White Sox director of player development Buddy Bell recently told reporters he envisions the first few years of Cuban prospect Dayan Viciedo's career panning out like those of another former defector fresh off of a breakout season, Angels first baseman Kendry Morales. Viciedo may be taking the comparison to heart, as not only has he been taking grounders at first during spring training, he has also changed agents from Jaime Torres to Scott Boras, writes ESPN's Jorge Arangure, Jr.
If Viciedo switched permanently from third to first, he would immediately become the team's top prospect at the position just as Paul Konerko enters the final season of his five-year, $60MM post-World Series contract. The question is whether the move is more than just a preseason experiment. Arangure passes along an unenthusiastic quote from the player through his translator: "My position is third base. But I'll play wherever they tell me." Viciedo seemed more upbeat when he spoke in Spanish with the Nuevo Herald's Luis Rangel:
"Although I haven't played much in that position, I'd feel fine if the change eventually materialized. I don't think I'll have problems. If they ultimately ask me to play as a starter, I'll do it."
Viciedo has yet to see Triple A action for the White Sox, and his .280/.317/.391 line at Double A Birmingham last season wasn't first base heir-apparent material. A .313/.350/.464 second half looked more promising, though still well below the power numbers Morales showed at all levels of the Angels system. And though Viciedo's defense at third base didn't garner rave reviews, trainer Jesus Gallo tells Aragure that his off-season work was geared specifically toward slimming down the bulky prospect and making him lighter on his feet in preparation of a move to first.
While Viciedo isn't the first Cuban player this offseason to jettison the agent who worked with him from defection through signing, his choice of Boras may ultimately send a more powerful message to other prospects than, say, Aroldis Chapman's switch to Hendricks Sports Management or Morales' move from Hendricks to Boras. Viciedo, according to some Cuban baseball experts, wasn't viewed on the island as a top-level talent like Chapman, and the $10MM contract he signed in 2008 caused many other Cuban players to seriously ponder their potential value for the first time.
Viciedo is nothing close to Kendry Morales.
Viciedo is just too lazy to ever be a solid pro player. Even at DH, I don’t see any team wanting his influence in a clubhouse.
Viciedo is nothing close to Kendry Morales.
Viciedo is just too lazy to ever be a solid pro player. Even at DH, I don’t see any team wanting his influence in a clubhouse.
I hope Chapman doesn’t switch to Boras. If he really pans out and the Reds try to extend him could be bad news. Reds + Boras x Chapman = Reds – Chapman.
I hope Chapman doesn’t switch to Boras. If he really pans out and the Reds try to extend him could be bad news. Reds + Boras x Chapman = Reds – Chapman.
So Boras = -1?
So Boras = -1?
Does Viciedo really have any other option but to move to first? He’s not exactly Brooks Robinson over at 3rd base.
Does Viciedo really have any other option but to move to first? He’s not exactly Brooks Robinson over at 3rd base.
I love how quickily people dismiss him as a prospect, not talking about you Nick. But some experts have quickily said he isn’t a top prospect anymore. Give me a break, he played his first year in American baseball as a 20-year-old in AA in a horrible hitter’s park. His numbers were very solid the second half of the year and as a whole not horrible. His 78 RBIs showed very good promise. But come on, the first year in America is undoubtedly the hardest one for these foreign players and a transition that most people cannot empathize with. At 20 years old, Morales had 9 HRs in the Cuban Leagues, so I would say the 12 Dayan hit in America in the aforementioned hitter’s hell in B-ham was very solid. He’s gonna be fine, he just needs time, which some people seemingly forget.
“But some experts have quickily said he isn’t a top prospect anymore.”
I don’t think he was ever considered a “top prospect”, he was an unknown and once people had the chance to see what he was all about, they were quick to change their optimism. The guy doesn’t take care of himself, plays lazy and has no glove, just like the reports said when he was coming out of Cuba. He was dumped from the top team there for these exact reasons, I think he was given the benefit of doubt last year and was rated higher than he ever deserved to be to begin with.
I saw him about 20 times last year and the last thing I thought was this guy having a future.
“But some experts have quickily said he isn’t a top prospect anymore.”
I don’t think he was ever considered a “top prospect”, he was an unknown and once people had the chance to see what he was all about, they were quick to change their optimism. The guy doesn’t take care of himself, plays lazy and has no glove, just like the reports said when he was coming out of Cuba. He was dumped from the top team there for these exact reasons, I think he was given the benefit of doubt last year and was rated higher than he ever deserved to be to begin with.
I saw him about 20 times last year and the last thing I thought was this guy having a future.
What people don’t like about him is his lack of plate discipline, poor defense, poor conditioning and he struggles with breaking pitches. But I don’t think anyone is dismissing him at this point. He’s got great bat speed, great power and pounds fastballs. Overall, he isn’t as polished a player as advertised last year, when the Sox gave him a shot to win a job out of spring training. But he still has potential as a power hitter down the road. Like you said, he needs time to make some adjustments, but he’s going to have to work at it.
What people don’t like about him is his lack of plate discipline, poor defense, poor conditioning and he struggles with breaking pitches. But I don’t think anyone is dismissing him at this point. He’s got great bat speed, great power and pounds fastballs. Overall, he isn’t as polished a player as advertised last year, when the Sox gave him a shot to win a job out of spring training. But he still has potential as a power hitter down the road. Like you said, he needs time to make some adjustments, but he’s going to have to work at it.
Scouts look for different types of things to determine if a player is big league material. There are plenty of players in the minors who when given a shot at the big leauge level could not cut the mustard.Many of these guys have good minor league numbers but are unable to hit big league pitching.
Agreed. Especially when you can’t hit breaking balls. Double A is loaded with guys who can throw heat, but have no breaking ball or off speed pitch. As a result, Double A is also loaded with guys who can crush a fast ball.
If all Viciedo can do is hammer fast balls, he will never be able to handle big league pitching.
Players who show any ability get rushed sometimes because they can play cheap for the first few years of there career. The big leagues is not a place to learn how to play the game it is a place to win. A player should learn how to play the game in the minor leagues.
Scouts look for different types of things to determine if a player is big league material. There are plenty of players in the minors who when given a shot at the big leauge level could not cut the mustard.Many of these guys have good minor league numbers but are unable to hit big league pitching.
I love how quickily people dismiss him as a prospect, not talking about you Nick. But some experts have quickily said he isn’t a top prospect anymore. Give me a break, he played his first year in American baseball as a 20-year-old in AA in a horrible hitter’s park. His numbers were very solid the second half of the year and as a whole not horrible. His 78 RBIs showed very good promise. But come on, the first year in America is undoubtedly the hardest one for these foreign players and a transition that most people cannot empathize with. At 20 years old, Morales had 9 HRs in the Cuban Leagues, so I would say the 12 Dayan hit in America in the aforementioned hitter’s hell in B-ham was very solid. He’s gonna be fine, he just needs time, which some people seemingly forget.
Well I’m sure the White Sox front brass just love hearing this news. It just goes to show you, that despite a teams best efforts; scott boras will come to you! Right now, comparing Viciendo to Morales just does not hold any weight as Morales simply SHREADED minor league pitching to a tune of a .332 combined average (4 years) while hitting 22 bombs his first year in only 371 AB’s!!! That said, Viciendo has some serious work to do down there. He could be a good 5 years away from ML action.
morales was also 22 splitting time between high A and AA…not 20 at strictly AA…time will tell, although 5 years may be a bit high
Why would 5 years seem high to you?? Morales was further along when he started out and he had a 4 year minor league stint. By your logic, Viciedo would need to be there longer.
Well I’m sure the White Sox front brass just love hearing this news. It just goes to show you, that despite a teams best efforts; scott boras will come to you! Right now, comparing Viciendo to Morales just does not hold any weight as Morales simply SHREADED minor league pitching to a tune of a .332 combined average (4 years) while hitting 22 bombs his first year in only 371 AB’s!!! That said, Viciendo has some serious work to do down there. He could be a good 5 years away from ML action.
how many years did morales spend in the minors again?
Morales spent 4 full years in the minor leagues.
Although he’s incredibly young he’s been out of shape for two straight years, hacks like crazy at most breaking balls and yet to have any sort of major success in the minors. I’m not sure what he’s trying to prove by switching agents but if he ever wants to make any money he’s going to have to produce first, instead of showing up to spring training in worse shape than Andruw Jones.
How has he been out of shape for 2 straight years when he’s only played minor league baseball for 1 year?!!?! Are you talking about the same guy??????
I meant in the sense that he started off last year out of shape and looking at him this year is out of shape for the second straight year.
riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
fyi, jones is in incredible shape this spring and viciedos second half was very successful. Hes had success, especially playing in an advanced league at age 20
nope. nice try but you fail. remember we are comparing him to morales here and when you compare the two there is no comparison. One performed, one didn’t.