Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | LAA | 2B | 17 | 40 |
Grades Update: Jan 2021
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 50 | 20 | 50 | 45 | 40 |
Jan 2021 Report
Evaluator: Matt Thompson
Age: 18 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 155 lbs
Hits/Throws: S/R
Acquired: 2019 IFA
RuleV: 2023
Physical Description: Small, compact frame. Limited physical projection remaining. Does need to add strength or he could get exploited on offense.
Hit: Switch-hitter with strong bat-to-ball ability and pretty swing from both sides of the plate. He rocks and sways his body until he gets in hitting position, and starts towards the ball with a moderate leg kick. As the lower half begins to work he moves his hands back and gets into a nice easy position to attack the baseball. His head movement is minimal and he keeps everything fluid and in sync. Very much a contact oriented offensive game, but he does find the barrel and should develop enough power to keep pitchers honest. Grade: 50
Power: The biggest weakness in Placencia's game. His frame and the mechanical components of his swing make it extremely unlikely he hits for much power in the future. Nick Madrigal type pop here is a positive outcome. Most of his extra base hits will be because he found the gap or a well placed ground ball down the line. Grade: 20
Field: Fundamentally sound with soft hands, Placencia played both second and short during instructs but he's a better fit at second due to his size and lack of foot speed. Gets good reads off the bat and will make all the routine plays. Very smart player. Grade: 50
Arm: Good, not great arm. Accurate but lacks carry. If his momentum is moving away from the play he will have a hard time getting enough on the throw. Accurate arm with good footwork. Arm limits him to second base. Grade: 45
Run: Not fleet of foot. Short strider that lacks explosiveness. "Short, controlled steps" according to my contact. Not a threat on the bases, but will nab the occasional base when pitcher is napping. Grade: 40
Overall: The Angels signed the small-framed middle infielder for $1.2 million as part of their 2019 signing class. Placencia has some of the best hands in the organization. The switch-hitter excels at making contact, and has started turning it into quality contact more regularly. I just have my doubts that he hits the ball hard often enough to not get exploited by big league arms. Also he's likely a utility infielder that isn't an ideal fit for shortstop, and that can make him a tough fit on a roster outside of his controlled years.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench or Utility
Risk: High
