Andres Gimenez

Age: 20 (9/4/98)

Bats/Throws: L/R

Height/Weight: 5’11” 161 lbs.

Pos: SS

Team/Level/League: St. Lucie Mets/High A/Florida State League*

Body/Athleticism:

Wiry, athletic frame with max projection. Could add 15-20 pounds of strength to frame without losing athleticism.

Stance:

Spreads out in the box. No leg kick. Pivots on front toe as weight shifts backwards. Hands start high but move to load in tandem with hips. Balanced throughout swing.

Hit Tool:

45/60 - Plus bat speed with good hand-eye coordination. Swing is short and quick. Excellent barrel control and feel. Allows the ball to get deep and uses his strong wrists to spray line drives all over the field with authority. Mature approach for teenager. Makes adjustments within game.

Power:

40/55 - Sneaky pop for a smaller guy. Bat is explosive due to wrist strength. Swing has natural loft. Power should continue to improve as the body matures and he gets stronger. Hasn’t yet learn to utilize lower half efficiently but still is able to generate plus bat speed. At peak could hit 20-25 HR.

Raw Power:

30/45 - Falls into the category of little guys with incredibly quick wrists, whose power in games shows up more than in BP.

Speed:

60/60 - 4.08 home-to-first from LH box and 11.47 home-to-third. Accelerates to full speed with 2-3 steps. Instinctive baserunner. Future 30+ SB.

Defense:

65/65 - Very smooth with a quick first step. Plus instincts. Excellent range to both sides. Steady. Hands are soft. Can make every play on the field.

Arm:

60/65 - Athletic thrower. Able to make throws accurately moving away from the bag. Release is quick with a short and fast arm action. Arm strength should improve with lower half strength.

Overall:

65 - Gimenez will be a special player at a premium position. Defense is the carrying tool at present where he profiles as a plus defender with a strong, accurate arm. Profiles as a top of the lineup hitter that will work deep into counts and uses the whole field. Emerging power due to plus bat speed and hit tool. Should become a 20 HR/20 SB at peak with power being the final tool to arrive. Instincts and makeup will make him a fan favorite and team leader.

* Gimenez was promoted to AA Binghamton in the second half of the season.