Yoan Moncada
Born May 27, 1995
(age 19 when signed)
Listed at 6'2", 205.
Switch hitter. Has mostly played second base, but has also played third, short, and the outfield.
Signed a $31.5 million bonus as a free agent:
http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/12475871/boston-red-sox-introduce-cuban-prospect-yoan-moncada
Jim Callis on MLB.com calls him "the most exciting teenaged prospect to leave Cuba since Jorge Soler."
Callis ranks his tools:
Hitting: 60
"A switch-hitter, Moncada generates tremendous bat speed and consistently barrels the ball from both sides of the plate."
Power: 60
"Solidly built at 6-foot, 210 pounds, Moncada has strength to go with his lightning bat speed. He also has demonstrated the patience to wait out pitchers who won't challenge him, and he should be able to fully tap into his plus raw power. Moncada should be good for 20-25 homers annually, once he gets established in the Majors."
Running: 65
"Moncada usually clocks in at around 6.6 seconds in the 60-yard dash, with some scouts timing him faster than that and willing to give him 70 speed. He outran Rusney Castillo, who signed a $72.5 million contract (the biggest outlay ever for a Cuban defector) with the Red Sox in August, to win races to first base and around the bases at Cuba's 2012-13 All-Star Game."
Throwing: 60
"While the consensus is that Moncada has a fourth plus tool in his arm strength, grades vary anywhere from a 55 to a 70. The bottom line is that his arm works well and would fit anywhere on the diamond."
Fielding: 50
"Moncada has more than enough range and the hands for second and third base, his main positions in Cuba and his likely home in the big leagues. He has seen action at shortstop, though he looked uncomfortable there during a heavily attended workout in Guatemala in November and is unlikely to get deployed there. Moncada also has spent time in center field, where his speed and arm would work well."
Overall: 65
"If he were eligible for the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, Moncada would be a strong contender to go No. 1 overall to the D-backs. His overall 65 grade would place him among the top dozen prospects in baseball right now, and it's arguably a bit conservative, because teams haven't had the chance to evaluate him against much quality competition. Only the first three players on the Top 100 earned overall 70s: Buxton, Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant and Correa."
Moncada is the #9 overall prospect in baseball according to MLB.com. He started the season in extended spring training. In his first at-bat, he smashed a stand-up triple.
From that article:
"In addition to catching up on his baseball skills, Moncada said he has been taking three English classes a week. Those classes are not as easily available in Greenville, S.C., where the Red Sox likely will send Moncada to their low Class A affiliate, the Greenville Drive, when they deem him ready."
Born May 27, 1995
(age 19 when signed)
Listed at 6'2", 205.
Switch hitter. Has mostly played second base, but has also played third, short, and the outfield.
Signed a $31.5 million bonus as a free agent:
http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/12475871/boston-red-sox-introduce-cuban-prospect-yoan-moncada
Jim Callis on MLB.com calls him "the most exciting teenaged prospect to leave Cuba since Jorge Soler."
Callis ranks his tools:
Hitting: 60
"A switch-hitter, Moncada generates tremendous bat speed and consistently barrels the ball from both sides of the plate."
Power: 60
"Solidly built at 6-foot, 210 pounds, Moncada has strength to go with his lightning bat speed. He also has demonstrated the patience to wait out pitchers who won't challenge him, and he should be able to fully tap into his plus raw power. Moncada should be good for 20-25 homers annually, once he gets established in the Majors."
Running: 65
"Moncada usually clocks in at around 6.6 seconds in the 60-yard dash, with some scouts timing him faster than that and willing to give him 70 speed. He outran Rusney Castillo, who signed a $72.5 million contract (the biggest outlay ever for a Cuban defector) with the Red Sox in August, to win races to first base and around the bases at Cuba's 2012-13 All-Star Game."
Throwing: 60
"While the consensus is that Moncada has a fourth plus tool in his arm strength, grades vary anywhere from a 55 to a 70. The bottom line is that his arm works well and would fit anywhere on the diamond."
Fielding: 50
"Moncada has more than enough range and the hands for second and third base, his main positions in Cuba and his likely home in the big leagues. He has seen action at shortstop, though he looked uncomfortable there during a heavily attended workout in Guatemala in November and is unlikely to get deployed there. Moncada also has spent time in center field, where his speed and arm would work well."
Overall: 65
"If he were eligible for the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, Moncada would be a strong contender to go No. 1 overall to the D-backs. His overall 65 grade would place him among the top dozen prospects in baseball right now, and it's arguably a bit conservative, because teams haven't had the chance to evaluate him against much quality competition. Only the first three players on the Top 100 earned overall 70s: Buxton, Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant and Correa."
Moncada is the #9 overall prospect in baseball according to MLB.com. He started the season in extended spring training. In his first at-bat, he smashed a stand-up triple.
From that article:
"In addition to catching up on his baseball skills, Moncada said he has been taking three English classes a week. Those classes are not as easily available in Greenville, S.C., where the Red Sox likely will send Moncada to their low Class A affiliate, the Greenville Drive, when they deem him ready."