Jesse Gutierrez

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #24 prospect in 2005
  Gutierrez is one of the Reds' best hitters and stands out in the organization for his steady, solid track record with the bat. Gutierrez hit in college, leading NCAA Division I with an .855 slugging percentage at Texas-Pan American in 2000 and Division II with 28 homers for St. Mary's in 2001, leading the school to the D-II College World Series championship and winning tournament MVP honors. He's coming off his best full season as a pro, ranking third in the Southern League in RBIs and extra-base hits (53). Gutierrez is an above-average hitter who has excellent pull power, and he makes consistent contact for a power hitter. He stays on breaking balls and mashes against lefthanders (.312 average, .507 slugging in 2004). He's limited defensively at first base and profiles better as an American League player. He has played catcher in the minors and would enhance his value if he could stick there, but he didn't see time behind the plate last year. His defensive abilities lag far behind other Reds catching prospects. His most realistic role is as a righthanded bat who occasionally catches and plays first base. After a successful Arizona Fall League stint, he'll move up to Triple-A in 2005.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #28 prospect in 2003
  Gutierrez led NCAA Division I with an .855 slugging percentage at Texas-Pan American in 2000, then transferred to St. Mary's and led Division II with 28 homers the following year. He also hit two homers in his final game, earning MVP honors as the Rattlers won the national title. Reds area scout Jimmy Gonzales saw Gutierrez launch six home runs in a doubleheader for St. Mary's and was impressed with his electric bat speed. He makes good contact for a power hitter, though his plate discipline slipped in 2002 when he got his first exposure to full-season ball. Primarily a first baseman in college, Gutierrez has experience behind the plate, and the Reds project his value soaring as he learns the nuances of catching. He has good arm strength, but has to work on the fundamentals and shortening his release. He threw out 24 percent of basestealers last year and didn't commit an error in 33 games as a catcher. Gutierrez spent the offseason in a conditioning program at IMG's Baseball Academy in Bradenton, Fla., in preparation to handle the catching chores at Stockton.