BP Jimenez Scouting Report, Please Share

[Vdubfan]

Anyone subscribe to BP who can post what Jason Parks wrote today on AJ?

[Laika]

A.J. Jimenez

 

 

C

 

 

Toronto Blue Jays

 

DOB – 5/1/1990

 

 

Height – 6’0

 

 

Bats – R

 

MLB ETA – 2014

 

 

Weight – 210

 

 

Throws – R

 

Current Team – New Hampshire (Double-A, Eastern League)

 

 

Date(s) Seen – 6/14/13 to 6/16/13

 

 

Filed By/Date – Mark Anderson 6/20/13

 

How Acquired – 2008 Draft, 9th Round

 

 

Have Video? No

 

 

Physical/Health

 

Very good athlete; physically ripped; strong, muscular upper body and sturdy lower half; body fits the position well; Tommy John surgery in 2012 that was a continuation of elbow issues before the draft; still recovering but coming along well.

 

Hit Tool

 

Balanced set-up at the plate and remains balanced throughout swing; hands start a little high, up towards shoulder level; loads very late with hands still high at pitch release; quick/sharp load to drop hands and pull them back; load leads to some trouble with velocity as the bat is late to the zone if his timing is off; plus bat speed with a relatively short swing path once he gets going; modest approach and will expand strike zone with quality breaking balls; reads CH well and can stay back and take the other way; willing to work to the opposite field; line drives from gap to gap; fringy hitter with present rough edges and OBP driven by batting average.

 

Grade: Present 3/Future 4+

 

Power

 

Below average raw power despite present strength and bat speed; good doubles hitter with 25-plus potential annually; lacks home run projection with line drive approach; potential 6-10 home runs a year at peak.

 

Grade: Present 3/Future 3+

 

Glove

 

Leads the overall profile; true asset behind the plate; chance to be a difference maker as backstop; tremendous receiver of the baseball; makes it all look very easy; handles velocity extremely well; pockets the ball routinely; receives breaking balls and changeup with the same acumen as fastballs; incredibly strong wrists and hands; holds the glove firmly in position after the pitch with no noticeable drift at any point in two games; gets down quickly to block balls; very adept at keeping breaking balls in front of him; can pick the ball too but prefers to drop and block; wasn’t tested by baserunners but showed good footwork in warm-ups; strong arm and hints of quality footwork/transfer suggest he can post good pop times; called aggressive games with pitchers attacking hitters with fastballs; appeared to have good rapport with staff; needs some polish after missed time with injury; very strong overall defensive profile that can carry an MLB career.

 

Grade: Present 5+/Future 6+

 

Arm

 

Still coming back from injury; shows no ill effects; ball comes out cleanly with good velocity and tremendous accuracy; consistently average with frequent plus showings; just a year removed from surgery, potential for true plus arm at full strength; arm is good enough to deter baserunners.

 

Grade: Present 5/Future 6

 

Other

 

Surprising athlete for his position; converted outfielder; moves well on the diamond; appears to enjoy every minute on the field; strong competitor with some outward emotion; high aptitude for the game; rates highly on the softer points of the game.

 

Baserunning/Speed

 

Below average down the line with 4.41 and 4.44 digs; can show a little better when up to speed; decent instincts shown on the bases and potential to be a solid baserunner; speed will never be part of his game. Good enough athlete to maintain most of his speed despite rigors of the position.

 

Grade: Present 4/Future 4

 

Overall

 

Very impressed with defensive profile; has all the tools to be a top-flight defender that is considered one of the best in the game; receiving is first rate; very good blocker; has arm strength and projects to see more added as he gets further away from surgery; strong plus defensive profile that will push him to MLB; can make contact; has offensive weaknesses including big velo; still potential to hit .260-.265 at peak; won’t pad OBP outside of batting average; power and speed are below average and not significant elements of his game; could show some doubles power at peak; still a little raw all-around because of time missed; defense-first overall profile; will be an MLB player but likely stretched as a regular.

 

Grade: 4+; second division/platoon catcher

 

Risk Factor: Moderate

[Caper]

I love that. To me hitting is bonus with a catcher. If you can be a great defensive catcher... With just an average bat.... That's great in my books.

[G-Snarls]

Physical/Health

 

Very good athlete; physically ripped; strong, muscular upper body and sturdy lower half

 

Oh boy!

 

http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/img/fw4e7d3d37.jpg

[G-Snarls]

Thanks for posting

 

I like the sounds of this guy a lot

[DuckDuckGose]

can make contact; has offensive weaknesses including big velo; still potential to hit .260-.265 at peak; won’t pad OBP outside of batting average; power and speed are below average and not significant elements of his game; could show some doubles power at peak; still a little raw all-around because of time missed; defense-first overall profile; will be an MLB player but likely stretched as a regular.

 

Grade: 4+; second division/platoon catcher

 

Risk Factor: Moderate

 

Oh boy!

 

http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/img/fw4e7d3d37.jpg

 

Thanks for posting

 

I like the sounds of this guy a lot

 

Doesn't really excite me. I do feel AJ will be an MLB player just one that's bottom half in the league. I've said it before but, TBH now is the time to sell high on AJ.

[Deadpool]

Oh boy!

 

http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/img/fw4e7d3d37.jpg

 

If Tabby's still around by the time he makes it to the show, he's gunna have a field day!

[DuckDuckGose]

Tabby loves fringe catchers. Part of me was happy AA moved Mathis just so he would stop talking about him.

[8D]

Doesn't really excite me. I do feel AJ will be an MLB player just one that's bottom half in the league. I've said it before but, TBH now is the time to sell high on AJ.

 

Hmmm... why don't the Jays sell "high" on JPA and keep AJ?

 

Really nice scouting report btw. surprised how detailed it was.

[DwightDM]

AJ is basically the complete opposite of JP!

[DuckDuckGose]

WAT? Why?

 

Because people are starting to hype him and he really isn't that good. IMO he's somewhere between Mathis on the low end and Rusell Martin-lite on the top end. He's never had a full season of at bats and he's had elbow issues since he was drafted. He is definitely a useful and valuable piece but, certainly not untouchable, d'Arnaud was and still is the much better prospect. There are 40-man roster issues it could help solve as well.

 

Funny thing is when we did the forum consensus prospect rankings I was always the highest, or one of the highest, on AJ.

[DuckDuckGose]

Hmmm... why don't the Jays sell "high" on JPA and keep AJ?

 

Really nice scouting report btw. surprised how detailed it was.

 

Selling high on JPA would of been after he was the PCL MVP, selling now would be selling low. Which I'm ok with.

[Chappy]

Well that's just it man, we no longer have d'Arnaud? AJ needs to come up through our system or we're stuck with JP, f*** that.....the Jays can move JPA and his HR's to Phillie or some other dumbass that likes him. I'll take the great defense all day long. If his bat pans out cool, if not, oh well. I'm sure we can conjure up some power from the OF to replace JPA's only tool. Slugging.

 

I really hope AA pulls something out of nowhere and trades JPA. Thole for the time being at C is a step up.

[DuckDuckGose]

Well that's just it man, we no longer have d'Arnaud? AJ needs to come up through our system or we're stuck with JP, f*** that.....the Jays can move JPA and his HR's to Phillie or some other dumbass that likes him. I'll take the great defense all day long. If his bat pans out cool, if not, oh well. I'm sure we can conjure up some power from the OF to replace JPA's only tool. Slugging.

 

AJ Jimenez isn't MLB ready, he would be absolutely terrible at the plate. People here are confusing JPA's lack of defense and acting as if AJ is some prodigious talent he is not. He has a shot to be a decent MLB catcher, he's going to be similar to Jeff Mathis perhaps with a little more contact and he's 2-3 years away from being an everyday player.

 

The Jays' need an immediate solution behind the plate, not some guy that is may or may not help 3 years down the road. JPA is bad but lets not pretend AJ is an actual solution at the MLB level right now or even next season.

[G-Snarls]

AJ Jimenez isn't MLB ready, he would be absolutely terrible at the plate. People here are confusing JPA's lack of defense and acting as if AJ is some prodigious talent he is not. He has a shot to be a decent MLB catcher, he's going to be similar to Jeff Mathis perhaps with a little more contact and he's 2-3 years away from being an everyday player.

 

The Jays' need an immediate solution behind the plate, not some guy that is may or may not help 3 years down the road. JPA is bad but lets not pretend AJ is an actual solution at the MLB level right now or even next season.

 

John Buck might have worked out for this year, but I understand why they traded him...

[DuckDuckGose]

3 years? Regardless, I want Jimenez here, he'll be in the show sometime in 14. As for a solution over JPA, sign a FA and trade JPA.

 

How many rookie catchers make the league and are actually useful? Most of them need an adjustment period and really only the Posey's of the world step in right away and make a difference. Furthermore catching at the MLB level is a significant step up from anywhere else in the world. Even the greatest defensive catchers don't look like it right away. It is going to take time. The 2-3 year estimate isn't when AJ could be a bench piece, it's just the best case scenario for him to become a starting MLB catcher.

[DuckDuckGose]

John Buck might have worked out for this year, but I understand why they traded him...

 

Mathis and Buck both would have been upgrades on JPA.