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.)

 

 

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, 201312 yr by caulfield12

so is he an outfielder or can he be a 3rd base prospect?

He has a dangerous first name to scream out loud.

so is he an outfielder or can he be a 3rd base prospect?

 

Wow, he does sound like a Viciedo clone. Ha.

I say we sign him just for the potential to shout VIVA ZAPATA! every time he comes to the plate or makes a play.

Then we also need to sign a player named Marlon Brando, haha.

 

 

 

He was rated the best prospect during a 1/16 Dominican showcase.

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key...9YaW4yelE#gid=0

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?

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.

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).

So this guy hits a ton of balls a mile in BP. When the games start, he whiffs. Sounds like a White Sox prospect.

Sign him up need some offense.

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.

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.

Oh, that would be wonderful! I believe Zapata means shoes in spanish?

That would be Zapatos you're referring too.

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.

We need every bat we can get.

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.

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.

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.

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, 201312 yr by caulfield12