Michael Almanzar

[TheGoldenGreek33]

Age: 17
Born: December 2, 1990
Santo Domingo, DR
Height: 6-3 (the original 6-5 was inaccurate)
Weight: 190
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: Not drafted
How Acquired: International Free Agent (July 2007)
High School: Dominican Baseball Academy
ETA: 2013

Scouting Report: A tall, lanky shortstop - Almanzar is extremely athletic, but also extremely raw. He's very thin now, but his frame looks like it has room to add a lot of muscle and strength. He signed at the age of 16 and hadn't played much organized ball prior to his signing, despite that he's the son of former MLB pitcher Carlos Almanzar. Offensively, Almanzar is mostly potential at this point. His stance and swing are closer to little-league than big league. He fidgets a lot in the box, has an open stance that tightens up a lot after a huge timing step. Regardless, he generates a lot of bat speed and has plus plus power potential. Almanzar is also a work-in-progress defensively. Not a great fielder at 3B yet, despite that he spent much of his (albeit limited) time before signing at SS. His arm is strong but erratic. Basically, he's the ultimate raw toolsly player, and the Red Sox apparently hope to turn him into a star from the ground up.

Originally Signed: July 2, 2007 by Pablo Lanigua
Signing Bonus: $1,500,000
MiLB Debut: -
MLFA Eligible: 2013-2014
Rule 5 Draft Eligible: 2012-2013
Options Remaining: 3 (0 used)

SoxProspects.com Awards:
2008 SoxProspects.com Pre-Season All Star - 3B

Courtesy: soxprospects.com

 

[TheGoldenGreek33]

SP: What do the Sox see in Michael Almanzar that caused them to pay so much more for an international free agent than they're usually willing to spend?

JC: They love the bat. He already has legitimate bat speed gap power as a 16-year-old, and as a 6-foot-5, 180-pounder, he can get a lot stronger. He could be a big-time power hitter five years from now. His arm is another plus tool.

Jim Callis interview with SP

 

[TheGoldenGreek33]

BA: International Scouts View

....he's line drive to all fields with that little flick at the end that tells you he's going to hit for some power, too. It might wind up being a lot more power than people are projecting.

I'm not sure about his ability to stay at short. He's already big for the position and he's probably going to wind up at third base. The bat will have to carry him....

 

[TheGoldenGreek33]

Michael will be starting at 3B for the GCL Red Sox.

 

[PedroMarteamez]

Rotoworld had this blurb on Almanzar today

17-year-old Michael Almanzar had two hits in a fourth straight game Monday for the Rookie GCL Red Sox.
He's off to an 8-for-19 start in his pro debut. Almanzar, the son of former major league reliever Carlos, was given a $1.5 million bonus to sign out of the Dominican Republic last summer.

Link

Also has been running alot with 2/2 SB/CS on the young season, might be of some interest because of the fact it was his power that was mostly talked about and not his speed.

SSS applies to all of the above obviously

 

[plnii]

SSS, but Almanzar seems to be struggling a bit versus lefties (he's right-handed). Against LHPs, he's 3 for 12 with 5 k's. Probably nothing, but it's holding down his numbers a bit.

[codebox](AVG/OBP/SLG)
vs Left .250 .250 .500
vs Right .438 .471 .971[/codebox]

 

[John DiFool]

SSS, but Almanzar seems to be struggling a bit versus lefties (he's right-handed). Against LHPs, he's 3 for 12 with 5 k's. Probably nothing, but it's holding down his numbers a bit.

[codebox](AVG/OBP/SLG)
vs Left .250 .250 .500
vs Right .438 .471 .971[/codebox]

SSS meaninglessness (he's righthanded).

I am going to keep a very close eye on this young man as he goes up the ladder (and if The Golden Greek hadn't started this thread I likely would have this weekend); I just have a strong intuition that he's going to be something very special.

 

[Razor Shines]

I was just going to post my worries about his height, but it turns out that he is 6'3" instead of the 6'6" I heard earlier. That is great news. You can count the productive 6'6" hitters in the league on one hand.

 

[John DiFool]

1 single in 3 ABs yesterday, 1 walk 1 K. Showing no power so far this season (SSS applies).

 

[SoxScout]

Screw the power, I'm just amazed he can make contact given the way people were talking about his rawness.

Has everyone seen how freakishly skinny this kid, he looks like Jerome Moiso. Photo

 

[John DiFool]

3 for 3 day, including a triple and showing some patience with 2 walks. Already has 6 RBIs.

 

[raylaw21]

BP Future shock

Michael Almanzar, 3B, Rookie-Level GCL (Red Sox)
Almanzar was one of the big prizes in last year’s international signing period. The Red Sox spent mid-first-round money ($1.5 million) on the Dominican slugger, betting on his excellent swing mechanics and tons of physical projection. Making his pro debut in the Florida complex league, Almanzar began his career with four consecutive two-hit games, and extended his hitting streak to eight games by reaching base in all five of his plate appearances on Sunday, going 3-for-3 with a triple and a pair of walks. Now batting .412/.474/.500, Almanzar is having little difficulty hitting, while on defense the reports are "so far, so good" on his transition from shortstop to third base. It’s far too early to call, but Almanzar’s talent is looking like it was properly valued by Boston.

 

[koufax32]

It appears his offseason will consist of a little baseball and lots of weight training, flexibility training, and protein shakes. Still batting over .380.

mL notebook on Boston.com go to second page

 

[John DiFool]

Hit his first professional HR on the 11th, 6/12 the last 3 days.

May it be the first of many.

 

[John DiFool]

Yesterday went 3/4, double, SB, walk. Now has a .931 OPS.

 

[Zennla]

I don't think there are published reports, but it is definitely confirmed Almanzar has been promoted to Greenville. Yes, you read that correctly...Greenville. He was in the park for the game tonight but due to travel didn't play. He will start tomorrow. Wow. Time to get a little excited?

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Time to get a little excited?

Absolutely. A 17 year old who has actually earned a promotion by mid-season to Low-A is definitely something to get excited about. I'll be following the rest of his year pretty closely, as I think he could be a great replacement for Lowell by the end of his contract should he continue to develop on this path.

 

[someoneanywhere]

I was in Greenville last night and caught a little of the Almanzar show.

The good: no question about this kid's bat. He tripled in his first at-bat, a bullet to near straightaway center that the CF got a glove on before thumping into the wall. Very, very quick bat. More impressive was a line-out to right-field, also popped, that shows good opposite-field power. Nearly as impressive as what he hit was what he took, as he laid off the junk that other Drive hitters (surprisingly, Jered Stanley was one) could or did not.

The mid to good: athletically, he has not figured out his body -- he hasn't figured out how all the parts are supposed to move together. On the basepaths he looks like a weird science project; think of Vlad Guerrero and Clemente together, all legs and arms flying at you just as he gets them going in the right direction. I don't know if that awkwardness is natural, as it is in Vladdy, but if there is athletic potential in getting the kinks out, and if he can do it, he is going to be something.

The bad: he made no errors and had several chances, but the glove needs work. He fields everything with one hand, and in such an ungainly way that it's an issue that will have to be addressed if he wants to stay on the infield. I saw decent but not great range, but good ball instincts to his left. A truly awful attempt to field a foul pop behind third, which was partly a result of being unfamiliar with Fluor Field, but he didn't look all that great chasing it, either. No real opportunities to test the arm.

 

[SouthPaw21]

Kevin Goldstein did a chat over at Baseball Prospectus (Free Week), and talked about Almanzar

Tiger Death House (Boston): With Michael Almanzar's promotion to Greenville as a 17-year old, where can we expect to see him beginning the year in 2009, especially with Will Middlebrooks poised to start the year at Greenville? It can't be good for these two big time prospects to split time at third, can it?

Kevin Goldstein: Well, I don't think you'll see either of them starting next year in High-A -- that's just crazy talk. Almanzar is looking like a very special bat however.

 

[templeUsox]

FTR, apparently Tiger Death House was Almanzar's nickname in the GCL.

 

[axiis]

I'm very excited about this kid. I really think he's going to be a special, special player.

 

[mt8thsw9th]

Through his first 60 at bats, Almanzar is sitting at .217/.242/.283 with just 2 walks and 15 strikeouts. He's 0-9 against lefties currently.

 

[Eli95]

I saw what must have been one of his worst nights, down in Rome, GA about a week ago. Admittedly against a lefty starter, but he was way behind on the fastballs (popping up twice to 1B) and taking called strikes on breaking stuff.

 

[mt8thsw9th]

Through his first 60 at bats, Almanzar is sitting at .217/.242/.283 with just 2 walks and 15 strikeouts. He's 0-9 against lefties currently.

Through 89, he's at .180/.221/.247 with 4 walks and 23 strikeouts. Currently 1-16 against lefties.

I think they've done a great job with most promotions this season, but this move still boggles my mind. What was the need to jump him into full season ball after just 89 at bats at the age of 17?

 

[Cuzittt]

I think they've done a great job with most promotions this season, but this move still boggles my mind. What was the need to jump him into full season ball after just 89 at bats at the age of 17?

They had to move someone from the GCL... with the signing of Kelly and Gibson, there was not enough room to play all the prospects they had.

Truth is, I'm not worried about the numbers. The Red Sox clearly thought he could handle the move emotionally and had to know that there was a strong possibility he struggled numberwise. That being said, I have not heard anything saying he is struggling with his approach... so if there is no long term detriment to the promotion (and we obviously won't know that for a while), I'm still OK with the move.

 

[irish_stephen]

Isn't he 18 now?

 

[JulE6]

december 2

 

[irish_stephen]

wow..
put it this way, if you were offered a 17year old who hit .211 in Low-A Ball would you not take it?

 

[Quintanariffic]

wow..
put it this way, if you were offered a 17year old who hit .211 in Low-A Ball would you not take it?

He'd be heading into his Senior year in HS in many locations if he was born here.

 

[mikeford]

Yeah, he may be struggling mightily in A ball right now but he was absolutely tearing up rookie ball at 17. How often does that happen? His struggles in A are disheartening because I absolutely love the kid but I am by no means worried.

 

[Quintanariffic]

Yeah, he may be struggling mightily in A ball right now but he was absolutely tearing up rookie ball at 17. How often does that happen? His struggles in A are disheartening because I absolutely love the kid but I am by no means worried.

It's hard to be disheartened when a kid who is young for the GCL gets double jumped to the SAL and struggles. He will be relatively younf for the SAL for another two years, so I'm not too concerned at this stage.

 

[Corsi Combover]

John Casey (New York): Please settle a dispute for me with some Mets fans. Who is a better prospect and has better projection, Michael Almanzar or Wilmer Flores?

SportsNation John Manuel: I'll take Flores there, better chance to stay at a key position (3b), Almanzar sounds like a 1b/lf.

Source: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/major...008/266864.html

 

[phrenile]

"Taking a closer look at top Red Sox prospects" (Portland Press Herald):

High-priced free agent players can be a gamble, but they can also be worth it (such as Hanley Ramirez). Almanzar, who has moved from shortstop to third base, got a $1.5 million signing bonus and shows the potential of being a power hitter with a smooth glove.

Almanzar was tearing up the rookie Gulf Coast League as a 17-year-old (.348), and Boston surprisingly promoted him to low Class A Greenville (.207 in 35 games). He will go back to Greenville and could reach Portland in 2010.

 

[sittingstill]

A few of my Spring Training shots, fielding drills at the minor league complex:

 

[John DiFool]

Looks in those shots to have a little more meat on his bones...

 

[sittingstill]

He's definitely still slender, though.

 

[Steve Dillard]

"Taking a closer look at top Red Sox prospects" (Portland Press Herald):
High-priced free agent players can be a gamble, but they can also be worth it (such as Hanley Ramirez).

Yes, that $20,000 is a great example for the benefits of spending big money on Latin players.
http://sonsofsamhorn.net/wiki/index.php/20..._Agent_Signings

 

[John DiFool]

A week into his season I'd figure I'd bump this.

He's only hitting .231-but with a .538 secondary average. He has more walks (3) than strikeouts (2). For a kid, who if he grew up in the States would be a high school senior, to be doing this in a mid A league is pretty impressive. Is a promotion to Portland by the end of the year not out of the question? Okay that's probably silly but Salem is a pretty decent possibility.

 

[jsinger121]

A week into his season I'd figure I'd bump this.

He's only hitting .231-but with a .538 secondary average. He has more walks (3) than strikeouts (2). For a kid, who if he grew up in the States would be a high school senior, to be doing this in a mid A league is pretty impressive. Is a promotion to Portland by the end of the year not out of the question? Okay that's probably silly but Salem is a pretty decent possibility.

He is not going to get promoted to Portland this year. That would be absurd to think that. He is in Greenville right now and I expect him to stay at least half the year there if not more. There is no need to rush him and if anything he will get a taste of Salem at the end of the year.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

A week into his season I'd figure I'd bump this.

He's only hitting .231-but with a .538 secondary average. He has more walks (3) than strikeouts (2). For a kid, who if he grew up in the States would be a high school senior, to be doing this in a mid A league is pretty impressive. Is a promotion to Portland by the end of the year not out of the question? Okay that's probably silly but Salem is a pretty decent possibility.

They won't rush him. He'll probably stay in Greenville and then get a 50-80 AB taste of Salem at the end of the year, much like what they did with Lars.

 

[amarshal2]

He left last night's game after getting hit by a pitch. No word on how long he'll be out, if at all.

 

[someoneanywhere]

Physically he's going to be a monster. Looking at him now, a season later in Greenville, he looks like he's filled out some in the hips and shoulders. He's got a Beltran body. If he gets Beltran's tools . . .

 

[someoneanywhere]

And as soon as I write that he goes 380 to left center with a truly majestic dinger.

 

[John DiFool]

Another dinger last night, ISO is now .217. K-W (13-5) could use some improvement, BABIP is only .250. Once his average trends upward his OPS is going to look pretty good.

 

[John DiFool]

He's been in a pretty horrendous slide, hitting .194 over his last ten games, no XB hits, 2 walks 10 K's. Not sure why he's not been playing consistently-any chance he goes back down to the DSL team? He's 2 months older than our 1st round draft choice.

 

[Cuzittt]

QUOTE (John DiFool @ Jun 10 2009, 10:41 AM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=2344806
Not sure why he's not been playing consistently-any chance he goes back down to the DSL team? He's 2 months older than our 1st round draft choice.


Zero chance he goes down THREE levels. Zero.

If the Sox think going down a level will be useful, they will drop him to Lowell when they start up next week.

 

[John DiFool]

Sorry for my ignorance, CZ. What I meant of course was will he go down a level.

 

[someoneanywhere]

Michael is back for his third stretch with Greenville. He's filled out some in the lower half, and seems a little more comfortable in his body. Defensively he's made some strides -- he had been, last time I saw him, a sidewinding, one-gloved fielder; yesterday he handled his one chance smoothly, and in the traditional way.

More impressive was the stroke: shorter, more discerning. Two line drive outs, a smoked foul ball, and of course the dinger, which went out to left (the shortest porch at Flour Field), but which he also didn't square up, and if my ears caught the sound right, he muscled out on something in on his hands. He ought to have a big year.

 

[AquaNarc]

Thanks for the report, keep 'em comin! I still think he is an exciting prospect, especially if he can stick at third. That said, he does need to show some results at the plate this year.

 

[mt8thsw9th]

4 years after the insane promotion from rookie ball to Greenville, he's quietly putting up a decent season as a 21 in high-A ball, .300/.353/.458. Hopefully he was able to sell his condo in Greenville.