Juniel Querecuto

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #10 prospect in 2018
  The Mariners made Querecuto one of their top priorities in the 2017 international signing class and signed the 16-year-old Venezuelan for $1.225 million. The switch-hitting shortstop comes from a baseball family. His father Juan played five years in the minors in the Blue Jays system, and his older brother Juniel is an infielder in the Giants system who reached the major leagues with the Rays in 2016. Querecuto doesn't flash any standout tools but has advanced instincts for his age and knows how to play the game. He's a gap-to-gap, situational hitter who does a good job of controlling the strike zone and uses the whole field. An average runner with an above-average to plus arm, he projects to be an above-average defender at shortstop with soft hands, a feel for where to position himself and the ability to slow the game down. While not a burner on the bases, Querecuto's baserunning acumen will allow his speed to play up. His makeup and instincts project to consistently allow him to play above his tools. Querecuto will begin his pro career in 2018 along with fellow international classmate Julio Rodriguez, either in the Dominican Summer League or the Rookie-level Arizona League.