Luis Guillorme

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Mets #13 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Guillorme has started at least 50 games at shortstop for each Mets affiliate from Rookie-level Kingsport up to Triple-A Las Vegas. He completed his six-year trek to the big leagues in 2018, when he spent much of May and June in the big leagues filling in for the injured Todd Frazier. Guillorme played second base and third base in New York but not shortstop.
  
  Scouting Report: Guillorme is the best defensive infielder in the system, with quick reflexes and sure hands that make him reliable at second, third or short. He doesn't have classic range at shortstop or a cannon for an arm, but he is above-average in both regards. Guillorme is a rare sight in today's power-oriented game. The lefthanded hitter sprays the ball around and in particular likes to wear out the opposite field. Scouts who like him see a future plus hitter because of this trait and also his patient yet high-contact plate approach. He has virtually no power and isn't much of a runner or stolen base threat.
  
  The Future: Without power or speed, Guillorme will have to be a consistent .300 hitter to avoid being relegated to a utility infield or possibly even up-and-down role.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #10 prospect in 2018
  Guillorme won the low Class A South Atlantic League MVP in 2015 despite not hitting a single home run. He continued his high-contact, low-watt production with a season of extremes at Double-A Binghamton in 2017. He ranked second in the Eastern League with 72 walks while turning in the EL's lowest strikeout rate (10 percent) and isolated power (.048). Guillorme drew national attention during spring training 2017 when he nonchalantly barehanded a bat hurtling for the Mets dugout. Appropriately, his scouting report begins with lightning-quick hands and reflexes, which he parlays into plus defensive ability at shortstop and second base. He confidently makes difficult plays in the field with above-average range, a solid-average arm and a great internal clock. Guillorme hardly ever pulls the ball and has bottom-of-the-scale power, but he could develop an average hit tool because he works deep counts, hits the ball hard consistently and uses the whole field. As a lefthanded batter who brings a plus glove to shortstop, second base or third base, Guillorme is a shoo-in for a utility infielder role. If his bat develops, he could be a second-division regular, possibly at second base for the Mets, where no long-term solution is apparent.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #15 prospect in 2017
  Guillorme grew up in Venezuela but moved to the U.S. at age 12 to further his baseball development. He signed for an above-slot $200,000 as a 10th-round pick out of high school and went on to win MVP honors in the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2015 despite hitting zero home runs. Guillorme hit his first pro homer at high Class A St. Lucie in 2016, but otherwise he showed the same high-contact, opposite-field hitting approach as always. He won't have to hit much to assume a major league role, however, because he's the best defensive infielder in the Mets system, alternately referred to as a wizard or double-plus defender at shortstop by scouts outside the organization. The word "quick" best describes his infield actions, as in quick first step, quick transfer, quick feet and quick release. His throwing and running tools also grade as above-average, though a lack of physicality and lack of power raise questions about his offensive potential. He controls the strike zone and handles the bat well enough to project to a near-average or better hitter for scouts who like him. Guillorme's defensive chops and supporting tools could make him a utility infielder or better.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #12 prospect in 2016
  Born in Venezuela, Guillorme moved to Florida with his family at age 12 to pursue academic and athletic opportunity. He attracted attention at Coral Springs High as a slick-fielding, lefthanded-hitting shortstop, and the Mets ponied up $200,000 to sign him as a 10th-round pick in 2013. The slightlybuilt, 5-foot-10 Guillorme spent two seasons in Rookie ball before moving to low Class A Savannah in 2015, whereupon he won the South Atlantic League MVP award despite hitting zero home runs. He did hit .318 to rank second the league batting race, however, by using a flat-plane, inside-out swing he uses to repeatedly serve the ball to left field. He rarely pulls the ball and has bottom-of-the-scale power, but Guillorme works pitchers for walks and strikes out at a low rate. Athletic actions, a quick first step and lightning-quick hands make him a plus defensive shortstop who makes plays with an average, but accurate, arm. He's an average runner who knows when to pick his spots on the bases. Guillorme has strong instincts both offensively and defensively, but because he lacks a plus tool besides his acrobatic range, he projects more as a utility infielder for many scouts. He will advance to high Class A St. Lucie in 2016.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #222 prospect in 2013 draft
  Guillorme was born in Venezuela and played for its national teams as a 12-year-old. He moved to the United States for high school and has dazzled Florida area scouts with defensive displays that evoke Omar Vizquel. He has tremendous quickness and footwork at shortstop with nimble feet, soft hands and solid arm strength. He would clearly rank as one of the best defensive players in the draft, but his offensive future keeps him from ranking higher. Guillorme plays defense with passion and energy and would go in the first three rounds if scouts had more confidence in his bat. He's a fringe-average runner with a light bat from the left side. He's signable, as he's committed to the State JC of Florida (formerly Manatee JC).

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #18 prospect in 2015
  Not often does a player with zero home runs wins a minor league MVP award, but Guillorme accomplished just that when SAL managers and media bestowed him with the honor after he finished second in the league batting race at .318. Everyone in the SAL was impressed with Guillorme's feel for the game. He's a reliable defender with excellent hands and solid range. He led league shortstop with a .972 fielding average but is more steady than spectacular. He has good bat control, controls the strike zone and draws walks. Many scouts are concerned about how Guillorme profiles going forward. He has bottom-of-the-scale power and little strength, and he doesn't project to get a whole lot stronger. He's not a quick-twitch athlete and is an average runner. As a well-rounded shortstop with a solid understanding of the game, he should settle in as a utility infielder at worst.

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Guillorme won the low Class A South Atlantic League MVP in 2015 despite not hitting a single home run. He continued his high-contact, low-watt production with a season of extremes at Double-A Binghamton in 2017. He ranked second in the Eastern League with 72 walks while turning in the EL's lowest strikeout rate (10 percent) and isolated power (.048). SCOUTING REPORT: Guillorme drew national attention during spring training 2017 when he nonchalantly barehanded a bat hurtling for the Mets dugout. Appropriately, his scouting report begins with lightning-quick hands and reflexes, which he parlays into plus defensive ability at shortstop and second base. He confidently makes difficult plays in the field with above-average range, a solid-average arm and a great internal clock. Guillorme hardly ever pulls the ball and has bottom-of-the-scale power, but he could develop an average hit tool because he works deep counts, hits the ball hard consistently and uses the whole field. THE FUTURE: As a lefthanded batter who brings a plus glove to shortstop, second base or third base, Guillorme is a shoo-in for a utility infielder role. If his bat develops, he could be a second-division regular.