Andres Gimenez/Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

Andres Gimenez, SS

St. Lucie Mets – High A – Florida State League

5’11 161 lbs.

Age: 19 (9/4/98)

B/T: Left/Right

Stats: .277/.347/.427, 14 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 22 SB

Body: Wiry, athletic frame. Will add muscle as he matures but will not outgrow shortstop and should not lose speed.

Stance:  Spread out in the box, no leg kick.  Pivots on front toe as weight shifts backward.  Hands start high but move to load position in tandem with weight shift.  Stays balanced through his swing with his hands staying back to adjust off-speed.

Hit: Plus bat speed, good hand-eye coordination.  Short, quick swing. Allows the ball to get deep. Consistent hard contact with excellent plate coverage.  Sprays line drives all over the field. Battles at the plate with two strikes. Will occasionally expand the zone especially early in the game with two strikes but makes adjustments during the game leading to improved results. Will work deep into counts but prefers to swing the bat instead of taking the walk at this stage. 45/55

Power:  Sneaky pop for a smaller guy.  Bat is explosive and swing has natural loft.  Easy power to all fields. Can turn on premium velocity.  Able to find the barrel on high fastballs. I expect him to grow into more power with experience and body projection. Minimal use of lower half currently.  Power generated more from bat speed at this point in development. Has 20 HR potential. 40/50

Speed: Clocked 4.08 home to first and 11.47 home to 3rd.  Aggressive on basepaths going first to 3rd. 60/60

Defense:  Excellent range to right and charging in.  Very smooth. Quick first step. Soft hands.  Plus instincts. Teammates defer to him on 50/50 balls.  60/60

Arm: Accurate throws on the run and moving away from 1st.  Quick release with a bit of short arm/sidearm motion.  60/60

Overall:  Gimenez has the chance to be a special player at a premium position.  Defense and body projections will ensure he sticks at SS with the chance to become a 70 grade 2B if Mets choose to keep Rosario at SS.  Speed lends itself to 20-30 SB potential. Offensively, Gimenez’s mature approach and plus bat speed will play at the top of the order. He has quick wrists and allows the balls to get deep.  Pitch recognition will improve with experience. Power will come as he matures physically and learns to use his lower half. Has a 20/20 ceiling.

FV: 55 – 1st division regular.