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Physical Description:
Athletic, twitchy. Minimal projection remaining in frame. Has
gotten stronger since signing. Thick lower half.
Hit: Starts open and vertical with his hands high. Leg
kick timing device. Pronounced load with his hands pre-pitch.
Struggles with timing his swing and getting to fastballs up in
the zone. Has quick hands, but bat drags due to slow trigger.
When he tries to speed things up to compensate, becomes
susceptible to off-speed pitches and will expand the zone to
chase them. At his best, will show an all-fields approach. Had
always hit prior to trade to Boston, but really struggled in
2021 in first year in Triple-A. Will need to make adjustments to
make enough contact against advanced pitching. Potential
fringe-average hit tool.
Power: Swing
changes prior to trade to Boston have allowed him to tap into
his raw power even though he does not have a prototypical power
hitter's frame. Puts the ball in the air often and has shown the
most power to the pull side. Will hit his share of home runs,
but could add a substantial number of doubles. Potential for
average power.
Run: Fringe-average
speed, but has shown strong instincts and could steal a handful
of bases in the major leagues.
Field:
Moves well and has shown soft hands. Projects best long-term at
second base, but showed better at shortstop in 2021 than
expected. Range is fringy there, but could be passable there a
few days a week. Potential average defender.
Arm: Average arm. Arm is a little light for shortstop
full-time, but strong enough to play there on occasion. Projects
better at second base. |
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Career
Notes: Younger brother of Red Sox 2015 draft
pick Jerry Downs. Named after Derek Jeter. Born in Colombia but
grew up in Florida. Drafted by the Reds, was dealt in December
2018 to the Dodgers in a package for Yasiel Puig and Alex Wood.
Played at the Alternate Training Site in 2020, working with a
primary focus on his defense with coach Bruce Crabbe. Entered
2020 and 2021 seasons as a top 100 prospect. Opened 2021 at the
Alternate Training Site. Competed for Colombia in the 2021
Americas Olympic Qualifier
Summation:
Potential middle-infield bench bat. Ceiling of an impact
everyday player if he can retool his swing and show he can
handle advanced pitching. Best case scenario is a bat-first
profile with the potential to hit in the .280 range with 20+
home runs at his peak. Defensively, profiles best at second
base, but could also play short, third, and even the outfield.
Speed is his weakest tool, but has shown instincts to make up
for it. Sum-of-all-parts type of player.
Links
SoxProspects Podcast on Mookie Betts Trade (2-10-2020)
State of the System 2020: Middle Infielders (4.29.2020)
Video from Pawtucket (9.4.2020)
Scouting Scratch (5.3.2021)
Scouting Scratch: Breaking Down the Arizona Fall League
Contingent (10.27.2021)
Scouting Scratch: Red Sox 2021 Rule 5 Preview (11.18.2021) |
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