Courtesy: Shaun P Kernahan
Ibandel Isabel hit the hardest ball I have seen through all of Spring Training and Extended Spring Training, in batting practice or in a game. It came a couple weeks ago against former MLB Futures Game participant, Kevin Pucetas. Pucetas has made the transition to a knuckleballer, and he threw a pitch to Isabel that didn’t knuckle enough. Isabel hit the ball over the screen in left field, over the walkway that runs from the parking lot to the clubhouse, and onto the the backside of the massive batting cage structure the Texas Rangers have on their complex. The video below is not exactly fantastic, but the time between the crack of the bat and the sound of the ball crashing onto the batting cage structure will tell you how far the ball was hit.
Isabel has started to get some work at first base, and looks very uncomfortable at this point. He is a natural outfielder and can play it well enough but, due to his lack of speed and arm strength, he will be limited to just left field and first base moving forward. He has a long body which can be a negative at times at the plate. He gets somewhat low in his batting stance, but once he begins his swing he can get very tall. In the Dominican Summer League last season, he put up a triple slash line of .327/.398/.500 in 57 games. He only hit three home runs, but there is certainly more power in the bat, and not just based on the crushed knuckler I mentioned earlier.
His impressive slugging percentage came thanks in large part to his 15 doubles in those 57 DSL games. He has plenty of room on his frame to add strength as he currently weighs just 185 lbs. and stands 6’4″. Based on what I have seen from him thus far, he will probably make his official state-side debut this season in the AZL, where he will start the season at the age of 18.
Another 6’4″ youngster with power potential once he fills out is Cody Bellinger. Bellinger is the son of former big leaguer, Clay Bellinger and has had success of his own in the Little League World Series back when he was just 5’1″ and 87 lbs. Now that he has added 15 inches and about a hundred pounds to his frame and become one of the better prospects in the Los Angeles Dodgers system.
He has excellent plate discipline, but can get too patient at times as I have seen him go an entire game without taking the bat off his shoulder. When he does finally swing, it is a very smooth left-handed stroke. He didn’t put up much in the form of offensive numbers last season in the AZL, but he still managed an OBP 130 points better than his batting average. His on-base ability should play at every level, and his bat will likely improve in time. He could also develop into a 15-20 home run guy, but that will take quite a bit of time and strength added to his frame.
His best current tool is his glove. He has a pretty good vertical that can allow him to get up and take away line drives to go along with soft hands and excellent athleticism around the bag.