Juan Silverio

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #31 prospect in 2013
  A familiar name to those who follow the White Sox farm system, Silverio made his first appearance in the team's Top 30 five years ago. He has advanced only as far as the Carolina League since then but shouldn't be dismissed. He was hyped by the organization after being signed to a $600,000 contract that would be part of a federal case against Dave Wilder and two Latin American scouts for kickbacks, and that made it easy to doubt his talent. The White Sox also did Silverio no favors, rushing him to full-season ball at age 19 when he probably wasn't ready. He has settled in the last two years, belting 57 extra-base hits in 2011 and showing solid pop in 2012, when healthy. It was a difficult year for Silverio because of a series of nagging injuries but he made progress defensively, earning praise from scouts with his fielding at third base. The converted shortstop has plus range and a plus arm. He has never reached double figures in home runs, mostly due to pitch-recognition issues. He's a first-ball fastball hitter who has trouble with the curve. He will be tested in the Double-A Southern League, and time is still on his side.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #8 prospect in 2012
  The White Sox touted Silverio as a five-tool shortstop when Victor Mateo and Dave Wilder signed him for $600,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2007. A year later, they learned that Mateo and Wilder were part of a conspiracy to oversell prospects so they could skim their bonus money. Silverio overcame that stigma and three uneven seasons in the lower minors to break through with a solid year at two Class A stops in 2011. Silverio began making adjustments at the plate when he returned to Kannapolis last year. He's still too undisciplined at the plate, but he has a knack for barreling the ball and projects to have average power to both gaps. He's a good athlete with average speed. Silverio has played primarily at third base in the past two seasons. He has a strong arm and can make some spectacular plays, but he has to learn not to try to force difficult throws after making 39 errors in 124 games in 2011. Silverio will open the 2012 season as a 20-year-old, so Chicago can continue to be patient with his development. He may repeat high Class A, at least for the first half. If he doesn't become an everyday third baseman, he has the tools to play the outfield and could become a corner utilityman.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #35 prospect in 2009
  High expectations greeted Silverio after the White Sox gave him a $600,000 bonus to sign in 2007, but he was a major disappointment in his pro debut in 2008. The two men responsible for signing him--senior director of player personnel Dave Wilder and scout Victor Mateo--were fired as part of a Dominican bonus-skimming scandal, causing some to wonder if he was really worth the investment. Silverio does have raw tools, starting with bat speed and arm strength, and given that he was the second-youngest player in the Appalachian League last summer as a 17-year-old, he deserves a mulligan. The ball jumps off Silverio's bat when he makes contact, but that happens infrequently because he lacks pitch recognition and flails against breaking balls. His pull-conscious approach also does him no favors. Silverio is a below-average runner and may have to move off of shortstop. His range, hands and throwing mechanics all would have to improve for him to stay at short. His ability to make adjustments will determine if he ever advances beyond Rookie ball.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #10 prospect in 2008
  Given the way the White Sox historically have thrown around nickels like they were manhole covers in their pursuit of international players, it speaks highly of Silverio that he was deemed worthy of a $600,000 bonus based on the recommendation of scout Victor Mateo and special assistant Dave Wilder. In trying to restock a position of weakness, Chicago signed two other teenage shortstops from the Dominican, but Alexander Adame and Daurys Mercedes don't have Silverio's ceiling. Silverio shows all five tools at shortstop. He combines a quick bat with upper-body strength, enabling him to drive the ball around the park. He has a strong arm and a quick first step in the infield. He runs well, though he projects more as a Miguel Tejada-type shortstop than a true basestealer. There's still a lot of projection remaining in Silverio's frame, so there's concern he could outgrow shortstop and have to move to third base. His skills are untested because he has yet to make his pro debut, but Chicago was encouraged that he held his own as a 16-year-old in instructional league. Silverio figures to open 2008 in extended spring training, preparing to play at Rookielevel Bristol. The White Sox will need to develop him patiently, but the payoff could be huge. He's already by far the best shortstop prospect in the system.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked American League #19 prospect in 2008
  Silverio signed with the White Sox for $600,000 out of the Dominican Republic in August 2007, but both parties credited with his signing--international scouting director Dave Wilder and scout Victor Mateo--were fired in May for their roles in alleged international bonus skimming. Silverio's bonus may or may not have been inflated in the scandal, and he's also a difficult player to evaluate because he seemed completely overmatched by Appy League competition. That's understandable in one regard, seeing as only Wilmer Flores was the only position player who was younger. Silverio has a mature upper body and the ball carries off his bat when he makes contact. However, his rudimentary pitch recognition rendered him helpless against breaking balls, and his pull-happy approach left him exposed on the outer half of the plate. He earned plaudits for his solid-average arm, but Silverio likes to stand up to throw, costing him time. His range and reads at shortstop both were below-average, and he bobbled more balls than he should have. He has slow feet and is a below-average runner.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The White Sox touted Silverio as a five-tool shortstop when Victor Mateo and Dave Wilder signed him for $600,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2007. A year later, they learned that Mateo and Wilder were part of a conspiracy to oversell prospects so they could skim their bonus money. Silverio overcame that stigma and three uneven seasons in the lower minors to break through with a solid year at two Class A stops in 2011.Scouting Report: Silverio began making adjustments at the plate when he returned to Kannapolis last year. He's still too undisciplined at the plate, but he has a knack for barreling the ball and projects to have average power to both gaps. He's a good athlete with average speed. Silverio has played primarily at third base in the past two seasons. He has a strong arm and can make some spectacular plays, but he has to learn not to try to force difficult throws after making 39 errors in 124 games in 2011.The Future: Silverio will open the 2012 season as a 20-year-old, so Chicago can continue to be patient with his development. He may repeat high Class A, at least for the first half. If he doesn't become an everyday third baseman, he has the tools to play the outfield and could become a corner utilityman.