Meibrys Viloria Stats & Scouting Report

AB	247
AVG	.198
OBP	.27
SLG	.279
HR	3

Full name Meibrys John Viloria
Born 02/15/1997 in Cartagena, Colombia
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: L / Throws: R
Debut 09/02/2018

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: With the big league team needing an extra catcher after the trade of Drew Butera, Viloria was called up to the majors and played in 10 games in September.

Scouting Report: A defense-first backstop, Viloria has a plus arm with a quick release, throwing out 41 percent of would-be base stealers in 2018, consistent with his totals in previous seasons. He's bilingual and knows how to call games behind the plate. Offensively, Viloria has a good feel for hitting with good hands and solid bat speed. He has above-average raw power, but is more of a gap-to-gap, line-drive hitter because his swing is naturally geared to using all fields. Improving his walk rate from six percent in 2017 to 10 percent in 2018 is a positive sign. He is a tough kid who plays the game with passion.
In 2016, Viloria led the Pioneer League in hitting and earned MVP honors. The native Colombian didn't make the same kind of impact in the Sally League, but he registered a good season as one of the younger catchers in the league. Viloria has a good feel for hitting, more of a gap-to-gap, line-drive hitter with plenty of bat speed. He should continue to gain strength, which will allow him to drive more balls out of the park–although perhaps not many more than the eight homers he hit with Lexington. He's an aggressive hitter who will need to improve his below-average plate discipline to get on base more often. Most concerning is that Viloria's walk rate has declined each year while his strikeouts jumped from 13.9 percent in 2016 to 19.8 percent. Viloria's real value comes from his ability to catch and handle a pitching staff. He plays with passion and energy, and speaks both English and Spanish. He frames well and moves adequately behind the plate, and while not always accurate, his plus arm allowed him to throw out nearly 40 percent of basestealers. Most scouts see Viloria as a future MLB backup. He'll move on to high Class A in 2018.
Viloria didn't strike a single extra-base hit in 150 at-bats in 2015, but he came a long way in 2016, when he led the Rookie-level Pioneer League with 28 doubles and claimed the circuit's batting title at .376 He also added an MVP award for his time at Idaho Falls. Viloria offers aggressively at pitches in the zone, but showed an ability lay off pitches out of the zone in 2016 He likes to jump on mistakes with average power. Viloria's lefthanded bat should be plenty potent if he can stay behind the plate, but that's still a question. He is a high-energy presence at catcher with an average throwing arm. He led the Pioneer League by throwing out 34 percent of basestealers and likes to back-pick runners at first base. His blocking and game-calling have improved, but he still has work to do. Some scouts worry he may end up getting too big to stay at catcher, but he moves well enough if he can watch his weight. He's ready for low Class A Lexington and projects as a bat-first catcher.

Minor League Top Prospects

Viloria went straight from the Carolina League to the major leagues in September. When the Royals traded Drew Butera at the end of August, it left them with Viloria as one of only three catchers on the 40-man roster. They brought him up when the rosters expanded on Sept. 1. Viloria lacks a clear plus tool, but catchers with a lot of average tools often end up with very lengthy big league careers. As a big-bodied catcher Viloria cannot run, but his other four tools could end up as average. He shows a knack for making solid contact and, while he hasn’t shown average power yet, his strength and contact ability should allow him to run into double-digit home runs a year. Defensively, Viloria has an average arm and moves well behind the plate. He’s average defensively with solid footwork. While he’s not quite ready to stick in the majors, his ability to hit and play solid defense give him a chance to be up there for good in the near future.
Viloria's breakout rates as one of the bigger surprises of the PL season. He hit .260 last year with Rookie-level Burlington, with all 39 hits being singles. This year, Viloria earned Pioneer League MVP honors by leading the league in hitting (.376), doubles (28) and RBIs (55). "What stood out for him was his consistency on a day to day basis," Idaho Falls manager Justin Gemoll said. "He's under control and he has a plan of what he wants to do, and he goes out and executes." Viloria has a good approach at the plate and a good feel for the barrel, though detractors see holes in his swing and fair bat speed. Opinions also are mixed as to whether Viloria can stay behind the plate, but the Royals staff cites his soft hands, quick release, accurate arm and ability to block balls as evidence of his long-term future at the position. He threw out 34 percent of basestealers this year.

Career Transactions

Olmecas de Tabasco placed C Meibrys Viloria on the reserve list.
C Meibrys Viloria assigned to Olmecas de Tabasco.
C Meibrys Viloria assigned to Delmarva Shorebirds from FCL Orioles.
C Meibrys Viloria assigned to Delmarva Shorebirds from FCL Orioles.
C Meibrys Viloria assigned to FCL Orioles.
Baltimore Orioles signed free agent C Meibrys Viloria to a minor league contract.
Salt Lake Bees released C Meibrys Viloria.
Los Angeles Angels signed free agent C Meibrys Viloria to a minor league contract.
C Meibrys Viloria assigned to Salt Lake Bees.
C Meibrys Viloria elected free agency.
Cleveland Guardians designated C Meibrys Viloria for assignment.
Cleveland Guardians selected the contract of C Meibrys Viloria, and from Columbus Clippers.
Colombia activated C Meibrys Viloria.