Generation Next: Guerrero, Jiménez and Tatís
By Armando Soldevila
In recent years, Major League Baseball teams have increasingly relied on young talent to change their fortunes and become powerhouses.
The last two World Series champions – the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs – are perfect examples. Both teams won, thanks to young and mostly homegrown talent, where superstars Carlos Correa, Javier Baez, and Kris Bryant shone as bright as any veterans.
Now, three prospects from the Dominican Republic who have been on the radar for some time, are ready to headline the next generation of stars to come out of the island and make an impact in the major leagues.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Eloy Jiménez, and Fernando Tatís, Jr are not new on the baseball landscape. Their names have been on the radar for a while. Fans are starting to wonder when they will be called up by their respective big league teams.
Meanwhile, in the Dominican Republic their fans expect them to join the long list of local stars to play in the big leagues.
Guerrero looks ready
Vladimir Guerrero Jr, son of the former outfielder and Hall of Famer of the same name, was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays and has virtually owned every minor league circuit in which he’s played.
Guerrero, just 19 years old, had an impressive stat line. He was batting .323 with a .425 on base percentage and a .485 slugging percentage last season between two levels of Class-A ball.
The young third baseman also gained valuable experience while playing 26 games during the winter ball season in the Dominican Republic against older and more seasoned competition.
While his numbers were not great, hitting only .211 in 90 at-bats, Guerrero awed fans with his aggressive play and contagious charisma.
“He was at the same level as other guys who were coming from Class AAA and the big leagues,” says José Gómez, who is the general manager of Leones del Escogido, Guerrero’s team in the Dominican. “What’s amazing about him is that, even at his young age, he always gives you competitive at-bats, goes deep into at-bats. He is really mature at home plate.”
Gómez notes that Guerrero is much more athletic than what he shows and that he could play at first base or in the outfield if the Blue Jays asked. Thus far, however, Guerrero has been playing strictly on third base.
“His bat is major league level,” Gomez said. “He’s been playing in a pitchers’ league (Double-A, Eastern League), and his numbers are exaggerated. He’s done it in every league that he plays.”
During the first week of June, the young third baseman had been dealing with a knee injury that put him on the disabled list for at least 10 days. That could be a setback for him, however, because the Blue Jays were reportedly thinking of promoting Vladi to Class AAA in July, according to a report by Jon Morosi.
This news was surprising to some because many want to see him on the big stage already.
A game changer for the Padres
The San Diego Padres have been suffering as a franchise with seven consecutive losing seasons and 11 without a postseason berth.
The long rebuild appears to finally be paying off with plenty of talent going into the big league team while some players are still developing in the minors.
Tatis, a shortstop equipped with all the tools to succeed and become the face of the organization, is one of the Padres’ best prospects.
Tatis, the son of the former big league slugger by the same name, was excellent last year. He finished with 22 home runs, 27 doubles, 32 stolen bases, and a .278/.379/.498 line between Class A and Class AA in 2017. His 21 home runs in Class-A Fort Wayne set a club record.
Fernando Tatis Sr, said he’s sure his son is ready for a call up to the majors.
“He has to work and prepare even more, but if that kid keeps up the type of development he’s been showing, there is no doubt that he ends up in the big leagues this year,” the elder Tatis said. “He is an aggressive player, totally aggressive on the bases. He is a player, even at his young age that knows how to hurt his opponents on the field”.
Tatis is the sixth best prospect in the game, according to MLB´s 2018 prospect watch. The 19-year-old could become the star the Padres need to lead the team into a new era of success on the field.
Eloy Jiménez is the real deal
Eloy Jiménez is a top prospect in every way you can think about. The 6-4, 205-pound outfielder has been considered one of the best prospects in baseball since he was signed as a 16-year-old by the Chicago Cubs with a staggering bonus of $2.8 million after an aggressive bidding war among more than 10 organizations.
The righthanded slugger was traded by the Cubs to the White Sox last season for starter José Quintana after the team tried to defend its World Series title. It could be a move that haunts the National League organization.
Last season Jiménez hit .312 with 19 home runs and 65 RBIs between Class-A and AA for the Cubs and White Sox. His .379 on base percentage showed that, just as Tatis and Guerrero, his discipline at the plate was ahead of what is expected for such a young player.
Jimenez was even better during winter ball, hitting .368 with a .1,120 OPS, four home runs, five doubles, and 21 RBIs in just 19 games for Gigantes del Cibao. Simply put, he was the best hitter in the Dominican league during his short stint.
“Everything we had heard about Jiménez was true,” Class-A Winston-Salem hitting coach Charlie Poe said in a story published in Dominican newspaper Diario Libre in January. “His potential is so high, and his feel for the game is amazing. He won’t get beat by fastballs, and he attacks breaking balls. He doesn’t swing at low pitches. He has great focus.”
There is no denying that Major League Baseball has many new, young stars who could appeal to a new generation of followers. Starting with Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, the list continues with stars such as Correa and Lindor. The new batch of potential stars includes Shohei Otani, Ozzie Albies, Gleyber Torres, Juan Soto, and Ronald Acuña.
Fans in the Dominican Republic and throughout America and Toronto will probably get a look at Guerrero, Tatis and Jimenez in the majors at some point this season.
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