2nd_city_saint787 Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 Sox linked to Dominican Slugger From the little info I can find on him he sounds like a Viciedo clone. Struggles with contact, dirty pop, and an extreme pull hitter. No clue how old he is. Can anyone find more info on the guy? I'm kind of intrigued. (Not sure if this should be in Future Sox, if so then mods, do what you do.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 (edited) Power Show Batting practice comes next. Dominican outfielder Micker Zapata, a 16-year-old who trains with Abel Guerra at La Academia, is 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and is expected to be one of the elite prospects for July 2. In one round of BP, he hits three balls out of the park, then drives another one off the center-field wall. The crowd in attendance—the showcase has drawn family members and some other fans—cheers for the first time. Eloy Jimenez, who trains with Amauris Nina, is another huge, righthanded-hitting Dominican outfielder (6-foot-4, 200 pounds). He showed plus speed in running the second-fastest 60 among outfielders and now he's stinging the ball. So is Jaime Ramos' outfielder Jose Almonte, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound Dominican who sends a couple of balls over the fence. The crowd cheers again when Yimmelvyn Alonzo, a 15-year-old shortstop who trains with Edwin Sabater, launches three balls out of the park in his first round. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound righthanded hitter jacks three more over the fence in his second round. More applause. Luis Encarnacion, a 15-year-old, righthanded-hitting Dominican third baseman, hits one of the deepest home runs of the day in his first round. The majority of BP approaches are the same: pull the ball (in classic Greg Walker-coached style, joking Dick Allen), dip your back shoulder and hit every baseball as far as you can. The grass between the left field foul line and the stands is getting worn out. Once the games start—MLB has them play one on the first day, then a doubleheader the following day—those loud noises from BP disappear. Swings from BP look different from game swings, something several international scouts have warned about in the past. Hitters chase high fastballs like they're required to by law. Players draw walks, but it's more because the pitchers aren't throwing strikes rather than keen plate discipline. "There's so many times that the Americans come down," one international director said, "see these athletes, and they're like, 'Sign him.' Hang on. Let's see him in games, see how he performs, see if he's got the aptitude." www.baseballamerica.com Edited May 14, 2013 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mataipaepae Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 so is he an outfielder or can he be a 3rd base prospect? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiliIrishHammock24 Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 He has a dangerous first name to scream out loud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiliIrishHammock24 Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 QUOTE (mataipaepae @ May 13, 2013 -> 11:43 PM) so is he an outfielder or can he be a 3rd base prospect? Wow, he does sound like a Viciedo clone. Ha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bighurt4life Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 I say we sign him just for the potential to shout VIVA ZAPATA! every time he comes to the plate or makes a play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 Then we also need to sign a player named Marlon Brando, haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thxfrthmmrs Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 He was rated the best prospect during a 1/16 Dominican showcase. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key...9YaW4yelE#gid=0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamshack Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 QUOTE (bighurt4life @ May 14, 2013 -> 12:04 AM) I say we sign him just for the potential to shout VIVA ZAPATA! every time he comes to the plate or makes a play. Oh, that would be wonderful! I believe Zapata means shoes in spanish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabiness42 Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 Oh, that would be wonderful! I believe Zapata means shoes in spanish? Having him would be great. If he makes a good play I could say, "Nice, Shoes," and my wife would think I'm complimenting her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 QUOTE (bbilek1 @ May 14, 2013 -> 11:15 AM) Really an area we need to improve in. 2012 was a good start, let's keep bringing them in. One thing worth remembering, there's now an international signing salary cap...so if the Sox go for signing a guy who is getting enough press that people have actually heard of him...it could happen at the expense of what would be 3 or 4 other smaller signings (that could, in 5 years, wind up being more productive). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 So this guy hits a ton of balls a mile in BP. When the games start, he whiffs. Sounds like a White Sox prospect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxfest Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 Sign him up need some offense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 QUOTE (Soxfest @ May 14, 2013 -> 12:46 PM) Sign him up need some offense. We desperately need offense now, not in 5-6 years. Not that it's a bad idea, but it also shouldn't distract from the pressing needs of the moment, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCangelosi Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 14, 2013 -> 01:48 PM) We desperately need offense now, not in 5-6 years. Not that it's a bad idea, but it also shouldn't distract from the pressing needs of the moment, either. LOL, yes. Although from the sounds of it on this forum a lot of people are thinking about 2018 right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshPR Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 QUOTE (iamshack @ May 14, 2013 -> 10:35 AM) Oh, that would be wonderful! I believe Zapata means shoes in spanish? That would be Zapatos you're referring too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 14, 2013 -> 10:20 AM) So this guy hits a ton of balls a mile in BP. When the games start, he whiffs. Sounds like a White Sox prospect. Being the first to declare him a failure is very important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShandyMan Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 We need every bat we can get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eminor3rd Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 14, 2013 -> 10:20 AM) So this guy hits a ton of balls a mile in BP. When the games start, he whiffs. Sounds like a White Sox prospect. He's 16 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eminor3rd Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 14, 2013 -> 01:48 PM) We desperately need offense now, not in 5-6 years. Not that it's a bad idea, but it also shouldn't distract from the pressing needs of the moment, either. Why would it? Acquisition of amateur talent is completely different than the ML team. Not making stuff like this is a priority is exactly why things look so bleak right now. There's no shortcut, we must start investing now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxfest Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 14, 2013 -> 01:48 PM) We desperately need offense now, not in 5-6 years. Not that it's a bad idea, but it also shouldn't distract from the pressing needs of the moment, either. Did not say it was for now................specs Sox have are lacking and need some more talent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 (edited) What I mean is...maybe it's just "fortuitous" timing, but I become suspicious now whenever things are going bad with the major league team and then articles like this come out which are "hopeful" to take the focus away from what's happening on the field now, especially the offense. Maybe it was that whole TWTW thing....where now it's easy to be suspicious about anything the beat writers are being fed by the organization. But yeah, sign 10 of these kids and maybe one of them will eventually make it to the majors. If you're lucky. 1/500 chance he becomes the next Carlos Quentin, Alexei Ramirez or Dayan Viciedo. Edited May 16, 2013 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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