Eloy Jimenez ranked by Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect in Midwest League
Baseball America released its ranking of the Top 20 prospects in the Midwest League. And Eloy Jimenez came in as the second best player in the league in the post-season rankings.
Eloy Jimenez was the Midwest League Most Valuable Player and Top Prospect of the Year. Jimenez made life rather uncomfortable for pitchers in the league throughout the season.
Jimenez played in 112 games for Low-A South Bend this past season. Jimenez hit .329/.369/.532 with 40 doubles, three triples and 14 home runs for a .901 OPS. Jimenez had 230 total bases, scored 65 runs and finished the year with 81 RBI.
Jimenez was third in the league in batting average (.329), 12th in OBP (.369), first in slugging percentage (.532), first in OPS (.901), first in doubles (40), second in RBI (81), second in total bases (230) and he hit the fourth most homers, tied with four other players.
Jimenez was the MVP of the Midwest League All-Star Game. And if not for the Red Sox’s Yoan Moncada, Jimenez would have been named the MVP of the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
Jimenez was promoted to High-A Myrtle Beach after South Bend’s playoff run came to an end. Jimenez replaced an injured Yasiel Balaguert on the roster and helped the Pelicans win a Carolina League Championship for the second straight season.
Baseball America reported, “Jimenez has plus raw power, with the ability to hit the ball out to any part off the park.” Jimenez’s hit tool “grades as above-average” and he has “a solid two-strike approach” despite the fact he can be “overly aggressive.” Jimenez has shown the ability “to adjust to pitches on the outer half as well as off-speed pitches.” Jimenez needs to work on pitch recognition.
Defensively, Jimenez has the tools to play right field. Jimenez played left field and showed improvement in the field this past season. Mechanically he could make adjustments with his lower-half that could help with what has been graded as an average arm.
Baseball America’s Top 10 Midwest League Prospects: 3B Nick Senzel (Reds), OF Eloy Jimenez (Cubs), C Francisco Mejia (Indians), OF Kyle Tucker (Astros), RHP Sandy Alcantara (Cardinals), RHP Marcos Diplan (Brewers), SS/2B Isan Diaz (Brewers), OF Michael Gettys (Padres), RHP Sean Reid-Foley (Blue Jays), RHP Franklin Perez (Astros)
• Baseball America – 2016 Midwest League Top 20 Prospects
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