The Rising Value of Utility Players in Baseball

The game of baseball, especially at the professional level, has gradually shifted in style in the aftermath of the PED era. Not long ago, teams featured several players who could hit 30 and sometimes 40 or 50 home runs in a season. These days, you’re lucky to have one of that kind of player on your squad. The game is much more dependent on pitching and defense than it used to be. This has increased the importance of utility players - guys who can play many different positions.

As the value of utility players continues to rise, coaches would be wise to teach their young athletes about the importance of versatility. Coaches can use sports team websites to cite examples of the best utility players in the MLB and discuss the importance of positional flexibility.

Red Sox understand the value of their utility ace

Brock Holt may not have a clear position or a starting spot on the Boston Red Sox this upcoming season. However, the team still believes that he is very important to their success because of his positional versatility and ability with the bat, according to Mass Live.

“We think Holt, [Daniel] Nava and [Allen] Craig have a ton of value to the team because of their ability to play multiple positions,” Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington, told the news outlet. “In today’s game, when offense is down and when you’re trying to maximize your chance of scoring runs but deal with the length of the season and the fatigue that comes along with the season, the ability to give an everyday type of player a day off and not lose a lot offensively is huge.”

Flush with talent, Cubs may realign top prospect

Shortstop Addison Russell of the Chicago Cubs is one of the top young players in baseball. ESPN recently named him the No. 4 overall prospect in the game. However, the Cubs are already pretty loaded at the shortstop position. Starlin Castro is already thriving there and Javier Baez, another top prospect, can also play the position.

If Russell wants to expedite his time in the minor leagues, he may have to switch his position. However, according to Comcast Sportsnet Chicago, he’s open to the idea.

“I’d like to be a versatile guy,” Russell told the news outlet. “If I have to move, then I have to move, and then I’ll have that new position added on to my resume.”