4. Alex Verdugo, OF
Birthdate: 5/15/96 (20 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: AA
Stats in 2016: .273/.336/.407, 13 HR, 2 SB
There may not be a guy who I got more divisive comments on than Verdugo in the system. Some people like him as a top 30 overall talent in the game. Others believe that a big season last year has over-inflated his true talent, leading to his flaws being overlooked.
Regardless, even those who questioned placing him as an uber-elite prospects still easily counted Verdugo among the 100 best in the game when pressed. He’s the type that is hard to really find a reason to truly dislike as a player – it’s just where the projection on what he could be comes in.
(Verdugo) has a quick bat and very quick wrists with surprisingly good strike zone judgement for a guy who was just 20 all season in AA
Verdugo is a guy with a solid eye at the plate. He has a quick bat and very quick wrists with surprisingly good strike zone judgement for a guy who was just 20 all season in AA.
His power, however, is not viewed consistently by those who have seen him. In my viewings, his swing looked tremendous in getting to the ball and fighting off tough pitches, but generating peak power and getting consistent barrel contact was not present, which leads me to wonder if he’ll be more of a Nick Markakis type of hitter rather than a true “bopper” type.
Verdugo does have very solid defensive skills as a premium two-way player that could have gone in the first three rounds in 2013 as a hitter or pitcher before the Dodgers nabbed him in the 2nd round. His arm from the outfield is a true plus arm, if not plus-plus.
Defensively, the biggest concern is Verdugo’s instincts in center. While he’s got the athleticism at this point to cover for a bad jump or bad initial read, he is probably best suited for a corner, especially with his arm. However, then you run into his bat not exactly being a profile corner bat.
Even with the questions about how the bat will profile, this is a 20 year old who just hit for a solid average and struck out only 67 times in 477 at bats in AA. That is an excellent profile, and even if he is a Nick Markakis type going forward, that is an extremely valuable hitter in a lineup.
Next: #3