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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. At his best, will show an
all-fields approach. Had always hit prior to trade to Boston,
but has generally struggled with Triple-A pitching save for a
few short bursts of success. Will need to make adjustments to
make enough contact. Has attempted to make changes to his setup,
opening up to get to the ball quicker. Potential well
below-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. Development of
hit tool will determine how much of his game power actualizes.
If he can make enough contact, 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. Makes the routine plays and shows confidence
charging the ball and ranging to either side. Average range,
that is passable at shortstop for a few days a week. Could be a
better defender at second base than shortstop, but has made
himself into a good enough defender after past questions about
whether he could handle short that such a move would be done for
versatility purposes, not because of his own limitations.
Potential solid-average defender. |
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Arm:
Average arm. Arm is a little light for shortstop full-time, but
quick release allows it to play there.
Career
Notes: Named after Derek Jeter. Younger brother
of Red Sox 2015 draft pick Jerry Downs. Born in Colombia but
grew up in Florida. Drafted by the Reds, was dealt in December
2018 to the Dodgers with Josiah Gray and Homer Bailey for Yasiel
Puig, Alex Wood, Matt Kemp, Kyle Farmer and cash. Was acquired
along with Alex Verdugo and Connor Wong in the reworked Mookie
Betts trade after the Red Sox did not like Brusdar Graterol’s
medicals. 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. Struggled for the majority of
2022 and into the 2022 winter ball season, when he was released
by his Puerto Rican league team. Was designated for assignment
in December 2022.
Summation:
Potential emergency utility infielder. Ceiling of fringe-utility
infielder who struggles to hold down a consistent role and jumps
from team to team. Future potential is largely tied to
development of his hit tool. Has really struggled to make
contact in the high minors, especially on velocity. May have
been promoted to Triple-A a bit too aggressively after the lost
2020 season given his limited exposure to Double-A. If he can
develop even a below-average hit tool, has the chance to carve
out a major league role, but even that is a question after
prolonged struggles in Triple-A. Other tools are all about
average, and he lacks another carrying tool if his hit tool does
not develop.
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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