Jose Vallejo

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Texas Rangers #18 prospect in 2009
  Vallejo has made significant strides during each of his three full seasons in the minors. Since learning how to switch-hit--he was a natural righthander--he has improved his batting average from the left side from .240 in 2006 to .260 in 2007 to .288 last season. He also showed some power for the first time in his career in 2008, prompting some high Class A California League managers to compare him to Jose Reyes. The Rangers originally thought of Vallejo as a leadoff or No. 9 hitter, but after a late June promotion to Double-A, he spent most of his time hitting in No. 3 hole. His best tool is his plus-plus speed, which plays well on the basepaths. Vallejo has stolen 89 bases in 96 attempts over the last two years. Texas still would like Vallejo to make more consistent contact offensively, though he has decreased his strikeout rate from 19 percent of his plate appearances in 2006 to 14.5 percent in 2008. He has very good range and a solid arm at second base, though he has occasional lapses. The Rangers want to increase his versatility, so they planned to work him out at shortstop over the winter. If he can pick up the new position, they envision him becoming a super-utilityman with a chance to be an impact regular, along the lines of Chone Figgins. Added to the 40-man roster in November, Vallejo could return to Double-A to start 2009, with a promotion to Triple-A likely at some point during the year.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #28 prospect in 2008
  Vallejo is a model of perseverance. He overcame the deaths of both of his parents, and he rebounded from a rough debut in the Midwest League with a solid performance in his second crack at the circuit in 2007. In just his second season since former Rangers special assistant Terry Shumpert taught him to switchhit, Vallejo improved his batting average against righthanders from .240 to .260, but he made even more progress against lefties, jumping from .220 to .294. He has more strength from the right side than the left and slugged 85 points higher against lefties, but he profiles as a slasher from both sides of the plate. Vallejo is a well-above-average runner who made huge progress as a basestealer last year, swiping 47 bases in 50 attempts. He's a plus defender at second with excellent range, a strong arm and sure hands. Vallejo is still learning to control the zone and cut down his strikeouts, and he improved his bunting but still has work to do. He'll never hit for power and projects as a speedy, slick-fielding second baseman who could hit in the No. 9 hole or lead off in the majors. There's been talk of skipping Vallejo to Double-A in 2008, but the Rangers want to continue to build up his confidence and will likely send him to high Class A.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #29 prospect in 2007
  Vallejo persevered through the deaths of his father (killed by a drunk driver in a car accident) and his mother (cancer), and the Rangers firmly believe he'll have no problem overcoming something as relatively trivial as a tough 2006 season at the plate. He didn't learn to switch-hit until the previous year, when Rangers special assistant Terry Shumpert suggested it. Vallejo is making progress from the left side, as evidenced by his .240 batting average against righthanders last year, compared to his .220 mark against lefties. With above-average speed and improving bunting skills, he has a good idea how to play small ball, and he also has strength in his swing and could develop some gap power. Vallejo is a very slick defender at second base, with plenty of range, sure hands, good footwork around the bag and a strong arm for the position. He just lacks polish as a defender, but he's got a longer way to go as an offensive player. It remains to be seen if Vallejo will hit enough to reach the majors, but he owns the tools to do so and may just need time and at-bats. The Rangers could push him to high Class A in 2007, though a return to low Class A seems more likely.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #20 prospect in 2006
  It is a testament to Vallejo's remarkable makeup that he has persevered through tragedy. His father was killed by a drunken driver a couple of years ago, and his mother died of cancer in the spring of 2005. Yet when the Rangers brought the 18-year-old Vallejo to the United States last year, he handled the challenge with aplomb. He started to learn English and working hard on and off the field. He arrived in Arizona as a righthanded hitter, but special assistant to baseball operations Terry Shumpert suggested he try switch-hitting, and Vallejo took to it. In his first summer as a switch-hitter, he showed the ability to drive balls from the left side, though not as well as he does from the right. He has plus bat speed and does a fine job centering the ball on the bat. He's also a good bunter. Vallejo is an outstanding athlete with plus speed on the bases and nice range at second base. His hands aren't good enough to play shortstop, but he has solid instincts and more than enough arm to stand out at second base. Vallejo is young and needs polish, particularly at the plate, but he'll have a chance to earn the second-base job in low Class A this year.