FTB Puerto Rico Showcase Top Prospects

2015

• OF Brian Rodriguez – He is a well above average athlete that showed a loose and easy swing.He looked to drive the ball where it was pitched and had a good feel for the barrel.He ran a 7.1 and showed an accurate arm that registered 88 MPH from the outfield.

 

• INF Enrique Puig – Very strong 5’9 frame that produced good bat speed and some power to the pull side.He had an advanced approach that should allow him to hit higher level arms. He showed good hands and an accurate arm with a profile of an offensive 2nd baseman or solid utility player.High baseball IQ.

 

2016

• C Jorge Ortiz – Converted infielder that could find a long term home behind the plate.He looks the part with a strong, athletic, 6’ frame. He popped a 2.0 and was up to 81 during workouts.He is still learning the little things but is so athletic that he should develop quickly.His offensive upside would play at any position on the field but the power bat and hit tool he showed would make him a potential good draft behind the plate.He showed very easy power with strong wrists and very good extension.His barrel stays in the zone and long time and should allow him to maintain a high average as well.

 

• OF Adolfo Torres – extremely raw talent, but showed the loudest tools of the day.A 6’ fast twitch athlete who ran 6.67 and threw 92 from the outfield he checks a lot of boxes.His bat speed was the best of the day showing a short and direct swing to contact.As he develops he will use his lower half better and will learn to let the ball travel.He needs reps, but he could be a table setting center fielder if/when it comes together.

 

• C/INF Luis Colon – most likely the only polished showcase player of the 100+ players at camp.He is a well put together 5’11 athlete that ran a 6.79 and threw 89 from short stop.His value early on at the next level will be his versatility, but should move full time behind the dish as he develops.In the field he has average quickness and soft hands.His actions are a little stiff but he has the arm strength to play on the left side.Behind the plate he showed good receiving tools, a quick transfer, and developing footwork to go with his raw arm strength.At the plate, he took a professional BP barreling line drives to the middle of the field.His swing is short and direct and he has an advanced feel for squaring the ball up.

 

• OF Luis Casiano – Good looking left handed hitter.Very quick bat.A max effort, violent swing that looked to pull the ball hard to the pull side.A solid athlete who ran a 7.0 and showed good footwork during drills allowing him to throw online and accurately to the bases.Will have to move to a corner spot but his offensively upside will allow him to play there.

 

• RHP Oscar Rivera – 6’1 pitcher that has a ton of room to fill out, very under developed physically.His arm is very clean and he repeats his delivery very well.He showed feel for 3 pitches and located his fastball to both sides of the plate.Could easily develop into a low 90s starter as he physically develops.

 

• OF/LHP Erick Alcia – 5’11 wiry athlete who showed the best 2 way potential at the event.He had a compact swing and used his high baseball IQ to maintain a line drive approach using all fields.On the mound he was up to 87 and located his fastball to both sides of the plate.His secondary stuff is developing but has a nice foundation to help someone right away at the next level.

 

2017

• INF Luis Torres – a great body to build on at 6’3 with wide shoulders and a long torso.He showed projectable actions that fit at third base, as well as plenty of arm strength to stay there.He attacked the baseball with good extension at contact.Should hit for power as he fills out his frame.

 

• LHP Nathan Arroyo – the 6’ pitcher showed plus pitchability using 3 pitches to both sides of the plate.He had a pause at balance that should create some deception and help his 82 MPH fastball play up.His low ¾ delivery should make it a tough match up for lefties at the next level.

 

2018

• C Gabriel Ortiz – a strongly built 5’11 frame made him look the exact part of what a catcher should.He was throwing in the 2.0 range to second.His throws were on the bag and his footwork and transfer are very advanced for his age.A left handed hitter, he has very good bat speed and created easy lift.He is very aggressive and looks to do damage on every swing.An easy D1 prospect with draft potential.

 

 

 

Day 1 recap: Nothing new, Catchers stand out during the workout

 

 

The Catching tradition in Puerto Rico is well documented.  The small Island has produced the likes of Javy Lopez (3 time All Star and a World Series Title), Sandy Alomar Jr (Rookie of the Year, a Gold Glove, and 6 All Star appearances), Jorge Posada (5 time All Star and 4 World Series Titles), Benito Santiago (Rookie of the year, 3 Gold Gloves, 5 All Star Appearances), Ivan Rodriguez (10 Gold Gloves, 12 All Star Appearances, an MVP Award, and a World Series Title), the three Molina brothers: Jose (2 World Series Titles), Bengie (2 Gold Gloves and a World Series Title), and the present day GOLD STANDARD Yadier (8 Gold Gloves, 7 All Star Appearances, and 2 World Series Titles).  To put even more emphasis on the signal callers out of Puerto Rico, out of the last 21 years (since the baseball strike) 9 World Series Champions had Puerto Rican starting catchers and 14 total Puerto Rican Catchers have been on World Series rosters.  The pride in that position on the Island was evident at the FTB Puerto Rico Showcase.  The catching portion during the workout was head in shoulders above everything else.  That say a lot, because there was a lot of talent at each position.

2016

Luis Colon- He worked out as an infielder and a catcher.  His future, for me, is clearly behind the plate.  Maybe the most pure arm strength out of all the catchers.  He was a little crude with his footwork, most likely because he hasn’t started to concentrate on catching full time.  Popped a workout best 1.91.  A strong body and high motor, he looks like a very good prospect at the next level.

 

Jorge Lopez- Big bodied but had quickness in his feet.  He did not have the best arm strength but made up for it with a quick transfer and solid footwork. 

 

Jorge Ortiz- I will get in depth about the overall package in my top prospect report.  Jorge converted to catching about 3 months ago, if I wasn’t told that I would have never known.  He consistently popped 2.0-2.05, with online throws to the bag.  His footwork will get more compact and his timing will continue to get better as he continues to catch.  The receiving, strong arm, and overall tool package may have put him as the top overall prospect at camp.

 

2017

Isaac Vargas- A long limbed catcher, he showed the athleticism and loose hips that you look for behind the plate.  He also showed well during the bull pens staying soft and doing a great job blocking and recovering.

 

Julio Toro- Maybe the most fluid catch and throw skills.  He has quick feet and a very quick transfer.  The overall tools were average but the sum of the parts picked up for that.  He was consistent in the 2.0 pop time area and his throws were right on the bag.

 

2018

Jadier Cruz- He showed really good feel in his set up and receiving.  He easily handled the arms during the bull pen session moving his glove and body in rhythm to help frame.  His pop time was in the 2.10 area but as his arm gets stronger as he gets older it will improve quickly.

 

Gabriel Ortiz- The brother of Jorge, Gabriel may have the most upside of any of the underclass catchers.  He showed above average catch and throw skills and the energy behind the plate that pitchers will love to throw to.  Also, like his brother, his overall package was flat out impressive.