Alex Requena

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #16 prospect in 2002
  Requena has sensational speed. He's the fastest runner in the organization and perhaps in all the minors. He led the South Atlantic League with 87 stolen bases in 2000 and swiped 47 in 95 games last year. His speed shrinks the field. He covers tremendous ground in center field and is very aggressive on the bases. He also has a solid arm. Requena has a long way to go as a hitter, however. He hit .227 in Class A in 2001 and never has topped .259 in three minor league seasons. He has shown very little plate discipline, consistent contact or the ability to make adjustments. Like Willy Taveras but even more so, Requena has to figure out how to play to his strengths. Though the Indians would like to develop Requena as a leadoff hitter, he has yet to show the requisite on-base ability. He may give high Class A another try in 2002.
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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #10 prospect in 2001
  Requena has established himself as the most prolific basestealer in the organization and one of the fastest runners in the minor leagues. He led the short-season New York-Penn League with 44 steals in 1999 and the Class A South Atlantic League with 87 in 2000, when he swiped a league-record six in one game. His strengths are speed, speed and more speed. Requena is aggressive and fearless on the bases. While his bat leaves a lot to be desired, he has shown a willingness to take a walk. He also displays an above-average arm and range in center field. Requena's bat is a major question mark. He has hit a soft .251 since coming to the United States, with just 22 extra-base hits and 201 strikeouts in 696 at-bats. He began switch-hitting three years ago and is still learning. Making contact remains a challenge, and he hits too many balls in the air. He needs to put the ball on the ground to take full advantage of his speed. Requena will open 2001 at high Class A Kinston, where he'll face more advanced pitching than he has seen before. His development as a hitter will dictate how quickly he moves through the organization.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #12 prospect in 2000
  A switch-hitting center fielder with excellent speed, Requena makes the most of his one outstanding tool. In his first full pro season, he led the SAL in stolen bases by a wide margin and swiped seven in one game. "Any time somebody runs that fast, he’s going to get to the bigs somehow," Montoyo said. "He doesn’t have that much power but if he gets on base, it’s going to be tough for anyone to stop him. We tried pitchouts. We tried everything. He’s just too fast." Requena has lots of upside. If he cuts down on his strikeouts, picks up the art of bunting and learns to read pitchers better—as a batter as well as a baserunner—Requena will steal 100-plus bases in a minor league season. His speed helps make up for an ordinary arm.

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  A switch-hitting center fielder with excellent speed, Requena makes the most of his one outstanding tool. In his first full pro season, he led the SAL in stolen bases by a wide margin and swiped seven in one game. "Any time somebody runs that fast, he’s going to get to the bigs somehow," Montoyo said. "He doesn’t have that much power but if he gets on base, it’s going to be tough for anyone to stop him. We tried pitchouts. We tried everything. He’s just too fast." Requena has lots of upside. If he cuts down on his strikeouts, picks up the art of bunting and learns to read pitchers better—as a batter as well as a baserunner—Requena will steal 100-plus bases in a minor league season. His speed helps make up for an ordinary arm.