This is my first ever written piece about baseball full stop or period as you guys like to say. Please take everything with a pinch of salt or a handful at your peril! I have loved immersing myself in the international July 2 market for a couple for years now, have studied endless youtube clips of BP, followed Ben Badler, Prospect One and the Prospect Live guys for as long as I have been on Twitter. This is a simple piece which covers my favorite Top 30 J2 prospects eligible to sign this year as well as peak stat lines because they’re so inaccurate yet everyone loves to drool over them. Any feedback I get from this— as long it’s all positive — is greatly appreciated.
1) Jasson Dominguez, OF, NYY
DOB- 2/7/2003
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- HIT/SPEED/POWER/DEFENSE/? PITCHING (JOKE, maybe?)
PRIME STAT LINE- .280 AVG/35HR/20SB
This guy is nicknamed the Martian for a reason and it’s because he is very good at baseball as a 16-year-old. Jasson is 16 yet looks like a Gleyber Torres on steroids. He’s got so much swag and oomph factor that even his own parents decided to give him an extra S in his name. This guy is destined for stardom (like we haven’t heard that before) and can only go up from here unless the pressure gets to him and he becomes another…Kevin Maitan! Argh!
2) Luis Rodriguez, OF, LAD
DOB- 9/16/2002
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE/HIT
PRIME STAT LINE- .275/25HR/15SB…..Yasiel Puig in the OF
Luis is what you would want from an OF—a jack of all trades, master of none. If one team can make a jack a master, it’s the Dodgers
3) Robert Puason, SS, OAK
DOB- 9/11/2002
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- SPEED/DEFENSE
PRIME STAT LINE- .283/15HR/25SB
Regarded as the top IFA before Jasson was unearthed.
4) Erick Pena, OF, KC
DOB- 2/20/2003
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- HIT/POWER
PRIME STAT LINE- .289/20HR/10SB
5) Bayron Lora, OF, LAA
DOB- 9/29/2002
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- POWER
PRIME STAT LINE- .265/30-40HR/1-5SB
This dude is listed at 190 poiunds per MILB pipeline and I am more than sure that most of it is muscle.
6) Yolbert Sanchez, 2B/SS, CWS
DOB- 03/1997
COUNTRY- Cuba
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE/SPEED
PRIME STAT LINE- .260/10HR/35SB
Defected from Cuba earlier on in the year, Orioles fans were desperate to get him but he chose to wait and went with White Sox. Probably a wise move.
7) Arol Vera, SS, LAA
DOB- 9/12/2002
COUNTRY- Venezuela
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE
PRIME STAT LINE- .268/7-10HR/15-20SB
A role model in Andrelton Simmons that plays for your team—what more could you want?
8) Yiddi Cappe, SS, No Team
DOB- 8/17/2002
COUNTRY- Venezuela
TEAM- Unsigned
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE/HIT
PRIME STAT LINE- .275/15HR/20SB
Per media outlets via Twitter there are reports that Marlins are the team in the frame with a number of $3.5 million being bandied about yet unfortunately they don’t have that kind of money yet so they will have to trade for it. There’s a chance Cappe waits until next year’s signing period as well. This guy is being compared to Carlos Correa and the likes and a value for him is on the higher side so watch this space
9) Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, MIN
DOB- 2/28/2003
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE/SPEED
PRIME STAT LINE- .270/13-16HR/15-20SB
10) Adael Amador,SS, COL
DOB- 4/11/2003
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE/HIT
PRIME STAT LINE- .270/7-10HR/10-15SB
A defense-centric shortstop right now, I believe the hit tool will follow.
11) Luis Medina, OF, MIL
DOB- 2/24/2003
COUNTRY- Venezuela
TOP TOOL- POWER
PRIME STAT LINE- .265/25-30HR/3-6SB
12) Dauri Lorenzo,SS, HOU
DOB- 10/29/2002
COUNTRY-Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- SPEED
PRIME STAT LINE- .270/10-12HR/20-25SB
Any Astros IFA signing is a tick in my book. Lorenzo is a switch-hitting SS with quick hands at the plate — yes please!
13) Ismael Pena, OF, SD
DOB- 11/30/2002
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE/HIT
PRIME STAT LINE- .280/10-15HR/15SB
Has been compared to a young Gregory Polanco by MLB Pipeline and I tend to agree. Look in this article, where the scouting director compares him to the one and only Jeisson Rosario defensively — music to my ears!
14) Ronnier Quintero, C, CHC
DOB- 11/13/2002
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- POWER
PRIME STAT LINE- .270/25-28HR/0-5SB
The Cubs keep churning out these top catching international prospects.
15) Kevin Made,SS, CHC
DOB- 9/10/2002
COUNTRY- Venezuela
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE
PRIME STAT LINE- .270/10-13HR/15-20SB
Another Aramis Ademan type of prospect with more power.
16) Jhon Diaz,OF, NYY
DOB- 10/1/2002
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE/SPEED
PRIME STAT LINE- .265-.270/7-12HR/12-17SB
The Yankees shouldn’t be allowed to sign any more players after getting Jasson but they can and they get another OF that projects to be above average. The rich get richer.
17) Jose Pastrano,SS, CLE
DOB- 9/12/2002
COUNTRY- Venezuela
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE
PRIME STAT LINE- .265/5-10HR/18-22SB
A 150-pound infielder, what separates Pastrano from the rest is his knowledge of the strike zone and his quick hands. Take a look below.
18) Wilmer De La Cruz, SS, TB
DOB- 04/06/2003
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE
PRIME STAT LINE- .265-.270/15HR/8-10SB
19) Franyel Baez, OF, ARI
DOB- 03/01/2003
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- HIT
PRIME STAT LINE- .270-.280/15-20HR/10SB
20) Roberto Campos, 3B/OF, DET
DOB-06/2003
COUNTRY- Cuba
TOP TOOL- POWER
PRIME STAT LINE- .270/20-30HR/5-8SB
Signed for $3 million. Defected at the age of 13 with his brother, played a baseball tournament in DR and was named the MVP. Judging by a pic here or there, he is a big boy with big righty power who is most likely going to transition to corner outfield soon. Teams were not too keen on him and saw the price tag as a little steep. Tigers must have some inside knowledge that others don’t know about.
21) Elijah Tatis, SS, CWS
DOB- 2003
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE
PRIME STAT LINE- .280/15HR/10-15SB
A club representative told Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes ‘Elijah is more like his father than his brother as a player’. Tatis St. hit 113 homers in an 11-year career, with his career year of 1999 for the St. Louis Cardinals saw him slash .298/.404/.553 with 31 doubles, 34 homers, 103 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and 82 walks.
22) Rikelvin De Castro, SS, TOR
DOB- 1/23/2003
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE
PRIME STAT LINE- .270/5-10HR/10-20SB
23) Starling Beltre, OF, TOR
DOB- 02/20/2003
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- POWER
PRIME STAT LINE- .275-.280/30HR/2-5SB
This guy goes by Starlin/Estarling/Starling and quite possibly just Beltre. Regardless of his moniker, this kid is a colossus all the same. In the short video below you will notice that even the agency decided to cut out his 60 yard run because they knew it wasn’t worth promoting that filth.
24) Reginald Preciado, SS, SD
DOB- 5/16/2003
COUNTRY- Panama
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE/HIT
PRIME STAT LINE- .285/10HR/10-15SB
Reginald’s father, Victor Preciado, was a first baseman and corner outfielder who signed with the Yankees in the mid 1990s but never advanced past rookie ball. The 16-year-old son is a 6-foot-4, switch-hitting shortstop with a knack for putting the ball in play.
25) Luis Suisbel,SS, SEA
DOB- 2003
COUNTRY- Venezuela
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE/HIT
PRIME STAT LINE- .275/15HR/15-20SB
Not as highly touted as Arol Vera, both coming from Venezuela, I like what the Mariners have done in this year’s market. They’ve spread the wealth so to speak rather than go out and get one high caliber player.
26) Beiker Pastran, SS, MIL
DOB- 2003
COUNTRY- Venezuela
TOP TOOL- SPEED/HIT
PRIME STAT LINE- .270/15-20HR/10-15SB
27) Edryn Rodriguez, OF/SS, SEA
DOB- 04/23/2003
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- DEFENSE
PRIME STAT LINE- .265-.270/5-10HR/15-20SB
28) Axel Sanchez, SS, SEA
DOB- 10/10/2002
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TEAM- Seattle Mariners
TOP TOOL- HIT/SPEED
PRIME STAT LINE- .280-.285/12-15HR/20-25SB
As brought to you by Alex ‘Juicy’ Jensen @jensen_juicy
29) George Feliz, OF, SEA
DOB- 2003
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- HIT/SPEED
PRIME STAT LINE- .280/15-25HR/20-25SB
Victor Robles lite so some say—those are dangerous words…… hmmmmm.
30) Bernie Encarnacion, OF, ARI
DOB- 10/01/2002
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TOP TOOL- POWER
PRIME STAT LINE- .265/18-23HR/5-7SB
DARKHORSE
Eurides De Los Santos,OF
DOB- 12/26/2002
COUNTRY- Dominican Republic
TEAM- UNKNOWN
TOP TOOL- POWER
PRIME STAT LINE- .260-.270/25-28HR/0-3SB
I have to say first of all that Eurides has not signed with a team yet. I have tried to reach out to JDB and Ben Badler but no answer has been provided which makes me think he hasn’t signed thus far. With that said, this man is built like a tank. Yes his swing is long, yes it’s only BP in a cow field, yes he hasn’t even got paid yet, yes he might only reach GCL in his career when he eventually signs but am I going to go out on a limb and say this guy is potentially a beast in the making.
I feel like this is the point at which I say ‘All rankings and comments are my own and no one else shares them’. Go easy on me folks and I hope to do this again next year.