Christian Arroyo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #4 prospect in 2018
  Arroyo's 2017 season was as near-perfect analogy for the Giants' 2017 season, in that it's best forgotten. He made his major league debut in April, but his season went downhill quickly. He was hit by a pitch in mid-June and missed two weeks with a bruised left hand, returned and was plunked again, this time breaking a bone in the same hand and ending his season. He went to the Dominican Winter League, saw his injury flare up, and had surgery on the hand in November. Arroyo's value as a regular depends on him being at least a plus hitter. Most scouts project a modest 10-12 home runs a year, but he's never reached double-digits in the minors. Arroyo got over-aggressive at the plate in his first big league stint, but normally he shows good timing and barrel control. He's a fringe-average defender at shortstop because of limited range, but is plus at second or third base with an average, accurate arm. He's a fringe-average runner and not a base-stealing threat. The Giants have had success nurturing well-rounded infielders. The hand injuries have injected uncertainty into Arroyo's immediate future, but he could compete for the Giants third base job if healthy.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #2 prospect in 2017
  Scouts have long loved Arroyo's hitting ability and his confident, aggressive style of play dating back to his amateur days, including a star turn for of USA Baseball's 18U team in 2012. The 25th pick in the 2013 draft, he owns a career .294 average in pro ball but faces questions about his impact potential after hitting just three home runs at Double-A Richmond in 2016. The Giants had Arroyo split time between shortstop and third base for the first time in 2016. He projects as a plus defender at third with above-average instincts, an ability to throw accurately from multiple arm angles, soft hands and an excellent internal clock. His throws generally seem to have just enough to nab the baserunner. At shortstop, Arroyo is reliably fringe-average but has limited range, especially to his left, thanks to his fringe-average speed and short-range quickness. He runs the bases better than his speed would indicate because he has excellent anticipation and awareness. At the plate, Arroyo has a very short swing and excellent hand-eye coordination. It's easy to find scouts who project him as a plus hitter capable of hitting .280 or higher, but they see 10-home run potential to go with 35 doubles. Arroyo's aggressive approach and ability to make a lot of contact limits his walk rate. Giants incumbent third baseman Eduardo Nunez is a free agent after the 2017 season, which syncs up nearly perfectly with Arroyo's timetable. He projects along the lines of former Giant Matt Duffy as a bat-first third baseman with a good glove.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #1 prospect in 2016
  Going back to his days at Hernando High in Brooksville, Fla., Arroyo has been a player whose ability to play the game impresses more than any one tool. He was the shortstop on USA Baseball's 18U gold medal-winning team at the IBAF World Championships in 2012. He was named the tournament MVP after hitting .387 with 10 RBIs while playing every inning at shortstop. But even then, he was seen as a player whose understanding of hitting, sure hands and feel for the game made up for modest tools. Some scouts wanted to move him to catcher as a pro, but the Giants kept him at shortstop after signing him for $1,866,500 as the 25th overall pick in the 2013 draft. Arroyo played second base in travel ball in deference to future Cardinals draftee Oscar Mercado, and he played primarily second base in 2014 at low Class A Augusta. But he played only shortstop at high Class A San Jose in 2015, a year that included a successful stint as one of the younger players in the Arizona Fall League. He hit .308/.360/.487 with three home runs in Arizona, made the Fall Stars game and made an acrobatic sliding catch to finish the championship game. In each of the past two seasons, Arroyo has been one of the youngest players in his league. In 2014, he seemed to be over his head in an early-season stint at Augusta, but he had no problems in 2015 handling an aggressive promotion to the California League. A wrist injury slowed him down in 2014, and he missed time in April 2015 with an oblique issue, but when healthy, Arroyo has shown he can hit. Arroyo's swing is simple, pure and geared to line the ball to all fields. He has very little extraneous movement in his setup, using a simple toe tap for timing and to get his weight transferred back in his stance. He stays balanced through his swing. Arroyo sees the ball better versus righthanders and has hit them better than lefties. At this point, almost all of Arroyo's power is to his pull side, but as he matures, he has the potential to drive the ball to right-center field as well. Arroyo projects as a plus hitter with 12-15 home-run power and could exceed those power projections, particularly if he becomes a bit more selective. You can find scouts who think he's a future .300 hitter. Defensively, Arroyo is sure-handed and makes the routine play, but he lacks the range to be more than a fringe-average defender at shortstop. His above-average arm will handle a move to third base, while his range limitations would be less noticeable at second base. A few shortstops in the big leagues have less range than Arroyo, but the Giants have Gold Glover Brandon Crawford signed through 2021 so if Arroyo is going to play in San Francisco it won't be at shortstop. Still, Arroyo could fill-in at shortstop in the big leagues and be a reliable defender there. His .962 fielding average ranked among Cal League leaders at shortstop. Most scouts expect he will end up as an offensive second baseman who also has the range and reliability to be an above-average defender there. Seen over a longer stretch, Arroyo shows an advanced understanding of the game, and his consistent at-bats and defense all point to a player who should have a lengthy big league career, whether it's at second or third base. He is more than ready to jump to Double-A Richmond in 2016 and could be ready for San Francisco by 2017.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #10 prospect in 2015
  The Giants have never had a problem bucking convention when it comes to their draft picks. In 2011, they took Joe Panik earlier than expected, and watched it pay off in the 2014 World Series. Now they hope for a similar payoff with Arroyo, a 2013 first-rounder whose future defensive home was questioned by scouts in his amateur days. He earned MVP honors for Team USA's 18U club that won the gold medal at the 2013 World Championships and was the Rookie-level Arizona League MVP in his pro debut. Sent to low Class A Augusta in 2014, Arroyo struggled and didn't turn things around until sent to short-season Salem-Keizer after missing time with a strained thumb. He primarily played second base with Augusta before returning to shortstop at Salem-Keizer. His limited foot speed makes him better suited for second base. He has sure hands and handles what he gets to, with an above-average arm that would also play at third base. Scouts are divided over Arroyo's future position, but few see him having a chance to stick at shortstop. At the plate, he has a balanced, simple swing with some whip that should allow him to hit for average with at least gap power, and he shows adjustments from at-bat to at-bat. He's a tick-below-average runner who will have to keep working on his agility as he matures. The Giants have shortstop Brandon Crawford and second baseman Joe Panik for the foreseeable future, so look for Arroyo to be ready to handle Augusta in 2015.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #6 prospect in 2014
  Arroyo hit .341 to win MVP honors for USA Baseball's 18-and-under team that won the World Championships in South Korea in 2012, and the Giants went off most experts' draft boards to take him in the first round in 2013. A smart competitor who was salutatorian of his high school class and lists AP Calculus as his favorite subject, Arroyo put up some advanced numbers in the Rookie-level Arizona League, leading the circuit in doubles (18), RBIs (39) and slugging (.511) to add another MVP award to his collection. Some scouts had Arroyo pegged as a catcher because he's an average athlete and below-average runner. But the Giants fell in love with his pure hitting ability, and for now he'll continue to develop as a shortstop. He faces a likely move to second base in the future because of his average range and speed, though he probably has enough arm strength to play third. Arroyo profiles to be a gap hitter with occasional power, but many scouts said the same thing about Buster Posey. Arroyo generates plenty of bat speed and doesn't get beaten by quality fastballs. The Giants will have an interesting decision to make this spring. They could be justified in skipping Arroyo one level to high Class A San Jose. More likely, he'll start out at low Class A Augusta, along with second-round pick Ryder Jones.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #102 prospect in 2013 draft
  If former Yankees third baseman Scott Brosius ran a draft room, he'd likely pick Arroyo very high. Brosius coached USA Baseball's 18-and-under team last summer, when Arroyo led it to a gold medal as the shortstop, top hitter and tournament MVP. He carried that confidence into the spring, to the point that it turned off some scouts, who see a below-average runner and modest athlete who profiles best as a catcher. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Arroyo has surprising pop and grades out as a solid-average hitter if not a tick better. He wants to play shortstop and has excellent hands, a quick release and instincts that allow him to make all the routine plays and some spectacular ones. Still, few scouts see him as a shortstop in the big leagues. Those who don't think he can catch see him as a tweener, not quick enough for second and not powerful enough for third base. Arroyo is a Florida recruit.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked California League #11 prospect in 2015
  A strained oblique cost Arroyo most of the first half, but he came on strong after returning to the San Jose lineup near the end of May. He finished seventh in the Cal League batting race at .304. Arroyo has a nice, mechanically-sound swing and a good head on his shoulders. He takes breaking pitches on the outer half to right field and can turn on inside fastballs. When he does get pull-happy, Arroyo can diagnose his swing quickly and correct it before a slump takes root. "I think he's probably one of the most advanced high school kids I've seen in this league," Bakersfield manager Eddie Menchaca said. "Really, really polished. Really consistent. He's got a great approach at the plate." Arroyo's bat has some juice, and there's a chance he'll grow into more power than he shows now, which comes mostly in the form of doubles. A reliable defender, Arroyo sported a .962 fielding average that tied for the best among Cal League shortstops who played at least 70 games. He's not an especially fast runner or rangy defender, but his ability to anticipate plays and solid arm strength help him compensate.
• 
  Ranked Northwest League #2 prospect in 2014
  The Giants started Arroyo, the MVP of the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2013, in the low Class A South Atlantic League in the first half, but a .203 start there and a sprained left thumb led to a reassignment to Salem-Keizer when he got healthy. Arroyo then fractured the index finger on his right hand doing a bunting drill during his first week. "Once he was healthy, he was on fire," Salem-Keizer manager Gary Davenport said. Arroyo ranked second in the league in batting at .333. A student of the history of the game and immersed in baseball, Arroyo has power to the gaps, makes consistent contact and shows solid lateral movement in the field. While he's fairly sure-handed, league observers see him more as an offensive second baseman or possibly a future third baseman rather than as a future shortstop.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #2 prospect in 2013
  Arroyo was a surprise first-round pick, going to the Giants at No. 25 after being projected to be a third- or fourth-round talent. It didn?t take long for him to win over AZL managers who voted him league MVP after the Giants rolled through the regular season and won the league title. Arroyo played with quiet confidence and was a key to the Giants success as he led all hitters in RBIs, runs, doubles and OPS (.904). Primarily a gap-to-gap hitter with an up-the-middle approach, Arroyo makes good, hard contact and draws his share of walks. AZL observers saw at least average speed with good instincts and the ability to read pitchers when on base. Scouts question whether he has the range and instincts to stay at shortstop, with the consensus opinion that he has a major league future as a solid regular second baseman. ?He?s a ballplayer. He doesn?t do anything great,? Royals manager Darryl Kennedy said. ?He just comes to the park every day and does his job.?

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #62 prospect in 2016

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Scouts have long loved Arroyo's hitting ability and his confident, aggressive style of play dating back to his amateur days. The 25th pick in the 2013 draft, he owns a career .294 average in pro ball but faces questions about his impact potential. Scouting Report: The Giants had Arroyo split time between shortstop and third base for the first time in 2016. He projects as a plus defender at third with above-average instincts, an ability to throw accurately from multiple arm angles, soft hands and an excellent internal clock. His throws generally seem to have just enough to nab the baserunner. At shortstop, Arroyo is reliably fringe-average but has limited range, especially to his left, thanks to his fringe-average speed and short-range quickness. He runs the bases better than his speed would indicate because he has excellent anticipation and awareness. At the plate, Arroyo has a very short swing and excellent hand-eye coordination. It's easy to find scouts who project him as a plus hitter capable of hitting .280 or higher, but they see 10-home run potential to go with 35 doubles.
  
  The Future: Giants incumbent third baseman Eduardo Nunez is a free agent after the 2017 season, which syncs up nearly perfectly with Arroyo's timetable. He projects along the lines of former Giant Matt Duffy as a bat-first third baseman with a good glove.
• December, 2015 Scouting Report
  Going back to his days at Hernando High in Brooksville, Fla., Arroyo has been a player whose ability to play the game impresses more than any one tool. He was the shortstop on USA Baseball's 18U gold medal-winning team at the IBAF World Championships in 2012. He was named the tournament MVP after hitting .387 with 10 RBIs while playing every inning at shortstop. But even then, he was seen as a player whose understanding of hitting, sure hands and feel for the game made up for modest tools. Some scouts wanted to move him to catcher as a pro, but the Giants kept him at shortstop after signing him for $1,866,500 as the 25th overall pick in the 2013 draft. Arroyo played second base in travel ball in deference to future Cardinals draftee Oscar Mercado, and he played primarily second base in 2014 at low Class A Augusta. But he played only shortstop at high Class A San Jose in 2015, a year that included a successful stint as one of the younger players in the Arizona Fall League. He hit .308/.360/.487 with three home runs in Arizona, made the Fall Stars game and made an acrobatic sliding catch to finish the championship game. In each of the past two seasons, Arroyo has been one of the youngest players in his league. In 2014, he seemed to be over his head in an early-season stint at Augusta, but he had no problems in 2015 handling an aggressive promotion to the California League. A wrist injury slowed him down in 2014, and he missed time in April 2015 with an oblique issue, but when healthy, Arroyo has shown he can hit. Arroyo's swing is simple, pure and geared to line the ball to all fields. He has very little extraneous movement in his setup, using a simple toe tap for timing and to get his weight transferred back in his stance. He stays balanced through his swing. Arroyo sees the ball better versus righthanders and has hit them better than lefties. At this point, almost all of Arroyo's power is to his pull side, but as he matures, he has the potential to drive the ball to right-center field as well. Arroyo projects as a plus hitter with 12-15 home-run power and could exceed those power projections, particularly if he becomes a bit more selective. You can find scouts who think he's a future .300 hitter. Defensively, Arroyo is sure-handed and makes the routine play, but he lacks the range to be more than a fringe-average defender at shortstop. His above-average arm will handle a move to third base, while his range limitations would be less noticeable at second base. A few shortstops in the big leagues have less range than Arroyo, but the Giants have Gold Glover Brandon Crawford signed through 2021 so if Arroyo is going to play in San Francisco it won't be at shortstop. Still, Arroyo could fill-in at shortstop in the big leagues and be a reliable defender there. His .962 fielding average ranked among Cal League leaders at shortstop. Most scouts expect he will end up as an offensive second baseman who also has the range and reliability to be an above-average defender there. Seen over a longer stretch, Arroyo shows an advanced understanding of the game, and his consistent at-bats and defense all point to a player who should have a lengthy big league career, whether it's at second or third base. He is more than ready to jump to Double-A Richmond in 2016 and could be ready for San Francisco by 2017.