Luis Alexander Basabe

mabrowndog

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Luis Alexander Basabe
 

 
Outfielder (CF/RF)
6'0", 170 lbs
Bats: Both
Throws: Right
DOB: 8/26/1996
Hometown: El Vigia, Venezuela
Acquired: August 2012, International Free Agent
Signed by: Eddie Romero & Luis Segovia
Bonus: $450,000
 
MiLB.com profile
SoxProspects profile
Minor League Central page
Baseball-Reference page
MLB Farm.com page
Fangraphs page
 
Not to be confused with his twin brother, 2B Luis Alejandro Basabe.
 
Baseball America (2/11/2013)
 
 
The Red Sox also made a pair of signings that sound almost too bizarre to be true. They signed identical twins from Venezuela, both named Luis Basabe, both switch-hitters who throw righthanded, both are around the same size and each of whom signed for $450,000 when they turned 16 on Aug. 26. Luis Alexander Basabe is an athletic, 5-foot-11, 165-pound center fielder with above-average speed, a 55 arm that could be plus in the future and solid power. Luis Alejandro Basabe is a 5-foot-10, 160-pound second baseman who also has plus speed. Alejandro has shown better ability to manipulate the bat head than his brother, though Alexander has more power. Alejandro has an average arm and some scouts think he might end up joining his brother in the outfield too. The brothers are from Anaco and trained with Jorge Agudelo.
 
 

mabrowndog

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2013 in Review
 
Played 60 G for the DSL Red Sox as a 16-yo (.225/.385/.321/.705 in 268 PA) with an eye at the plate that evolved productively (49 BB [18.3%], 58 K [21.6%]) ... Missed 7 G from June 18-25 with an unknown injury ... A third of his hits were XBH (13 dbl, 2 trp, 1 HR) and he drove in 19 runs while batting exclusively as the team's leadoff hitter (his brother Alejandro, with a .192/.332/.295/.627 line, was most frequently ahead of him in the 9-hole). Getting on base and using his speed were clearly the hallmarks of Alexander's offense (18-for-23 SBA, 49 R, .82 R/G, 5.5 PA/R) so he profiles quite well for that spot in the order.
 
* Debuted going 2-for-5 with 1 BB, 2 DB, 2 SB & 3 K
 
* Struggled with the bat over his next 40 G (25-for-138, 42 K, .181 BA, .283 SLG) but drew 34 BB & 5 HBP for a .360 OBP in 181 PA, and was successful on 7 of 10 steal attempts ...
 
* Closed the year on a 20-for-66 run over his final 19 G (.303/.432/.364/.796, 9-for-11 SB), with improved plate discipline (14 BB & 13 K in 81 PA).
 
* His K rate dropped from 24.1% in his first 41 G to 16.0% in his final 19, while his walk rate dropped slightly (18.8% to 17.3%) with the improved contact rate and more aggression. In June he took a called third strike in 12.8% of his 78 PA, dropping to 7.3% in 109 PA for July, and just 2.5% in 81 PA for August.
 
* Played only CF for the club, and logged 7 outfield assists over 53 games with 2 assessed errors in 111 chances.
 

mabrowndog

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He's off to a great start in 2014, reaching base in all 11 of his starts and showing more gap power (.349 /.500/.605/1.105 in 58 PA).
 
* Among his 15 hits, he's had a double and 5 triples so he's clearly using that speed to snag the extra base.
 
* He's carried over the positive plate approach he showed in the final month of last season, with 14 BB (24.1%) & 12 K (20.7%).
 
* All but 10 of his PA have come from the left side, and he's mashed (.353/.532/.676/1.208). Even in his limited work vs LHP he's fared well (3 singles & a walk, 4 RBI, 2 R, 1 K).
 
* In 26 PA with RISP, he's got 8 H & 4 BB with 14 RBI.
 
* He's yet to be caught on the basepaths (7-for-7 SBA), and has scored 21 R in his 11 games started which is ridiculous.
 

mabrowndog

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Yesterday at DSL Mariners: 6 PA, 4 H, 1 Trp, 0 K, 1 SB, 4 R and 7 RBI.
 
Yeah, I know it's ultra-early, with extreme SSS and all that, but... wow.
 

mabrowndog

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ALiveH said:
so, when does he crack the soxprospects.org top-60?
 
When he's had a more sustained record of success. Half of his 2014 RBI total was achieved in Friday's game. Then he went out the next day and put up an 0-for-5 with 2 Ks.
 
Bear in mind SP looks at more than just stat lines in compiling their rankings. They evaluate projectable talents and skills, which is why Devers is so highly rated despite having debuted in the system just a few weeks ago. Alexander Basabe doesn't possess those same assets.
 

mabrowndog

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mwonow said:
So Alex is like the Xander to Alejandro's Jair? 
 
Heh. Probably a little early to write off Alejandro, who finally made his 2014 debut yesterday. He batted second, behind Alexander, and went 2-for-3 with a run.
 
Alexander got back on track, going 2-for-4 with a triple, walk, and a run.
 

mabrowndog

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Alex Speier
 
 
Right fielder Luis Alexander Basabe reached base four times, going 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of walks to boost his line to .310/.446/.507 with 19 walks and 18 strikeouts. All eight of the 17-year-old switch-hitter’s extra-base hits have come against righti-handed pitchers; he’s hitting .345/.500/.600 against righties, compared to .188/.250/.188 against lefties.
 

mabrowndog

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A 3-for-5 afternoon with a pair of triples & 2 RBI last Friday put Alexander at .317/.453/.561/1.014 for the season in 106 PA. Nine of his first 26 hits this year were three-baggers, while just 2 were doubles.
 
However he's been scuffling in 4 games since, going 2-for-14 with a walk, HBP and 4 Ks. He did steal 2 more bases, giving him 10 on the year while being thrown out just once. His season line is now .292/.426/.500/.926 with 22 BB & 25 K in 122 PA.
 

mabrowndog

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He's continued his backslide since the 3-for-5 day on June 27. In 10 games since he's batting just .211/.279/.316/.595, going 8-for-38 with 3 BB, 1 HBP and 10 K.
 
Now hitting .283/.403/.483/.886 on the season in 149 PA.
 

mabrowndog

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The kid has really righted the ship of late, hitting .304/.467/.522/.988 over his last 6 games, with 3 singles, 3 doubles, a triple & 6 BB in 30 PA. It's the second time this season that he's shown the ability to shake off a slump and straighten things out.
 
Overall he's at .284/.408/.480/.887 in 184 PA, including a ridiculous .316/.456/.564/1.020 mark in 149 PA vs RHP.
 
And now he's been promoted stateside to the GCL Sox (with OF Joseph Monge advanced up to Lowell in a parallel move).
 

mabrowndog

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3-for-5 today with 2 runs scored in an 11-1 win for GCL.
 
After going 3-for-16 in his first 4 games on US soil, he's now hit safely in 4 straight while going 6-for-13 with 2 BB, 4 K, an RBI and 4 R.
 

mabrowndog

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1-for-4 today with a single and a K.
 
Rough times in August so far, as he's just 4-for-30 with a .133/.212/.233/.445 line and 3 BB & 10 K in 9 games. He did hit his first-ever GCL homer last Thursday (a 3-run shot) while also walking and scoring a run. But that's been the lone bright spot for him this month.
 

mabrowndog

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I'm generally not one for applying nicknames to ballplayers, but I'm all for doing so when brevity is at stake. In the GameDay threads this week, someone suggested LAx for this kid (and LAj for his twin brother Luis Alejandro). Hence I hereby officially decree that it be so.
 
LAx has cracked the SoxProspects.com Top 60 for the first time in his young career, busting in at #59.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Luis Alexander Basabe in the 2nd half .342/.407.605 in 86 plate appearances. 8bb/18k

In the last 12 games: 53 PA, .444/.537/.733 with 8bb/8k. 3 2bs, 2 3bs, 2 Hrs, 6/8 in SB. The strike out numbers are way down in July, hopefully that is the results of an adjustment.

Since June 1st: 146 PA, .320/.390/.547 15bb/33k. 11 doubles, 3 triples, 4 HRs and 9/11 in SB.

He really, really had an abysmal May. OPS by Month: .743, .498!, .809, and 1.118 so far in July. For the year, his OPS is now .781. The strikeouts are a real concern but it's easy to see why the scouts think he is the better Basabe despite the other one having an amazing season of his own. Alexander is just the better athlete, more power, more speed. Alejandro has the better approach and bat control. Alexander has a 27% strikeout rate and 9.2% walk rate for the year. If he can cut that k rate down to 20-22%, he's flying up some list. If not, he'll wash out in Portland. He has some serious potential, though. Top 25-50 potential, he may never realize it though because those strikeouts.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Basabe peaked earlier in the week with a > .800 OPS. Currently on a 12 game hitting streak, his overall line for the season is .260/.329/.469. Exactly one month ago, his season line was .218/.286/.403.

Last week: 7/22, 1 double, 2 HRs, 2 sb, 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. .318/.375/.636

He has 15 strikeouts in his last 96 PA, which is an extremely positive trend. Hopefully it sticks. if it does, this guy is going to be a monster.
 

Cesar Crespo

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His hitting streak ended at 15 games. Alex finished July with the slash line of .363/.438/.593. 103 PA, 11xbh (4HR), 9/12 sb/sba. 19k/12bb. The 19 strikeouts is an incredibly encouraging sign, but he's also clearly in the midst of a hot streak so let's see how he follows it up.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Basabe had a 3 strikeout game last night, but even with that performance, his K rate since the second half is way down.

1st half 52 games 214 PA .222/.293/.397 20bb 64k 9sb/0cs. 9.3%bb rate, 30% K rate.
2nd half 43 games 184PA .310/.372/.542 16bb 40k 13sb/4cs 8.7%bb rate, 21.7% K rate.

OPS by Month: .743, .498, .809, 1.032, .780. Still only 19. With Benintendi likely to graduate and Espinoza traded, Basabe has a good chance of sneak into the top 5 with a solid finish, behind Moncada, Devers, Groom, and Kopech.
 

Heating up in the bullpen

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Scored his first MLB run, coming in as a pinch runner. Later had his first at-bat, G4-3.
Side note: after pinch running for Alex Dickerson (who had pinch hit for Darin Ruf), Basabe stayed in the game in left field. That gave the Giants an All Red Sox connected outfield, with former farmhand Mauricio Dubon in center and Mikey Yaz in right.
 

billy ashley

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of all the Dombroski trades, the one with Shaw and Dubon is probably the more ludicrous example of Dombroski throwing in a useful marginal prospect as a sweetener. The Brewers were already getting a 2nd division 3B/1B for a good reliever with long history arm issues. Did we really need to throw in a low ceiling high floor guy like Dubon? Wouldn't it have been nice to be paying Dubon nothing in 18 and 19 instead of paying Holt for the same role (as much as we love Holt).

Guh.

More on topic, thrilled for Basabe, hope both twins make it.
 

The Gray Eagle

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Wouldn't it have been nice to be paying Dubon nothing in 18 and 19 instead of paying Holt for the same role (as much as we love Holt).

Guh.
Absolutely not. Dubon wasn't even in the majors in 2018. Meanwhile Holt put up a 109 OPS+ in 367 PAs for the best Red Sox team I've ever seen.

If we had Dubon instead, we wouldn't have had Brock Holt hitting for the cycle against the Yankees in the playoffs, but we might have had a slightly better shot at the Payroll Efficiency World Championship, which apparently is the important thing!