Wendell Rijo Stats & Scouting Report

AB	38
AVG	.289
OBP	.333
SLG	.316
HR	0

Full name Wendell Roel Rijo
Born 09/04/1995 in La Romana, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 5'9" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: R / Throws: R

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Rijo, the son of a scout, has stood out for the advancement of his offensive skills since the time that the Red Sox signed him out of the Dominican in 2012. He bypassed the Dominican Summer League in his first pro year in 2013, and he has been one of the youngest players at his level in each season, including a 2015 campaign spent at high Class A Salem. Rijo's age is a necessary piece of context when considering his modest offensive totals in 2015--.260/.324/.381--as is the fact that all of those slash numbers were slightly above league average in pitcher-friendly ballparks of the Carolina League. One evaluator noted Rijo ranks among Boston's best pure hitters when he remains under control rather than trying to play "a big man's game," something that became a problem in 2015 when his walk rate slipped to a career low 7.5 percent. At his best, he can hit for average and perform like a doubles machine, and while some grumble about his commitment to defense, evaluators believe he showed considerable improvement at second base, to the point where he appears to have the potential to be an everyday player, particularly if he re-establishes his most effective offensive approach.
The son of Dodgers Dominican scout Rafael Rijo, Wendell signed for $575,000 in July 2012 and then showed considerable polish as one of the youngest players in the South Atlantic League in 2014. He posted above-average numbers across the board at low Class A Greenville. Rijo has clear potential to deliver above-average offensive impact at second base, with a high average and modest power. Though he has strong hand-eye coordination, he seems focused at times on generating power, an approach that could be exposed as he moves up. Some have expressed concern about his commitment to defense, for Rijo shows concentration lapses in the field, and there isn't a clear fallback defensive position for him if he doesn't stick at second. Still, given that he will be just 19 for most of the 2015 season suggests he has room to improve his concentration and refine his tools. He could be headed for high Class A Salem in 2015.
The son of Dodgers Dominican scout Rafael Rijo, Wendell signed for $575,000 in July 2012 and showed considerable polish in his 2013 pro debut. He skipped the Dominican Summer League and played in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League before reaching short-season Lowell at the tail end of the season. Rijo hit .277/.368/.359 in 184 at-bats across his two stops, while showing a good feel for the strike zone (22 walks, 32 strikeouts) and the hint of gap power (15 doubles). His combination of feel for the barrel, on-base skills, solid defense and slightly above-average speed offer a straightforward projection--if everything breaks right--as a regular second baseman. Some scouts think Rijo could move around the field as well, particularly as he gains quickness when further removed from a torn ACL in his knee he suffered in 2012. He may end up being one of the youngest players in the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2014.

Minor League Top Prospects

Rijo didn't hit much at Salem, it's true, but context is important here because he was the youngest player in the league at 19 years old. The Red Sox had fast-tracked him to full-season ball at age 18 at low Class A Greenville in 2014. Rijo particularly struggled in the early part of the season but got better as the year progressed, though he's still liable to chase a pitch out of the zone. He's not a big guy by any means but has power enough to lose a fastball if it's left out over the plate. His swing is controlled but aggressive, but after striking out 21 percent of the time at Salem, he must learn to emphasize control. Rijo is an average defender at second base now who projects as better than that as he grows and learns the intricacies of the position. He's still got a lot of growing to do, but could reach Double-A Portland as a 20-year-old at some point in 2016.
Rijo frequently makes mistakes at the plate, in some cases when his leg kick gets too long or he gets over his front foot too soon in his swing or he gets caught unaware by an offspeed pitch. But then Rijo will use his excellent hands to flip the ball to the opposite field for a single and leave the pitcher cursing his terrible luck. He isn't always pretty at the plate, but his simple bat path and excellent barrel make up for a lot of flaws. Defensively, Rijo needs to be more reliable but he has all the tools to be an above-average second baseman.
Several international scouts last year favored Rijo for his ability to hit consistently in games. A torn ACL in his knee, sustained in March during the Dominican Prospect League?s spring training tour in the U.S., clouded his status before the July 2 international signing period. Rijo signed with the Red Sox last July for $575,000, then soon thereafter had surgery. Rijo is the son of Dodgers Dominican scout Rafael Rijo, so his high baseball IQ and instincts in all phases of the game are no surprise. He has good strike-zone discipline and a quick swing where the barrel stays in the zone for a long time, which gives him good plate coverage and leads to hard line drives to all fields. He peppers the gaps with plenty of doubles and could grow into average power. A plus runner prior to surgery, Rijo now is an average runner whose speed plays up on the basepaths because of his instincts. He doesn?t have the arm for shortstop, so the Red Sox promptly shifted him to second base, where he has advanced fundamentals, solid hands and a mature understanding of in-game situations and how to position himself.