International Prospects: Yiddi Cappe, the next great Cuban shortstop

Drawing comparisons to Derek Jeter and Carlos Correa, Yiddi Cappe is one of the exciting international prospects available. Here’s what you need to know.

Yiddi Cappe is one of the most interesting international prospects available, period. The 17-year-old from Artemisa, Cuba is your prototypical big shortstop standing at 6’4” and weighing about 170 pounds.

The young Cuban, due to his somatotype, has drawn comparisons to New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter and Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa.

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I actually asked Cappe about being compared to Correa and the Hall of Fame shortstop and he said, “I’m proud that I have been compared to these to stars. Jeter is the leader of the Marlins and Correa is a current-day example for me to follow.”

Cappe has a smooth fluid swing and makes a lot of quality contact. The young infielder has a good understanding of the strike zone and power to all fields.

The young phenom started playing baseball at the age of eight. Cappe also starred in the Cuban juvenile circuit.

The infielder has been working tirelessly day and night to improve his craft, saying, “I’ve been working nonstop on my throwing to the bases and on my movements within the infield.”

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He is represented by Yolfri Sánchez and is trained by Welling Herrera who is based in the Dominican Republic (DR). The Miami Marlin will likely sign Cappe on July 2 for the sum of $3.5M.

“I train at the Herrera academy. My training regiments include batting practice against live pitching so I don’t lose my timing and a plethora of defensive drills, including a long throw drill.

I asked Yiddi Cappe about how different the way he trains in DR is to his daily routine was in Cub. According to the young prospect, it was day and night…

“In DR my workouts are rigid and a lot harder in the sense of how strenuous they are. In Cuba one trained to reach the Cuban National Series or represent the island in International events. Here one is training to accomplish their dreams of reaching the Majors.”

The future Marlins signee has improved greatly since his defection from Cuba and is ready to make an impact at whatever level he commences his career, “I have improved greatly since my arrival. In Cuba, I didn’t have the best conditions to train or training regiments. Thank God all has gone well since my arrival here.”

He also quipped this to me on his future with the fish, “I never had a favorite MLB team in Cuba, but I do now in the Marlins. For them I will give my all.

Cappe’s Grades on the 20-80 scale:

• Hitting: 55
• Power: 55
• Speed: 55
• Arm: 60
• Fielding: 50