Before Xander Bogaerts, Yordano Ventura and Maikel Franco ascended to Top 100 prospect status, they all flashed signals of breakout potential at the lowest levels of professional baseball.
For teams, identifying players who have the upside to become premium prospects but haven’t reached that point yet offers the potential for a huge reward if a team is able to get such a player as a secondary piece in a deal before his trade value blows up. Getting the Red Sox to include Bogaerts in a trade after his 2007 season in the Dominican Summer League would have been plausible in the right deal. Now any trade for Bogaerts is out of the question.
It’s just as important for scouts to find undervalued players beyond the back fields. Excluding players who ranked among the top 10 prospects in their organization (so Twins lefthander Lewis Thorpe and Blue Jays shortstop Franklin Barreto are out of the picture), here are 10 potential breakout prospects from the international ranks.
Michael de la Cruz, of, Pirates: De la Cruz was one of the most exciting players in the Dominican Summer League in 2013, with a skill set that should transfer well when he makes his U.S. debut this year. He’s a patient hitter who controls the strike zone, uses his hands well at the plate and works the gaps. With plus speed that should allow him to stay in center field, de la Cruz is just the next in line in an impressive group of Dominican players the Pirates have signed in recent years.
Elier Hernandez, of, Royals: When the Royals signed Hernandez out of the Dominican Republic in 2011 for $3 million, there were scouts who felt he was the best player available that year but that he would need time to adjust to more advanced pitching. So it was surprising when the Royals pushed him to the Rookie-level Pioneer League for his debut in 2012, but not so surprising when he struggled amidst an aggressive assignment. He looked more comfortable at the plate in 2013, driving the ball with greater authority, though his defense still remains raw. At 19, he’s still right on track to compete this year in low Class A Lexington.
Oscar Hernandez, c, Rays: The Rays have a group of intriguing Latin American players who haven’t hit full season ball yet, including righthander Jose Mujica and lefthander Jose Castillo from Venezuela and shortstop Cristian Toribio from the Dominican Republic. The player poised to make the biggest leap this season is Hernandez, who excelled defensively last year with an outstanding arm and excellent blocking and receiving skills for a young catcher. There’s offensive upside with Hernandez as well given his track record, bat-to-ball skills and average raw power.
Jose LeClerc, rhp, Rangers: When the Rangers signed LeClerc out of the Dominican Republic after the 2010 season, he was throwing 88-91 mph but had the arm speed that portended a future velocity spike. Not only has that happened—his lively fastball now registers at 94-97 mph—but he’s throwing a plus slider and showing a changeup and a curveball that can both flash as average pitches. It’s a diverse repertoire for a guy who’s been developed as a reliever, which is why the Rangers are considering using him as a starter next season in high Class A Myrtle Beach.
Manuel Margot, of, Red Sox: If Margot were in a farm system that didn’t have the combination of impact talent and depth that the Red Sox have, he likely would already be a top 10 prospect in his organization. One of the premium players available on the July 2 international market in 2011, Margot skipped the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League last year to jump to the short-season New York-Penn League, where he maintained a steady performance while showcasing an exciting package of athleticism, speed, defense and a solid bat for an 18-year-old in a league filled with more advanced former college players.
Keury Mella, rhp, Giants: The Giants have a dicey track record when it comes to their most expensive Dominican signings over the last decade, but they have a solid group of arms with lefthander Adalberto Mejia, righthander Kendry Flores and Mella, who made his U.S. debut last year in the Rookie-level Arizona League. Mella has good control of a heavy 92-95 mph and can use his power curveball as a swing-and-miss pitch. As he refines his breaking ball and improves his changeup by using it more frequently, Mella could emerge as a mid-rotation starter.
Josmil Pinto, c, Twins: Pinto has never been a high-profile prospect, but the Venezuelan catcher has now excelled at the plate in two straight seasons. Even with that recent track record, including a month of mashing the ball as a September callup, Pinto has his skeptics in the scouting community about whether he’s an everyday catcher. Given his knack for squaring the ball up with average power and a patient approach, along with a plus arm, he’s a good bet to continue to exceed expectations.
Luis Torrens, c, Yankees: Torrens initially hesitated to acquiesce to teams’ desire for him to move from shortstop and third base to test him behind the plate, but the Yankees convinced him to give it a try and signed him for $1.3 million in 2012. The arm strength and quick release already help him control the running game, though his receiving and blocking are still far away. After lighting it up at extended spring training last year, Torrens wore down as the GCL season progressed, but his loose swing and hitting potential are really what makes him intriguing. That should start to translate into better performance this season.
Gleyber Torres, ss, Cubs: Among the hitters in last year’s July 2 international signing class, Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers and Phillies third baseman Luis Encarnacion were the two most advanced hitters. While Devers and Encarnacion both face position questions, Torres projects as a middle infielder while also carrying a polished bat for his age. Torres and Dominican outfielder Eloy Jimenez are advanced enough to debut in the Arizona League, and given Torres’ present ability, he should make a smooth transition to pro ball.
Richard Urena, ss, Blue Jays: Urena was one of the hot names on the international market in 2012, when he signed with the Blue Jays for $725,000 out of the Dominican Republic. He’s been what the Blue Jays expected, with an advanced bat for his age and the skills to stick at shortstop. Urena doesn’t have flashy tools, but he has a high baseball IQ, a patient approach and a line-drive stroke with occasional gap power. He has a strong arm to go with good hands and nice footwork at shortstop. With Barreto at shortstop in the GCL last year, the Blue Jays kept Urena in the DSL most of the year before bringing him over at the end of the season, but he should make a louder impression in the U.S. this year.
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