When you thought the Mets were running out of interesting shortstops, they say “nope!” (and actually, we have 2-3 more on the way, depending how you feel about some of them). Luis Guillorme, the player of the year, or, in other words Most Valuable Player of the South Atlantic League joins our extensive list of interesting shortstops on the top 80. At this time, we hereby re-name this list to the MMN Top 80 Prospects With a Lot of Shortstops List. Anyway, yes, Luis Guillorme.
16. SS Luis Guillorme
Ht: 5’10” Wt: 170 Age: 9/27/1994
2015 Level: A-Ball
Statistics: 122 G, 523 PA, 446 AB, 142 H, 16 2B, 18 SB, 8 CS, 54 BB, 70 K, .318/.391/.354
This shortstop has done everything and more to play above the tools that were projected of him when he was drafted in the 10th round of the 2013 draft out of the Coral Springs Charter High School in Florida. At the time he was drafted, Guillorme was called the best defensive shortstop in the draft, with a glove way ahead of his bat despite hitting .570/.640/.770 in his senior year.
When he was drafted, he then was assigned to Rookie-Ball Kingsport and hit .258/.337/.283, and then repeated the level in 2014 hitting .282/.337/.324, earning a few games at A-ball Savannah. When he joined Savannah in 2015, everything clicked, where he hit .318/.391/.354 out of the leadoff spot and won a well-earned player of the year.
Touted as an excellent shortstop, he fits the bill pretty well. He has excellent hands and receives and sets up well. He makes all the plays, including the highlight reel ones. His arm is average, but he has a quick release that makes up for it. As well, his speed is just average, but he plays it up with incredible instincts and quick jumps. In short, he often makes the difficult plays look routine and the seemingly impossible plays just happen.
As for offensive capability, Luis will not excite you with any kind of thump. In fact, he does not hit for any power whatsoever, and likely never will hit more than 1-2 home runs in a season (and has not hit one in his professional career to date). He instead will line all over the field, with above-average bat speed and the ability to line all over the diamond. He is learning to hit for more doubles as well, hitting 11 out of his 16 doubles in the second half, and if he can get stronger could hit possibly 25 doubles.
In addition to good bat-to-ball skills, including a 13% K-rate, he does not get cheated at the plate and has a good eye, including two games where he walked 4 times in a game last year and 10 multiple walk games in total. He can also perform drag bunts very well. While getting down the line he is average in speed and he reads pitchers very well allowing him to steal 18 bases last year.
Next year the MVP will take his unique skills to St. Lucie, and we’ll see how he does as he progresses up the ladder. Fortune usually doesn’t favor guys who have no power, but Luis isn’t like most players so we’ll see.
Prior Top 80 Articles:
#17 Chris Flexen, #18 Max Wotell, #19 Milton Ramos, #20 Akeel Morris
25-21, 30-26 35-31, 40-36, 45-41, 50-46, 60-51, 70-61, 80-71
Ted’s Prospect Extras:
The Previous 5 Shortstops:
#19 Milton Ramos
1 word that came to mind watching him in the field: smooth. Every SS motion appeared fluid and effortless.
Offensively he reminded me of Tejada, patient, didn’t get himself out, just not going to wow you either.
I love all our kid SS, it would be nice for one of the bigger body kid SS to convert to 3B to deepen that position in the organization…it might be worth it to slide Cecchini or Herrera over there if Wright can’t stay healthy in 2016
Neither Herrera nor Cecchini have the arm for 3rd. It’s a belief that Kenny Hernandez and Greg Guerrero might be the guys that move over.
I figured Herrera was a long shot but I’d think Cecchini would have enough arm since he’s a SS
The arm is what some question as a SS.
3B is not as bereft as man at believe. Urena, Garcia, and the two “SS” Teddy mentioned.
A player that is getting the most of his tools in the low minors and doesn’t have any great single offensive weapon, is usually a backup. His work ethic and smarts will have to make him the everyday player that Tejada never earned, but was handed.
Hoping that Guillorme is able to continue making solid contact and working on improving even a single step speed wise.
My money’s on Guerrero.
I think sometimes we forget that Tejada was actually a pretty good ballplayer his first two full seasons in the big leagues. The Mets would be very happy if they got ML seasons out of Guillorme like Tejada had in 11 & 12. Guillorme is a step faster than Tejada and his ability to bunt from the left side is also another plus.
Will be very interested to see how Luis does in 2016, hope he sticks with his approach at the plate despite hit providing limited power. He can be a productive player without it.
After watching Cecchini last year, I think it’s SS or 2B for him. Don’t think he would fit at 3B. Like Teddy said I fully expect Guerrero and Hernandez to end up at 3B, De Aza as well.
He really is fun to watch defense because he makes everything look so easy. I agree with the Tejada comparison offensively since they have the same approach. Luis seems to go the other way more than I remember Tejada ever doing in the minors.
I was overseas during Tejada’s minor league career so I missed it. A 19 year old SS hitting .290 in AA would have many ecstatic though.
Kenny was already between 3rd Base and Shortstop in the DSL.
Awesome work guys. I really appreciate … Especially at 235am after the baby woke me up and I can’t sleep
Do you travel around to catch their games?
Last year the only team I saw in person was Binghamton. I got to see Vegas on MiLB.tv as well as Binghamton. And even some of the Sand Gnats games when they played Rome who broadcast their games.