While many prospects have one or two things that they specialize in, Jimenez has a very good all-around game, particularly on defense.
And, given the Blue Jays’ recent emphasis on maximizing their defensive flexibility, Jimenez is a perfect match.
With his ability to play two premium positions – shortstop and second base – some feel Jimenez has the potential to become one of the finest defensive shortstops in the Blue Jays organization, which is no minor task considering the team’s recent depth at the position.
Leo Jimenez Scouting Report
Age: 20 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 160 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 IFA
RuleV: 2022
Physical Characteristics: Height is average. Since signing, he’s grown in stature, with thick thighs and increased upper-body power. Physically, he appears to be near to exhaustion.
Hit: Stands open and squatted. In the box, low. Hands should be held high and back. Prior to loading, there is a lot of pre-pitch hand, bat, and left foot movement. Maintains a modest leg kick at the pitcher while keeping his weight on his rear foot.
At impact, the base is very wide. The pre-pitch action makes a noise in the swing, which might cause his upper and lower bodies to get out of rhythm.
That bat has a linear swing that produces line drive contact, but it is largely poor contact. Batting average. Shows a feel for the strike zone, but swings early and frequently on pitches in and around it.
For his age, he possesses good pitch detection and a penchant for getting the barrel on the ball. His approach hasn’t yielded significant strikeout rates yet, but as he progresses up the ladder, he’ll benefit from more patience.
He has yet to have a significant effect on the ball, but his bat-to-ball abilities might help him get up to average in time. 45th grade
Power: Below-average raw power translates to poor performance in games. In little over 350 minor league at-bats, he’s done a decent job of getting the ball off the ground, with more fly outs than ground outs.
He has yet to hit a professional home run, which is a reflection of both his bat speed and approach. Jimenez has a low stance, but he doesn’t have much leverage on the ball.
To develop a more circular swing, he has to better utilize his hips. He merely attempts to get the ball into play at the moment. His newfound muscle might give him an edge in the game. 40th class
Field: Despite his extra girth, he moves effectively on the field. It covers more ground than the average. Keeps the ball in front of him and keeps his head down.
When necessary, he charges the ball and is capable of making some tough plays. He’s still working on his glovework, but it’s improving.
He’s played 2B, SS, and 3B in his career. At SS, he can be decent, and at 2B, he has the most chance to shine. 55 points
Arm: A powerful arm that can play SS and 2B. Throws from a low sidearm slot with the ability to reach back for more. Quickly gets the ball out and demonstrates a natural ability to throw to both 1B and 2B from SS and 2B.
In appearance, the throws were accurate. 55 points
Run: With his extra size, he hasn’t ran in a while, but he seems to be a good or somewhat superior straight-line runner. There’s no danger of thievery here. 50 points
Overall, he’s a good runner who runs faster than average from home to first and hustles on the base paths.
However, despite his high totals, he’s an extremely aggressive and below-average base stealer with a poor success rate. On both sides of the ball, he’s still a significant contributor.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 – Below-Average Player: Utility
Risk: Moderate
