- Full name Christian Berroa
- Born 04/27/1979 in
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Padres spent 2000 acquiring as many shortstops as possible: Alex Arias (major league free agent), Cleatus Davidson (minor league free agent), J.J. Furmaniak (amateur draft), Donaldo Mendez (major league Rule 5 draft), Santiago Perez and Cesar Saba (trades). Before all that activity, Berroa was unquestionably the best pure shortstop in the system, and San Diego still likes his potential. He has solid defensive tools and can make the tough plays, but he needs to be more consistent on the routine ones after making 36 errors in 129 games last year. He’s aggressive offensively and defensively. He makes good contact and can steal an occasional base, though he has little power and needs more patience. Except for Furmaniak, who hasn’t played above Rookie ball, none of the Padres’ shortstops has distinguished himself offensively. If Berroa can do that at Double-A in 2001, he’ll have a leg up on his competition.