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September 14, 2017

Eyewitness Accounts

September 14, 2017

by BP Prospect Staff

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Jasseel De La Cruz
Alvery De Los Santos
Richard Terrero
Aramis Ademan
Keibert Ruiz
Jose King
D.J. Wilson

Jasseel De La Cruz


	Born: 06/26/1997 (Age: 20)
	Bats: Right	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 1"	Weight: 175

Seen in a 5 IP start on 7/13. Lean, long, wiry body, moderate projection remaining. Pitches from a full windup, long arm swing, above-average arm speed, high-three-quarters/overhand slot.

Evaluator	Steve Givarz
Report Date	09/13/2017
Affiliate	GCL Braves (Rookie, Braves)
Dates Seen	7/13/2017
OFP/Risk	50/High
Realistic	Role 45, Reliever
MLB ETA	2020
Video	No

Pitch Type	Present Grade	Future Grade	Sitting Velocity	Peak Velocity	Report
Fastball	60	70	90-96	97	Some sink/run, lacked feel for offering at times, at lower velo looked to aim pitch, but would let it go at 94-96, has definite arm strength. Movement: 45/50
Slider	40	60	84-86	89	Plus-to-better offerings at higher velos, hard bite with late action, fooled both RHH and LHH, feel inconsistent.
Changeup	20	30	84-86	87	More like a BP fastball, definite third pitch.

Really intriguied by the arm strength, velo dropped later, but as a reliever, could be a 7 FB 6+SL, definite interest.

Command: 20/40
Control: 30/50

Alvery De Los Santos


	Born: 07/18/1999 (Age: 18)
	Bats: Right	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 4"	Weight: 180

Tall with a wiry body, lacks strength, has a lot of physical projection remaining, high projection. Pitches from a full windup, long arm action, average arm speed, three-quarters slot.

Evaluator	Steve Givarz
Report Date	09/13/2017
Affiliate	GCL Blue Jays (Rookie, Blue Jays)
Dates Seen	7/14/2017
OFP/Risk	50/High
Realistic	Role 4, Up/Down Arm
MLB ETA	2021
Video	No

Pitch Type	Present Grade	Future Grade	Sitting Velocity	Peak Velocity	Report
Fastball	40	55	87-89	90	Lacks life, could be an average-to-better offering with physical gains, can throw strikes but is hittable in the zone.
Slider	30	50	79-81		Inconsistent, tended to frisbee low and stay low, has some idea of when to use it but is unable to get swings and misses.
Changeup	20				Clear third offering.

Signed for $50,000 in 2016, Alvery is an intriguing, projectable arm, he will most likely be here next year but could be an up/down arm, would acquire.

Control: 30/50
Command: 30/50

Richard Terrero


	Born: 09/09/1997 (Age: 20)
	Bats: Left	Throws: Left
	Height: 6' 6"	Weight: 220

Seen in a 5 IP start on 7/19. Extra-large frame with a lean body, while older, still lean and can add physicality to body, moderate projection remaining. Pitches from a full windup, soft plunge arm action, above-average arm speed, high-three-quarters slot, lacks overall balance in delivery, first pro year, should improve over time.

Evaluator	Steve Givarz
Report Date	09/13/2017
Affiliate	GCL Tigers East (Rookie, Tigers)
Dates Seen	7/19/2017
OFP/Risk	50/High
Realistic	Role 4; Up/Down Arm
MLB ETA	2021
Video	No

Pitch Type	Present Grade	Future Grade	Sitting Velocity	Peak Velocity	Report
Fastball	40	55	86-90	90	good arm-side run, future average movement, can throw strikes but primarily to arm-side, was often over the plate, future above-average velocity. Movement: 45/50
Changeup	40	50	82-83		CH 82-83, has good feel for pitch, used often and even in fastball counts, has fade/run, chase pitch v RHH.

Warmed up with a curve but was not used in game, warmups didn't do much and was scrapped by the pitcher, will update if a breaking ball is seen. Interesting arm, still young and projectable, lack of spin hurts but has LH reliever depth value.

Control: 30/50
Command: 20/45

Aramis Ademan


	Born: 09/13/1998 (Age: 18)
	Bats: Left	Throws: Right
	Height: 5' 11"	Weight: 160
	Primary Position: SS
	Secondary Position:

Thin but athletic frame; room for added growth as body matures.

Evaluator	Nathan Graham
Report Date	09/07/2017
Dates Seen	3X August
Affiliate	South Bend Cubs (Low A, Cubs)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Realistic Role	Video
2020	High	50	40; Reserve/Bench Bat	Yes

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	60	Upright, balanced stance, mild load with a moderate leg kick; above-average bat speed, mild leverage; noisy pre-swing, plus bat-to-ball skills, aggressive approach, will expand the zone but has the barrel control to hit bad balls.
Power	50	Raw power to the pull side; bat speed and leverage should allow for power to play close to average at physical maturity.
Baserunning/Speed	45	Current average speed, 4.24 clock home to first, aggressive on the bases, will play down a notch with age.
Glove	50	Solid but not flashy, quick hands, fluid movements, athletic enough to have solid range for the position.
Arm	50	Average arm for shortstop, would play plus for second base; shows average accuracy and carry.

Ademan is a young, left-handed shortstop with a potential plus bat. The defense and arm are solid enough to allow him to stick at short. The bat is the carrying tool, he displays plus bat to barrel skills and the bat speed and swing path to grow into average power. Profiles as a major league regular middle infielder.

Keibert Ruiz


	Born: 07/20/1998 (Age: 19)
	Bats: Switch	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 0"	Weight: 200
	Primary Position: C
	Secondary Position:

Thick frame, mature for age, broad shoulders with some present strength, projection for additional muscle development; strong legs, thick but not bulky in the lower half, moderate agility

Evaluator	Wilson Karaman
Report Date	09/11/2017
Dates Seen	9 games July-September
Affiliate	Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High A, Dodgers)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Realistic Role	Video
2019	High	55	50: Major League Regular	Yes

Confident player, intelligent approach on both sides, not overtly emotional

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	55	Switch-hitter, open setup from left side, significant pre-pitch movement; consistent stride closing up and getting on line, aggressive stride has toned down a bit, tight coil, strong launch position, tips his bat, generates torque; front foot will get down early; keeps hands back well, solid hand-eye, above-average barrel control, above-average bat speed, clears hips efficiently, will generate some plane to lift balls in hitters' counts; aggressive in-zone, advanced zone command; more raw swing from right side, starts square, noisier load, hitch, shorter stroke, quick trigger, lacks torque, flat swing path, up-the-middle approach, less consistent with the barrel, struggles with velocity, will expand against changeups; significantly more advanced from left side, 55 projection LH, 45 RH, solid-average hit tool.
Power	45	Average raw LH, below-average RH; LH approach generally gap to gap, will lift and separate some in favorable counts, strength and bat speed to damage the baseball, should grow into a half-grade of additional raw, can play to an average tool in game from left side; RH swing geared exclusively to contact, very limited ability to lift balls, doesn't demonstrate interest in pulling balls, below-average utility.
Baserunning/Speed	20	4.48 LH, 4.62 RH; slow out of the box, marginal second gear, shows a head on the bases, but poor utility.
Glove	55	Quiet setting up, rides pretty low, inconsistent getting down on balls but flashes agility, sound technique; advanced framer, very strong glove hand, effective receiver at bottom of the zone, presents pitches well; strong reflexes pouncing on bunts, demonstrates advanced body control; ingredients of a solid defensive backstop.
Arm	50	Above-average raw arm strength, agile on pops, very inconsistent mechanics at present, immature game speed, consistently rushes throws, flies open; ball has significant tail, frequent misses high and arm side; most raw part of game at present.

Still a teenager, Ruiz impressed after a mid-season promotion to High-A as an advanced receiver with quality bat-to-ball skills and some nascent pop. The defensive package is raw to be sure, particularly regarding controlling the running game, but he already frames quite well and flashes sound blocking technique. The left-handed bat is much farther along, but he's got an idea of the strike zone from both sides and shows strong hand-eye and barrel control. This is a quality catching prospect with the ingredients to develop into a big-league starter, with room for a bit more if the right-handed swing maxes out.

Jose King


	Born: 01/16/1999 (Age: 18)
	Bats: Left	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 0"	Weight: 160
	Primary Position: SS
	Secondary Position:

Lean, wiry body and frame, has physical projection remaining, but doesn't look like he will be muscular, will still be somewhat smaller.

Evaluator	Steve Givarz
Report Date	09/13/2017
Dates Seen	6x August
Affiliate	GCL Tigers West (, Tigers)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Realistic Role	Video
2021	High	45	Role 3; Defensive Replacement/Pinch-Runner	No

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	40	Hits from an open stance, looking to bunt, average bat speed, slap/line-drive hitter, doesn't have much loft in swing, looks to put the ball in play where he can use his speed, good hands and can catch up to velocity, but fear that most contact is of the weaker variety.
Power	20	20 power at present, doesn't offer much physicality or present strength, most extra base hits will be of the speed variety or of balls shot down the line, project to 30 raw, but won't ever be part of game.
Baserunning/Speed	70	70 runner, 4.07 H-1B is best time, 3.72 on a jailbreak, speed is a weapon, will bunt to put speed on the base paths, inconsistent on jumps and reads, but goes at any opportunity, will improve over time.
Glove	50	Inconsistent glove, gets to everything, good range and quality first step, hands are inconsistent, makes throws on the run with little success, good athlete and has time to iron out issues, average defender at SS/2B/CF.
Arm	50	Average arm strength, plays at SS, but is not a weapon, would be stronger at 2B or OF, but can make the routine throw.

Intriguing athlete, brought over in a trade from Arizona, shows some feel for the barrel, 70 speed, and athleticism, but am worried that the bat will play to below-average at peak, see as an upper level MIF depth, could also get looks in OF given premium speed, emergency opportunity as a pinch-runner, would acquire.

D.J. Wilson


	Born: 10/08/1996 (Age: 20)
	Bats: Left	Throws: Left
	Height: 5' 8"	Weight: 177
	Primary Position: CF
	Secondary Position: LF

Diminutive, wide shoulders with narrow waist, physically mature

Evaluator	Nathan Graham
Report Date	09/13/2017
Dates Seen	13X April-August
Affiliate	South Bend Cubs (Low A, Cubs)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Realistic Role	Video
2020	High	45	40; Reserve Outfielder	Yes

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	40	Balanced stance, slight bat wrap, mild load, tries to get leverage, above-average bat speed; struggles to shorten up, will get off balance on off-speed and expands the zone high on velo, moderate swing-and-miss, struggles against LHPs.
Power	40	Fringe-average raw pull power generated by bat speed and leverage in swing; will generate extra bases with speed.
Baserunning/Speed	70	Average 3.97 home to first on multiple clocks, raw speed, quick to accelerate gets to second gear quickly, aggressive, still developing stolen base utility.
Glove	55	Average instincts and reads in center, speed allows for plus range and ability to close on fly balls in the gaps, should stick in center but has utility for corner spots
Arm	50	Average arm, accurate with moderate carry

The former fourth-rounder for the Cubs, Wilson lacks size but possesses above-average quickness and speed. Combine that with a solid arm and glove he profiles as a solid bench outfielder. However, without adjustments in the swing, advanced pitchers will continue to cause struggles giving an overall profile of fourth outfielder.

Related Content: Keibert Ruiz, Jose King, Richard Terrero, Aramis Ademan, Jasseel De La Cruz, Alvery De Los Santos, DJ Wilson

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