Brian Cavazos-Galvez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #26 prospect in 2013
  Cavazos-Galvez's father Balvino Galvez came up through the Dodgers organization in the 1980s and pitched briefly in the majors in 1986, but he has not been in contact with his son since leaving to play overseas in the 1990s. Cavazos-Galvez got off to a terrible start at Double-A last spring and was sent back to high Class A to refocus. He ironed out some issues in his swing as well and took off when an injury opened a spot for him in Albuquerque, where he was born and where he played his college ball. He had been too pull-conscious, trying to hook balls and getting himself out when he chased breaking pitches. Working with Triple-A hitting coach John Valentin, he got his bat on a better path and is now able to keep the barrel in the hitting zone longer. He does have the strength and quick hands to hit for solid power. He's still a free swinger, though he did a better job of laying off early count breaking pitches last year. He runs well enough to keep play either outfield corner and plays with energy. His arm is better suited for left field, though, and he needs to improve his routes and jumps. His 2012 season ended early when he went down with an ankle injury in July, but he should be ready to go back for a full season of Triple-A ball in 2013. The Dodgers didn't protect him on the 40-man roster but he went unpicked in the Rule 5 draft.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #19 prospect in 2011
  Cavazos-Galvez's father, Balvino Galvez, made 10 appearances for the Dodgers in 1986 and spent 11 seasons pitching in the minor leagues, though the two haven't been in contact since Balvino left to go play in China in 1994. Cavazos-Galvez has hit everywhere he's played, batting .495 over two seasons at New Mexico JC before being a two-time all-Mountain West Conference selection at New Mexico. He hit .392 in the spring of 2009 for the Lobos, received a $15,000 bonus and then won Pioneer League MVP honors in his pro debut. He pressed early on in low Class A last year but caught fire in the second half, hitting .375/.386/.656. He had trouble with being too pull-conscious and flying open in his swing, and he had more success once Los Angeles got him focused on taking balls up the middle. Cavazos-Galvez has outstanding bat speed, allowing him to square up any fastball and have above-average power to all fields. As his low walk total from last year suggests, he has an overly aggressive approach at the plate, frequently swinging at the first pitch. A better runner than he looks, Cavazos-Galvez has a strong arm and has become a solid defender. He has seen time at all three outfield positions and fits best in right field. He's a candidate to move up to Double-A in 2011, where more advanced pitchers would offer a much stiffer test.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #26 prospect in 2010
  The son of former Dodgers pitcher Balvino Galvez, with whom he lost contact when he was 10 years old, Cavazos-Galvez had a huge pro debut after signing for $15,000 as a 12th-round pick in June. He has a long track record as a hitter, having batted .495 in two seasons at New Mexico JC and and .379 in two seasons at New Mexico. He then won MVP honors in the Rookie-level Pioneer League after leading the league in runs (59), hits (97), doubles (29) and homers (18). He was a two-time all-Mountain West Conference selection at New Mexico, which shares a stadium with the Dodgers' Albuquerque farm club. Cavazos-Galvez has the ability to hit for average and power because of his outstanding bat speed. He can turn on inside pitches and is willing to hit to all fields. He's prone to strikeouts, though, because he becomes impatient at the plate and has a swing that tends to get long. Cavazos-Galvez has above average speed and is a threat to steal a base, though he needs to refine his technique after getting caught eight times in 25 tries at Ogden. He played all three outfield positions in his debut but has a below-average arm and takes bad routes to balls, so he'll wind up as a left fielder. Cavazos-Galvez's big 2009 debut was tempered by the fact he was quite old for the Pioneer League at 22. Los Angeles may jump him to high Class A for his first full pro season.