Post by Commissioner Erick on Apr 2, 2021 18:12:03 GMT -5
Some second round draft picks produced right away in the West Indies Short League, despite a number of old veterans dominating on the mound. Here are the most notable performers.
LF: Jimmy Coates—Reds
One of Cincinnati’s second round picks this year, Coates is an advanced college bat from Stetson who skipped rookie ball to play in the West Indies Short League. With a quick bat, Coates tore up the West Indies this year, leading the league with a .336 average. A .439 on-base percentage, and a .994 OPS.
Coates doesn’t have a classic path to the majors. He has a quick bat, but doesn’t have home run power, great defensive range, or a ton of speed. Both OSA and Bill Schmidt see a player who will likely top out at Triple-A. He has great intangibles though, and should be playing full-season ball in 2026.
3B: Kyle Jackson—Reds
Jackson was another Reds second rounder, and like Coates, he’s an older college bat who skipped rookie ball. After being drafted and unsigned twice, Jackson finally signed with the Reds and was sent to play for Cuba. He has huge power and led the league with 23 home runs and 3.6 WAR despite only playing in 49 games.
Jackson’s a prototypical all-or-nothing slugger. He doesn’t have great bat speed, but starts early, swings hard, and crushes pitches he makes contact with. He’s also an excellent defender at Third Base. The hit tool will determine his ultimate future, but he’s way too strong for the low minors. Scouts agree that Jackson would be better off in the high minors in 2026.
LF: Tyler A Williams—Royals
A 28-year-old who’s been with the Royals since being drafted in the 21st round in 2019, Williams played his first season above rookie ball this year. After hitting well over .300 for Idaho Falls the past two years, Williams was promoted to the West Indies where he led the league with 67 RBIs as one of the oldest players in the league. Williams hit 17 doubles, 16 homers, and produced 3.6 WAR to tie for the league lead.
Williams has no future in the majors, but his offensive results, acceptable outfield defense, and solid speed can make him a useful player in A-ball. He’s much too old for short-season play.
CF: Joe Seagraves—Brewers
An 11th round pick out of Morehead State, Seagraves made an impact in his first pro season, leading the league with 18 steals in only 22 attempts. The Center Fielder didn’t homer, but he hit .265 with a .333 OBP and strong Right Field defense.
Seagraves doesn’t have the bat to make it as a pro, but his speed and glove should make him a valuable player in A-ball. OSA sees a player that will top out there, though Bill Schmidt sees enough gap power and patience to make his way to Double-A. Seagraves should likely see time as a backup in full season ball next year.
2B: Luis Camacho—Dodgers
The Venezuelan Camacho was discovered by the Dodgers in 2023. They called him up to Jamaica to make his pro debut and he had a successful first season, hitting .367, stealing 17 bases, and leading the league in hits and doubles.
Camacho works hard, but is a clumsy defender with a sluggish first step that limits his upside. He has a quick bat and good speed—traits that may make him a fringe major leaguer—but he ultimately may be a designated hitter despite no power. His quick wrists are real though, and he’d benefit from a trip to full-season ball if only to get more defensive reps.
SS: Juan Navarro—Braves
A scouting discovery out of the Dominican Republic in 2021, Navarro let the West Indies in Zone Rating this past year after being a minus defender in 2024. Offensively, he’s mostly subsisted on a decent, but empty, batting average in his pro career. This year he tied a career high with four home runs and set a career high with 13 doubles to run up a .652 OPS.
Navarro doesn’t have much offensive upside, and still has strides to make with his swing. He could use another year of seasoning in Barbados next year.
SP: Miguel An. Hernandez—Brewers
With a 0.95 ERA, Hernandez dominated the West Indies Short Season League with a spectacular season. He went 9-0 in 13 starts—which was expected as he was a 29-year-old with roughly 350 career innings in the high minors under his belt.
Scouts look at Hernandez as a Triple-A pitcher, making his appearance in short-season ball perplexing. Hernandez is eligible for minor league free agency after this year and will likely accept it.
RP: Dariel Avila—Brewers
In the Top 20 all time in WAR for the Cuban League, Avila had dreams of pitching in the United States, but the 30-year-old spent the entire year back in the Caribbean. He led the league with 12 wins, going 12-0 with a 1.92 ERA as the Cuban legend overwhelmed hitters much younger than him.
Avila might not be good enough for the majors, making a return to Cuba likely this offseason. He wants to play in the majors and short-season A-ball is far away from that desire.
RP: Victor Alcantara—Brewers
The 32-year-old Alcantara has bounced around in his career, but is a former pro who appeared in 27 games—albeit with a 9.82 ERA—for the San Diego Padres back in 2021. For some reason the Brewers signed and dumped him in short-season ball this year, where he led the league with 17 Saves, backed up by a 0.33 ERA.
Alcantara tore a ligament in his elbow in late August and was promptly released by the Brewers, an ignominious end to an ignominious ordeal.
SP: Cody Deason—Royals
Deason led the league in WAR on the back of leading the league in innings and strikeouts. He produced an 8-0 record and a 1.41 ERA, joining a bunch of Brewers as older, overqualified arms for the level. Deason produced 3.2 WAR in Double-A Reading in 2020. Of course he dominated in Puerto Rico.
Deason has pitched well in the mid-minors and has a pretty good fastball-changeup combination. If he doesn’t sign with Milwaukee or Kansas City, expect to see him in Triple-A next year.
RP: Ramon Perez—Braves
The young Perez was drafted in the 13th round back in 2023 out of West Salem High School in Salem Oregon. He was a pretty good starter in in the Dominican Rookie League, but struggled a starter last year in Barbados. Atlanta moved him to the pen and he picked up nine holds to lead the league.
Perez’ stuff played up as a reliever, but he still allowed too many home runs. He doesn’t have huge upside, but could be a good arm in High-A in some time. Atlanta may hold on to him to see if he can cut his homers, or become a better control artist.
SP: Jorge Orozco—Reds
The Cuban Orozco had a nice year for the Cuba Libre, finishing fourth in the league in WAR with 2.2. He had a solid 3.40 ERA with just three homers allowed in 79.1 innings. Orozco also produced decent strikeout figures, with 70 whiffs.
Originally an 8th round draft pick—by the Guantanamo Indios, Orozco ultimately looks like a Double-A pitcher. He still has work to do on his control that can keep him in Cincinnati, though his only major league future looks like it will need a trip back to the Cuban League to happen
1B: Luis Acosta—Angeles
The first overall pick of the 2024 draft, Acosta had an incredibly concerning year in Trinidad this year. After a 21-game stint in the Dominican Rookie League, Acosta was promoted and struggled against the advanced pitching of the West Indies league. He hit just .227 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 51 games.
Acosta is looked at as a future First Division starter by OSA. He has big power and a good swing that can produce results. Bill Schmidt, however, isn’t a believer in the swing, or the intangibles, and doesn’t see Acosta as a major leaguer. Only 20, Acosta may need another year in Trinidad, and next year will be a huge year if he wants to develop into the type of player that will justify going first overall.
C: Mitchell Bell—Brewers
Bell was expected to be one of the top players in the league this season, but started just 16 games for Dominica, played in just 25, and slashed .132/.211/.221. The former 12th rounder had big success as a backup in a pair of rookie leagues in 2023 and 2024, but did not take to West Indies pitching in 2025.
Bell will spend most of next year as a 25-year-old. Both Bill Schmidt and OSA think he has decent power and is developed enough for a trip to the mid-minors. Bell has never been a full time starter though, and after such a rough season, may warrant a return trip to Dominica.
SP: Darius Richardson—Brewers
The 2025 fourth-rounder tore his rotator cuff in his first start as a pro, ending his season early. The college sophomore allowed seven hits and three walks in his 4.2 innings.
Richardson has a good fastball and splitter, and projects to have a solid slider as well making him an intriguing pitching prospect. OSA saw a fringe major leaguer, while Bill Schmidt doesn’t believe in the control. Already fringy, the lost year of development may hurt Richardson’s chances.
SP: Juan Ojeda—Angels
Ojeda appeared in this space last year after posting the worst WAR in the league. He repeated the feat this season, with a -1.6 mark a slight improvement on last year’s -1.8. Ojeda produced a 12.06 ERA, a 2.88 WHIP, and had a .419 BABIP.
Ojeda is still one of the worst pitchers in the universe and has no future with any team. Literally any other arm would be a better option than Ojeda.
LF: Jimmy Coates—Reds
One of Cincinnati’s second round picks this year, Coates is an advanced college bat from Stetson who skipped rookie ball to play in the West Indies Short League. With a quick bat, Coates tore up the West Indies this year, leading the league with a .336 average. A .439 on-base percentage, and a .994 OPS.
Coates doesn’t have a classic path to the majors. He has a quick bat, but doesn’t have home run power, great defensive range, or a ton of speed. Both OSA and Bill Schmidt see a player who will likely top out at Triple-A. He has great intangibles though, and should be playing full-season ball in 2026.
3B: Kyle Jackson—Reds
Jackson was another Reds second rounder, and like Coates, he’s an older college bat who skipped rookie ball. After being drafted and unsigned twice, Jackson finally signed with the Reds and was sent to play for Cuba. He has huge power and led the league with 23 home runs and 3.6 WAR despite only playing in 49 games.
Jackson’s a prototypical all-or-nothing slugger. He doesn’t have great bat speed, but starts early, swings hard, and crushes pitches he makes contact with. He’s also an excellent defender at Third Base. The hit tool will determine his ultimate future, but he’s way too strong for the low minors. Scouts agree that Jackson would be better off in the high minors in 2026.
LF: Tyler A Williams—Royals
A 28-year-old who’s been with the Royals since being drafted in the 21st round in 2019, Williams played his first season above rookie ball this year. After hitting well over .300 for Idaho Falls the past two years, Williams was promoted to the West Indies where he led the league with 67 RBIs as one of the oldest players in the league. Williams hit 17 doubles, 16 homers, and produced 3.6 WAR to tie for the league lead.
Williams has no future in the majors, but his offensive results, acceptable outfield defense, and solid speed can make him a useful player in A-ball. He’s much too old for short-season play.
CF: Joe Seagraves—Brewers
An 11th round pick out of Morehead State, Seagraves made an impact in his first pro season, leading the league with 18 steals in only 22 attempts. The Center Fielder didn’t homer, but he hit .265 with a .333 OBP and strong Right Field defense.
Seagraves doesn’t have the bat to make it as a pro, but his speed and glove should make him a valuable player in A-ball. OSA sees a player that will top out there, though Bill Schmidt sees enough gap power and patience to make his way to Double-A. Seagraves should likely see time as a backup in full season ball next year.
2B: Luis Camacho—Dodgers
The Venezuelan Camacho was discovered by the Dodgers in 2023. They called him up to Jamaica to make his pro debut and he had a successful first season, hitting .367, stealing 17 bases, and leading the league in hits and doubles.
Camacho works hard, but is a clumsy defender with a sluggish first step that limits his upside. He has a quick bat and good speed—traits that may make him a fringe major leaguer—but he ultimately may be a designated hitter despite no power. His quick wrists are real though, and he’d benefit from a trip to full-season ball if only to get more defensive reps.
SS: Juan Navarro—Braves
A scouting discovery out of the Dominican Republic in 2021, Navarro let the West Indies in Zone Rating this past year after being a minus defender in 2024. Offensively, he’s mostly subsisted on a decent, but empty, batting average in his pro career. This year he tied a career high with four home runs and set a career high with 13 doubles to run up a .652 OPS.
Navarro doesn’t have much offensive upside, and still has strides to make with his swing. He could use another year of seasoning in Barbados next year.
SP: Miguel An. Hernandez—Brewers
With a 0.95 ERA, Hernandez dominated the West Indies Short Season League with a spectacular season. He went 9-0 in 13 starts—which was expected as he was a 29-year-old with roughly 350 career innings in the high minors under his belt.
Scouts look at Hernandez as a Triple-A pitcher, making his appearance in short-season ball perplexing. Hernandez is eligible for minor league free agency after this year and will likely accept it.
RP: Dariel Avila—Brewers
In the Top 20 all time in WAR for the Cuban League, Avila had dreams of pitching in the United States, but the 30-year-old spent the entire year back in the Caribbean. He led the league with 12 wins, going 12-0 with a 1.92 ERA as the Cuban legend overwhelmed hitters much younger than him.
Avila might not be good enough for the majors, making a return to Cuba likely this offseason. He wants to play in the majors and short-season A-ball is far away from that desire.
RP: Victor Alcantara—Brewers
The 32-year-old Alcantara has bounced around in his career, but is a former pro who appeared in 27 games—albeit with a 9.82 ERA—for the San Diego Padres back in 2021. For some reason the Brewers signed and dumped him in short-season ball this year, where he led the league with 17 Saves, backed up by a 0.33 ERA.
Alcantara tore a ligament in his elbow in late August and was promptly released by the Brewers, an ignominious end to an ignominious ordeal.
SP: Cody Deason—Royals
Deason led the league in WAR on the back of leading the league in innings and strikeouts. He produced an 8-0 record and a 1.41 ERA, joining a bunch of Brewers as older, overqualified arms for the level. Deason produced 3.2 WAR in Double-A Reading in 2020. Of course he dominated in Puerto Rico.
Deason has pitched well in the mid-minors and has a pretty good fastball-changeup combination. If he doesn’t sign with Milwaukee or Kansas City, expect to see him in Triple-A next year.
RP: Ramon Perez—Braves
The young Perez was drafted in the 13th round back in 2023 out of West Salem High School in Salem Oregon. He was a pretty good starter in in the Dominican Rookie League, but struggled a starter last year in Barbados. Atlanta moved him to the pen and he picked up nine holds to lead the league.
Perez’ stuff played up as a reliever, but he still allowed too many home runs. He doesn’t have huge upside, but could be a good arm in High-A in some time. Atlanta may hold on to him to see if he can cut his homers, or become a better control artist.
SP: Jorge Orozco—Reds
The Cuban Orozco had a nice year for the Cuba Libre, finishing fourth in the league in WAR with 2.2. He had a solid 3.40 ERA with just three homers allowed in 79.1 innings. Orozco also produced decent strikeout figures, with 70 whiffs.
Originally an 8th round draft pick—by the Guantanamo Indios, Orozco ultimately looks like a Double-A pitcher. He still has work to do on his control that can keep him in Cincinnati, though his only major league future looks like it will need a trip back to the Cuban League to happen
1B: Luis Acosta—Angeles
The first overall pick of the 2024 draft, Acosta had an incredibly concerning year in Trinidad this year. After a 21-game stint in the Dominican Rookie League, Acosta was promoted and struggled against the advanced pitching of the West Indies league. He hit just .227 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 51 games.
Acosta is looked at as a future First Division starter by OSA. He has big power and a good swing that can produce results. Bill Schmidt, however, isn’t a believer in the swing, or the intangibles, and doesn’t see Acosta as a major leaguer. Only 20, Acosta may need another year in Trinidad, and next year will be a huge year if he wants to develop into the type of player that will justify going first overall.
C: Mitchell Bell—Brewers
Bell was expected to be one of the top players in the league this season, but started just 16 games for Dominica, played in just 25, and slashed .132/.211/.221. The former 12th rounder had big success as a backup in a pair of rookie leagues in 2023 and 2024, but did not take to West Indies pitching in 2025.
Bell will spend most of next year as a 25-year-old. Both Bill Schmidt and OSA think he has decent power and is developed enough for a trip to the mid-minors. Bell has never been a full time starter though, and after such a rough season, may warrant a return trip to Dominica.
SP: Darius Richardson—Brewers
The 2025 fourth-rounder tore his rotator cuff in his first start as a pro, ending his season early. The college sophomore allowed seven hits and three walks in his 4.2 innings.
Richardson has a good fastball and splitter, and projects to have a solid slider as well making him an intriguing pitching prospect. OSA saw a fringe major leaguer, while Bill Schmidt doesn’t believe in the control. Already fringy, the lost year of development may hurt Richardson’s chances.
SP: Juan Ojeda—Angels
Ojeda appeared in this space last year after posting the worst WAR in the league. He repeated the feat this season, with a -1.6 mark a slight improvement on last year’s -1.8. Ojeda produced a 12.06 ERA, a 2.88 WHIP, and had a .419 BABIP.
Ojeda is still one of the worst pitchers in the universe and has no future with any team. Literally any other arm would be a better option than Ojeda.