Franklin Gutierrez Stats & Scouting Report

AB	3032
AVG	.257
OBP	.311
SLG	.408
HR	97

Full name Franklin Rafael Gutierrez
Born 02/21/1983 in Caracas, Venezuela
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Debut 08/31/2005

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

After hitting 24 homers in a breakout 2003 season, Gutierrez has totaled just 17 longballs in the Indians system since coming over from the Dodgers in the Milton Bradley trade in April 2004. Nagging injuries have been the problem. He had minor elbow surgery in 2004, and he sprained a knee in April and dislocated his left middle finger in June last year. Gutierrez generates tremendous bat speed and crushes inside pitches, and he also shows the ability to take balls the other way through improved pitch recognition. He moved back in the box and raised his hands slightly to improve his load at the plate and did well once he adjusted to the changes. Indians officials consider him the best defensive outfielder in the system, with above-average speed and range to play center and a plus arm. Gutierrez still has a tendency to expand his strike zone, and his lack of discipline has some scouts thinking that his ceiling is nothing more than becoming Juan Encarnacion. If he hadn't lost so much development time during the last two years, Gutierrez might be knocking on the door to Cleveland. He could make the Indians as a fourth outfielder in spring training. But he has yet to prove himself in Triple-A and needs regular at-bats, so he likely will start the year in Buffalo.
While Milton Bradley's antics finally forced the Indians to trade him, they made the best of the situation by prying Gutierrez and Andrew Brown away from the Dodgers. Shortly after a promotion to Triple-A in 2004, he needed surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow and missed two months. The most complete player in the system, Gutierrez has electrifying bat speed. He destroys pitches on the inner half of the plate. His strength and natural lift give him the potential to hit 30-plus homers in the majors, though his elbow injury muted his power in 2004. His speed and arm strength make him a standout defender in either center or right field. Hitting coordinator Derek Shelton worked overtime with Gutierrez in instructional league to address his pitch recognition and patience. He still has a tendency to expand the zone, chasing too many breaking balls in the dirt. Still somewhat raw, he needs a full season in Triple-A. He'll try to break into Cleveland's promising outfield corps in 2006.
Gutierrez didn't emerge as a full-fledged prospect until 2003, when he homered six times in as many games to start the season at high Class A Vero Beach. He ranked among the Florida State League leaders in home runs and slugging before a promotion to Double-A. Gutierrez' raw power became above-average game power last year. He has a balanced approach with outstanding bat speed and natural lift to his swing. He's wiry strong and athletic, with the speed to run down balls in center field. He has plus arm strength and enough bat to handle a move to right if needed. His swing gets long, creating holes, especially up and in. Improving his pitch recognition would help Gutierrez make better contact. Like many young hitters, he's vulnerable to good breaking stuff and needs to learn to take pitches the other way. Gutierrez has developed into a dynamic five-tool prospect and there's still room for projection. A future heart-of-the-order masher, he was the talk of the Venezuelan League, which should further accelerate his timetable. He'll open 2004 in Double-A.
Signed by Venezuelan scout Camilo Pascual as a 17-year-old, Gutierrez is a true projection prospect. He has average tools across the board with a chance to add a few pluses as he matures. Still lean and underdeveloped, he has a good frame to fill out. He shows tremendous raw power in batting practice, though he didn't mash in games last year. The Dodgers were pleased with the way he handled himself in his first taste of full-season ball, however. Gutierrez displays strong hitting mechanics and a lightning-quick bat. The wrist action in his swing creates good backspin carry off the bat. There are some holes in his swing he needs to address, though the Dodgers think his aggressiveness is one of his strongest assets. He's not a burner, but he's an athletic runner with a good stride from first to third. His arm strength is average and he's a solid defensive outfielder. He's expected to spend the season in high Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

Gutierrez ranked No. 10 on this list a year ago. Though most scouts and managers felt his EL encore lacked punch, he remains an intriguing prospect. He showed better selectivity and balance at the plate this season and concentrated on hitting balls back up the middle, peppering both gaps with line drives. He has the juice to hit 20-25 homers annually and the tools to play center field. Gutierrez runs well and has good instincts to go with a plus arm.
Like Durbin, Gutierrez' development was impeded by a midseason injury. He missed most of the second half after he was hit by a pitch that dislodged a bone chip in his elbow. Gutierrez has a plus arm and covers a lot of ground in the outfield with his above-average speed and quick reflexes. He is raw at the plate and needs to curtail his strikeout totals, but he has good raw power and a lightning-quick stroke. He feasts on pitches in the middle- to inner-half of the plate, but too often chases breaking balls away. "He has enough bat speed and power to be an impact player," an AL area scout said.
The managers' midseason pick as the league's most exciting player, Gutierrez opened the season by homering six times in his first six games and finished it just as impressively, hitting .313-4-12 in 67 Double-A at-bats. At 20, the smooth Venezuelan further developed his impressive tools this season and now projects as above-average with all five tools. Gutierrez has quick hands and a short, powerful stroke. After his hot start Gutierrez got pull-happy, and he needs to improve his strike-zone judgment. He has slightly above-average speed that plays well in all three outfield positions. He has the arm strength to play right and improved his reads on fly balls. "He has five legit tools and can impact a game offensively, defensively and on the bases," Palm Beach manager Doug Sisson said. "He made good second-half adjustments, started to use the opposite field and has shown the ability to adjust to pitchers as they adjusted to him."