Ricky Oropesa
| AB | 2080 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .248 |
| OBP | .318 |
| SLG | .39 |
| HR | 63 |
- Full name Efrin Ricardo Oropesa
- Born 12/15/1989 in Los Angeles, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Southern California
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Drafted in the 3rd round (116th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2011 (signed for $550,000).
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A heralded two-way recruit, Oropesa scrapped pitching his freshman year and quickly became one of the Pac-10's premier power hitters, slugging 33 home runs over his first two seasons and leading the Cape Cod League with seven long balls in 2010. He also led the Cape with 52 strikeouts, after fanning 51 times in 235 at-bats for the Trojans. He has decreased his strikeout rate and increased his walk rate this spring, but his power numbers have also dropped with the less-potent metal bats--he has just six homers through 186 at-bats. Still, Oropesa is a strong, physical specimen at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, and he has well above-average raw power from the left side. He'll need to become a better hitter because he still struggles against lefthanded pitching and is prone to chasing breaking balls. His swing gets long at times, but he has enough bat speed to punish even premium fastballs. Some scouts think he has a chance to become an average hitter in time. Oropesa has a plus-plus arm but needs a lot of work on his glove positioning and fundamentals at third base. He profiles better as an average defensive first baseman, where his arm is largely wasted. He's a well below-average runner.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Oropesa was one of the best collegiate power hitters in the 2011 draft. He led the Cape Cod League with seven homers in 2010, and as a sophomore, he became the first player to top Southern California in all three triple crown categories (.353-20-67) since Jeff Clement in 2005. He showed a knack for driving in runs in high Class A, but his first pro season was a bit underwhelming considering the hitter-friendly California League and his 150 strikeouts. Oropesa doesn't have a lot of rhythm in his swing and he didn't make an adjustment when Cal League pitchers--especially lefthanders--fed him offspeed pitches off the plate. His barrel accuracy must improve as well as his approach when behind in the count to profile as something more than a platoon player. Oropesa is a station-to-station runner and probably doesn't have the hands or range to play anywhere besides first base. He has plenty of arm, though, and could pile up plenty of outfield assists if the Giants stuck him in left field to give him another avenue to the big leagues. He'll move up the ladder to Double-A in 2013. -
One look at Oropesa's thick forearms and it's obvious what he brings to the table. The slugging first baseman led the Cape Cod League with seven homers in 2010 and is tied for fifth place with Morgan Ensberg on Southern California's all-time homer list with 40. Already well regarded by Giants scouts, Oropesa reinforced Carlos Pena comparisons with a two-homer, five-RBI game in front of them at California. San Francisco drafted him in the third round last June and signed him in August for an above-slot $550,000. Oropesa's lefthanded swing is fluid and powerful but not especially compact. Though he doesn't chase as many pitches as his lofty strikeout totals as an amateur might indicate, he has trouble with breaking balls and figures to be challenged against lefthanders. Recruited as a two-way player by the Trojans, Oropesa has a strong arm but lacks the hands or range to play third base, giving him a narrow avenue to the big leagues. He's no better than a station-to-station runner as well. Once projected as a top-50 pick, Oropesa turned his draft disappointment into motivational fuel in instructional league and into the weight room over the winter. Growing up in the Inland Empire region of southern California, the first T-ball team he played on was the Giants. He'll be issued a slightly bigger orange and black San Jose uniform to start his pro career.
