So over the weekend George Springer joined the 30/30 Club - the first time a player has reached 30 HR/ 30 SB in a minor-league season since Grant Desme did it in 2009. So let's see who has had (or is having) the better season...
Desme's 2009 season was split between Low-A Kane County and High-A Stockton. He was promoted from Kane County after 69 games in which he hit .274/.334/.490 with 11 homers and 24 stolen bases. At Stockton, Desme hit .304/.398/.656 with 20 homers and 16 more stolen bases, finishing the year with a .288/.365/.568 line. 31 HR / 40 SB. And he was 23 at the time.
Desme got his 30th stolen base on July 16, in his 90th game. His 30th homer came on August 27 in his 129th game.
Springer will be 24 in September. In 73 games at Corpus, Springer hit .297/.399/.579 with 19 homers and 23 stolen bases. In the 42 games he has spent at Oklahoma City, he's hitting .308/.424/.630 with 12 homers and 15 more stolen bases, giving Springer 31 home runs and 38 stolen bases after 115 games.
Springer got his 30th stolen base in his 95th game, on July 21st. His 30th home run came in his 113th game, on August 9th.
Verdict? Springer and Desme are/were both 23 when they had their 30/30 seasons, but Springer has done it between Double-A and Triple-A. Desme retired after 2009 to join the priesthood. Verdict? PUSH.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
