Alfonso Soriano

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #2 prospect in 2001
  Soriano originally signed with Japan's Hiroshima Toyo Carp, then "retired" in 1998 in order to become a free agent. He got a four-year major league contract worth $3.1 million from the Yankees, then wowed observers in the 1998 Arizona Fall League and at the 1999 Futures Game. Soriano's tools are beyond reproach. He has a lightning-quick bat and can hit for average power. He runs well and has the arm and quickness to be an above-average shortstop. Soriano needs to translate those tools into baseball skills, however. He presently lacks the discipline to be the offensive threat he can be, the instincts to be an effective basestealer and the consistency to be a steady defender. Some don't think he'll be able to play shortstop in the big leagues. In three stints with the Yankees in 2000, Soriano didn't impress offensively or defensively, so he'll get more time in Triple-A. He won't take Derek Jeter's job, so a move to second base, third base or the outfield is in Soriano's future.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #2 prospect in 2000
  Background: After a dominant Eastern League first half, Soriano was being called perhaps the best prospect in the minors. A minor injury and struggles against higher-level pitching hurt the buzz only slightly. Strengths: Soriano's combination of speed, quickness, bat speed and surprising strength is exciting. He also could develop above-average power as he recognizes pitches better. His athletic ability and quick release make the spectacular play at short look easy. Weaknesses: Soriano's consistency on defense doesn't match his tools, causing routine-play errors. After the initial success, he often swung wildly at early-count pitches. Despite 4.1 speed to first, his baserunning needs work. The Future: Because of Derek Jeter, Soriano could move to second, third or even left field. The Yankees dismiss the outfield but don't mention another possibility--a trade for starting pitching.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #3 prospect in 1999
  Background: Japan's Hiroshima Toyo Carp signed Soriano at their Dominican academy when he was 16. He sat out 1998 while "retiring" from Japanese baseball. The Yankees outbid several teams by giving Soriano a $3.1 million bonus and sent him to the Arizona Fall League, where he excelled. Strengths: Soriano is a polished player who lacks only U.S. experience. He is a spectacular fielder with silky smooth hands and extremely quick feet. Offensively, Soriano showed surprising power in the AFL. Weaknesses: Soriano's swing can get long and allows pitchers to get in on his fists. It also leaves him off-balance coming out of the box, making him only an average runner to first. His speed underway is above average. And the Yankees are set at shortstop with Derek Jeter. The Future: Soriano is too good and will be too much in demand to sit and wait his turn like many Yankees prospects have, especially if he gets off to a fast start in 1999 at Norwich or Columbus.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #5 prospect in 2000
  Through all of their wheeling and dealing this past season, the Yankees somehow managed to hang on to Soriano, the top prospect in their minor league system. How long he remains with the organization, though, remains to be seen. Soriano wants to play shortstop, but the Yankees already have all-star Derek Jeter and won’t move him. The Yankees could move second baseman Chuck Knoblauch to left field and put Soriano at second, but that appears to be a last-ditch option only if Knoblauch can't overcome his throwing problems. If Soriano stays with the Yankees, he could be looking at another year at Columbus, which might not be a bad idea because he's still a work in progress. Soriano needs to be more disciplined at the plate, and at times he loses his concentration in the field. He has a very quick bat and should produce enough power for just about any position on the diamond. "He still needs to polish his tools," Columbus manager Trey Hillman said. "But the talent is just as spectacular as we thought it was two years ago when we signed him." Opinions ranged on Soriano. A few managers thought he regressed this year after winning the Futures Game MVP award in 1999, but others like Norfolk's John Gibbons ranked him the best prospect in the league.
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #2 prospect in 1999
  Listing Soriano as a Top 10 Prospect was easy for managers. Projecting a position for him in the majors was not. Second base, left field and third base all were mentioned. Shortstop wasn't. Seems the Yankees already have some guy named Jeter. "It's my personal feeling, but I don't think he has shortstop talent," said Erie manager and former major league shortstop Garry Templeton. "I think he'll move over to third base and find his niche there. He's a pure hitter. He can play some defense, but I just didn't see the foot quickness you need to play a successful shortstop." His offense remains his biggest asset. "Soriano is probably as exciting a player as there is in this league," said Binghamton manager Doug Davis. "Jeez, he hit for average, he hit for power. He has the speed to run the bases and he has range on defense."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #27 prospect in 2001
• Ranked Baseball America's #16 prospect in 2000
• Ranked Baseball America's #39 prospect in 1999

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Through all of their wheeling and dealing this past season, the Yankees somehow managed to hang on to Soriano, the top prospect in their minor league system. How long he remains with the organization, though, remains to be seen. Soriano wants to play shortstop, but the Yankees already have all-star Derek Jeter and won’t move him. The Yankees could move second baseman Chuck Knoblauch to left field and put Soriano at second, but that appears to be a last-ditch option only if Knoblauch can't overcome his throwing problems. If Soriano stays with the Yankees, he could be looking at another year at Columbus, which might not be a bad idea because he's still a work in progress. Soriano needs to be more disciplined at the plate, and at times he loses his concentration in the field. He has a very quick bat and should produce enough power for just about any position on the diamond. "He still needs to polish his tools," Columbus manager Trey Hillman said. "But the talent is just as spectacular as we thought it was two years ago when we signed him." Opinions ranged on Soriano. A few managers thought he regressed this year after winning the Futures Game MVP award in 1999, but others like Norfolk's John Gibbons ranked him the best prospect in the league.