Didi Gregorius

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #5 prospect in 2013
  Even when he hit .155 with zero extra base hits as an overmatched 18-year-old in his 2008 pro debut, the Reds felt that they might have something special in Gregorius. He held his own in an emergency stint at high Class A the next year and has made steady progress every since, debuting in the big leagues last September. Gregorius is the Reds' best defensive shortstop. He has smooth actions, plus range and a sniper rifle of an arm. His arm rates as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale, allowing him to make plays from deep in the hole that other shortstops can't. He showed improved consistency in 2012, making just 18 errors in 128 games after committing 21 in 80 contests the year before. Scouts are divided on Gregorius' bat. Some think he could end up as a No. 2 hitter, while others think he'll fit at the bottom of a lineup. He's too aggressive and needs to use the whole field more, but he does have gap power. He's an average runner. He doesn't have to worry about Billy Hamilton now that the speedster is moving to center field, but Gregorius still is blocked by Zack Cozart in Cincinnati. Gregorius could use more Triple-A time to work on his offense, and he ultimately may end up as a trade chip.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #8 prospect in 2012
  Signed for $50,000 out of Curacao in 2007, Gregorius looks like quite a bargain. He reached Double-A in 2011, then started at shortstop for the Dutch national team that won the World Cup in Panama. His father Didi and brother Johnny played professionally in Holland and Curacao. Gregorius is a quality athlete whose best attribute is his arm, which rates a 65 on the 20-80 scouting scale thanks to its strength and accuracy. He's a plus defender with good range and a quick first step. His hands are his biggest drawback defensively and contributed to his 21 errors in 80 games in 2011. Being a lefthandedhitting shortstop is another positive in Gregorius' favor, though he has struggled against lefties throughout his career. His combination of solid bat control, good pitch recognition and plus speed lead some scouts to project him as an above-average hitter. He has well below-average power, however, rarely walks and has yet to show a knack for stealing bases. Because of his solid makeup, the Reds have been comfortable with aggressively promoting Gregorius. He could begin 2011 in Triple-A at age 22, though it's more likely he'll start off at Cincinnati's new Double-A Pensacola affiliate. He has a higher ceiling but more risk than Zack Cozart, whom he'll eventually battle for a big league job.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #19 prospect in 2011
  Gregorius' father played in the top professional league in the Netherlands, and he is eligible to play for both the Netherlands Antilles and Dutch teams in international play because he was born in Amsterdam. He played for the Dutch team in the 2009 World Cup. A mature 20-year-old, Gregorius' best work comes in the field. He has a 65 arm on the 20-to-80 scouting scale that allows him to make any throw, often without needing to set his feet. His above-average speed and quick feet give him good range as well, though his hands are still somewhat erratic. Many of his errors come from a lack of focus and a tendency to rush plays, and that should improve as he matures. His excellent body control and fluidity prompt scouts to project him as an above-average defensive shortstop. At the plate, he has more work to do. He is relatively helpless against lefties, but he knows how to bunt, has a relatively direct stroke and has added strength to his wiry frame. He doesn't yet read pitchers well and isn't particularly aggressive on the basepaths. Gregorius will get another taste of high Class A in 2011.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #15 prospect in 2010
  Gregorius comes from a baseball family. The Curacao native was born in Amsterdam because his father Didi was pitching for the Amsterdam Pirates. At the 2009 World Cup, Mariekson played for the Dutch team while his father and brother Johnny played for the Netherland Antilles. Gregorius' baseball background explains why he was able to make the big leap from extended spring training to fill in as an injury replacement in high Class A last year. Considering the teenager's limited experience, he wasn't expected to do anything more than provide some solid defense. But Gregorius held his own, recovering from a 5-for-30 (.167) start to hit .317 over his final 13 games. He carried that success over to the Pioneer League, where his average never dipped below .309. Gregorius shows solid athleticism and good actions in the field as well as a feel for the little game. He's a solid bunter who uses his plus speed to his advantage, though he has to learn how to read pitchers to steal bases. He has very little power at this point, though he has room to add some strength on his frame. Gregorius has one of the best arms in the system, a cannon that ranks as a 65-70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. In a system stocked with shortstops, his ceiling is matched only by Billy Hamilton, and Gregorius is better defensively. After surviving in Sarasota, he shouldn't be overwhelmed by low Class A in 2010.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Southern League #15 prospect in 2012
  Gregorius has the misfortune of being sandwiched between two more well-known young shortstops in the Reds organization. Zack Cozart hit 15 homers and played solid defense as a rookie in Cincinnati this season, while Hamilton obliterated the minor league record for steals. Moved up to Triple-A when Hamilton came to Pensacola in mid-July, Gregorius made his big league debut in September. A good bet to remain at shortstop, he looks more natural there than Hamilton. Gregorius has above-average range, arm strength and athleticism. While he's a slicker defender than Cozart or Hamilton, Gregorius doesn't have the former's power or the latter's speed. He identifies pitches well and can sting some balls to the gaps, but he's most likely to hit in the bottom half of a batting order. He has fringy speed.
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  Ranked Arizona Fall League #14 prospect in 2012
  After rating as the Best Defensive Shortstop in the Southern League this summer, Gregorius easily would have taken home the award this fall, showcasing his plus arm strength, plus range and smooth actions. Similar to the line he posted this season between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Louisville, Gregorius batted .284/.333/.392, showing a short lefthanded stroke with good line-drive ability. Stuck behind Zack Cozart on the organizational depth chart, Gregorius is one player who evaluators believed improved his trade value most.
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  Ranked International League #7 prospect in 2012
  Gregorius arrived from Double-A in July and moved to the top of the IL's group of strong defensive shortstops thanks to his offensive upside. He may not have the glove of Pawtucket's Jose Iglesias or Rochester's Pedro Florimon, but he's athletic and a plus defender. His range, hands, arm and consistency are all assets, and he made just four errors in 42 games at short. Though he hit just .243 in his introduction to Triple-A, Gregorius also has the tools to contribute at the plate. He's a line-drive, gap-to-gap hitter with occasional over-the-fence power. While he made strides with his plate discipline this year, he's overly aggressive and just a fringy runner, so he projects to hit in the lower third of an order.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #18 prospect in 2009
  Billings, the league's worst team, featured two of the better up-the-middle prospects, both products of the Reds' expanded international effort. A buzz followed Rodriguez into the league by virtue of his massive signing bonus. Gregorius, a shortstop from the Netherlands whose father Didi pitched in both the Dutch amateur and professional ranks, was much more anonymous. The Reds called on Gregorius to fill in with high Class A Sarasota before the Pioneer League season began, and the 19-year-old held his own. He's wiry strong and in need of physical maturation, but he displayed knowledge of the strike zone and a spray-hitting approach. He runs well, showing consistent 4.06-second times from the left side of the plate to first base, but power won't be part of his toolset. Gregorius has plenty of athleticism, soft hands and enough arm strength to remain shortstop. He has excellent body control, but he struggles at times with the footwork to make plays in the hole. A natural leader, he grew more confident as the season progressed.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #80 prospect in 2013

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The Diamondbacks had sought a shortstop since trading Stephen Drew to the Athletics in August, and they found one by making a three-team deal in December. In return for Trevor Bauer, Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw, Arizona received Gregorius from the Reds plus Tony Sipp and first-base prospect Lars Anderson from the Indians. Afterward, Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers said that Gregorius reminded him of a young Derek Jeter. Scouting Report: Most scouts see Gregorius as the opposite of Jeter, a gifted defender with questions about his bat. Gregorius has smooth actions, plus range and a sniper rifle of an arm, allowing him to make plays from deep in the hole. He showed improved consistency in 2012, making just 18 errors in 128 games. Scouts are divided on Gregorius' bat. Some think he could end up as a No. 2 hitter, while others think he'll fit at the bottom of a lineup. He's too aggressive and needs to use the whole field more, but he does have gap power. He's an average runner. The Future: Blocked by Zack Cozart in Cincinnati, Gregorius now has a clear path to starting. Whether the Diamondbacks will regret giving up on Bauer so quickly remains to be seen.
• August, 2012 Scouting Report
  After rating as the Best Defensive Shortstop in the Southern League this summer, Gregorius easily would have taken home the award this fall, showcasing his plus arm strength, plus range and smooth actions. Similar to the line he posted this season between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Louisville, Gregorius batted .284/.333/.392, showing a short lefthanded stroke with good line-drive ability. Stuck behind Zack Cozart on the organizational depth chart, Gregorius is one player who evaluators believed improved his trade value most.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Signed for $50,000 out of Curacao in 2007, Gregorius looks like quite a bargain. He reached Double-A in 2011, then started at shortstop for the Dutch national team that won the World Cup in Panama. His father Didi and brother Johnny played professionally in Holland and Curacao. Scouting Report: Gregorius is a quality athlete whose best attribute is his arm, which rates a 65 on the 20-80 scouting scale thanks to its strength and accuracy. He's a plus defender with good range and a quick first step. His hands are his biggest drawback defensively and contributed to his 21 errors in 80 games in 2011. Being a lefthanded-hitting shortstop is another positive in Gregorius' favor, though he has struggled against lefties throughout his career. His combination of solid bat control, good pitch recognition and plus speed lead some scouts to project him as an above-average hitter. He has below-average power and has yet to show a knack for stealing bases. The Future: Because of his solid makeup, the Reds have been comfortable with aggressively promoting Gregorius. He could begin 2011 in Triple-A at age 22, though it's more likely he'll start off at Cincinnati's new Double-A Pensacola affiliate. He has a higher ceiling but more risk than Zack Cozart, whom he'll eventually battle for a big league job.