March 8, 2023 at 8:00 AM
2023 Countdown to Spring Training: Eddinson Paulino and Luis Perales
We've made it through the bulk of the offseason and spring training is here! To celebrate the return of baseball, we'll be counting down by posting our scouting reports for the players on our Top 60 from February 13 until March 15—not coincidentally, the same day the SoxProspects brass arrive in Fort Myers for the start of games in minor league camp.
2022 Teams: Salem
Final Stats: 539 PA, .266/.359/.469, 35 2B, 10 3B, 13 HR, 11.9 BB%, 19.5 K%
2023 Projected Level: Greenville
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Undersized and skinny at present. Solid athlete with good hand-eye coordination. Frame has room to support added strength, but will never be overly physical.
Hit: Swing mechanics work. Contact-oriented swing with a level bat path. Average bat speed at present and good bat control. Covers the plate well and has a decent approach for his age. Does not miss much in zone, but will expand, especially against secondary pitches. Advanced bat control leads him to make a lot of weak contact on pitches that he struggles to drive. Shows substantial platoon splits already. Potential average hit tool against right-handed pitchers and below-average against left-handers.
Power: Average raw power. Has sneaky power for his size and could add more as he matures. Needs to drive the ball in the air more and improve quality of contact. Future power potential is dependent on how he physically develops.
Run: Average speed. Will steal a few bases, but not a major part of his game.
Field: Footwork and hands are average. Looks most comfortable at second base right now, but has also played shortstop and third base. Not a standout defender, but will not hurt you either. Potential average defender at second base or third base. Could play shortstop in a pinch, but unlikely to stick there long-term. Began to play some outfield in 2022 to add versatility as well as to create more playing opportunities in crowded Salem infield.
Arm: Average arm strength.
Career Notes: Signed on his 16th birthday at the open of the 2018 international signing period. Received a mid-sized bonus. Participated in the 2021 Fall Performance Program.
Summation: Potential up-and-down platoon bat. Ceiling of a solid utility player who adds value at the plate and with his position versatility. Hit tool projects best, but all his tools could end up in the 45-55 range. Well-rounded player with solid makeup and work ethic. Has shown the ability to make consistent, hard contact at a young age.
2022 Teams: FCL and Salem
Final Stats: 35.2 IP, 1.77 ERA, 1.121 WHIP, 50 K, 20 BB, 15% swinging strike rate
2023 Projected Level: Salem
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Medium, athletic frame. Has a good amount of projection left and should add strength as he matures.
Mechanics: Throws from a high three-quarters arm slot from the middle of the rubber. Steps backwards toward first base before a medium-to-high leg kick prior to delivery. Finishes off-balance towards first base, with a pronounced post-delivery right leg kick up. Quick arm with short arm action. Moderate arm effort. Solid control for his age.
Fastball: 95-98 mph. Tops out at 99 mph. Pitch shows good carry. Command and control need work. Potential plus-to-better offering.
Curveball: 84-86 mph. Advanced for his age. Good feel for spin. Gets over the pitch and can snap it off. Can locate in the zone or out of the zone looking for swinging strikes. Potential plus offering.
Changeup: 87-90. Inconsistent, but will flash bat-missing ability with the ability to pull the string on it with late fading action. Potential above-average offering.
Career Notes: Was not a highly-touted amateur prospect out of Venezuela. Began to show much higher promise after signing, particularly in the Tricky League in the summer of 2019. Emerged quickly as a prospect to follow. Was limited to one game due to injuries in 2021. Organization then heavily monitored his workload in 2022, limiting him to three innings per start. Still broke out and rose quickly into the SoxProspects top 20 by the end of the season. Earned a promotion to Salem following the end of the 2022 FCL season. Was set to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance Program that was cancelled due to Hurricane Ian.
Summation: Potential major league starter. Ceiling of a number two starter. Wide variance arm with a high-ceiling and low-floor. Has shown among the best raw stuff of any arm in the system and was identified by scouts as the top pitching prospect in the Florida Complex League in 2022. Will flash two plus pitches and three at least above-average pitches. All have shown bat-missing ability. Next step in his development is finding consistency with his delivery and showing he can handle a full season workload.
Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.
Photo Credit: Eddinson Paulino and Luis Perales by Kelly O'Connor.
Ian Cundall is Director of Scouting for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @IanCundall.