Villanueva provides the glue at the hot corner for Crawdads

Imagine, for a moment, the Beatles without George Harrison. 

Or, to bring it into the sports realm, imagine the New York Yankees dynasty of the 50s and Mickey Mantle without Yogi Berra, the 60s dynasty of the Boston Celtics and Bill Russell without John Havlicek, the Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty of the 70s without Jack Lambert, or the 90s Chicago Bulls of Michael Jordan without Steve Kerr or John Paxson. All with immensely talented marquee-named performers with indispensible persons in the background that do the dirty work to help the team as the whole succeed.

The Hickory Crawdads have such a player on the team this year in third baseman Christian Villanueva. While the Crawdads have had a bevy of talented prospects during the 2011 season, as the Crawdads head toward the South Atlantic League playoffs in three weeks, it is Villanueva that has been the most important component of the team. 

Villanueva and the Crawdads open a four-game series tonight at 7 p.m. against the Lexington (Ky.) Legends at L.P. Frans Stadium.

Signed by the Rangers in 2008, the 20-year old native of Guadalajara, Mexico has a prowess at third base uncommon at the low A level. He has committed only 17 errors at the position, while turning 37 double plays. That mark is not only a team record at the position, but is more than any other collective group for a season.

He has also come upon a burst of power this season. After hitting only two home runs in his first two pro seasons, Villanueva has a team high of 14 homers to go with 72 RBI, which is also a team high.

That combination of defensive ability and power has some observers comparing Villanueva to former major league slugger Vinny Castilla, also from Mexico.

His professional career was almost derailed before it even started. Eight games into his first pro season in 2009, Villanueva, then a shortstop with the Rangers Dominican Summer League (DSL) team, tore his knee cartilage in slide and missed the remainder of the season.

After rehabbing from the injury and despite the limited time in the DSL, he was promoted to his first U.S. assignment with the Rangers’ Arizona Summer League (AZL) team. But it was at a new position: third base.

“At short, I had a good glove, but I wasn’t quick,” said Villanueva through the translation of teammate Jorge Marban. “They said my hitting profile fit more as a third baseman, so they moved me to third base.”

“At first it was like a bother to me but now I like playing third.”

Villanueva had a stellar season with the AZL Rangers hitting .314 in 51 games with 35 RBI, a team high, which resulted in being picked to the AZL post-season all-star team.

“It was a good experience coming back from that injury,” Villanueva said.  “The coaches were pushing me and I had a good year.”

The Rangers thought highly enough of his body of work to skip a level of development and report to Hickory this season.  He has not disappointed.

With the likes of highly touted prospect Jurickson Profar, first round picks Jake Skole and Kellin Deglan and the live arm of Roman Mendez on the Crawdads team in 2011, it’s easy to forget that Villanueva was named by Baseball America as the Texas Rangers’ 12^th best prospect prior to this season. 

A deeper look at Villanueva’s season shows that he has the knack for big moments. He has four walkoff RBI this season, and another hit that tied a game in the ninth. Of his 72 RBI, sixteen have come with the bases loaded.

“I like those pressure moments,” Villanueva said. “I don’t like to lose so that makes me want to get that big hit. I just like those situations and want to help the team win.”

In the field, Villanueva continues to take to third base quite well. With a quick first step and hands that would be the envy of pickpockets everywhere, he been a solid defender.

Said Crawdads manager Bill Richardson in an interview back in early May, “I’ve already seen seven plays made this home stand that I hadn’t seen made all last season,”

“I think Villanueva at third base has been very solid,” said Rangers senior director of player personnel. “He’s come as advertized. He’s a very good defender at third base; he’s swinging the bat well. At his age, I think he’s another guy that’s not a surprise, but a good story and a good prospect for us.”