Top 10 Latinos to watch in MLB’s Spring Breakout
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Lorenzo Delgado, Contributor
- March 14, 2024
Spring Breakout will spotlight minor-leaguers
Major League Baseball is set to highlight Jackson Chourio, Ethan Salas and the next generation of superstars during the Spring Breakout games. The four-day event that starts Thursday showcases baseball’s top prospects across the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues in Arizona and Florida.
MLB Pipeline presented a list of the Top 100 prospects scheduled to play in this week’s Spring Breakout. Chourio of the Brewers and Salas of the Padres are among 15 Latinos who highlight the Top 100 prospect. Chourio is rated No. 2, and Salas is No. 8.
We ranked the Top 10 Latinos to watch during the inaugural Spring Breakout games.
No. 10: Twins OF Gabriel Gonzalez
Outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez was a part of the package the Mariners sent the Twins for Jorge Polanco. Gonzalez was the No. 3 prospect with the Mariners. He’s now the fourth ranked prospect in the Twins’ farm system.
The Carupano, Venezuela, native, displays great contact at the plate with prolific arm strength.
Gonzalez spent time in Class A and Class A+ last year. In 73 games in Class A, he batted .348/.403/.530 with 103 hits, 19 doubles, nine home runs, 54 RBIs and a 149 wRC+.
Outfielder Max Kepler is on the last year of his contract this season. So, this is a great opportunity for the 20-year-old outfielder to show what he’s capable of doing against the best prospects.
No. 9: Diamondbacks OF Druw Jones
Druw Jones was highly talked about as the best prospect in the 2022 draft class. The son of 10-time Gold Glove winner Andruw Jones was drafted second overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Druw can cover a significant amount of range in the outfield by the quick speed he displays on the diamond.
Jones finished with a .253 batting average with 28 hits, three doubles, one triple, two home runs, nine RBIs, 20 walks and six stolen bases in Class A. Moreover, he carried a .349 wOBA and a .717 OPS in nine games.
The defending National League champion Diamondbacks carry a young core. They were three games away from their second World Series title in franchise history. Jones, 20, can be a part of a bright future with the Diamondbacks as he looks to continue to improve and stay healthy.
No. 8: Rockies OF Yanquiel Fernandez
Outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez signed with the Colorado Rockies for $295,000 in the 2019-20 international signing period. Fernandez quickly went to work in 2021 and has not missed a beat.
Combining his Class A, Class A+, and Class AA stats in 2023, the Rockies’ No. 3 prospect batted .265/.313/.486 with 127 hits, 25 doubles, 25 home runs, 92 RBIs and a .799 OPS.
The native of Havana, Cuba, generates a lot of raw power at the plate while hitting the ball to all parts of the field. However, Fernandez does struggle with a high strikeout rate. In 117 games in Class AA, he struck out 132 times with a 32.9% strikeout rate.
With Fernandez’s 60-grade raw power, you bet you’ll see a lot of baseballs fly out of Coors Field’s hitter-friendly park. He should be fun to watch in the Spring Breakout.
No. 7: Cubs OF Kevin Alcantara
Kevin Alcantara has the potential to be a true five-tool player with his defense, arm strength, contact, power and speed. In his first trip to the Arizona Fall League, Alcantara showed significant results for the Mesa Solar Sox and the Chicago Cubs. He batted .256/.330/.535 with 22 hits, seven doubles, five home runs and 23 RBIs in 21 games.
The Santo Domingo, native, started in Rookie ball, but finished the 2023 season in Class AA. Alcantara spent the majority of his time playing in 95 games in Class A+. The Cubs’ No. 6 prospect batted .286/.341/.466 with 106 hits, 25 doubles, 12 home runs, 66 RBIs, 15 stolen bases and a 124 wRC+.
Alcantara was optioned to Class AA this past Friday. The Jaguar will continue to be on the prow, though.
No. 6: Mets SS/2B Luisangel Acuña
Doesn’t the last name Acuña sound familiar? Of course, it does. Luisangel Acuña is the youngest brother of 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. However, Ronald doesn’t have the versatility to play the infield like Luisangel.
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The New York Mets acquired Luisangel Acuña from the Texas Rangers in a part of the Max Scherzer trade. Since then, the Caracas, Venezuela, native, is looking to prove he can play at the big league level like his brother.
In Class AA with Frisco and Binghamton, Acuna batted .294/.359/.410 with 150 hits, 28 doubles, nine home runs, 63 RBIs, 57 stolen bases and a .769 OPS. Francisco Lindor has mentored the Mets’ No. 3 prospect this spring.
Acuña should start at Class AAA this season. Nevertheless, you’ll see those two up the middle sooner or later.
No. 5: Red Sox OF/SS Ceddanne Rafaela
Ceddanne Rafaela is the only player on the list who has made his MLB debut. The Willemstad, Curacao, native got a little taste of the big leagues last year. He played 28 games for the Boston Red Sox. Moreover, he is getting a chance to become the Red Sox’s everyday center fielder coming into the season.
Rafaela, 23, is known for his versatility around the diamond. He was the Red Sox’s Minor League Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2021 and 2022. He can also play the middle infield and third base.
Combining his Class AA and Class AAA numbers in 2023, Rafaela batted .302/.349/.520 with 134 hits, 31 doubles, 20 home runs, 79 RBIs and 36 stolen bases. He’s the only prospect to hit 20 + HRs and grab 25 + stolen bases in back-to-back seasons (2022 and 2023).
Moreover, in 83 at-bats with the Red Sox, he finished with a .241 batting average, collecting 20 hits, six doubles, two home runs, five RBIs and three stolen bases. The way he flashes the leather around the diamond is phenomenal. However, if Rafaela can be disciplined at the plate, then you can be looking at the Red Sox everyday outfielder.
No. 4: Brewers C Jeferson Quero
Jeferson Quero is one of the best catching prospects in the game right now. The Brewers’ No. 3 prospect presents a 60-grade cannon of an arm and a 70-grade on his fielding capabilities.
Additionally, Quero won the 2023 Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award. He threw 27 runners out with a 35 caught stealing percentage in Class AA.
The Barquisimeto, Venezuela, native finished the Class AA season hitting .267 (3rd among Class AA catchers), 88 hits, 12 doubles, 16 home runs, 49 RBIs and a .779 OPS (5th among Class AA catchers).
Quero had made an immediate defensive impact before the Brewers optioned him to Class AAA this spring. The 21-year-old prospect threw out five runners in nine games this spring.
No. 3: Rockies SS/2B Adael Amador
Adael Amador has turned some coaches’ heads through the Colorado Rockies farm system. Amador is a switch-hitting middle infielder who can hit the ball to all parts of the field. He has an excellent eye at the plate.
The Santiago, Dominican Republic, native, climbed up to Class AA quickly in 2023. Combining his hitting stats from Rookie ball, Class A+, and Class AA, the Rockies’ No. 1 prospect batted .287/.380/.495 with 79 hits, 15 doubles, 12 home runs, 46 RBIs and a .875 OPS. With great discipline at the plate, he had more walks (39) than strikeouts (37).
Ezequiel Tovar holds down shortstop, and Gold Glove winner Brenden Rodgers commands second base for the Rockies. Amador, who will turn 21 in April, continues to improve his craft while he waits for his call to the show.
No. 2: Padres C Ethan Salas
Ethan Salas was ranked the No. 1 non-roster invitee to watch on Our Esquina’s Top 10 Latinos Non-Roster Invitees. Salas is a special prospect to observe due to his athleticism at the catching position. He ranks No. 1 behind the plate.
The Padres’ No. 1 prospect finished his first minor-league season in Class AA. Combining his Class A, Class A+, and Class AA stats in 2023, Salas batted .248 with 63 hits, 13 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 41 RBIs.
Defensively, he finished with a .987 fielding percentage while carrying a 17 caught stealing percentage. The Venezuelan American is arguably the best catching prospect in MLB’s Spring Breakout. All eyes will be on the 17-year-old Salas.
No. 1: Brewers OF Jackson Chourio
With no major league experience, Jackson Chourio signed an 8-year, $82 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers in early December. Chourio is ranked No. 1 in the Brewers’ farm system and on Our Esquina’s Top 10 Latinos To Watch in MLB’s Spring Breakout.
The Maracaibo, Venezuela, native is a prospect you would build your team around. Chourio has the assets of a five-tool player.
In Class AA, he batted .280/.336/.467 with 143 hits, 23 doubles, 22 home runs, 89 RBIs and 43 stolen bases. Later, the 2024 No. 2 overall prospect was assigned to Class AAA.
Chourio, 20, is a prospect to keep your eyes on in the Spring Breakout game and the upcoming season for the Brewers.
Lorenzo Delgado
Contributor
Lorenzo Delgado graduated with his bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and is currently attending the University of Houston to earn his master’s degree. Lorenzo was formerly a contributing baseball writer for Call to the Pen on the Fansided Network. He is the host of an Astros baseball podcast called Full Seam Ahead, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and wherever podcasts are found.
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