Hector Guevara
5'11" 170 lbs DOB: 10/7/1991
Shortstop
Bats:Right | Throws: Right
2009: VSL Rays
Acquired: 2008 International Signee(Venezuela)
Plucked out of Venezuela for $200,000 in 2008, Guevara has made a strong statement with his bat. After showing a glimpse of what he could do in Liga Paralela(Venezuela) last winter, he was assigned to the VSL Rays for 2009, where he raked to the tune of a .330/.374/.534 line. Ben Badler of BaseballAmerica has called him "the best prospect you don't know."
Guevara's calling card is clearly his bat. In 54 games, he hit for 24 extra-base hits while only striking out 21 times. He walked 16 times with the VSL Rays, but as of December 5th in the Liga Paralela this season, he's drawn 17 walks against just nine strikeouts. He projects well to hit for both contact and power as me moves up through the system. It's kind of a small sample size, but Guevara hit right-handed pitchers way better than southpaws in 2009(over a .500 points OPS difference). While he's a slightly above-average runner, he isn't a big stolen base threat(6 steals vs. 5 caught in the VSL).
Guevara's defense remains a work in progress, and it's possible(if not probable) that he'll have to move off shortstop. He committed 17 errors in 47 games last year in the Liga Paralela, and had 7 errors through 30 this year. In 2009 though, he's primarily played 2nd base instead of shortstop. The Rays will give him every chance to remain at the position, but his bat looks strong enough to play elsewhere, so it's not a huge concern.
Guevara turned 18 in early October, and his numbers in Venezuela have been so strong that he'll be brought to the States for the 2010 season. Look for him to debut in the Gulf Coast League, unless he impresses enough to start with Princeton. He's a major break-out candidate among the short-season crop.
Can he become a future Montero like hitter? I know it's early, but what type of hitter can he be in the majors?
ReplyDeleteAt this point, the sky is the limit because we've yet to see him against any sort of advanced pitching. But his pure hitting numbers early on don't really have a weakness. And he apparently has the right tools to develop into a great hitter.
ReplyDeletehow long do you predict until he comes to the states. And he cant be SS because we already got our future SS in T-Beck!
ReplyDeleteWhen will the #9 hitter come out?
ReplyDeleteLook for it on Monday. Final exams and now the holiday season have me scrambling a bit.
ReplyDeleteCould they possible move him to LF?
ReplyDeleteI would certainly assume so. LF requires the fewest defensive tools (after 1B).
ReplyDelete