by Matt Sisk

Please take a few moments, and imagine having your face caved in from the impact of a line-driven baseball. That's what our boy Eddie Rosario was dealing with mid-summer in 2012 after taking a batting practice rep to the face. How much can you expect from a guy after something like that?



Well, I'll tell ya. If you combine Eddie's winter league stats with his abbreviated 2012 regular season stats, you'll see a fierce line of numbers that hints at what a full, healthy season could produce for Rosario. Combine everything he did in 2012, and you get 136 games played, 544 at-bats, 168 hits, 44 doubles, 17 homers, 94 RBI, and a .308 batting average. His on-base numbers were adequate for a top-of-the-order guy.

I personally know a baseball coach that was struck in the face with a batting practice rep. His incident required emergency surgery, and was a very serious situation. I do not know if Eddie's meeting with a baseball was equally severe, but it's not prudent to expect him to hit like he did following such a confidence-shaking occurrence.

What do the numbers tell you about Rosario? I'll tell you what they tell me. The Twins have a guy that will hit, get on base, and slug in the top of a Major League line-up someday. It all hinges on how fast he can learn, and excel at, second base defensively.

How fast will Eddie get to Minnesota, and take over that pesky second base position? We just don't know right now. But one thing is certain, Eddie is floating down a "rosy river" of talent that will slowly bring him to the spotlight of Major League Baseball.