Is Jack Cust the next Ryan Howard?

Is Jack Cust the next Ryan Howard?

Jack Cust 

Stick with me, I’m going somewhere with this.


 
Ok, post teaser. I am in no way implying that Jack Cust will hit 50+ home runs.

So, what exactly am I saying?

Well, Ryan Howard was stuck behind Jim Thome for years in Philly. During this time all he did was mash. At age 24, Howard was busy creating an OPS of over 1.000 between AA & AAA (including a .604 SLG in AAA) and was rewarded with only a late season call-up. At 25, he found himself back in AAA, with a 1.157 OPS. He was only given a chance with the Phils after an injury sidelined Thome mid-way through the 2005 season. Howard had to wait until 2006, at the age of 26 to get a full-time gig.

Jack Cust was drafted in 1997 and despite slugging his way throughout the minors, he was traded and released numerous times. During this time, his longest MLB stint was 73 AB in 2003. All the while, Cust was racking up homers (196 career minor league HR) and building a top notch OPS (.943 career minor league OPS). In 2006, at the age of 27, Cust put together a spectacular season, hitting 30 HR, racking up an OPS of 1.016 and walking an unheard of 143 times. Currently, Cust is in his second go around with the Athletics and is making the most of his opportunity. In eight major league games this season, Cust has 6 HR, 14 RBI, 7 BB and a 1.410 OPS. This certainly isn’t going to keep, but Cust is out to prove everyone that he is another long-time, overlooked minor league prospect that just needed a home and a chance.

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4 replies on “Is Jack Cust the next Ryan Howard?”
  1. says: Callum

    I am still ashamed at myself for giving Erubiel Durazo the nod over Cust at this point. Let’s see if he can keep this up – I see him more of an Adam Dunn type than a Ryan Howard. He walks a ton but strikes out a ton as well.

  2. says: Kman

    Oh yeah, he’s not like Ryan with the bat. Just the milb treatment.

    Dunn is a good comp (lofty though). It makes me wonder why a player with the milb credentials such as Jack never received an extended major league shot. Judging from his games player to abs, most teams used him as a pinch hitter.

  3. says: Callum

    I think that he will ever be tainted from the sports centre highlight of him falling flat on his face rounding third and trying to go home. He had carpal tunnel syndrome in BOTH wrists which limited his effectiveness (probably too much mop up duty.com). He seems to be fine now though.

  4. says: AndyP27

    Cust is an excellent player who really exemplifies how the Athletics have sustained a winning atmosphere. When a starter goes down, an organization player like Jack Cust just picks up the slack. While Cust is an excellent power hitter, with the capability to drive the ball to all fields, he does not show the ability to hit for average, like Ryan Howard.When, if ever, the A’s get back to full health, we will have a ridiculous amount of depth on the bench, and someone is going to have to go.I personally think he would make great trade bait, so we get some arms in the minors!

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