months starting in May. When he returned, he still didn't have his usual power. Trying to compensate, he messed up his swing and endured a miserable season. When he's going well, Bladergroen works counts, keeps the bat in the hitting zone well and uses the entire field. Before he got hurt, however, some scouts questioned his bat speed, which isn't exceptional. He's a below-average runner and had problems with his glove in 2005, leading high Class A Carolina League first basemen with nine errors while playing just 64 games in the field. Bladergroen started to get back on track in instructional league and is looking forward to a fully healthy season back in high Class A.
Bladergroen was a junior college all-American in both his seasons at Lamar (Colo.) Community College and led national juco players with 32 homers in 2003. A 44th-round pick the year before, he signed with the Mets as a draft-and-follow for ninth-round money (about $65,000). He continued to mash as a pro, chasing the South Atlantic League triple crown last year before tearing a ligament in his left wrist right after the league's all-star break. Bladergroen had season-ending surgery but is expected to be 100 percent for 2005, when he'll make his Red Sox organization debut after being acquired for surplus first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, New York's consolation prize after failing to sign Carlos Delgado. Bladergroen's most obvious tool is his plus power, and because his bat stays in the zone for a long time, he also can hit for average. He uses the whole field and works counts well. Though he has produced for average and power, he doesn't have exceptional bat speed and scouts wonder if he might have problems at higher levels. At 21 last year, he wasn't young for low Class A either. He's a below-average runner, but he's agile at first base and uses his big wingspan to nab high throws. Bladergroen now is the best first-base prospect in the system, surpassing Jeremy West, and could quickly push West after starting one level behind him in high Class A this year.
Best Tools List
Rated Best Defensive 1B in the Carolina League in 2006
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