Jose Iglesias

From SoSH

Jose Iglesias (born January 5, 1990 in Havama, Cuba), defected from the Cuban World Junior Championship team in Edmonton, Canada, on July 27, 2008. He obtained residence in the Dominican Republic and was cleared by Major League Baseball in July 2009. He signed with the Boston Red Sox as an International Free Agent and received a bonus of $3,000,000 and a four year major league contract worth another $5.2 million.

Contents 1 Scouting Report 2 Amateur Career 3 Minor League Career 3.1 Minor League Awards 4 Trivia 5 External Links

Scouting Report

• Plus plus glove-work. Plus arm. Range is also plus, but there have been varying reports. Excellent instincts. Has the makings of a gold glove shortstop. Also able to play 2B and 3B. His bat is a question mark at this point, particularly power-wise, and he's not likely to add much more bulk to his frame. Pull hitter. Average to above average speed. ~ SoxProspects.com

• Iglesias has [drawn] attention for his flashy glove-work at shortstop, with one scout grading his fielding as an 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale. His arm is enough to stick at shortstop, but his range is somewhat limited by his fringe-average speed. Iglesias makes the most of his ability, with instincts that enhance his tools and excellent makeup. He bats from the right side and while his overall offensive package leaves a bit to be desired, most scouts agree Iglesias will hit enough to allow him to profile as a big league regular. He has decent pop in his 5'10 frame, at a maxed-out 180 lbs., though he can get pull-happy at times. An international scouting director called Iglesias' total package, "Ryan Theriot with better hands." Iglesias is a defensive-oriented overachiever and executives say he would be more of a 2nd-3rd rounder if eligible for the recent draft. ~ BaseballProspectus.com

• Two scouts with American League organizations independently arrived at the same conclusion about Iglesias, an 18-year-old middle infielder. Both compared him to Orlando Cabrera for his batting stance, infield actions and offensive potential. "He’s a stud," one of the scouts said. "He’s a plus run and plus arm Orlando Cabrera clone. He’s got a quick bat but I didn’t see much power." ~ Baseball America

• "Scouts who have seen Iglesias liken him to Ozzie Smith defensively. "His hands and arm are deluxe," one American League executive said. "The question is how much he'll hit." ~ Sports Illustrated

Amateur Career

• Update

Minor League Career

• 2009: Signed with the Red Sox on September 8, 2009, and saw his first action with Mesa of the Arizona Fall League. Over the course of 19 games, Iglesias hit 0.275 (19-for-69), with 9 runs, 12 RBI, 2 HR and a 11:4 strikeout to walk ratio.

• 2010: Iglesias is expected to begin the 2010 season with the Portland Sea Dogs.

Minor League Awards

• 2009 Arizona Fall League Rising Star

Trivia

• Update

External Links

• Jose Iglesias - Minor League Information Courtesy of Sox Prospects