Luis Alejandro Basabe

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #16 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Basabe and his identical twin, Luis Alejandro, were each signed by the Red Sox in 2012. Luis Alexander came to Chicago as part of the Chris Sale trade in 2016 but has struggled to stay healthy since joining his new organization. He had knee surgery after the 2017 season to clean up a nagging injury, then performed respectably in a return to high Class A Winston-Salem the next season. Injuries to his hamstring, quadriceps and hamate bone limited Basabe in 2019, when he played just 74 games.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Basabe still has an impressive set of tools but needs to stay out of the trainer's room to reach his full potential. Scouts who saw Basabe when he was healthy in 2019 saw a player with contact skills, bat control and athleticism but not enough of any one tool to be particularly high-impact. At his best, he showed a potential five-tool skill set but needed to refine his hittability. That was particularly true against breaking pitches and changeups. There is some power in there, which he showed on the big stage in the 2018 Futures Game when he crushed a 102 mph fastball for a long home run.
  
  THE FUTURE: The tools are there for Basabe. Now he just needs to lock in the elusive sixth tool—health. He could begin 2020 back in Birmingham and has the ceiling of a quality backup outfielder.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #11 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Red Sox signed Basabe and his identical twin brother in 2012, but shipped both players out in separate deals in 2016. Luis Alexander was included as part of the four-player deal Boston used to acquire ace lefthander Chris Sale, but his tools were muted in his first season with his new team because of a nagging knee injury that required surgery in the offseason.
  
  Scouting Report: Basabe has a chance to be a true five-tool player. His hit tool is the least polished at this point, but projects as average with further refinement. The White Sox worked with him this year on his hand position at the plate and made his swing more direct to the ball. Evaluators noted that he saw spin well, but was vulnerable to changeups. He shows the ability to get the barrel to hard fastballs, and uses plus bat speed to generate above-average raw power. Those skills were evident in the Futures Game, where he turned around a 102-mph pitch for a home run against Reds fireballer Hunter Greene. Basabe has all the tools to stick in center field, including plus footspeed that helps him get excellent jumps on balls and a plus throwing arm.
  
  The Future: After a stint in the Arizona Fall League, Basabe is likely to return to Double-A Birmingham to continue working on his hit tool and adding polish to his overall game.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #18 prospect in 2018
  For a time, both Basabe and his identical twin brother Luis Alejandro Basabe were part of the Red Sox system. Luis Alejandro Basabe was dealt to the Diamondbacks for reliever Brad Ziegler in 2016, and Luis Alexander Basabe was shipped to the White Sox as part of the deal that brought ace Chris Sale to Boston. At his best, Basabe's believers see a player with a chance to impact the game offensively and defensively. Problem was, Basabe was nowhere near his best for most of 2017. He hit .221/.320/.320 as he battled knee injuries all year. Eventually he had season-ending surgery to repair a torn left mensicus in August. When he was healthy, Basabe worked with the White Sox to become more consistent at the plate. In particular, they were adjusting his bat path to allow him to make more contact. Basabe has above-average to plus range in the outfield, and a strong throwing arm that could allow him to play in a corner if needed. Basabe is expected to be ready in time for spring training and should return to high Class A Winston-Salem in 2018.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #20 prospect in 2017
  When one team signs twins who have the same first and last names, confusion is sure to abound. The Red Sox cleared things up for everyone by trading Luis Alejandro Basabe (known to his teammates as "A.J.") to the Diamondbacks along with Jose Almonte for righthander Brad Ziegler. (Boston later traded also Luis Alexander Basabe to the White Sox in the Chris Sale deal.) A.J. Basabe wasn't even supposed to make the low Class A Greenville roster after spending 2015 in the Gulf Coast League, but he played his way there in spring training, then proved to be a good enough hitter to move to the top of the lineup. Less physically gifted than his brother, Basabe has strong hand-eye coordination and table-setter skills. Basabe is stretched at shortstop because of his iffy footwork, but he's at least an average defender at second base. He lacks his brother's plus speed, but Basabe runs the bases well, has a chance to be an above-average hitter and has enough pop in his bat to survive. He struggled in Kane County after the trade, but as he's shown before, he generally figures out a way to catch up to the level. It's not out of the question that he'll improve enough at shortstop to be a potential utility infielder.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #8 prospect in 2017
  In many ways, Basabe--whom the Red Sox signed along with his twin brother Luis Alejandro--embodies unpredictable world of projecting international amateur talent. While the twins were physically quite similar when they signed, Luis Alexander grew two inches and filled out in a way that distinguished him from his sibling. Boston traded his brother to the Diamondbacks for Brad Ziegler in July, then traded Luis Alexander Basabe to the White Sox at the 2016 Winter Meetings with second baseman Yoan Moncada and righthander Michael Kopech in their blockbuster trade for Chris Sale. Basabe shows solid or better tools across the board, with considerable bat life when batting lefthanded. He strikes out too frequently from both sides of the plate at this stage--including a rate of 32 percent as a righthanded hitter--but when he makes contact, the impact stands out for his age and position. He adjusted his stance in the middle of 2016, becoming more upright to improve his balance and pitch recognition. In center field, he features long strides that produce plus range and also displays excellent arm strength. Basabe's defensive value gives him a high floor of backup outfielder. If his offensive approach continues to make strides, his cluster of tools could make him an above-average regular. He heads to high Class A Winston-Salem in 2017.
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #9 prospect in 2016
  When Basabe and his twin brother Luis Alejandro, a shortstop, signed with the Red Sox, the distinctions between the two were modest. But Luis Alexander, an outfielder, has had a growth spurt, adding two inches, more strength and hand speed while retaining his athleticism to create an interesting collection of tools. As one of the youngest players in the short-season New York-Penn League in 2015, Basabe's tools and athleticism established him as one of the circuit's top talents. He became the first player in Lowell history to switch-hit homers in a game, something he did twice on his way to seven homers, the most by a NYPL 18-year-old since 2004. He also showed speed and impact potential in center field. The switch-hitter is more advanced from the right side, and his high strikeout rate (26 percent) raises questions about his bat, though one evaluator noted that he often struck out looking, in part because his strong strike-zone judgment left him vulnerable to bad calls. Basabe has dealt with injury issues in his young career, and he's miles from the big leagues. But if he stays healthy, he has the potential to combine top-of-the-order skills with a solid center-field glove and above-average power. A promotion to low Class A Greenville awaits in 2016.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #18 prospect in 2016
  Basabe played his way onto the Greenville roster this spring to join his twin brother Luis Alexander Baseabe. But A.J.--as his teammates called him--was expected to be a bottom-of-the-order hitter who would keep his head above water. Instead, he hit his way into the leadoff spot and proved to be a better defender than expected. Basabe is a well-rounded player whose instincts and understanding of the game help his tools play up. He has developed into an average defender at second base who proved he can slide over to shortstop as he improves his footwork that gives him a better base to set and throw. The switch-hitting Basabe shows solid understanding of the strike zone and a line-drive approach from both batter's boxes. He shows average raw power but projects as more of a hitter than a slugger. He is an above-average runner. The Red Sox ended up splitting up the twins when A.J. was traded to the Diamondbacks for Brad Ziegler on July 9.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #9 prospect in 2016
  For the first two months of the season, Basabe found himself struggling to stay alive against pitchers who had him figured out. Eventually, Greenville hitting coach Lee May Jr. had Basabe stand in the batter's box for Drive pitchers' bullpen sessions to practice tracking changeups and spin. The plan worked. Basabe's pitch selection improved dramatically from May to July, which allowed one of the league's most talented players to start making an impact. He is an above-average runner with a quick first step in the outfield that makes him a plus defensive center fielder, though his routes sometimes meander a bit. A switch-hitter, Basabe has bat speed and strength to be an average hitter with above-average power. That offensive potential combined with his speed and defense make him one of the most well-rounded prospects in the SAL.
• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #6 prospect in 2015
  Signed along with his twin brother Luis Alejandro out of Venezuela in 2012, Basabe moved up to Lowell this season while his infielder brother played in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Athletic and raw, Basabe has always boasted more power potential than his twin, and he slugged an impressive seven home runs this summer. For now, much of that power comes from his forearms and wrists, but he could develop above-average or even plus power as he continues to fill out and add muscle mass. He needs to work on his bat control and plate discipline after he struck out 26 percent of the time. He's still learning to make adjustments when he falls behind in the count. Basabe has above-average speed and an above-average arm, but his reads and jumps in center field can improve. Still, more than one manager said he was one of the most exciting players in the league. "He's getting bigger and stronger each day," Lowell manager Joe Oliver said. "If he gets a couple of offseasons under his belt and gains some muscle mass, he can be a big threat offensively."

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Basabe and his identical twin, Luis Alejandro, were each signed by the Red Sox in 2012. Luis Alexander came to Chicago as part of the Chris Sale trade in 2016 but has struggled to stay healthy since joining his new organization. He had knee surgery after the 2017 season to clean up a nagging injury, then performed respectably in a return to high Class A Winston-Salem the next season. Injuries to his hamstring, quadriceps and hamate bone limited Basabe in 2019, when he played just 74 games.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Basabe still has an impressive set of tools but needs to stay out of the trainer’s room to reach his full potential. Scouts who saw Basabe when he was healthy in 2019 saw a player with contact skills, bat control and athleticism but not enough of any one tool to be particularly high-impact. At his best, he showed a potential five-tool skill set but needed to refine his hittability. That was particularly true against breaking pitches and changeups. There is some power in there, which he showed on the big stage in the 2018 Futures Game when he crushed a 102 mph fastball for a long home run.
  
  THE FUTURE: The tools are there for Basabe. Now he just needs to lock in the elusive sixth tool—health. He could begin 2020 back in Birmingham and has the ceiling of a quality backup outfielder. BA GRADE 40 Risk: Medium BA GRADE 45 Risk: High
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Basabe and his identical twin, Luis Alejandro, were each signed by the Red Sox in 2012. Luis Alexander came to Chicago as part of the Chris Sale trade in 2016 but has struggled to stay healthy since joining his new organization. He had knee surgery after the 2017 season to clean up a nagging injury, then performed respectably in a return to high Class A Winston-Salem the next season. Injuries to his hamstring, quadriceps and hamate bone limited Basabe in 2019, when he played just 74 games.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Basabe still has an impressive set of tools but needs to stay out of the trainer's room to reach his full potential. Scouts who saw Basabe when he was healthy in 2019 saw a player with contact skills, bat control and athleticism but not enough of any one tool to be particularly high-impact. At his best, he showed a potential five-tool skill set but needed to refine his hittability. That was particularly true against breaking pitches and changeups. There is some power in there, which he showed on the big stage in the 2018 Futures Game when he crushed a 102 mph fastball for a long home run.
  
  THE FUTURE: The tools are there for Basabe. Now he just needs to lock in the elusive sixth tool—health. He could begin 2020 back in Birmingham and has the ceiling of a quality backup outfielder.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  One of four players the White Sox pried from Boston in exchange for Chris Sale in 2016, Basabe has looked rejuvenated after surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. He shows above-average defense with a strong arm in center field as well as sneaky power at the plate. The White Sox have worked with Basabe to make his bat path more efficient to better unlock his offensive potential.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: In many ways, Basabe--whom the Red Sox signed along with his twin brother Luis Alejandro--embodies the fascinating, unpredictable world of projecting international amateur talent. While the twins were physically quite similar when they signed, Luis Alexander grew two inches and filled out in a way that distinguished him from his sibling. Boston traded his brother to the Diamondbacks for Brad Ziegler in July. Scouting Report: Basabe shows solid or better tools across the board, with considerable bat life when batting lefthanded. He strikes out too frequently from both sides of the plate at this stage--including a rate of 32 percent as a righthanded hitter--but when he makes contact, the impact stands out for his age and position. He adjusted his stance in the middle of 2016, becoming more upright to improve his balance and pitch recognition while limiting the degree to which he chased pitches below the zone. In center field, he features long strides that produce plus range and also displays excellent arm strength.
  
  The Future: Basabe's defensive value gives him a high floor of backup outfielder. If his offensive approach continues to make strides, his cluster of tools could make him an above-average regular. He heads to high Class A Salem in 2017.