His stature initially makes him look like a middle infielder that made a wrong turn at second base, but to see Adam Greenberg blanket the outfield pastures is to understand that he belongs there. The Cubs organization obviously feels that he belongs in Wrigley’s outfield, having called him up to the majors to replace former Cub prospect Corey Patterson in center field.

Complete Statistics

Adam has handled himself ably in the minors for four straight seasons now. Coaches, teammates, and fans love him for his hustle and his work ethic. Opposing teams consider him a troublesome pest.

Greenberg did hit 17 homers in his senior year for the U of NC Tar Heels, but he doesn’t really project much power when wielding a wooden stick. His bat speed is just okay, and he doesn’t have a big muscular frame to put behind his swings.

What Adam does possess is uncanny bat control. He is able to hit the ball to all fields, and his short, slappy stroke allows him to place it where the fielders ain’t. A short stature, exaggerated crouch and selective eye at the plate allow Greenberg to draw more than his share of walks. First getting on base any way he can, Adam then makes a complete nuisance of himself on the basepaths.

People often compare Adam’s running abilities to that of former South-Sider John Cangelosi, who swiped 50 bases for the White Sox back in 1986. Cangelosi has actually worked with Greenberg, among others in the Cubs’ system, as a special instructor for getting better reads off pitchers. Greenberg probably needed his help the least, however, as his hustle and natural baserunning instincts were already exemplary. Amazingly, he only grounded into one double play in his first two Minor League seasons.

Greenberg’s a real crowd-pleaser on defense. He has become known for his all-out hustle and diving catches. Don’t accuse him of being all show, either. Most of his diving catches come after having covered an enormous amount of ground. A strong, accurate arm helped Adam go errorless for his 69 games at Daytona in 2003.

Projection: 4^th Outfielder

MLB Clone: Scott Podsednik

Comments:

Greenberg’s skills fit the Cubs exact need: a pesky player able to get on base for the likes of Derek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, and Jeromy Burnitz. Adam has a .385 career OBP and the ability to mach or surpass Patterson’s center field defense. His tools and stature resemble Scott Podsednik’s, although he won’t put up Scott’s stolen base numbers with the Cubs’ current offensive philosophy.

Greenberg’s flashy defense and blue-collar work ethic will make him a fan favorite at Wrigley. Even if he cannot hold the starting center field job, his speed, defense, and left-handed bat give him tremendous value as a late-inning situational player. On those days when he does get to start, he has the ability to hit #1 or #2 in the order as a David Eckstein-type hitter. This is the kind of player that everyone wants on their team, and the kind of player not as easy to find in the 21^st century as a plodding all-or-nothing slugger.