Cincinnati Reds: A look into Zack Cozart’s career year

The Cincinnati Reds youth movement

The Cincinnati Reds are employing plenty of youth. They are in the midst of a franchise shuffle, and are beefing up their system. Furthermore, this team has been making the most out of their veteran players. But, they have failed to cash in on a few.

Some that come to mind are Joey Votto, Drew Storen, and Zack Cozart. The Reds are in need of a shakeup, and trading off veterans for young talent is vital in the rebuild. Also, Cincinnati has tanked in order to grab a higher draft position. They have been able to take advantage, as their farm system is now in the top 10 best in the MLB.

But, the Reds have made their share of mistakes. This franchise has missed their opportunity on several occasions in trades. A few that come to mind are the Todd Frazier, Aroldis Chapman, and Jay Bruce deals. With Chapman, he was involved in a lawsuit, so there wasn’t as much interest in him. Albeit that, the Reds could have hung on to him a bit longer to maximize the return.

Their quest back to relevancy has slowed partly because of this, and there are a plethora of young guys simmering in the minors. With that said, the Reds have plenty of inexperienced players up in Cincinnati. Veterans are good role models to look up to and learn from. One great veteran this year has been shortstop Zack Cozart, who is entering free agency after this season.

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The Cincinnati Reds well rounded shortstop

The Cincinnati Reds had a surprise year in Zack Cozart. He hasn’t been known as a hard hitting infielder, but this season is different. The shortstop has hit .302 with 23 home runs and 62 RBIs. That has equated to a 5.1 WAR, which is only second best to Corey Seager at 5.3. Also, the infielder earned a trip to the 2017 All-Star game.

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The Reds shortstop has benefitted at the plate by being more selective. This season, the right handed hitter has had the highest walk rate of his career at 12.0%. Furthermore, his strikeout rate has been one of the lowest of his career at 15.4%. This is impressive because he is still hitting for average and power, and without striking out a ton. His .319 BABIP shows off that he has had bad luck and hitting right into someone’s glove.

The infielder’s power boost is also showcased in his ISO.

At .250, that is excellent in terms of isolated power, which represents a batter’s extra bases per at bat. Cozart puts good at bats on. Playing with Joey Votto for plenty of years will do that. He is able to keep his hands straight through the zone, no matter a fastball or an off speed pitch.

Even more intriguing, is that he plays one of the most premium positions in shortstop. He is able to concentrate on the task at hand, whether that be in the field or at the plate. Cozart has been a valuable presence in the clubhouse for the young guys, and also entertains Joey Votto.

The Shortstop’s estimated payday

The Cincinnati Reds will most likely not pay up for Zack Cozart. He is past his prime and doesn’t look to be in their future plans. They are playing their youngsters and want to see what they have for 2018 and beyond. With that said, the shortstop will look elsewhere for his payday.

Next: Eugenio Suarez should be the next shortstop

Cozart’s overall production this season equates to $40.6 million dollars. He obviously isn’t going to get that yearly, but that is a good bench mark for his total pay over a couple years. The shortstop has set himself up well, for him and his family. The total amount will all depend on the interest/demand in the market. The Reds should have traded him when they had the chance.