Five-tool player

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For most of his career, Barry Bonds was considered a five-tool player.

In baseball, a five-tool player is a term used to define a complete performer, an athlete who excels at hitting for average, hitting for power, baserunning skills and speed, throwing ability and fielding abilities.

Though some players are limited to a tool or two, hitting home runs or stealing bases, playing good defense or hitting for average, a five-tooler is all that and more wrapped into one, better than average, a truly valuable player who can consistently perform well at all five skills.

In Major League Baseball, players considered five tool players have included Hall of Famers Willie Mays^[1] and Duke Snider^[2]. Non-Hall of Famers like Andre Dawson^[3] have also been described as five tool players. Active players who have been described as possessing the five tools include Barry Bonds^[4], Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Iván Rodríguez.^[5]

[edit] Criticism

Baseball Digest, among others, has argued that the five tool player label is overused and overvalued. Status as a five tool player does not correspond to superstardom and is both debatable as well as contentious among broadcasters, scouts, and other interested parties. Also, players can gain or lose the status during their careers.^[6]

The fundamental problem is that the term requires human evaluation, and is thus subject to human error. Astros assistant GM Tim Purpura, for example, admitted, "We really felt that Hidalgo was your prototypical potential five-tool player as a center fielder. All his talent just flowed from him, and we all thought he was a can't-miss star. And while Hidalgo has demonstrated many of those tools, he hasn't come close to Abreu's consistency."^[7]