Shawn Green


SHAWN GREEN - LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Right Field
Age: 29 (November 10, 1972)
Height: 6-4 Weight: 200
Throws: Left Bats: Left


HISTORY

Shawn Green has been in love with baseball since he was old enough to hold a bat. His family was behind him every step of the way and even bought him a batting cage and pitching machine for him to hone his skills. Shawn was elected to the 1991 USA Today All-USA high school team. Later in the year, Green was drafted by the Blue Jays in the first round and sixteenth overall.

In his first year, Green played at Single-A Dunedin and was selected to the league's All-Star team. In his second year, Green was promoted to Double-A Knoxville where he continued his ascent as a top prospect in the organization. Later that year, Green got a September call-up to the majors and even earned himself a World Series ring as part of the 1993 World Champion Blue Jays. In 1994, Green was showing more power as he reached Triple-A Syracuse. He led the league with a .344 batting average and was voted the International League's Rookie of the Year.

In 1995, Green was the starting right fielder for the Jays on opening day; the kid had arrived. Manager Cito Gaston didn't let Green everyday though and Green was left platooning in his rookie year. After a slow start and a slump in June, there was talk that Green wasn't ready for the majors and should be sent back to the minors. However, he responded strongly in the second half hitting .323 with 8 homers and 32 RBI (.543 SLG) after the All-Star break. 1996 and 1997 were much the same for Green as he struggled with his consistency and Gaston continued to platoon him and not fully entrust the youngster to perform over the long haul.

However at the end of the 1997 season, Gaston was fired. In the offseason, rookie manager Tim Johnson took over the reins and Green was inserted into the 3 hole in the lineup. Spring training took on new life and Maury Wills helped teach Green the art of baserunning. Shawn also spend more time in the batting cage and also learned from Canseco, Delgado and the rest of the Jays sluggers. But it is Canseco who Green credits for planting the possibility of a 30/30 season in his head from early in the spring. Green became the first Blue Jay to reach the 30/30 plateau in his breakout season launching 35 homers (19 more than his career high) and stealing 35 (21 more than his career high).

Green's success continued into the 1999 season, where he continued to learn and grow as an all around superstar. He led the AL with 45 doubles and hit a career high .309 with 42 homers, 123 RBI and 20 steals. Shawn made his first All-Star appearance and also won his first Gold Glove.

In the winter of 1999, rumors were rampant as the Jays said that they couldn't afford to keep both Delgado and Green. After Cito Gaston was hired back as hitting coach, Green's ticket was basically stamped one way - out of town. On November 8th, Green was dealt with 2B Jorge Nunez to the Dodgers for OF Raul Mondesi and P Pedro Bourbon. Shawn then inkied a $84mn contract over 6 years to play in his native California.

Green's first year as a Dodger was a learning process, basically learning new teammates as well as opposing pitchers. Green started off extremely hot hitting .309 in April and .367 in June. However he trailed off in the second half and hit only .269 in his first full year in Dodger blue.

Greens second year in LA was a huge success. Despite injury problems to Kevin Brown and Darren Dreifort, the Dodgers stayed in the race thanks to Gary Sheffield and Green. Green hit a career high 49 homers and 125 RBI.

SPRING EXPECTATIONS 2002

With Sheffield traded to the Braves, huge question marks were left as to whether Green would be the same player without Sheffield hitting behind him. The Dodgers lineup as a whole was considered shaky at best.

STEADY SHAWN

Green got off to a terrible start as did the Dodgers offense as a whole being shutout 8 times in the first month and a half. Heading into a May 21st contest against the Brewers, Green was batting only .231 with 3 HR and 21 RBI. In the first game of the series, Green belted 2 homers and in the third game, he had one of the best individual hitting performances ever, going 6-6 with 6 runs scored, 4 homers, 7 RBI and 19 total bases (a new MLB record). Green didn't cool off from there and carried the Dodgers offense into first place heading into the All-Star break. Green finished the first half hitting .280 with 26 homers, 68 RBI and a .592 SLG. Many baseball analysts considered Green the NL MVP for the first half and Bob Brenly elected Green to the All-Star team.

FANTASY EXPECTATIONS

Green plays the game with such ease that it often looks like he's not even trying. His long swing is one of the sweetest in the game. As a fantasy player, this guy is a keeper and a 5 category star. While Green hasn't been stealing bases this year, he's easily capable of swiping 20-30 if it were asked of him. I think it will be a tough second half for Green as pitchers have little reason to give him much to hit with the weak hitting Eric Karros behind him. The Dodgers will need to find a productive bat to hit behind Green or it will be a real battle for the Dodgers to continue to compete with the Giants and D'Backs. On the positive side, Green has always been a better second half player as his best power month is July and his best SLG month is August. Expect Green to continue to produce big numbers in the second half. I believe that Green still is underappeciated by fans as evidenced by Green's 12th place showing in the All-Star balloting for outfielders. Green ranks #7 on our 3 year statistical rankings for all hitters.

Chris Wang
Dodgers Correspondent