Jorge Cantu
| AB | 3128 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .271 |
| OBP | .316 |
| SLG | .439 |
| HR | 104 |
- Full name Jorge Luis Cantu
- Born 01/30/1982 in Mcallen, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Reynosa
- Debut 07/17/2004
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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At 19 Cantu was the youngest regular in the Southern League last year, when he reached Double-A in just his third pro season. Content to just survive early in the year, he earned a starting job in the SL all-star game and finished the season on an upswing. Cantu is a steady defender who has a chance to become an offensive shortstop. His tall, lean body, as well as his quick wrists and excellent bat speed, could make him a poor man's Nomar Garciaparra, though he has yet to even approach Garciaparra's production. Cantu possesses some of the best hand-eye coordination in the organization. Cantu needs to refine his approach at the plate. He's enamored of his occasional power and tries to drive every pitch rather than settling for making solid contact. His range is no better than average, and his footwork and throwing mechanics need significant improvement if he hopes to remain at short. Cantu was slated to play in the Arizona Fall League before a sprained left ankle sidelined him for nearly two months. A promotion to Triple-A is on his immediate agenda. -
For the second straight season, Cantu was one of the youngest players in his league. Because of injuries to other players, including Ramon Soler, he saw action in both the South Atlantic and Florida State leagues and displayed his maturity by batting better than .290 at both stops. Cantu is an effective line-drive hitter who is among the best in the organization at executing the hit-and-run. Scouts like the way he keeps his head on the ball and believe that his sporadic power will become more common as his body continues to develop. He will need to tighten his strike zone, however. Cantu exudes confidence on the field, and has soft hands and a slightly above-average arm. He's learning to take the right angles on grounders. His biggest downside is that his speed is below average for a shortstop. Cantu showed throughout 2000 that he has added strength, but he must continue to do so in order to excel at higher levels. Considering how well he has handled opportunities that have come his way, Cantu is a candidate to make the jump to Double-A out of spring training.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Talk about a power surge. Cantu came into 2004 with 18 homers and a .358 slugging percentage in five pro seasons. After adding 20 pounds of muscle mass in the offseason, he had a career year, hitting 22 homers in 95 games with Durham and leading the IL with a .576 slugging percentage. A line-drive hitter with a penchant for executing the hit-and-run, Cantu became more aggressive at driving the ball. "The added weight has only given him more power," Evers said. "And he worked real hard in spring training to get better at recognizing pitches. When he was here, he was just locked in. And you saw all those balls that used to fall into the gap flying over the fence." Cantu came up through the minors at shortstop, but saw more time at second base in deference to Upton. He also has seen time at third base, but profiles best at second and played regularly there for Tampa Bay in September. -
Cantu experienced a season similar to Crawford's. Another teenager with the Rays, he fought through the ups and downs and emerged leaving positive impressions with his bat and hope for his defense. Cantu attracted comparisons to Nomar Garciaparra with his tall, lean body and developing all-around game, though he's not nearly the same offensive force yet. Cantu has quick hands, bat speed and excellent hand-eye coordination. He also drives the ball well and should become a power threat once he adds strength to his 165-pound frame. His defense, conversely, produced mixed opinions. Cantu displayed average range at best. He also doesn't possess an explosive first step, which could prevent a move to third base. His footwork and throwing mechanics also require significant improvement if he's going to remain an infielder. "He's young and he swings the bat good for a 19-year-old," Ramsey said. "He's got a lot of work to do defensively, but with his work ethic and tools, I think he's going to be a major league player."
