Johermyn Chavez Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2795
AVG	.254
OBP	.335
SLG	.424
HR	98

Full name Johermyn Jose Chavez
Born 01/26/1989 in Turmero, Venezuela
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Arriving with Brandon League in the December 2009 trade that sent Brandon Morrow to Toronto, Chavez finished second in the California League with 32 homers in his first season in the Seattle system. His second was a different story, as he ranked second-to-last among Double-A Southern League qualifiers with a .216 average. Chavez always has been prone to strikeouts and streakiness. When he's confident and on a roll, everything seems to come easy to him, but those times were few and far between with Jackson. He looked uncomfortable and out of sync at the plate. He's still learning to recognize pitches and too often chases breaking balls out of the zone, negating his strength. He profiles as a below-average hitter with plus power potential. Chavez is a below-average runner, but he's a good athlete who plays average defense and fits the right-field profile with the best outfield arm in the system. His 18 assists ranked second in the SL last year. He'll take another crack at solving Double-A pitching in 2012.
The Mariners regret swapping Brandon Morrow for Brandon League in December 2009, but at least they got Chavez in the deal with the Blue Jays. He ranked second in the high Class A California League with 32 homers in 2010, though 23 of those longballs came in the friendly confines of High Desert. He continued to hit well in the Venezuelan League during the winter. The ball jumps off Chavez's bat and he has power to all fields. He worked with minor league hitting coaches Tommy Cruz and Jose Castro on his swing in 2010, eliminating a loop and a tendency to chop down on the ball. The changes allowed him to start turning on inside pitches and tap into his above-average raw power. He does strike out a lot, and he must continue to work on his pitch recognition and strike-zone awareness, though he showed improvement in that regard this year. Chavez is a below-average runner but moves well in right field. He fits nicely in right because he has well-above-average arm strength. Though he's a streaky player, he's level-headed and handles his ups and downs well. Added to Seattle's 40-man roster in November, Chavez will spend 2011 in Double-A. The Mariners are well-stocked in the outfield, so he'll have to keep producing to get a big league opportunity.
Chavez hasn't progressed as quickly as the Blue Jays hoped he would after signing him as 16-year-old out of Venezuela in 2005, but he showed signs of tapping into his potential last year. Returning to Lansing after a dismal 2008 there, he had his best season as a pro, increasing his OPS by 225 points. He put in lots of work in the batting cage and finally seemed comfortable at the plate. Chavez already is maxed out physically, with a strong 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame. He tapped into his raw power last season, hitting 21 home runs in a pitcher-friendly league. He still needs to develop a more consistent approach and improve his plate discipline. Chavez has an above-average arm, but his fringy range and defensive instincts probably will relegate him to left field. He's an average runner. He'll head to high Class A in 2010.
Though not as heralded as some of Toronto's other international signees, Chavez has shown the most potential. He made his U.S. debut in advanced Rookie ball at age 17 in 2006 and more than held his own, though a sore wrist at midseason cut into his playing time and hampered his power output. Chavez took a step back when the Blue Jays switched to a Gulf Coast League team in 2007, but that didn't stop him from flashing above-average power, ranking ninth in the league with a .494 slugging percentage. Though he has strength and bat speed, Chavez starts with his hands low--one club official compared his setup to Rondell White's--leading to questions about whether he'll hit for average against better pitching. He would benefit by driving the ball the other way more frequently and by not expanding his strike zone. Already a physical specimen, Chavez has a rangy build that suggests the potential for added muscle. He has enough range, speed and arm for right field, but spent most of the summer in left. He's on the right track and he'll advance to low Class A with a good spring training.
The most promising of Toronto's international signees in 2005, Chavez made enough improvement with his swing and approach in extended spring training to warrant a roster spot with Rookie-level Pulaski at age 17. While he seemed a little timid at first, he more than held his own, though a sore wrist at midseason cut into his playing time and likely hampered his power output. He showed much more present ability and aptitude than Dominican third baseman Lee Soto, who also signed with Toronto in 2005. While Chavez already has good size for his age, he likely will fill out more and add the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field. Like a lot of young batters, he's prone to chasing pitches out of the strike zone because he doesn't go the plate with a plan. His defensive game also has room for growth. Without the speed or instincts for center field, Chavez is a corner outfielder with an arm that presently rates as fringe-average. He has adapted well to a new culture. Chavez will go as far as his bat takes him, and he'll likely play at short-season Auburn in 2007.

Minor League Top Prospects

Part of the trade that sent Brandon Morrow from the Mariners to the Blue Jays, Chavez ranked second in the league in homers while benefiting from one of the best hitter's parks in the minors. He hit .341 with 23 of his 32 longballs at High Desert. Yet few scouts or managers questioned Chavez' power, because the ball jumps off his bat and he can drive it to all fields. Chavez showed improved discipline at the plate this season, working diligently to shorten the length of his swing. He doesn't often miss pitches over the plate but still is refining his pitch recognition and learning to avoid chasing breaking pitches out of the zone. Chavez has an above-average arm and runs well for his size, covering plenty of ground in right field. He's not a threat to steal bases but runs well once under way. He's a hard worker with confidence in his ability.
The fact that Chavez, at age 17 and in his first year as a pro, bypassed the VSL for Pulaski suggests how highly the Blue Jays regard him. While he held his own in the Appalachian League, he's all projection at this point. Chavez has done well to adapt to a new culture and will continue to gain strength, though he is already physical at 6-foot-3 and 200 lbs. His swing has come a long way in a year, but he's still prone to chasing pitches out of the zone and is too pull-conscious. He'll be a corner outfielder because he doesn't have the instincts or range for center field, though he has average speed and arm strength.