César Prieto's skill and success remind us of Kendrys Morales' great season in 2002
Rey Vicente Anglada, who debuted as manager of the Industriales team on January 6 (his birthday) in that 2002 season, was looking for Kendrys to have the most times at bat to increase his records.
At 18 years and 326 days old, Kendrys Morales had 57 runs scored, 111 hits, 19 home runs and 80 RBIs. He had already set records for home runs and RBIs for rookies in the National Series, but he could still break the mark of 59 runs scored by outfielder Juan Miguel Miranda from Pinar del Río, and the 112 hits signed in 1998 by his teammate, Yasser Gomez.
After his first four at-bats of the afternoon against left-hander Norberto Gonzalez, Kendrys completed the marks he was looking for with two huge home runs and a single*.
*Both hits, Kendrys recorded batting to the right: the first through centerfield, when the game began, and the other over the roof of left.
The home runs were his 20th and 21st of the season and, after his third hit in the seventh inning, he scored on an error by rightfielder Alexander Martínez, following a single by Enrique Díaz – batted second. That was the 60th run scored, which became the new national record.
114 hits and 60 runs scored! And then what next?
It may have gone unnoticed by many, but the Elephants' rookie, now a reinforcement for the Villa Clara Leopards team, César Prieto, is threatening to destroy Kendrys Morales' hit and run records. In 2002, Prieto was only three years old, but now, at 18, his ability at home plate is leading him to become the next record-setting debutant in Cuban baseball. After 61 games played, the 5- foot -10 , 170-pound infielder (he's played second base and shortstop) is batting .390 with 99 hits and 50 runs scored after going 2-for-4 in the win by 7-4 of Villa Clara over Las Tunas during the night of this Thursday.
Prieto earned his 16th walk of the season, hit the second triple of the year (it was his 19th extra base) and had hit no. 99 with a touch of the ball that passed the pitcher, being impossible to control by the first baseman of the Leñadores, Denis Peña.
With 29 games to go (if there are no injuries), César Prieto would have at least 120 more at-bats to seek the 15 hits that separate him from Kendrys Morales' rookie record in 2002. After 137 PAs with the Villa Clara Azucareros, it seems that it will not be easy to stop the athletic boy from No. “9” in uniform. This is one of the biggest arguments to mention about the talent that Prieto has shown all season: He has the ability to be very consistent running the bases and putting the ball in play. But, above all, he surprises every day by applying one of the lost arts of baseball: he is an excellent ball handler.
Thanks to that mastery that he is achieving, he has made a difference over Holguín second baseman Maikel Cáceres, who did not seem to have serious opponents to lead in hits until just a week ago —he was injured playing against Industriales in the Latin American stadium.
Without a doubt, the possibility of touching the ball and taking advantage of its speed has been a work of art extended by Prieto throughout the season. Of his 99 hits, 50 have been ground balls and 36 line hits, numbers that show us what his swing can do for a high level of contact. He's averaging .485 BABIP in this second phase of the season, and a lethal rhythm against his opponents from both hands: His average against right-handed pitchers was .379 before facing the Lumberjacks of Las Tunas, and he crushed lefties with .423 and 1,020 OPS.
One of the interesting things about 100-hit hitters — Prieto could make that list tonight — is that they all have a different way of achieving success at the plate. Some take advantage of the virtue of contact and exploit speed, while others have the talent to go for bigger swings to look for extra bases.
In part, that is why we remember Kendrys Morales' 2002 season in a special way. Well, he not only broke most of Pedro José Rodríguez Jr.'s records as sluggers: He also surpassed the contact results achieved by Yasser Gómez with his 112 hits in 1998 and surpassed the 59 scored by Juan Miguel Miranda in 2001. By exhibiting his potential, Kendrys was able to provide a show that captivated millions of Cubans who loved the national pastime.
This time, perhaps without the same impact on the national level, but showing off his great baseball skills, Cesar Prieto is displaying his brilliance with amazing showings. Saving the distance and remembering the drop in level that the Cuban league has had, here is a comparison between Prieto and Kendrys after playing their match No. 61:
— Kendrys Morales: 236-75, .318, 13 2B, 3B, 15 HR, 59 RBIs, 25 BB, 39 SO.
— César Prieto: 252-99, .390, 12 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 33 RBIs, 16 BB, 30 SO.
In the same number of games, Kendrys debuting in 2002 and Prieto this season, the difference in hits that the man from Cienfuegos has is really considerable. So what can we expect? Prepare for something like this:
Cesar Prieto projections: 338 AB, 63 R, 133 H, 16 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 42 RBIs, 24 BB, 44 SO.
Kendrys' lead is just 15 hits, and Prieto has about 124 times at bat to go to break the record. You can see it there, those projections (if there are no injuries that stop the Cienfuegos) promise to destroy Kendrys' mark by more than 18 hits. Perhaps the difference is not so astronomical, but Prieto has everything in his favor to become the new record holder in hits. He too is close to dethroning Kendrys' 60-run mark, and the opportunity couldn't be better in front of Norel González, Yurien Vizcaíno, Carlos Benítez, William Saavedra and Yeniet Pérez.
Let's wait to see how and where Cesar Prieto manages to set the new record for hits (and perhaps runs scored) for rookies in the days to come, as the talented 18-year-old reminds us of Kendrys Morales' breakout season in 2002.
They will be interesting days to follow each shift of Prieto with the Villa Clara Sugar Producers, since, since the Elefantes did not qualify, the rookie from Cienfuegos will have to look for the mark far from home.
What things does baseball have? Kendrys signed the record of 114 hits, 21 home runs, 82 RBIs and 60 runs scored on May 15, 2002, playing in Cienfuegos. And now, 16 years later, a man from Cienfuegos is about to surpass him, but he won't have a chance to set his mark at home.
You are amazing, my dear baseball!
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