Rayder Ascanio

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #20 prospect in 2016
  Ascanio began his second season in the United States in extended spring training before making a brief pit stop in the low Class A Midwest League on his way to an aggressive assignment with high Class A Bakersfield. Not even the hitter-friendly confines of the California League could boost the slight 19-yearold's bat, though. A defensive wizard at shortstop, Ascanio could have his ticket punched to Seattle if he were to make consistent hard contact from either side of the plate. He features a loopy swing from both sides and settles for slapping the ball to the opposite field instead of turning on pitches with any authority. In the field, Ascanio can make all the plays at shortstop, with soft hands, tremendous range, above-average arm strength and the ability to make accurate throws from a variety of angles. He's a slightly above-average runner but hardly a burner. At the very least, Ascanio will be a defensive utilityman in the big leagues with the ability to play in the middle infield. If he can add strength and iron out his flaws at the plate, he'll be a regular at second base or shortstop.
• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #22 prospect in 2015
  Many shortstops around the minors fail to make the majors because they don't hit enough to justify giving them regular playing time, despite their excellent glovework. But every now and then, those defensive wizards add strength and turn into productive everyday shortstops. Ascanio is a long way from being a productive big leaguer, but he has a variety of the tools and skills to get there. Jack Reinheimer is the Mariners' most reliable minor league shortstop, but Ascanio grades out better in terms of raw tools, for he has plus range, outstanding hands, excellent footwork and a plus arm. Ascanio split time between second base and shortstop, but he projects as shortstop. At the plate, he has zero present power and will have to gain plenty of strength to even start stinging line-drive singles, but he does know how to draw a walk and he is a tick above-average runner. His ability to switch-hit serves him well, but he needs to improve his lefthanded swing, which produces even less thump or bat speed than his righthanded stroke.