Cal League Class of 2004: Andre Ethier

Andre Ethier
6'2 210 DOB 4/10/82
Outfielder
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
2010: Los Angeles Dodgers
Acquired: 2005 trade with Oakland Athletics for Milton Bradley and Antonio Perez
Cal League career: 2004 with Modesto

Oakland had their eye on Andre Ethier for a number of years, drafting him twice in a span of three years. The Arizona native committed to play for Arizona State after high school, but after one season, the coaching staff felt Ethier should actually be playing junior college ball, and he transfered to Chandler-Gilbert Community College. In one year there, he proved to be a great junior college talent, and the A's selected him in the 37th round of the 2001 draft. Ethier chose to not sign and instead went back to Arizona State, maybe with something to prove.

In 2002, Ethier showed he belonged at the Division I level. Along with future major leaguers Dustin Pedroia, Jeff Larish and also Ian Kinsler coming off the bench, Ethier helped lead the Sun Devils to the CWS Regionals. He was a first team All-Pac 10 selection that season with a .997 OPS. He had an even better 2003, improving in just about every statistical category, and Arizona State advanced one more round in the postseason. Oakland made Ethier their second round pick in 2003, and he signed for $580,000.

Ethier made his pro debut with Vancouver in the short season Northwest League. After dominating the pitching there for 10 games, Oakland promoted him to Kane County of the Midwest League, where he played with future major league Nelson Cruz. In a 23 game stay with the Cougars, Ethier hit a solid .274 and walked a decent amount of times, but he showed no power and his OPS was just .677. Despite the disappointing end to the season, Ethier was listed as Oakland's 9th best prospect that offseason by Baseball America.

Modesto won the Cal League Championship in 2004, and Andre Ethier spending the entire season there was a big part of it. Although he only played in 99 games, Ethier batted .313, showing the ability to make contact that scouts saw in him at Arizona State. He managed to take a decent amount of walks too, but the power was still a work in progress. Ethier slugged .442 and finished 8th on the team in home runs.

Although he was no longer considered one of the A's top 10 prospects, Ethier started 2005 with AA Midland and had a very good season. He raised his average six points, and although his walk rate declined and he struck out more, Ethier started showing more power with improved doubles and home run totals. For his successful season, Ethier was named Texas League MVP and Oakland Minor League Player of the Year. He represented Oakland in the Arizona Fall League and was a man among boys, but his time in the Oakland organization would come to an end. In December of 2005, he was traded to the Dodgers for troubled outfielder Milton Bradley and infielder Antonio Perez.

Ethier would start his first year with the Dodgers in AAA, but after about a month he was called up to Los Angeles. The Dodgers weren't getting much production from their outfield, which included veterans such as Kenny Lofton and Jose Cruz. He made his ML debut on May 2nd in his home state of Arizona. Late in the game, Ethier hit a double and later drew a walk. His first home run came against Dewon Brazelton the next day. He had a very good rookie season, finishing 5th in Rookie of the Year voting with a .842 OPS. In 2006, the Dodgers began transitioning to a number of younger players, including Russell Martin, Matt Kemp, Chad Billingsley, and James Loney got some time at 1B. They made the playoffs but fell to the Mets in the Division Series.

In 2007, Ethier saw an increase in at bats and decrease in production. He saw more action in the field in his more familiar right field after spending the entire 2006 season in left with J.D. Drew in right. His OPS dropped to .802 and the Dodgers did not make the playoffs. 2008 was a breakout year for the team and Ethier. He had his first 20 home run season and showed the plate discipline that scouts saw in him at Arizona State. After the Dodgers traded for Manny Ramirez at the deadline, Ethier stayed in RF for good as Los Angeles made it back to the playoffs before losing to eventual World Series Champion Philadelphia in the NLCS.

When Manny was suspended for 50 games in 2005, Ethier struggled without the big right handed bat in the lineup. Ethier batted just .225 with a .738 OPS when Manny was out of the lineup, but he certainly had a memorable season. He finished with a career high 31 home runs, won a silver slugger and finished 6th in MVP voting. He also had six walk off hits, including four home runs, over the course of the season which was the most in the majors since 1974. Although the Dodgers once against lost to the Phillies in the NLCS, Ethier remains a part of a core of homegrown players in Los Angeles that includes Russell Martin, James Loney, Matt Kemp and pitchers Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw and Jonathan Broxton that could be contenders in the NL for a number of years.