Leo Jimenez Stats & Scouting Report

AB	179
AVG	.229
OBP	.329
SLG	.358
HR	4

Full name Leonardo Joel Jimenez
Born 05/17/2001 in Chitre, Panama
Profile Ht.: 5'10" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Jimenez was considered one of the top players to come out of Panama in the last decade when he signed for $825,000 in 2017. He endured two injury-shortened seasons in 2021 and 2022, missing time with shoulder and hand injuries. Jimenez began 2023 with Double-A New Hampshire, making 76 starts for the Fisher Cats primarily at shortstop and hitting .287/.372/.436 with a 15.9% strikeout rate. He earned a promotion to Triple-A Buffalo in late August.

Scouting Report: Jimenez does not wow with loud tools or flashy play, but he’s an instinctual, disciplined ballplayer. He employs a simple swing with a direct path and average bat speed. He shows an ability to adjust his hands and make a high rate of contact. Jimenez rarely swings and misses in the strike zone and shows advanced swing decisions. He’s patient but not passive, regularly attacking strikes. Jimenez shows sneaky power, but it’s mostly in the form of line drives. He began to show the ability to pull the ball in the air without forcing it, hinting at untapped power. His underlying exit velocity data is above-average for his age, with a 88.5 mph average and a 90th percentile EV of 104.2. He’s a fringe-average runner capable of clocking an average run time on a hustle play down the line. He’s not a basestealing threat but has a quick first step and good infield instincts. He shows an average arm at shortstop, but his quick release and good internal clock allow him to make a majority of plays. Jimenez may end up at second base due to the limitations of his arm.

The Future: Jimenez is a solid all-around player who will likely break-in as a utilityman but should develop into a second-division regular over time.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 45 | Field: 55 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: While Panama isn't a hot bed for prospects, it historically has produced several strong players and numerous major leaguers. When Jimenez signed for $825,000 he was considered one of the best Panamanian prospects in recent memory. He debuted in the Gulf Coast League in 2018 at just 17 years old. He broke camp with Low-A Dunedin in 2021 but played just 54 games after dislocating his left shoulder in early July. He missed nearly two months before returning to Dunedin for their final three series. Jimenez was assigned to High-A Vancouver out of camp in 2022 and played 69 games for the Canadians before he broke his hand in mid-August and missed the remainder of the season.

Scouting Report: Jimenez has a contact-driven profile with an advanced approach and is capable of filling in at multiple spots around the diamond. His bat-to-ball skills are above-average and he pairs that with a discerning eye that has led to high walk totals as a professional. He's not an empty power bat either. He utilizes a lofty swing that's geared to ambush fastballs over the plate. While Jimennez is fairly physical already, he's still growing into his frame and shows the ability to backspin the ball, with the potential to develop fringe-average power at peak with natural strength gains. He's just an average runner, likely to slow down as he ages, and baserunning is not a major part of his game. Defensively he shows strong infield actions, has a quick first step and a good internal clock that allows him to handle shortstop with an average arm.

The Future: Jimenez has upside if he can add power and stay healthy in the coming years, but for now looks like a utility player with solid contact and approach skills.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 40. Run: 45. Field: 55. Arm: 50.
Track Record: Jimenez was Panama’s best prospect in the 2017 international class when he signed with the Blue Jays for $825,000. He moved slowly through the system and played his first full season in 2021 at Low-A Dunedin, where he posted a .517 on-base percentage but was limited to 54 games by a dislocated shoulder. The Blue Jays sent Jimenez to the Arizona Fall League to get extra reps after the season, and he posted a .412 on-base percentage.

Scouting Report: Jimenez has an unusual offensive skill set. He rarely chases pitches and had more walks (54) than strikeouts (36) in 2021, but he also rarely impacts the ball when he swings. Jimenez has added muscle since he signed and puts on impressive batting practice displays, but he’s hit only one home run in 154 career games and his game power is minimal. Jimenez’s approach is aimed at simply putting the ball in play rather than trying to drive it, even when he’s ahead in the count. Some evaluators think Jimenez could access more power with an approach adjustment, but an average hitter with well below-average power may just be who he is. Jimenez is an instinctive, fluid defender in the middle infield. He doesn’t have the explosive athleticism some teams prefer at shortstop, but he’s steady and reliable with soft hands, loose actions, good body control and a knack for slowing the game down. He’s a slightly below-average runner and has average arm strength.

The Future: Jimenez’s on-base skills and defensive ability give him a path to the majors as a utilityman. He’ll need to add more power to become an everyday regular.
TRACK RECORD: Jimenez was Panama's top prospect in the 2017 international class and signed with the Blue Jays for $825,000. He performed well in his first two years of Rookie ball and showed up to instructional league in 2020 with added strength that made a notable impact.

SCOUTING REPORT: Jimenez is an instinctive player who isn't as flashy or explosive as other shortstops, but he's a fundamentally sound player with a good internal clock. He's a fluid defender at shortstop with soft hands, good body control and an average arm, with a throwing program a focal point for Jimenez to try to improve his arm strength. His first-step quickness and range lead some to believe he'll move off the position, but others believe his reads and instincts will keep him at short. After not hitting a home run in his first two seasons, Jimenez went deep in an early instructional league game and was driving the ball with more authority. Like many young hitters who start to grow into a little bit of power, Jimenez got caught up trying to sell out for power and began swinging and missing more than usual. That should settle in as he finds the right balance. The strength of Jimenez's offensive game has been his ability to manage his at-bats and put the ball in play from a simple swing

THE FUTURE: Jimenez's newfound strength should help his jump to a full-season league in 2021. He might end up a utilityman, but there's enough upside for him to develop into an everyday middle infielder.
TRACK RECORD: Jimenez played for Panama in multiple international tournaments growing up, and his instincts for the game were part of what drew the Blue Jays to sign him for $825,000 in 2017. While Jimenez doesn't have much physical strength yet, his swing and high baseball IQ have helped him perform well so far through Rookie ball.

SCOUTING REPORT: Jimenez is a savvy, fundamentally sound player who doesn't have the same quicktwitch explosion as some other young shortstops, but he does a better job than many of his peers of being able to slow the game down and play under control. He manages his at-bats well, usually staying within the strike zone with good bat path, plate coverage and solid bat-to-ball skills for his age. Jimenez got a little stronger in 2019 and his average exit velocity jumped a few miles per hour, but he has yet to hit a home run in pro ball and probably will never have more than below-average power, so his offensive game will rely more on his on-base skills. Jimenez doesn't have the quick-twitch athleticism some clubs prefer at shortstop, so some scouts see him as a second baseman, but he has a chance to stay at shortstop. He's a fringe-average runner with soft hands, an average arm and good body control at shortstop, where he reads the ball well off the bat.

THE FUTURE: Jimenez has the upside to be a top 10 prospect in the system a year from now, but how much stronger he gets will have a major impact on his future.
Track Record: Growing up in Panama, Jimenez represented his country in several international tournaments. The Blue Jays spent $825,000 to sign Jimenez in 2017, making him the highest paid Panamanian prospect of the 2017-18 international signing period. The Blue Jays skipped Jimenez over the Dominican Summer League, and he had a steady pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.

Scouting Report: More than his raw tools, Jimenez sticks out for his baseball acumen that's well beyond his years. Jimenez is a fringe-average runner and doesn't have the quick-twitch explosiveness that a lot of scouts prefer in a shortstop, but he's a savvy, fundamentally sound player with a good internal clock. Some scouts think Jimenez's range would fit better at second base, but he reads the ball well off the bat and has good body control with soft hands and an average arm. Jimenez manages his at-bats well. He doesn't chase much outside the strike zone and uses the whole field, spraying line drives with occasional gap shots, though he might never have more than below-average power.

The Future: Rookie-level Bluefield or short-season Vancouver is the next stop for Jimenez in 2019.

Minor League Top Prospects

Two of the better shortstops in the Appy League played with Bluefield this season, and while Jimenez doesn’t have the offensive upside as Miguel Hiraldo, he’s the better defender at the position and he still managed a 115 wRC+ as an 18-year-old in the league. A 5-foot-11, 160-pound infielder, Jimenez has very little impact ability or power, but he has an advanced offensive approach and posted a .298/.377/.377 slash line with a 17.1 percent strikeout rate and 8.7 percent walk rate in 2019. Without much in the way of standout tools or physical projection, Jimenez will need to continue playing premium defense at shortstop and getting on base at a solid clip to provide value. He’s an instinctual player on both sides of the ball who gets by more with instincts, good reads and a solid first step than above-average range or arm strength, and his game will be challenged as he moves up the minor league ladder.
The top bonus for a Panamanian player in 2017 went to Jimenez, who signed with the Blue Jays for $825,000. Jimenez represented Panama in several international tournaments since he was 12, with his high-level baseball IQ sticking out for his age. Jimenez is a smart, instinctive player in all phases of the game, helping make up for the lack of typical quick-twitch athleticism scouts like to see from a shortstop. A fringe-average runner, Jimenez's defensive range is a question mark but he reads the ball well off the bat, has soft hands, good body control and a knack for slowing the game down. At the plate he consistently puts together quality at-bats, staying within the strike zone and spraying line drives around the field. He has occasional doubles power and doesn't project to be much of an extra-base hit threat.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: While Panama isn't a hot bed for prospects, it historically has produced several strong players and numerous major leaguers. When Jimenez signed for $825,000 he was considered one of the best Panamanian prospects in recent memory. He debuted in the Gulf Coast League in 2018 at just 17 years old. He broke camp with Low-A Dunedin in 2021 but played just 54 games after dislocating his left shoulder in early July. He missed nearly two months before returning to Dunedin for their final three series. Jimenez was assigned to High-A Vancouver out of camp in 2022 and played 69 games for the Canadians before he broke his hand in mid-August and missed the remainder of the season.

Scouting Report: Jimenez has a contact-driven profile with an advanced approach and is capable of filling in at multiple spots around the diamond. His bat-to-ball skills are above-average and he pairs that with a discerning eye that has led to high walk totals as a professional. He's not an empty power bat either. He utilizes a lofty swing that's geared to ambush fastballs over the plate. While Jimennez is fairly physical already, he's still growing into his frame and shows the ability to backspin the ball, with the potential to develop fringe-average power at peak with natural strength gains. He's just an average runner, likely to slow down as he ages, and baserunning is not a major part of his game. Defensively he shows strong infield actions, has a quick first step and a good internal clock that allows him to handle shortstop with an average arm.

The Future: Jimenez has upside if he can add power and stay healthy in the coming years, but for now looks like a utility player with solid contact and approach skills.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 40. Run: 45. Field: 55. Arm: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: While Panama isn't a hot bed for prospects, it historically has produced several strong players and numerous major leaguers. When Jimenez signed for $825,000 he was considered one of the best Panamanian prospects in recent memory. He debuted in the Gulf Coast League in 2018 at just 17 years old. He broke camp with Low-A Dunedin in 2021 but played just 54 games after dislocating his left shoulder in early July. He missed nearly two months before returning to Dunedin for their final three series. Jimenez was assigned to High-A Vancouver out of camp in 2022 and played 69 games for the Canadians before he broke his hand in mid-August and missed the remainder of the season.

Scouting Report: Jimenez has a contact-driven profile with an advanced approach and is capable of filling in at multiple spots around the diamond. His bat-to-ball skills are above-average and he pairs that with a discerning eye that has led to high walk totals as a professional. He's not an empty power bat either. He utilizes a lofty swing that's geared to ambush fastballs over the plate. While Jimennez is fairly physical already, he's still growing into his frame and shows the ability to backspin the ball, with the potential to develop fringe-average power at peak with natural strength gains. He's just an average runner, likely to slow down as he ages, and baserunning is not a major part of his game. Defensively he shows strong infield actions, has a quick first step and a good internal clock that allows him to handle shortstop with an average arm.

The Future: Jimenez has upside if he can add power and stay healthy in the coming years, but for now looks like a utility player with solid contact and approach skills.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 40. Run: 45. Field: 55. Arm: 50.
BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Jimenez was the best prospect in Panama in 2017 when he signed with the Blue Jays for $825,000. Playing for Low-A Dunedin in 2021, Jimenez posted a .517 on-base percentage, though with little power and just 54 games there because of a dislocated shoulder. After the season he went to the Arizona Fall League to get extra reps.

Scouting Report: Jimenez has an extremely unusual shape to his offensive skill set. He drew more walks (54) than strikeouts (36) in 2021, rarely chasing pitches to produce a 21% walk rate. While lack of strength was a liability for Jimenez until after the 2019 season, he showed up to instructional league in 2020 with significantly more muscle. That has led to more impressive batting practice displays when he lets it loose, but his game power output is still minimal, with only one home run in 154 games in pro ball. Some evaluators think it could just take an approach adjustment for Jimenez to more aggressively try to drive the ball for power when he&#39&#39s ahead in the count rather than being content just putting the ball in play, but the lack of game power might just be who he is. Jimenez is an instinctive, fluid defender who doesn&#39&#39t have the explosive athleticism some teams prefer at shortstop, but he&#39&#39s a steady, reliable defender with soft hands, loose actions, good body control and a knack for slowing the game down, with slightly below-average speed and an average arm.

The Future: If Jimenez can figure out a way to unlock more power, there&#39&#39s a path to him developing into a solid middle infielder in the big leagues, possibly as a utilityman. He&#39&#39s likely to open 2022 in High-A Vancouver.

Scouting Grades:
Hit: 50. Power: 30. Speed: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
Track Record: Jimenez was Panama’s best prospect in the 2017 international class when he signed with the Blue Jays for $825,000. He moved slowly through the system and played his first full season in 2021 at Low-A Dunedin, where he posted a .517 on-base percentage but was limited to 54 games by a dislocated shoulder. The Blue Jays sent Jimenez to the Arizona Fall League to get extra reps after the season, and he posted a .412 on-base percentage.

Scouting Report: Jimenez has an unusual offensive skill set. He rarely chases pitches and had more walks (54) than strikeouts (36) in 2021, but he also rarely impacts the ball when he swings. Jimenez has added muscle since he signed and puts on impressive batting practice displays, but he’s hit only one home run in 154 career games and his game power is minimal. Jimenez’s approach is aimed at simply putting the ball in play rather than trying to drive it, even when he’s ahead in the count. Some evaluators think Jimenez could access more power with an approach adjustment, but an average hitter with well below-average power may just be who he is. Jimenez is an instinctive, fluid defender in the middle infield. He doesn’t have the explosive athleticism some teams prefer at shortstop, but he’s steady and reliable with soft hands, loose actions, good body control and a knack for slowing the game down. He’s a slightly below-average runner and has average arm strength.

The Future: Jimenez’s on-base skills and defensive ability give him a path to the majors as a utilityman. He’ll need to add more power to become an everyday regular.
TRACK RECORD: Jimenez was Panama's top prospect in the 2017 international class and signed with the Blue Jays for $825,000. He performed well in his first two years of Rookie ball and showed up to instructional league in 2020 with added strength that made a notable impact.

SCOUTING REPORT: Jimenez is an instinctive player who isn't as flashy or explosive as other shortstops, but he's a fundamentally sound player with a good internal clock. He's a fluid defender at shortstop with soft hands, good body control and an average arm, with a throwing program a focal point for Jimenez to try to improve his arm strength. His first-step quickness and range lead some to believe he'll move off the position, but others believe his reads and instincts will keep him at short. After not hitting a home run in his first two seasons, Jimenez went deep in an early instructional league game and was driving the ball with more authority. Like many young hitters who start to grow into a little bit of power, Jimenez got caught up trying to sell out for power and began swinging and missing more than usual. That should settle in as he finds the right balance. The strength of Jimenez's offensive game has been his ability to manage his at-bats and put the ball in play from a simple swing

THE FUTURE: Jimenez's newfound strength should help his jump to a full-season league in 2021. He might end up a utilityman, but there's enough upside for him to develop into an everyday middle infielder.
TRACK RECORD: Jimenez was Panama's top prospect in the 2017 international class and signed with the Blue Jays for $825,000. He performed well in his first two years of Rookie ball and showed up to instructional league in 2020 with added strength that made a notable impact.

SCOUTING REPORT: Jimenez is an instinctive player who isn't as flashy or explosive as other shortstops, but he's a fundamentally sound player with a good internal clock. He's a fluid defender at shortstop with soft hands, good body control and an average arm, with a throwing program a focal point for Jimenez to try to improve his arm strength. His first-step quickness and range lead some to believe he'll move off the position, but others believe his reads and instincts will keep him at short. After not hitting a home run in his first two seasons, Jimenez went deep in an early instructional league game and was driving the ball with more authority. Like many young hitters who start to grow into a little bit of power, Jimenez got caught up trying to sell out for power and began swinging and missing more than usual. That should settle in as he finds the right balance. The strength of Jimenez's offensive game has been his ability to manage his at-bats and put the ball in play from a simple swing

THE FUTURE: Jimenez's newfound strength should help his jump to a full-season league in 2021. He might end up a utilityman, but there's enough upside for him to develop into an everyday middle infielder.
TRACK RECORD: Jimenez was Panama's top prospect in the 2017 international class and signed with the Blue Jays for $825,000. He performed well in his first two years of Rookie ball and showed up to instructional league in 2020 with added strength that made a notable impact.

SCOUTING REPORT: Jimenez is an instinctive player who isn't as flashy or explosive as other shortstops, but he's a fundamentally sound player with a good internal clock. He's a fluid defender at shortstop with soft hands, good body control and an average arm, with a throwing program a focal point for Jimenez to try to improve his arm strength. His first-step quickness and range lead some to believe he'll move off the position, but others believe his reads and instincts will keep him at short. After not hitting a home run in his first two seasons, Jimenez went deep in an early instructional league game and was driving the ball with more authority. Like many young hitters who start to grow into a little bit of power, Jimenez got caught up trying to sell out for power and began swinging and missing more than usual. That should settle in as he finds the right balance. The strength of Jimenez's offensive game has been his ability to manage his at-bats and put the ball in play from a simple swing

THE FUTURE: Jimenez's newfound strength should help his jump to a full-season league in 2021. He might end up a utilityman, but there's enough upside for him to develop into an everyday middle infielder.
TRACK RECORD: Jimenez played for Panama in multiple international tournaments growing up, and his instincts for the game were part of what drew the Blue Jays to sign him for $825,000 in 2017. While Jimenez doesn’t have much physical strength yet, his swing and high baseball IQ have helped him perform well so far through Rookie ball.

SCOUTING REPORT: Jimenez is a savvy, fundamentally sound player who doesn’t have the same quicktwitch explosion as some other young shortstops, but he does a better job than many of his peers of being able to slow the game down and play under control. He manages his at-bats well, usually staying within the strike zone with good bat path, plate coverage and solid bat-to-ball skills for his age. Jimenez got a little stronger in 2019 and his average exit velocity jumped a few miles per hour, but he has yet to hit a home run in pro ball and probably will never have more than below-average power, so his offensive game will rely more on his on-base skills. Jimenez doesn’t have the quick-twitch athleticism some clubs prefer at shortstop, so some scouts see him as a second baseman, but he has a chance to stay at shortstop. He’s a fringe-average runner with soft hands, an average arm and good body control at shortstop, where he reads the ball well off the bat.

THE FUTURE: Jimenez has the upside to be a top 10 prospect in the system a year from now, but how much stronger he gets will have a major impact on his future.
TRACK RECORD: Jimenez played for Panama in multiple international tournaments growing up, and his instincts for the game were part of what drew the Blue Jays to sign him for $825,000 in 2017. While Jimenez doesn't have much physical strength yet, his swing and high baseball IQ have helped him perform well so far through Rookie ball.

SCOUTING REPORT: Jimenez is a savvy, fundamentally sound player who doesn't have the same quicktwitch explosion as some other young shortstops, but he does a better job than many of his peers of being able to slow the game down and play under control. He manages his at-bats well, usually staying within the strike zone with good bat path, plate coverage and solid bat-to-ball skills for his age. Jimenez got a little stronger in 2019 and his average exit velocity jumped a few miles per hour, but he has yet to hit a home run in pro ball and probably will never have more than below-average power, so his offensive game will rely more on his on-base skills. Jimenez doesn't have the quick-twitch athleticism some clubs prefer at shortstop, so some scouts see him as a second baseman, but he has a chance to stay at shortstop. He's a fringe-average runner with soft hands, an average arm and good body control at shortstop, where he reads the ball well off the bat.

THE FUTURE: Jimenez has the upside to be a top 10 prospect in the system a year from now, but how much stronger he gets will have a major impact on his future.
Two of the better shortstops in the Appy League played with Bluefield this season, and while Jimenez doesn’t have the offensive upside as Miguel Hiraldo, he’s the better defender at the position and he still managed a 115 wRC+ as an 18-year-old in the league. A 5-foot-11, 160-pound infielder, Jimenez has very little impact ability or power, but he has an advanced offensive approach and posted a .298/.377/.377 slash line with a 17.1 percent strikeout rate and 8.7 percent walk rate in 2019. Without much in the way of standout tools or physical projection, Jimenez will need to continue playing premium defense at shortstop and getting on base at a solid clip to provide value. He’s an instinctual player on both sides of the ball who gets by more with instincts, good reads and a solid first step than above-average range or arm strength, and his game will be challenged as he moves up the minor league ladder.