Ty Wigginton
| AB | 4479 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .261 |
| OBP | .323 |
| SLG | .435 |
| HR | 169 |
- Full name Ty Allen Wigginton
- Born 10/11/1977 in San Diego, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School UNC Asheville
- Debut 05/16/2002
- Drafted in the 17th round (514th overall) by the New York Mets in 1998.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Wigginton made the most of his first opportunity in the big leagues last year and surprised the Mets in the process. A career .273 hitter in four minor league seasons entering 2002, he received a promotion to New York in May when John Valentin went on the 15-day disabled list. He returned to the Mets in July and finished the season hitting .302-6-18 in 116 major league at-bats. The first player from UNC Asheville to reach the majors, Wigginton is a productive line-drive hitter with above-average gap power. An overachiever, he's an aggressive player and a hard worker. He has improved his strike-zone judgment. His defense, particularly with routine plays, can be a liability. A shortstop in college, he moved to second base during his first two professional seasons before shifting to third at Double-A in 2000. While his footwork and hands are adequate, consistency remains his biggest hurdle. He's a strong candidate to earn a utility role with New York this season and could compete for the starting job at third base after hitting .280-9-31 this winter in the Dominican Republic. -
Wigginton isn't the prettiest second baseman in the minors, but those who have seen him over long periods have been impressed. Nothing looks smooth, but he makes the plays and does the little things to help his team win. He has pretty good pop for a middle infielder. His 21 homers in 1999 set a St. Lucie record (broken by Robert Stratton last year), and he followed up with 20 more in Double-A. Wigginton was far less patient in 2000, when his on-base percentage dropped 54 points from the season before. That doesn't bode well for his ability to keep hitting as he moves up the latter. In the Arizona Fall League, he enhanced his versatility by playing third base, first base and left field. A possible righthanded bat off the bench for the Mets in 2002, he'll probably start this year at Triple-A.
