Edwin Encarnacion Stats & Scouting Report

AB	7040
AVG	.26
OBP	.35
SLG	.496
HR	424

Full name Edwin Elpidio Encarnación
Born 01/07/1983 in La Romana, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Manuela Toro Morice
Debut 06/24/2005
Drafted in the 9th round (274th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2000.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Encarnacion enhanced his standing as the Reds' top position-player prospect with a solid 2004. Acquired in 2001 from the Rangers in a trade with Ruben Mateo for Rob Bell, Encarnacion impressed the Reds with his maturity, returning to Double-A Chattanooga after a failed stint there in 2003 and showing a more consistent work ethic and attitude. Encarnacion has excellent hitting tools, including developing patience (career-high 53 walks in 2004) and power (he tied for the Southern League doubles lead). His improved willingness to go the other way and good bat speed have scouts projecting him to hit .280-.300 with 20-25 homers annually. Defensively he has a plus arm, quick hands and middle-infield actions. While his 25 errors marked his first season with less than 30, Encarnacion still topped the SL. Many of his errors have come on poor throws related to his footwork. Offensively, his swing tends to get long when he tries too hard to hit for power. Cincinnati signed free agent Joe Randa to a one-year deal, giving Encarnacion another year to develop. He'll head to Triple-A Louisville this year with an eye on replacing Randa in 2006.
Former Reds special assistant Al Goldis was scouting Hank Blalock in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2000 when he came across Encarnacion, who was playing shortstop. Cincinnati acquired him the following year in the Ruben Mateo-Rob Bell trade with Texas. A two-level jump to Double-A last spring proved to be a tad overzealous, and he was forced to step back and make adjustments. Encarnacion has special bat speed and plus-plus power potential. He's advanced at recognizing pitches early. He still shows middle-of-the-diamond actions, along with above-average strength. During his struggles in Double-A, Encarnacion's attitude and work ethic were concerns. He needs to use the opposite field more effectively by allowing outside pitches to get deeper. He has the bat quickness to do so. Like many developing hitters, he needs to lay off breaking balls down and away. Encarnacion made encouraging strides with both his hitting approach and his demeanor after being sent to high Class A Potomac. He's better prepared for a second tour of Double-A in 2004.
The Rangers considered Encarnacion a throw-in to the Rob Bell-Ruben Mateo trade two years ago, but the Reds insisted on his inclusion in the deal. He has blossomed while Bell and Mateo have floundered. Encarnacion's athleticism enticed the Reds into moving him to shortstop late in 2002. Encarnacion combines outstanding bat speed with natural loft in his swing to drive the ball with authority. He covers the plate well and can make hard contact even on pitches out of the zone. His hands are quick at the plate and in the field, and his arm is the best in the system. While he has the tools--plus arm strength, first-step quickness and great hands--to be an asset in the field, Encarnacion committed 40 errors last year. He tends to rush his throws, and needs to square up and get his feet set. He's a slightly below-average runner. His bat will be even more dangerous when he stops trying to pull everything and displays more patience. He was originally drafted as a shortstop, so it's not out of the realm of possibility for Encarnacion to stay there. Most scouts believe he's better suited for third base, and his bat will allow him to play there.
Encarnacion initially attracted attention before the 2000 draft, when he was considered one of the top prospects in Puerto Rico. The Reds wouldn't have traded righthander Rob Bell to the Rangers unless he was included in the return package along with outfielder Ruben Mateo. The Cincinnati brass loves his Encarnacion's athleticism, which essentially makes him a shortstop playing third base. He has the organization's strongest infield arm, plus good range to either side as well as soft hands. He's still learning to hit--more patience at the plate would help--though the Reds were encouraged that he began to display a little bit of power in 2001. He must fill out physically to withstand the rigors of professional ball. Complaints also linger about Encarnacion's intensity. Though he's hardly a malingerer, some observers believe he doesn't play as hard as he should every day. Diligence often comes with maturity, which the Reds hope Encarnacion will gain with a full season in low Class A this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

The Reds signed Randa with the idea of giving Encarnacion another year to develop, but by midseason the youngster proved he was ready. Hitting always has been his strength, and with improved pitch recognition came more patience and more pop. He not only began to realize his power potential, but he also showed he could shorten his swing and take pitches to the opposite field when needed. Encarnacion continues to be erratic at third base, but he worked hard on his positioning and footwork and has the ability to become a plus defender. He has a strong arm and quick hands, and he just needs to improve his throwing accuracy.
Encarnacion washed out when the Reds tried to jump him from high Class A to the SL last year, but this time around he was ready. He was the league's all-star third baseman, and one scout said he was also its best batting prospect. He drew some comparisons to Miguel Cabrera, though his ceiling isn't as high. Encarnacion has a good approach and tremendous bat speed, and he hits the ball hard so he should add power as he matures. He has flashy defensive tools as well, including a cannon arm. One scout said Encarnacion doesn't always play hard, but his manager said he's just misunderstood. "When it's go time, he goes full speed," Jayhawk Owens said. "When it's sitting in the dugout, he's quiet, he keeps to himself. But when you get between the white lines there's a fire in him. You can see it in his eyes. A lot of people talk about him being a quiet kid, but when it's time to play he's not like that."
After initially skipping high Class A, Encarnacion started the season by hitting .220 in Double-A. He had little trouble pounding CL pitchers after a demotion, then hit .310 when he returned to the Southern League. Encarnacion has solid gap power and should hit more homers as he matures physically. He improved his plate discipline and runs well for his position. Though he has a strong arm and has played some shortstop in the past, some scouts and managers weren't sold on his defense at third base after he made 17 errors in 57 games. "There's no question that he can hit," Massarelli said. "From everything I've read about him, he seems more patient at the plate as well. I don't really question his fielding too much right now. I know we've seen him make some spectacular plays this year."
Encarnacion is 2 1/2 years younger than McPherson and had his share of supporters who touted him as the top third-base prospect in the MWL. He's so athletic that he played 17 games at shortstop for the Dragons. His plus-plus laser arm and quick hands play well at either position, though managers weren't sold that his instincts and range were enough for shortstop. That won't be a problem, because he'll hit enough for the hot corner. Encarnacion has a quick bat and drives the ball to all fields. Encarnacion will have to tone down his aggressiveness at the plate. Pitchers began to exploit that weakness, holding him to a .243 average with 45 strikeouts over his final 58 games. He also needs to cut down on his 40 errors.
When the Reds sent Rob Bell to the Rangers for Ruben Mateo in June, they also got Edwin Encarnacion as part of the deal. Encarnacion actually hit better in the Class A South Atlantic League before the trade, but displayed enough athleticism and raw ability to leave managers looking toward the future. He's a free swinger who's still learning the nuances of plate discipline, though he makes decent contact. The ball leaps off his bat when he connects, and he can be a dominating offensive performer when he gets in a groove. While his power potential is intriguing, Encarnacion's forte is his defense. He showed great natural instincts at the hot corner, including outstanding footwork and quickness, but must improve his consistency. His arm is his best tool, with two managers rating it at the top of the 2-to-8 scouting scale.