Yeyson Yrizarri Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2101
AVG	.254
OBP	.287
SLG	.356
HR	27

Full name Yeyson Yrizarri
Born 02/02/1997 in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 175 / Bats: R / Throws: R

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The nephew of Deivi Cruz and brother of former Nationals farmhand Delbi Yrizarri, Yeyson Yrizarri was born in Venezuela but was raised in the Dominican Republic. He signed with the Rangers for $1.35 million in 2013 and was dealt to the White Sox in the middle of the 2017 season in exchange for international slot money. Yrizarri's best attribute is his defense. He's a plus defender at shortstop with an arm that some scouts rank as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He's also a plus runner. The problem is that his value lies almost exclusively in his glove. He's never had an on-base percentage of .300 or better, and he's had just one season of 10 or more walks. Still, at just 20 years old, there are scouts who think he might develop with more time. If he's able to refine his knowledge of the strike zone and his plate discipline, he could mature into a backup infielder with the versatility to play around the diamond. He's likely to return to high Class A Winston-Salem in 2018.
Yrizarri, a nephew of former major league shortstop Deivi Cruz, was born in Venezuela but grew up in the Dominican Republic, where he signed for $1.35 million in 2013. With a thick, compact frame, he doesn't have a traditional shortstop build but played good defense in 2016 at low Class A Hickory. Once considered a candidate to move to second or third base, Yrizarri has made significant progress the last two seasons as a fielder. His best tool is his 70 arm on the 20-80 scouting scale. He has good bat speed and solid power for a shortstop, but his weakness is his approach. He is a pull-conscious hitter who swings at just about everything and walked in just 2 percent of his plate appearances. Yrizarri doesn't strike out excessively, but he's still learning to trust his hands and he has trouble recognizing breaking pitches. Yrizarri has considerable physical talent if he can ever figure out his plate discipline, though his arm is strong enough that pitching could even be a fallback option.
Yrizarri, whose uncle is former major league shortstop Deivi Cruz, was born in Venezuela but grew up in the Dominican Republic, where he signed with the Rangers for $1.35 million on July 2, 2013. When injuries struck and the Rangers needed a fill-in shortstop at Triple-A Round Rock in June, they sent Yrizarri there for two weeks, even though he had never played above the Rookie-level Arizona League. Later that month, he went to short-season Spokane, where he spent the rest of the season as one of the youngest players in the Northwest League. Yrizarri has a physically mature frame, with strength through his wrists and forearms. His swing lacks loft, but it's a quick, line-drive stroke without much swing-andmiss. Yrizarri is far too aggressive, with a pull-oriented, free-swinging approach, drawing a walk in just two percent of his plate appearances in the NWL. His weight drifts forward early, so staying back and keeping his head locked in would help him track and recognize pitches. While scouts once considered Yrizarri a future second or third baseman, he has improved his defense at shortstop and could stick there, with his 70 arm his best tool. He should graduate to low Class A Hickory in 2016.
Yrizarri, a nephew of former big league shortstop Deivi Cruz, was born in Venezuela, but he grew up in the Dominican Republic, where he signed out of on July 2, 2013, for $1.35 million. He hit well in his first two weeks in the Dominican Summer League in 2014, then scuffled at the plate upon his promotion to the Rookie-level Arizona League. He is physically mature for his age, with strong hands and forearms that help him hit hard line drives without excessive swing-and-miss and a quick, short swing. His power is mostly to the gaps, but he projects to grow into average power. Yrizarri is an aggressive, pull-conscious hitter who will have to learn to keep his weight back and improve his pitch recognition. He split time between shortstop and second base in the AZL, looking more comfortable at second because he lacks a quick first step. His double-plus arm is his best tool. Yrizarri should have a chance to jump to low Class A Hickory in 2015, though the Rangers could hold him back to play in short-season Spokane instead.
Though Yrizarri was born in Venezuela, he was raised in the Dominican Republic, where he trained before signing with the Rangers for $1.35 million on July 2, 2013. His uncle is Deivi Cruz, who served as regular shortstop for four different teams in a nine-year big league career, and his aunt played on the Dominican national softball team. Yrizarri's older brother Deibi is a righthander in the Nationals system. Coming into 2013, Yrizarri wasn't expected to be one of the premium prospects available, but his stock shot up after a handful of teams took strong interest in him. Yrizarri sets his hands up a little lower than most players and has a quick, loose swing with good bat path. Scouts highest on him saw him hit in games and use the middle of the field with a solid approach. He has big hands, strong forearms and puts the ball in play with gap power and occasional home run pop to his pull side, though that can get him in trouble at times when he gets to his front side too early and becomes pull-oriented. Yrizari has a wide, athletic physique and lacks the first-step quickness for shortstop, though he'll probably start his career there. He has a 70 arm and he's an average runner. He could fit at either second or third base, with a pro debut likely to come in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2014.

Minor League Top Prospects

The nephew of ex-big league shortstop Deivi Cruz, Yrizarri was born in Venezuela but grew up in the Dominican Republic. He signed with the Rangers for $1.35 million in 2013 and launched his pro career at age 17 in the AZL after playing nine games in the Dominican Summer League. Yrizarri saw more time at shortstop than 2014 draftees Ti'Quan Forbes (second round) or Josh Morgan (third). He plays with a lot of energy and has a good feel for the position. He's already reliable in the field and has a plus-plus arm that will allow him to stay at the position. If he loses quickness, he could move to second or third base. Yrizarri's bat is a work in progress, but he's got an athletic body and strong hands with doubles power right now. He should develop more pop with physical maturity. An above-average runner, he needs to become more selective at the plate to take advantage of his speed.