Carlos Gomez

2013

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2012

Gomez spent much of 2011 out of the lineup with a broken clavicle. He excelled as a bench player and right-handed platoon player after he returned from the injury. Those are probably the best roles for Gomez, who has never been able to realize his potential. He's superb defensively and stole 16 bases to just two caught stealing, but has never made much improvement at the plate. Gomez will get some stolen bases next season, but not much more and can really hurt a fantasy team's batting average if he's forced into a starting role.

2011

Gomez showed little or no improvement in 2010, hitting .247/.298/.357 in 97 games. He plays above average defense, steals bases and swings at just about everything. The Brewers finally sent him to the minors in August and started using Lorenzo Cain in center, but the position is up for grabs with Cain's inclusion in the Zack Greinke deal. It appears as though the starting job belongs to Gomez by default, but he'll need to show signs of growth to keep the Brewers from looking elsewhere for a replacement.

2010

Gomez enters 2010 as Milwaukee's starting center fielder with tantalizing speed and perhaps the best defense of any outfielder in baseball. After Minnesota aggressively gave Gomez a starting job in 2008, he lost playing time last season as the Twins shuffled between four outfielders and he appeared to take a step back at the plate. He also wasn't given the green light on the basepaths and didn't lay down as many bunts to utilize his speed (he led the AL in infield hits in 2008). However, he did draw more walks and struck out fewer times despite a lower batting average and on-base percentage. Gomez has the skill set to be an impact player with great speed on the bases, incredible range in the outfield (he led all of baseball in range factor in 2008) and some power. However, he also has great flaws with poor plate discipline and is caught stealing too often. If he finds plate discipline, he could develop into a star with 20-homer, 50-steal potential. Until then, he remains a risk to a fantasy team's batting average even though he may be a great source of steals as an everyday player with the Brewers.

2009

Gomez was the centerpiece of the Johan Santana trade and showed star qualities, along with fundamental flaws, in his first season as a starting center fielder. The Twins aggressively gave Gomez the starting center field job out of spring training and also made him the leadoff hitter. Gomez showed great speed on the bases, incredible range in the outfield (he led all of baseball in range factor), led the AL in infield hits and set a Twins record for bunt hits. At the same time, Gomez had poor plate discipline and swung at the first pitch 40 percent of the time (sixth most in the AL), and was caught stealing 11 times in 44 stolen base attempts. The Twins belatedly moved him from the leadoff role to ninth in the order in July, finally realizing his speed couldn't offset his poor eye at the plate. Gomez should enter 2009 as the starting center fielder, but the Twins have five players regarded as starters for the outfield and DH, so any slump in spring training or early in the season could see him sent to Triple-A. Despite his flaws, Gomez is a potential fantasy superstar with outstanding speed and burgeoning power. He could be a 20-homer, 50-steal player if his plate discipline can have a Jose Reyes-like dramatic improvement. He could also fail to keep a regular job if he can't learn to stop hacking.

2008

Gomez tore through Triple-A in April, hitting .301, and even though he was batting just .255 in May, he was called up when Moises Alou was injured. After struggling early, Gomez started to pick it up both offensively and defensively, spiltting time between left and right field with the Mets. However, Gomez broke the hamate bone in his left hand on a checked swing in early July, which required surgery that sidelined him for two months. Upon returning, he was used mainly as a pinch-hitter and runner in September while the team was in a pennant race. Like many young hitters, Gomez needs to find that line between aggressiveness and plate discipline, as he had a 27:8 K:BB ratio in 125 big-league at-bats, but he continued his growth on the basepaths, succeeding 29 times while only being thrown out seven times between two levels. After coming over to the Twins in the Johan Santana trade, Gomez will compete for the starting in center field this spring. It's possible the Twins may start him at Triple-A in order to improve his plate discipline and learn to drive the ball with his 6-foot-4 frame. If he wins any role in the majors, he'll have immediate fantasy impact due to his speed.

2007

Gomez got off to a slow start in Double-A Binghamton, after skipping High-A St. Lucie, with just a .211/.291/.311 line through early-June. Part of that slow start might have been due to a strained back that kept him out of action for three weeks though it looked like much of it was due to him being overmatched at that level. Once Gomez returned to action, he hit the ground running, driving the ball over the field to finish the year at .281/.349/.423 while showing why many scouts feel he has a higher upside than Lastings Milledge. Gomez needs work on his plate discipline, evidenced by his poor 97:27 K:BB ratio. But he showed strides on the basepaths by making 41-of-50 steals after being caught 24 times in 2005. Gomez should start the year at Triple-A Norfolk and as his body and baseball mentality mature, he should start to hit home runs and be a power-speed threat for years to come.

2006

Gomez shot onto the Mets' radar this year by leading the South Atlantic League with 64 steals. Most scouts believe his 6-4 frame will fill out as he matures, allowing him to wield a dangerous power-speed combination. Right now, he's a work in progress with just eight home runs and an 88/32 K/BB ratio, but his is a name to keep in mind.