Samir Duenez
| AB | 3165 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .257 |
| OBP | .315 |
| SLG | .383 |
| HR | 68 |
- Full name Samir Yarin Dueñez
- Born 06/11/1996 in Macuto, Venezuela
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: L / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Duenez has been one of the younger players in every league in which he's played since starting his pro career at 17 in the Arizona League. He spent the entire 2017 season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas despite not turning 21 until mid-season. A career-high 17 home runs signaled the emergence of long-awaited power. Duenez projects to be an impact power bat from the left side as he continues to refine his approach, projecting to have above-average power to go with an above-average hit tool in time. He hits the ball with authority and a sharp line-drive plane, but he needs to manage the zone better. While his speed is a tick below average, Duenez is an opportunistic, instinctive baserunner who has recorded double-digit steals in each of his three full seasons. After spending some time in the outfield in the past, he's now a full-time first baseman where he's an average defender. Duenez may be ready for Triple-A ball in 2018, where he'll again be one of the youngest players there, although he may return to Double-A if there's a logjam in the Omaha lineup. -
Duenez moved more quickly than any other position player in the Royals system in 2016. He started the season at low Class A Lexington but jumped to high Class A Wilmington in June and joined Double-A Northwest Arkansas before the season ended, making him one of the youngest players in Double-A. Along the way, Duenez became the first Royals minor leaguer to compile 100 RBIs in a season since Wil Myers in 2012, when he won the BA Minor League Player of the Year award. Duenez is a pure hitter. His sweet lefty swing keeps the bat in the hitting zone for a long time, he uses the entire field and he catches up to good velocity. He projects as a plus hitter, but his power potential is in question because he prioritizes contact above all and is a hit-over-power corner bat. Defensively, he fits best at first base, where he's average, but he has tried left field in the past. Duenez stole 24 bases in 2016 because of savvy, but he's a tick below-average runner. Added to the 40-man roster in November, he heads back to Double-A in 2017 as a 20-year-old. -
When Duenez toured the workout circuit, most scouts wondered where he'd play. He doesn't run well, so that narrowed his positional possibilities to first base or possibly the corner outfield. In a Latin America amateur market where most of the prized position prospects play shortstop or center field, that was a red flag. The Royals focused instead on his ability to hit after they saw him square up baseballs time after time, signing him for $425,000 in 2012. He quickly made the jump to the Rookie-level Arizona League for his pro debut in 2013, showing the same all-field approach with good bat speed and excellent barrel control. Duenez will have to hit because he's a tick-below-average runner who will slow as he matures, and his power is all projection. He primarily played first base in 2013, leading the AZL with eight errors, though the Royals also want to try him in left field. He does have a potentially above-average arm. Duenez is one of the best pure hitters in the organization and polished enough that he has a shot at making the jump to low Class A Lexington in 2014.
Minor League Top Prospects
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One of the Royals' top international signings in 2012, Duenez turned pro for $425,000. After a successful debut season in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2013, he began this season as a 17-year-old at low Class A Lexington. He predictably struggled, so Kansas City demoted him to Idaho Falls to finish the summer.Duenez has good bat speed and an all-fields approach at the plate. He shows the makings of being a good contact hitter whose power should emerge with more strength and experience, but he needs to learn about having a plan at the plate. A third baseman while growing up in Venezuela, Duenez has primarily played first base since turning pro and needs to continue to work on improving his defense. He played a few games in the outfield in 2013 and may get another chance at the position during instructional league. With an arm that's a tick above-average and enough speed to get by, he may be able to handle an outfield corner. He's a slightly below-average runner but an instinctive runner on the bases. -
Duenez was one of Kansas City?s top international signings in 2012, earning a $425,000 bonus. Making his pro debut just after turning 17, the lefthanded hitter impressed league observers with his excellent hand-eye coordination and ability to use the whole field. He has good bat speed and a feel for hitting. While he?s a gap-to-gap hitter now, Duenez should develop more pull power as he grows bigger and adds strength to his average frame. ?Down the road he will learn to hit home runs,? the Royals? Kennedy said. Duenez played third base in Venezuelan winter ball last year but spent most of his first pro season at first base. With an above-average arm Duenez may be able to handle a corner-outfield role, and he held his own this year in six games in left field. He has average speed, but its sneaky speed and he gets down the line well.
