Drafted in the 10th round (293rd overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 2009 (signed for $90,000).
View Draft Report
Hawaii's best position prospect is junior third baseman Vinnie Catricala, who has shown an ability to make contact since coming to Hawaii as a freshman out of high school in California, where he was a 50th-round pick of the Indians in 2006. Catricala didn't play last summer, hitting the weight room instead and adding strength to his 6-foot-3 frame. This spring he has shown power to all fields, hitting 13 home runs after he hit just seven in his freshman and sophomore years combined. He has a balanced swing and can catch up to good velocity and hard breaking balls, but struggles when a soft-tosser is on the mound. He's just adequate defensively and a move to a corner outfield position may be in his future.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
The Mariners signed Catricala for $90,000 as a 10th-round pick in 2009, a deal that looked like a steal two years later. He was the organization's minor league player of the year in 2011, when he ranked second in the minors in extra-base hits (77) and total bases (313), third in hits (182), fourth in batting (.349) and sixth in OPS (1.022). So his downfall last season was just as surprising as his breakout. He was a shell of himself in Triple-A, posting the second-lowest OPS (.640) among Pacific Coast League qualifiers. Catricala has the potential to be a solid hitter with average power. Some said his struggles were partly mental and that just as things snowballed for him in a positive way in 2011, the effect happened in reverse in 2012. Catricala does have mechanical issues with his swing, however. After batting .322 and showing a consistently compact stroke in his first three pro seasons, he got longer with his swing last year. His hips sometimes leaked open early and he started leaning out over the plate, throwing his swing off balance. He'll have to bounce back with the bat to be a useful player. He has average arm strength, but he's an erratic fielder at the hot corner and fits better in left field or first base. He has fringy speed. After batting .279/.329/.412 in the Arizona Fall League, he'll take a second crack at Triple-A in 2013. Seattle still thinks highly enough of him to have protected him on its 40-man roster in November.
Signed for $90,000 as a 10th-round pick in 2009, Catricala hit .302/.380/.490 in his first two pro seasons before breaking out last year. The Mariners' minor league player of the year, he ranked second in the minors in extra-base hits (77) and total bases (313), third in hits (182), fourth in batting (.349) and sixth in OPS (1.022). He raised his production following a late-June promotion to Double-A. Catricala has a lean, strong frame to go with a sound approach and pure hitting ability. He has the shortest swing in the system, a compact yet powerful stroke with above-average bat speed. He has the tools to hit for solid average and power while also drawing a healthy amount of walks. Catricala has fringy speed and arm strength and he's still in search of a defensive home. He's not reliable at third base, where he made 14 errors in 54 games last year, and is better suited for first base or left field. He saw time at all three spots in 2011. If he keeps hitting like this, the Mariners will make room for him in their lineup. With Justin Smoak in Seattle and Francisco Martinez joining the system, Catricala may wind up in left field. He could begin 2012 in Triple-A.
Minor League Top Prospects
As a 10th-round pick, Catricala has had to prove himself at every level, and so far he has exceeded all expectations. He has hit .322/.397/.536 in three pro seasons, putting up his best numbers after he arrived in Jackson in late June. Catricala has a sound approach, good bat speed and a feel for making contact, so could hit for a average and post high OBPs. With his bat speed and strength, the ball jumps off his bat and he's able to generate above-average raw power. He has the power to hit 20-plus homers per year, as well as a level swing that gets to the zone quickly and stays there for a long time. Questions about Catricala revolve more around his glove than his bat. While some league observers liked his play at third base, he has bounced between third, first base and left field because of his erratic defense. He made 14 errors in 54 games at third base this year, and he has significantly below-average speed and range to go with just an average arm. "He has one of the best swings and hitting approaches I've seen in a long time, " Huntsville manager Mike Guerrero said. "He can hit for average and power. His offense is going to carry him a long way."
Best Tools List
Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Seattle Mariners in 2012
Scouting Reports
Background: Signed for $90,000 as a 10th-round pick in 2009, Catricala hit .302/.380/.490 in his first two pro seasons before breaking out last year. The Mariners' minor league player of the year, he ranked second in the minors in extra-base hits (77) and total bases (313), third in hits (182), fourth in batting (.349) and sixth in OPS (1.022). He raised his production following a late-June promotion to Double-A.Scouting Report: Catricala has a lean, strong frame to go with a sound approach and pure hitting ability. He has the shortest swing in the system, a compact yet powerful stroke with above-average bat speed. He has the tools to hit for solid average and power while also drawing a healthy amount of walks. Catricala has fringy speed and arm strength and he's still in search of a defensive home. He's not reliable at third base, where he made 14 errors in 54 games last year, and is better suited for first base or left field. He saw time at all three spots in 2011.The Future: If he keeps hitting like this, the Mariners will make room for him in their lineup. With Justin Smoak in Seattle and Francisco Martinez joining the system, Catricala may wind up in left field. He could begin 2012 in Triple-A.
Download our app
Read the newest magazine issue right on your phone