Baseball America tabs Cubs prospect OF Eloy Jimenez its Low Class-A Player of the Year
Eloy Jimenez slugged his way to the Midwest League MVP and Top Prospect of the Year Awards. And Monday, Baseball America named Jimenez its Low Class-A Player of the Year.
Jimenez also made Baseball America’s Low Class-A All-Star Team.
Eloy Jimenez, 19, made pitchers throughout the Midwest League rather uncomfortable all season. Jimenez hit .329/.369/.532 with 40 doubles, three triples and 14 home runs for a .901 OPS. In 112 games, Jimenez had 81 RBI, scored 65 runs and had 230 total bases.
Jimenez finished first in the Midwest League in doubles and slugging percentage, second in RBI, third in average and fourth in hits.
The Cubs promoted Eloy Jimenez to High-A Myrtle Beach for the remainder of the Mills Cup Championship Series after an injury to Yasiel Balaguert made him unavailable for the rest of the season. Jimenez went 1-for-3 with two walks and a RBI in his first game with the Pelicans on Sunday.
Jimenez is generally considered the second best prospect in the Cubs’ system just behind 2B/OF Ian Happ. Jimenez had an excellent season and created quite the buzz with his performance in the SiriusXM Radio All-Star Futures Game.
Jimenez was the MVP of the Midwest League All-Star Game, the Most Valuable Player and Top Prospect of the Year in the league.
Eloy Jimenez ripped up the league in May, June and July before he was slowed by an injury at the end of the season. Jimenez had a 1.034 OPS in May, .939 in June and hit .354/.388/.544 with a .933 OPS in July. Jimenez batted .341/.379/.535 with 24 doubles, a triple and eight home runs for a .914 OPS in his first 65 games of the season.
Jimenez hit .310/.353/.529 with 16 doubles, two triples and six home runs for a .882 OPS over his final 47 games of the regular season.
Jimenez is set to spend his fall hitting balls all over the parks in the Arizona Fall League.
Eloy Jimenez should begin next season where his first year of full-season baseball is ending with High-A Myrtle Beach. Jimenez projects as a power-hitting corner outfielder that has the arm to handle right field in the big leagues. Jimenez’s future is as bright as the incredible light-tower power that he possesses.
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