Miguel Olivo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #2 prospect in 2003
  Olivo's cannon arm always has drawn attention, and the White Sox believe they've helped him develop into a solid hitter as well. He has climbed through the minors slowly, spending the last two seasons in Double-A after two in high Class A. He led Birmingham to the Southern League championship, winning playoff MVP honors with four homers, then went deep off Andy Pettitte in his first big league at-bat. Olivo's arm is as strong as any in the big leagues, including that of Pudge Rodriguez. He's a solid hitter who has improved his approach, becoming somewhat more selective. He has excellent speed for a catcher. He not only had 29 steals while playing for ultra-aggressive Birmingham manager Wally Backman, but also led the team with 10 triples. While he has shown power at times in his career, Olivo's extra-base numbers dropped in his second Double-A season. He'll have to continue to improve his receiving skills and ability to handle major league pitchers. With Mark Johnson gone to Oakland, Olivo has a good chance of opening the season in Chicago with a solid spring training performance. Veteran Josh Paul doesn't have nearly the upside he does.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #8 prospect in 2002
  The White Sox' pitching surplus allowed them to trade Chad Bradford to Oakland for a potential long-term catcher. Olivo responded to the deal by turning in excellent seasons in Double-A and the Arizona Fall League, where managers voted him to the all-prospect team. After never playing more than 77 games in a season, he held together for 111 between the two stops. Arm strength always has been Olivo's calling card, but he has developed into a promising hitter, putting up on-base plus slugging percentages better than .800 in both Birmingham and the AFL. His total of 14 Double-A homers was impressive in a pitcher's park. Scouts still rave about Olivo's strong arm, with one saying it was the best he saw all season. He is prone to strikeouts. By all accounts, he still needs work on his receiving skills. His ability to call games and work with pitchers is the last hurdle between him and the big leagues. Olivo will open 2002 in Triple-A but could figure in Chicago's catching mix at some point this season. He's a strong candidate for regular duty in 2003 and is putting pressure on veteran Mark Johnson and second-year man Josh Paul.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #18 prospect in 2001
  Olivo's calling card is an arm that may rank with Pudge Rodriguez' as the strongest among the game's catchers, but the Athletics soured on him after a disappointing 2000 season. They traded him to the White Sox in December for righthanded reliever Chad Bradford. Olivo is a solid receiver who moves well behind the plate, but his arm strength caused him enormous problems last season because he threw wildly. His offensive game showed little development last year when he split time between high Class A and Double-A. He didn't show the ability to make adjustments at the plate, a skill that's so important for a big league hitter. He also battled minor injuries much of the season, which retarded his progress. Olivo has had trouble working with pitchers partly because of his difficulty in learning the English language. He bolsters the catching depth in a system that was lacking in that area. If all goes according to plan, Olivo will be ready for Chicago when Sandy Alomar Jr.'s two-year contract expires after the 2002 season.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #6 prospect in 2002
  Olivo got back on track in 2002. After the Athletics discarded him in a December 2000 trade, the biggest news he made in 2001 came when he got caught with a corked bat. (He said he didn't know it was illegal.) This year, he was the best position-player prospect in the SL. Managers raved about his catch-and-throw ability, which already is at a major league level. He also hit .306 and showed some power potential. He even has plenty of speed for a catcher, leading the league in triples and stealing 29 bases.
• 
  Ranked California League #12 prospect in 2000
  Olivo ranked No. 7 on this list a year ago, and returned to the Cal League only because Oakland had A.J. Hinch and Danny Ardoin in Triple-A and Cody McKay in Double-A. Once again, Olivo’s arm drew universal praise. The only catcher with a better cannon may be perennial Gold Glove winner Ivan Rodriguez. "Olivo's arm and his quickness of release are right up there with the best in the business right now," one National League scout said. His entire defensive package is solid, as Olivo has soft hands and moves well behind the plate. He’s less advanced as a hitter, despite a career .293 average in the United States. He should show more power once he forces pitchers to throw him more strikes.
• 
  Ranked California League #7 prospect in 1999
  Olivo showed the league's strongest arm. One of his throws to second base was clocked at 90 mph. "Not bad for a throw without a windup," Geren said. Olivo also showed acumen at a catcher's more subtle contributions: blocking balls, holding runners, framing pitches. His pitchers' only complaint is with his lack of command of English. "Unless you know catching, you could overlook him, but I think he's the No. 1 prospect in the league," said Geren, a former major league catcher. "He's raw, but there's great talent there. His arm is Pudge Rodriguez-like." Olivo, who played last year in the Arizona League, hit above .300 for the second straight season and showed better power. "The question is his hitting," Geren said. "Yeah, he can hit the balls over the scoreboard, but I've also seen him miss balls by two feet. Of the catchers in this league you could ask yourself, who would you draft first now? It'd be him."

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Olivo ranked No. 7 on this list a year ago, and returned to the Cal League only because Oakland had A.J. Hinch and Danny Ardoin in Triple-A and Cody McKay in Double-A. Once again, Olivo’s arm drew universal praise. The only catcher with a better cannon may be perennial Gold Glove winner Ivan Rodriguez. "Olivo's arm and his quickness of release are right up there with the best in the business right now," one National League scout said. His entire defensive package is solid, as Olivo has soft hands and moves well behind the plate. He’s less advanced as a hitter, despite a career .293 average in the United States. He should show more power once he forces pitchers to throw him more strikes.