Guillermo Pimentel
| AB | 1159 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .246 |
| OBP | .301 |
| SLG | .402 |
| HR | 34 |
- Full name Guillermo Francisco Pimentel
- Born 10/05/1992 in Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: L / Throws: L
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Despite signing for $2 million in 2009 and ranking as the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Arizona League the following year, Pimentel has been passed by a multitude of other young prospects in the Mariners system. He has yet to deliver on his power potential, primarily because he lacks plate discipline and struggles to recognize pitches. Making matters worse, Pimentel takes his struggles to heart, which can result in sulking and ultimately putting more pressure on himself. His value is wrapped up in his power because below-average arm strength and range consign him to left field, and he also is a below-average runner. Pimentel provided a glimmer of hope late in 2013, when he homered in his first three games after being promoted to high Class A High Desert. Granted, High Desert's home ballpark is the best hitting environments in the domestic minors, but it was a small sign of progress. The Mariners hope a full season at High Desert will give Pimentel the confidence to unlock his prodigious power. -
Pimentel signed for $2 million in 2009 and quickly validated the hype, ranking as the Arizona League's No. 1 prospect in 2010 and smacking 11 homers at Pulaski last summer. He has 30-homer potential thanks to his developing strength, quick hands and athletic actions. He shows well above-average power to his pull side and natural lift in his swing. He'll need to improve his pitch recognition, show more patience at the plate and learn how to make adjustments on the fly. Pimentel's ultimate value is tied to his bat because he's limited to left field because of his below-average speed, range and arm strength. Still raw in many facets of the game, he must improve his routes in the outfield and his baserunning skills. Managers also would like to see him play with more fire, as he seems to just go through the motions at times. Pimentel will get his first shot at a full-season ball at Clinton in 2012. -
Pimentel spurned the Rangers to sign with the Mariners for $2 million in July 2009 and made his pro debut last summer. He shook off a slow start to bat .293/.318/.537 in August and rank as the Rookie-level Arizona League's No. 1 prospect. Pimentel has five-tool potential, attracting the most attention with his light-tower power. He has the bat speed and strength in his hands to launch balls 450 feet from home plate. He has a mechanically sound swing and routinely stays through the ball with nice extension. He's overly aggressive at this point, as evidenced by his 58-5 K-BB ratio, and geared to hit fastballs. He's going to have to develop more discipline and learn to stay back on offspeed pitches as he advances through the minors. Pimentel has average raw speed but doesn't make the best use of it yet on the basepaths or in left field. He has an average arm that could become plus with some mechanical tweaks, such as using his lower half more. He's a good teammate but needs to understand failure is a part of the game and not be too hard on himself. Pimentel will likely spend the first part of the year in extended spring training before joining Rookielevel Pulaski in June. He could arrive in Seattle at some point in 2014. -
The Mariners' prized international acquisition last summer, Pimentel turned down the Rangers to sign with Seattle for $2 million in July. International scouts raved about his power, grading it as a potential future 70 tool on the 20-80 scouting scale. While he has yet to play in a pro game, he hit balls out to all fields during instructional league. His present strength in his hands and wrists is impressive, and his lean frame hints at even more muscle down the road. That's a scary thought because Pimentel's whip-quick bat already produces plus-plus bat speed and excellent loft. That power may not play initially due to his aggressive, unrefined approach in which he looks to yank everything to right field. He hits the ball hard and shows rare glimpses of using the opposite field, so he could hit for average once he matures--even with low contact rates. His value rests entirely with his bat, and his indifferent approach to defense would limit him to left field, first base or even DH. A well below-average runner, Pimentel shows poor instincts in the outfield whether he's fielding or throwing the ball. His arm is below average. With a good spring, he could make his pro debut in the Appalachian League.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Pimentel signed for $2 million in 2009, attracting attention for plus-plus power potential from the left side. He ranked as the top prospect in the Rookie-level Arizona League a year ago and got off to a hot start in the Appy League this season, mashing eight homers in his first 31 games. He cooled after that, batting .245 and hitting three homers in his final 35 contests. Despite the streakiness, Pimentel's offensive potential is obvious because of his quick hands and athletic actions. He has 30-homer potential if his pitch recognition improves, and he could hit as high as .280 if learns to work the count and take offspeed pitches to the off field when behind in the count. His value will be tied to the development of his bat because he's limited to left field by below-average speed, range and arm strength. -
Pimentel received one of the top bonuses during the 2009 international signing period, getting $2 million from the Mariners. He struggled in the early part of his pro debut, especially with pitch selection and hitting curveballs, but finished strongly with a .293/.318/.537 line in August. While he has five-tool potential, it's Pimentel's raw power that stands out the most. His strong wrists generate good bat speed through the zone. Many of his six homers were of the tape-measure variety. He's far from a finished product--he had just five walks and 58 strikeouts in 192 plate appearances--and needs to continue working on recognizing the rotation on pitches. "There's no ceiling on him," Mariners hitting coach Andy Bottin said. "If he can discipline himself as far as pitch selection and cut down on his strikeouts, he can be a 4-hole hitter." Pimentel, who played mostly in left field, showed defensive improved as the season progressed. His routes and angles to balls should get better as he gains experience, and his average-to-plus arm should get stronger as he refines his throwing mechanics. He has average speed.
