Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CLE | OF | 2 | 50 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 45 | 55 | 45 | 55 | 55 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Joe Drake
Age: 20 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2017 IFA
RuleV: 2021
Physical Description: Body has begun to fill out since being listed at 160 pounds. Would guess closer to 180 now. Solid frame with long limbs and high hips despite not being tall (only 5'10). Legs and butt have filled out in the last couple of years. Strong, but still athletic. Not much room on the frame for more weight at this point.
Hit: Sits moderately into back leg with lead leg stretched at full length and open by 1.5 foot lengths or so. Torso is upright with shoulders perpendicular to the pitcher with the hands neck-level and bat resting on the shoulder. Loads with minor leg kick just above the back knee, bringing lead leg back under the lead hip. Bat and hands come to life with big waggle. Moderate coil at hips. Hands slide back and down to chest level at launch position. Swing plane is just above flat, allowing him to stay in the hitting zone for a while and still lift the ball. Pretty low-effort swing that generates easy pop allows for solid barrel control. Stays in control without sacrificing power. Poor swing decisions lead to some bad contact; discipline and zone awareness need work. Has some swing and miss issues and doesn't always square up pitches he should punish. Building blocks are there for an average hit tool, but currently well below-average. Grade: 45
Power: Quick, strong hands generate Above-average bat speed and combined with lofted swing path give Valera a good chance to hit for above-average power in games. Plus raw power. The swing is relatively low-effort, but he makes hard contact and the ball jumps off his bat. Plenty of pop for all fields power and can stretch singles into doubles with his legs right now Grade: 55
Field: AA speed gives him good range, but reads and routes look below average in limited looks. Good burst when he locates the ball. Doesn't do all the little things yet, caught flat-footed occasionally. Could probably play center in a pinch, but much better suited for a corner. Grade: 45
Arm: Wasn't able to see the arm at full force during limited looks, but multiple reports list it at above-average. Should be enough to pass for RF, especially as he learns to get himself in better positions to throw. Grade: 55
Run: Moves well. Accelerates quickly and has good top end speed with long strides that turn over well. Clocked a 4.15 H-1st. Aggressive baserunner who can time a good jump when stealing a base, but still needs refinement. Should be a threat for 10-20 steals at the top level. Grade: 55
Overall: Valera brings an exciting package to the table with multiple above-average tools. The hit tool is quite raw at the moment due to weak feel for the strike zone and poor swing decisions, but as he improves there his plus raw power and AA speed will really begin to shine. The ball explodes off his bat despite his easy swing -- when he makes contact, it's loud. His strong arm and solid defense make him a good candidate for RF and he undoubtedly has the bat to fit the corner OF profile. He has work to do to get there, but Valera is currently tracking to be an impact player who can anchor a lineup.
OFP: 50
Role: 50 - Average Everyday Regular
Risk: High
