Rolando Gomez Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1518
AVG	.26
OBP	.321
SLG	.38
HR	17

Full name Rolando Antonio Gomez
Born 06/18/1989 in Pembroke Pines, FL
Profile Ht.: 5'7" / Wt.: 145 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Charles Flanagan
Drafted in the 11th round (349th overall) by the Los Angeles Angels in 2008 (signed for $450,000).

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Gomez draws comparisons to his relative and long time major leaguer Tony Fernandez, though Fernandez is five inches taller. At 5-feet-9, 160 pounds, Gomez is an undersized middle infielder with flare and above-average defensive ability. In the field, his actions are smooth and he has the ability to make difficult plays look routine. While the knock on Gomez is his fringe-average arm strength, he has soft hands and uses good footwork to get himself in the proper position to make plays. Staying at shortstop would make him more valuable, but some scouts think he'll eventually move to second base, in which case he will need to hit more. At the plate, Gomez has a quick lefthanded swing, spraying balls into the gaps. He shows occasional power, but capitalizing on his above-average speed with small ball better suits his skills. He was a regular on the showcase circuit last summer, and has gained a reputation as a grinder. He's committed to play for Miami if he doesn't sign.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Angels thought enough of Gomez's pro potential that they signed him for $450,000 as an 11th-round pick in 2008, buying him out of a Miami commitment. He didn't play much during his pro debut after being sidelined by a hand injury. Gomez features plus defensive instincts just like his cousin Tony Fernandez, a fourtime Gold Glove winner with the Blue Jays, but that comparison goes only so far. Listed at 5-foot-7, he's at least seven inches shorter than Fernandez. Gomez runs well and covers more ground than most shortstops, showing enough arm strength arm to make plays in the hole. His throwing mechanics need refinement, though, as he tends to flip the ball across the infield and sometimes fails to set his feet properly. A lefthanded batter, Gomez finished second in the Rookie-level Arizona League with 48 runs and third with 32 walks last year, showing that he understands his offensive strengths rest with his tablesetting ability. He bunts well and shows enough bat speed and strength to hit for occasional gap power. The Angels would like to see Gomez remove a bit of the loop from his swing and concentrate on hitting the ball on the ground or on a line. A hard-nosed player, he's on track to tackle low Class A, where he'll probably play middle infield in tandem with Jean Segura.
No team has spent less on bonuses in the last two drafts than the Angels' $4.5 million, though Los Angeles did triple MLB's slot recommendation to sign Gomez for $450,000 as an 11th-rounder last summer. Gomez scared most clubs off with his asking price and his Miami scholarship, but Los Angeles valued his defensive ability. He's a cousin of former all-star and Gold Glove shortstop Tony Fernandez, and he shows similar actions at shortstop. He has soft hands and his good footwork puts himself in position to make plays. His fringe-average arm strength leads some scouts to predict he'll move to second base, but the Angels believe he can stay at short. Though he's small, he has plus speed and some pop, which have earned him comparisons to Rafael Furcal. Gomez can get into trouble when he tries to hit for power, and he's better off working counts and spraying balls into the gaps. He'll need to get stronger to cope with the rigors of pro ball, and he has the work ethic to make it happen. He got only 15 at-bats after signing, so Los Angeles may hold off assigning him to a full-season club to start 2009.

Minor League Top Prospects

The Angels paid Gomez $450,000 as an 11th-rounder in 2008 to keep him from attending the University of Miami. An injury limited him to just four games in his first pro season, so he returned to the AZL, where he was a favorite of managers for his flashy defense and hard-nosed play. "He's tough on himself," Boykin said. "He comes every day to play." Gomez's biggest strength is his defense. He has great instincts, above-average range and a strong arm, calling to mind his cousin, former Gold Glove shortstop Tony Fernandez. Gomez does need to work on his throwing mechanics, as he sometimes flips the ball instead of putting his full strength behind it. He played a few games in center field this summer and looked good despite never having played there before. Though he's only 5-foot-7, 150 pounds, Gomez has surprising power thanks to his strong wrists and quick bat. He hit .304/.408/.464 and showed off plus speed with five triples and 12 stolen bases.