300% Melton is a potential starter whose potential is thus far unrealized. Dezenzo is a potential bench player whose potential is thus far unrealized.
The vast majority of prospects of Dezenzo’s age, with his documented abilities and weaknesses, simply just don’t turn into bonafide everyday players (let alone star players). They do play very valuable roles on winning teams… and winning teams need contributions from these guys to continue to be winning teams (sometimes moreso than one would think… for example Marwin’s 2017* season).
And you know this from Dezenzo's 100 AB's and Melton's three AB's? Who was the better hitter in the minors and while Melton is the better athlete, it's not like Dezenzo isn't a good athlete himself. Given Dezenzo's lack of experience in the minors and his success, I would say he's got as good of a chance to succeed in Houston as Melton does. I don't like the way he or Smith has been used this season.
Currently this is moot as neither Altuve nor Dezenzo is acceptable in left field. Either could improve but probably not in time to play LF in the playoffs this season.
I know this from my own baseball observations over the last 50 years. It is not much but it is all I have got.
It has been a while since the steroid era. This isn't to say some guys don't have their best years later as their skills get better, as their athleticism wanes (e.g., typically BB% for goes up until about 30, but K% goes up after 25 typically for hitters). The vast majority of players wash out in their late 20s and early 30s. Sure, there is a survivor bias in that the guys playing well in their 30s had a longer peak/got better than those that washed out (i.e., the exceptions are the ones playing). Dezenzo is going to have to mash better than he has been. He just does not have much play with his K%.
He's played what? 50 MLB games and played very little in the minors are you're able to determine this? My point is nobody knows how Dezenzo's career is going to turnout after 50 games. Yes, players washout in their late 20's. (They also washout in their early 20's.) However those who make it, their best yrs come between ages 27-32 IMHO.
We have years and years of data showing players peak late 20s. It's been established for a long time. A lot of guys don't even make the majors until 24, 25. Judge's first full season was at 25. We're talking major league players - of course there are guys who wash out before ever making the bigs.
I played a lot of competitive softball and my best years were between 27-32. Why? Because I still had athletic ability but was a much smarter player.
I thought throwing a ball was like riding a bike. Then I threw a baseball into the ground three times in a row.
Google says Dezenzo will be out from 1 to 3 months, depending on the severity of the sprain, so anywhere from an early July return to out for the season. To me the main implication here is that Dezenzo is probably off the table as a deadline trade chip. Blanco’s best case scenario is a Jun-July 2026 rehab putting him back in the majors in August, but I would bet heavily on him missing the entire 2026 season. Arrighetti, Garcia, and Javier will be watched with great interest. My nightmare is a scandal where it comes out that Houston was intentionally misleading players and the media (annd possibly even the front office) regarding injuries as part of an insider betting operation over the last 2-3 years.
