Bour making Marlins' 'flier' pick in Rule 5 Draft look very wise
For certain things, like eating donuts -- for example -- Miami Marlins first baseman Justin Bour doesn't consider himself a patient person. Baseball's another story, especially when considering his journey to the majors.
"Baseball is something you don't have a lot of control over," Bour said. "You can only control so much. That's something that you learn along the way. I'm been playing for quite a while now, so I've learned that."
Bour, projected to be taken between the fifth and 12th rounds of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, instead waited until the 25th when the Chicago Cubs finally selected him.
Over three collegiate seasons at George Mason University from 2007-09, Bour belted 46 home runs and 187 RBI to finish second and third, respectively, in program lore. During his junior year, both he and the Patriots made history. Bour posted a .329 average, knocking 14 doubles and 17 homers with 66 RBI in 55 games.
For just the sixth time in history, George Mason reached the NCAA Tournament. The 42 wins matched a program record. A record six players from that team signed professional deals, including Bour. He is one of just four former guys to reach the big leagues.
"Honestly, I'm not sure exactly," Bour said of why his stock fell. "To this day I don't know what happened. When draft day came I wasn't exactly sure what happened, but for whatever reason I fell out of my slot and ended up getting taken in the 25th round.
"I was upset. I feel like I didn't get drafted where I thought I believed I should have. But it's one of those things where once you get to pro ball nothing is handed to you anyway. It's back to an even playing level. With the Cubs, since Day 1, they pretty much put me in the four hole and I played first base every day for them. It wasn't like they didn't appreciate me as a player. I was just taken in a later round."
From 2009-2013, Bour compiled a .270 average with 137 doubles, two triples, 74 homers and 386 RBI in 543 minor-league games in the Cubs system. He produced three straight seasons of 30-plus doubles, 12-plus dingers and 85-plus RBI.
In 2012, Bour put together a career year, blasting career highs in doubles (36) and RBI (110), while knocking 17 homers for Double-A Tennessee. He went to the Puerto Rican Winter League for additional seasoning.
Despite his success, Chicago sent him back to the Double-A level in 2013 rather than promote him. The momentum slipped away because of a hairline fracture to his left wrist. Over 83 games, Bour tallied 17 doubles, 18 homers and 64 RBI, but his average dropped to a career-low .237.
"I felt like I played really well, made both All-Star teams," Bour recalled. "When I got sent back to Double-A I was frustrated, but I was still ready to go out there and compete every single day. Three series in, I get hit by a pitch and break my wrist and I miss the whole first half of the season. I was able to bounce back. It was a good year in those terms, but my average wasn't that good because I was trying to make up for lost time. It was an interesting year for me.
"There's really no rehab when you break something. You hang around. I was sitting around watching. It gave me a newfound respect, love for the game. I missed a lot of time and I had to sit and watch the game where I'm used to playing every day. It drove me crazy a little bit. When I finally got back out there kind of had more adrenaline pumping and became a little more thankful for how lucky I was to play the game."
Come winter, the Cubs didn't protect Bour by placing him on the 40-man roster. Had they given up on him with Anthony Rizzo locked at first base for the foreseeable future? Were they concerned about his development?
The Marlins saw the left-handed power bat as a nice fit for the organization, taking him in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft.
"The guys that were really onto him were our Double-A manager Andy Barkett, (director of baseball operations) Dan Noffsinger, and they had seen this guy coming through and absolutely raved about his bat, his ability to hit, adjustability at the plate," manager Dan Jennings said. "The fact being such a big guy he was light on his feet, he moved around well. All that being said, when he was left out there on this list, it was one of those, 'Wow, this is a no brainer. Take the flier.' It's been good for him, certainly good for us."
Barkett, now the assistant hitting coordinator, saw Bour as an opposing player. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder impressed with his athleticism, his ability to handle the bat and how hard he hit the ball.
His first season with the organization in 2014, Bour posted a career-best .306 average with 27 doubles, 18 homers and 72 RBI in 103 games. He made his major-league debut on June 5, 2014, going 2 for 5 with an RBI against the Tampa Bay Rays. Bour went 21 for 74 (.284) with three doubles, a homer and 11 RBI in 39 games over four stints.
"Watched him develop into a more consistent player," Barkett said. "Always liked his run production potential."
Of 51 minor leaguers selected by the Marlins in that portion of the Rule 5 Draft, just five others -- Antonio Alfonseca, Frank Gracesqui, Alejandro De Aza, Cristhian Martinez and Adalberto Mendez -- have reached the majors with the Marlins.
Bour, who turned 27 last week, got recalled this season after just 14 games when Christian Yelich went on the disabled list. When Michael Morse struggled and sprained his finger, which has since put him on the DL, Bour took over primary duties.
His production has already surpassed nearly all of those previous Rule 5 picks. Bour is batting .333 (24 for 72) with three doubles, five dingers and 10 RBI in 31 games. During the roadtrip, he homered in three straight games.
"Honestly, I try not to listen to all that talk about the Minor League Rule 5," Bour said. "It's all about getting an opportunity with somebody who believes in you as a player. I feel like the Marlins did. They were confident in me and gave me an opportunity. I've just been trying to make the most of it."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
