Jose Azocar

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #27 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: It's been a slow rise through the minors for Azocar, who reached the upper minors in 2019 for the first time after six seasons in the lower levels. The 2012 international signee hadn't shown much power up to this point, but went out and hit a career-high 10 homers at Double-A Erie after previously never hitting more than three in a season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Azocar's offensive ceiling isn't particularly high due to below-average power and a propensity to chase pitches. He hunts fastballs and does have some natural bat-to-ball ability. Azocar is a standout defensively in the outfield with a double-plus arm. It is strong and accurate, allowing him to throw behind runners at bases. He runs well under way and can play a plus right field and a playable center field.
  
  THE FUTURE: With the ability to be an impact defender, Azocar may be limited to a backup outfielder who gets the occasional start. Without much power or on-base ability, it's tough to envision him progressing further than that.
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #12 prospect in 2017
  Signed for $110,000 in 2012, Azocar has progressed slowly. He spent his first two seasons in the Venezuelan Summer League, moved to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2015 and made his full-season debut last season with low Class A West Michigan. Along with Derek Hill, Azocar helped form a defensively superb Whitecaps outfield. Azocar has a center fielder's tool set--plus running ability and range to both sides--but was pushed to right because of Hill. Azocar has a plus arm, which further helps him fit in right. He has progressed as a hitter, but at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds shows almost no power. He has just one home run in 1,173 career at-bats and hasn't gone deep since 2014. He is a quick-twitch athlete with a level swing who can slap balls to all fields, although his power is almost exclusively to the pull side. The Tigers are working with Azocar to cut down his strikeouts (22.5 percent rate in 2016) in the hopes of unlocking more offensive potential. He is ticketed for a move to high Class A Lakeland in 2017.
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #15 prospect in 2016
  When the Tigers signed Azocar for $110,000 as a 16-year-old out of Venezuela, he had a promising tool package but his feel for the game was still crude. He's still on the raw side, but his baseball skills have progressed, catching the attention of scouts in his U.S. debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2015. Azocar is the system's most exciting position prospect below the full-season leagues. He's an athletic center fielder who draws praise for his defense, with plus speed, good range and an above-average arm. Azocar has a quick bat and makes consistent hard contact, with an approach geared for line drives rather than power. He's wiry strong and the ball jumps off his bat well already, so while he didn't hit any home runs in 2015, he should start to show more game power within the next few years to develop into a power-speed threat. A complete free-swinger when he signed, Azocar's approached has improved, but he still will need to be more selective with his plate discipline. If the selectivity improves, Azocar has breakout potential.

• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: It's been a slow rise through the minors for Azocar, who reached the upper minors in 2019 for the first time after six seasons in the lower levels. The 2012 international signee hadn't shown much power up to this point, but went out and hit a career-high 10 homers at Double-A Erie after previously never hitting more than three in a season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Azocar's offensive ceiling isn't particularly high due to below-average power and a propensity to chase pitches. He hunts fastballs and does have some natural bat-to-ball ability. Azocar is a standout defensively in the outfield with a double-plus arm. It is strong and accurate, allowing him to throw behind runners at bases. He runs well under way and can play a plus right field and a playable center field.
  
  THE FUTURE: With the ability to be an impact defender, Azocar may be limited to a backup outfielder who gets the occasional start. Without much power or on-base ability, it's tough to envision him progressing further than that.