Ronald Guzman

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Texas Rangers #6 prospect in 2018
  It's the seventh Prospect Handbook appearance for Guzman, who signed for $3.45 million as a 16-year-old in 2011. Guzman spent all of 2017 with Triple-A Round Rock, where he set a career-high walk rate and cut down on his strikeout rate from 2016. Guzman has a huge frame but a hit-over-power profile. Earlier in his career, Guzman got himself in trouble when he got away from his strengths and tried to yank the ball for power, but in 2017 he stayed with a balanced, all-fields approach. Gaining more hitting knowledge has helped and so has being able to learn how to keep his long limbs in sync to maintain a repeatable swing. Guzman has a big strike zone to cover but doesn't swing and miss much and has a sound eye for discerning balls and strikes. Guzman has average raw power, which is less than the traditional first-base profile, never topping more than 16 home runs in a minor league season. He has made significant defensive strides at first baseman, where he's a huge target and turns errant throws from his infielders into outs, but his range and mobility are limited. The Rangers used Joey Gallo at first base down the stretch in 2017, so Guzman could end up starting 2018 back in Triple-A but should make his major league debut at some point this season.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #7 prospect in 2017
  The Rangers' two big 16-year-old Dominican signings in 2011 were Nomar Mazara ($4.95 million) and Guzman, who got $3.45 million. Guzman got off to a strong start to his pro career, but stalled when he spent parts of three seasons at low Class A Hickory. He rebounded in 2016, playing in the Futures Game and reaching Triple-A Round Rock as a 21-year-old. Guzman signed with a hit-over-power profile, but the last two years got caught up trying to focus on home runs. He did a better job of calming his hitting actions to keep his body under control at Double-A Frisco in 2016. That enabled him to have a more repeatable swing and recognize pitches better because his head wasn't moving as much. The results showed with improved walk and strikeout rates. Guzman's long levers add length and some stiffness to his swing, but he doesn't strike out excessively. He doesn't have traditional first-base power but could hit 15-20 home runs per year. A limited athlete and runner without great range, he showed much-improved defensive actions to go with being an already big target. Guzman, whom the Rangers added to the 40-man roster in November, should return to Triple-A to open 2017 with a chance to make his major league debut by the end of the year.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #29 prospect in 2016
  Guzman signed for $3.45 million in 2011, the same year they signed Nomar Mazara, with many scouts preferring Guzman over Mazara at the time. Mazara vs. Guzman is no longer a debate, with Mazara ascending into one of the best prospects in baseball while Guzman is still trying to put things together. The flashes of life are there with Guzman, an extra-large framed hitter with long arms and a big strike zone to cover, but he doesn't have excessive swing-and-miss in his game. Guzman is a smart player, but he's prone to bad habits, failing to stay back and trust his hands. When he stays quiet and compact, he's able to hit line drives to all fields, but his bat speed is just fair. He doesn't have prototypical first base power, while his approach could also benefit from being more selective. Guzman gives his infielders a huge target at first base and can do splits to pick balls in the dirt, though he's a restricted athlete and runner, with his lack of quickness hampering his range. Long-levered hitters like Guzman can take more time to develop, but Guzman will have to show more offensive impact to become an everyday player.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #28 prospect in 2015
  Several teams considered Guzman the top prospect on the international market in 2011, when he signed for $3.45 million. After a strong debut as a 17-year-old in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2012 and a solid 2013, Guzman regressed in his return to low Class A Hickory in 2014. Then in November, Guzman was driving in the Dominican Republic when his car collided with a motorcyclist, who was killed. Guzman was released after posting bond but barred from leaving the country. At his best, he showed a mature hitting approach, making consistent contact with good pitch recognition and a hitover- power skill set. In 2014, that approach unraveled. Guzman has average raw power, but he got caught up over-swinging. Once he started to struggle, he constantly tinkered with his stance and hand position, which made things worse. A 20 runner, Guzman has become a solid defender at first base. He gives infielders a wide margin for error on throws because he's a gigantic target with the flexibility to do splits. The 2015 season will be key for Guzman, though his legal situation clouds his status for Opening Day.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #9 prospect in 2014
  When the Rangers signed Guzman for $3.45 million on July 2, 2011, several teams had him as either the top prospect or the top hitter available that year in Latin America. Surgery in March 2013 to repair a torn right meniscus in his knee delayed his low Class A Hickory debut for two months, and a pitch that struck him on the right hand ended his season on July 30. Guzman has a polished hitting approach for his age. Despite his long arms, he stays inside the ball well with a simple approach and minimal unnecessary movement in his setup. His head stays locked in, which helps him recognize pitches and stay within his strike zone. He has good hand-eye coordination and a direct, line-drive swing to all fields, which leads to a high contact rate. Guzman can take the ball over the fence in batting practice, but he's more content with a hit-first, power-second approach in games. More strength should lead to a power increase, though he's not a quick-twitch guy and doesn't have the bat speed some scouts would like from a first baseman. Signed as a lead-footed outfielder, Guzman immediately moved to first base, where his size gives infielders greater margin for error. He's limber and flexible, with the ability to pick balls in the dirt. He earns rave reviews for his makeup, aptitude and intelligence. If Guzman can grow into above-average game power, he has the potential to be a middle-of-the-order force given his contact and on-base skills. Due to the time he missed, Guzman probably will return to Hickory in 2014.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #17 prospect in 2013
  Guzman signed for $3.45 million on the same day that fellow Dominican outfielder Nomar Mazara got $4.95 million, and they were Arizona League teammates for their pro debuts in 2012. Many international scouts favored Guzman to Mazara because he showed a more advanced feel to hit and had a track record in the United States, having participated in a Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities tournament and the Under Armour All-America Game in 2010. Guzman has leverage in his swing and can juice the ball in batting practice. He focuses on driving the ball from line to line in games, and it shows--he batted .321 and led the AZL with 68 hits. As his body matures, he could produce gaudier home run totals because his ball ought to carry. Signed as an outfielder, Guzman has below-average speed and played first base almost exclusively last summer. His arm strength and instincts are lacking, so he'll require a lot of work to become even average defensively. He figures to advance with Mazara to low Class A in 2013, and their bats will determine how far they climb.
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  Ranked Texas Rangers #13 prospect in 2012
  Guzman was part of the Rangers' costly 2011 international class, and most scouts considered him the amateur market's top hitter. He signed for $3.45 million last July and the industry consensus is that he's a better hitter and player than fellow Dominican Nomar Mazara, who got $4.95 million. While he doesn't have the same raw power as Mazara, Guzman makes more contact and has a better approach. Guzman led his Dominican team to a championship at the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities tournament in 2010, then played in the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field that summer. He projects to have above-average raw power, though his pop doesn't yet show in game action. He has a fluid, easy swing with good balance, though he has a deep load with his hands. Despite average bat speed, he has a good bat path and keeps the head in the zone for a long time. Guzman is below-average runner, though the Rangers hope he'll get faster as he adds strength to his lanky frame. International reports suggested he had good instincts in left field, but during instructional league he worked out primarily at first base and looked raw there. His arm strength is below average. Guzman graduated from high school before signing and earns rave reviews for his makeup and aptitude. He'll likely make his pro debut in the Arizona League next summer, though Texas could be aggressive and send him to Spokane.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #12 prospect in 2012
  The other half of the Rangers' Dominican spending spree in 2011, Guzman was an outfielder as an amateur but switched to first base at the start of instructional league last September. Regardless of where he plays, his bat will carry him. Guzman has fringy bat speed, though his long arms give his swing significant leverage. He's more of a line-drive hitter now by design, with the Rangers having him work gap to gap until he gets stronger. The AZL hit leader with 68, he shows good raw power in batting practice and should hit more balls out of the park as he physically matures. Guzman still is learning to play first base and steadily has improved, especially with his footwork around the bag and pre-pitch setup. While he had below-average speed, he has good instincts and looks for opportunities.

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: This is the seventh Prospect Handbook appearance for Guzman, who signed for $3.45 million as a 16-year-old in 2011. He spent all of 2017 at Triple-A Round Rock, where he set a career-high walk rate and cut down his strikeout rate from 2016. Scouting Report: Guzman has a huge frame but a hit-over-power profile. Earlier in his career, he got himself in trouble when he got away from his strengths and tried to yank the ball for power, but in 2017 he stayed with a balanced, all-fields approach. Gaining more hitting knowledge has helped, as has learning how to keep his long limbs in sync. Guzman has a big strike zone to cover but doesn't swing and miss much and has a sound eye for discerning balls and strikes. Guzman has average raw power and has never hit more than 16 home runs in a minor league season. He has made significant defensive strides at first base, where he turns errant throws from his infielders into outs, but his range and mobility are limited. The Future: Guzman could end up starting 2018 back in Triple-A but should make his major league debut at some point during the season.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The Rangers' two big 16-year-old Dominican signings in 2011 were Nomar Mazara ($4.95 million) and Guzman, who got $3.45 million. Guzman got off to a strong start to his pro career, but he stalled when he spent parts of three seasons at low Class A Hickory. He rebounded in 2016, playing in the Futures Game and reaching Triple-A Round Rock as a 21-year-old. Scouting Report: Guzman signed with a hit-over-power profile, but the last two years he got caught up trying to focus on home runs. He did a better job of calming his hitting actions to keep his body under control at Double-A Frisco in 2016. That enabled him to have a more repeatable swing and recognize pitches better because his head wasn't moving as much. The results showed with a higher walk rate and a lower strikeout rate than he had in 2015. Guzman's long levers add length and some stiffness to his swing, but he doesn't strike out excessively. He doesn't have traditional first-base power but could hit 15-20 home runs per year. A limited athlete and runner without great range, he showed much-improved defensive actions to go with being an already big target.
  
  The Future: Guzman, whom the Rangers added to the 40-man roster in November, should return to Triple-A to open 2017 with a chance to make his major league debut by September.