Oscar Mercado

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #16 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Mercado, a native of Colombia, moved to Florida with his family when he was 8 years old and eventually developed into one of the top shortstops in the country. He struggled at the outset of his professional career but got back on track following a full-time move to the outfield in 2017 at Double-A Springfield. He was putting together another solid season the following year when he was dealt to the Indians at the trade deadline in exchange for two minor league outfielders.
  
  Scouting Report: The Indians liked Mercado's all-around skill set and his ability to fill an organizational need for a righthanded center fielder, because nearly all their upper-level outfielders are lefthanded hitters. Mercado has wiry strength and produces good bat speed. After his strikeout rate spiked in 2017, he did a much better job in 2018 of controlling the strike zone. His average raw power mostly plays as doubles pop and he does a good job of using his plus speed on the bases. His speed also plays well in the outfield, where he covers ground well. He has average arm strength.
  
  The Future: The Indians entered the offseason with a muddled outfield picture due to potential free agent losses and injuries. No matter how the winter plays out, Mercado figures to compete for a big-league job in spring training, either as a regular or a fourth outfielder.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #13 prospect in 2018
  Mercado moved from Colombia with his family when he was 8 years old and became one of the top prep shortstops in the 2013 draft at Tampa's Gaither High. The Cardinals drafted Mercado in the second round and signed him for $1.5 million signing despite a poor senior season, but he struggled badly his first four pro seasons and fell off the prospect radar. A move to the center field changed that. Mercado made the transition to center field at the end of 2016 and blossomed playing center everyday at Double-A Springfield in 2017, opening up confidence and an improved bat. He blew past his career-highs in nearly every offensive category and led the organization with 38 steals. Mercado is an above-average runner with excellent agility and body control, which translated to plus defense in center field. He has plus arm strength but is still learning how to access it from the outfield. Mercado shows good bat speed and wiry strength, but has work to do identifying pitches and using the whole field. Overall fringy hitting ability has many evaluators projecting Mercado as an extra outfielder, but his bounceback season gives him momentum going up to Triple-A in 2018.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #26 prospect in 2016
  Time is on Mercado's side, and the Cardinals started to see progress from their 2013 second-rounder, whom they signed for $1.5 million. The progress side of the ledger included playing the full 2015 season as low Class A Peoria's shortstop, leading the organization and the Midwest League with 50 stolen bases (in 69 attempts) and improving as the season went on, with a higher OPS in the second half (.666 in 57 games) than the first (.610 in 60 games). The native of Colombia had various nagging injuries but still played more than 100 games, and he showed the plate coverage and bat control to make consistent contact. He's an average runner with aggressiveness and savvy on the bases who has all the tools for shortstop, with plus arm strength, agility and body control. Mercado's lack of strength affects him at the plate with too much empty contact, as well as in the field, where his inconsistent footwork leads to erratic, inaccurate throws. His 41 errors ranked second in the MWL. Some scouts see a move to center field in Mercado's future, but the Cardinals will keep him at shortstop, a position of organizational need. With Allen Cordoba and Edmundo Sosa among those chasing him in the system, Mercado will have to have a strong spring to earn the shortstop job at high Class A Palm Beach for 2016.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #19 prospect in 2014
  Less than a decade after his family left Colombia to move to the U.S., Mercado had established himself as the finest-fielding high school shortstop available in the draft. Six years after moving from his homeland at 8, he had become the starter at Tampa's Gaither High. He was considered one of the few surefire shortstops in the 2013 draft class, one with the defensive agility and plus arm strength to remain at the position while the Cardinals work on the bat. Mercado hit .370 as a junior at Gaither but struggled in his senior year as draft hype took hold. He had a .286 average with just five extra-base hits all season. His commitment to Florida State further clouded his signability. The Cardinals went above slot ($1.5 million) based on their need for the position and his potential. A disconnect exists between Mercado's results and his approach. He has a sound righthanded swing, level control of the bat, and the backspin for gap power. However, he hit just .209 in an extended look in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He is an average runner, but his astute baseball savvy makes him a standout baserunner who stole 12 bases in his debut. Mercado is a project for extended spring training who could play his way to a full-season appearance at some point in 2014.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #38 prospect in 2013 draft
  Born in Colombia, Mercado and his family moved to the U.S. when he was 8 years old. Six years later he was a varsity starter. Mercado had a better 2012 than he did in 2013. In fact, he had a better 2010, his freshman year at Gaither High in Tampa, when he hit .310 as he stepped in as a starter. Still growing at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, Mercado struggled under the microscope of his draft season, hitting just .286 with five extra-base hits. Gaither went just 11-12 and failed to make the playoffs, ending Mercado's season in late April. He was expected to get an invitation to Florida's heavily-scouted state all-star game in Sebring at the end of May, which will be his last chance to make positive impression for scouts. He'll try to remind them of his bat last year, when he hit .370 for Gaither. At his best he shows a mechanically sound swing and bat control and gap power. Mercado likely will never hit for power, but he does play the small game well. He's an average runner with outstanding instincts on the bases, as well as in the field. He's a smooth, fluid defender whose glove will give him a chance to survive as a pro while his bat develops and strength catches up. He has good hands and footwork and a plus arm, as well as the ability to make accurate throws from different angles. Mercado's commitment to Florida State and poor spring could make it tough to figure out his signability.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #5 prospect in 2019
  Mercado was dealt to the Indians last season, made his big league debut on May 14 and has showed a well-rounded skill set ever since getting to Cleveland. Mercado uses his plus speed on the basepaths and in center field, where he’s an above-average defender. He traveled to Cleveland last winter to revamp his swing, and the results have helped make him one of just a handful of rookies with double-digit totals in doubles, homers and stolen bases.
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  Ranked Texas League #14 prospect in 2017
  Mercado might not have a single tool as loud as his Springfield teammates Magneuris Sierra (speed and defense) or Jose Adolis Garcia (arm and power), but he is a solid all-around player who broke out at Double-A this season. He led the TL with 38 stolen bases and ranked 10th with a .287 average. Described as a late bloomer, Mercado began the transition from shortstop to center field last season and played only the latter this year. His biggest jump came in the power department, where he hit 13 home runs in 120 games after hitting just eight in his first 344 games. Mercado showed above-average range and a good arm while playing all 120 games in the outfield, 108 of which came in center.
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  Ranked National League #17 prospect in 2014
  Born in Colombia, Mercado moved to the U.S. when he was eight years old and received an over-slot deal for $1.5 million. While he was viewed as one the top prep defensive shortstops in the 2013 draft and still profiles up the middle, his long-term defensive future is less certain than it was a year ago. He has the physical attributes necessary to remain at shortstop, offering large, soft hands, athletic actions and an arm that is at least plus. But he will need to reduce his miscues, particularly with his arm. Mercado's 33 errors led the league and his .880 fielding percentage was the lowest of any qualified shortstop, well below-average the league average for the position (.925). Scouts would like to see how his above-average speed and long strides play in center field if he moves off short, where they think his long levers cause long actions. His speed and baserunning instincts impacted games, as he led the league in steals with a 78.8 percent success rate. He has made strides with his contact-oriented bat and handsy stroke. Mercado has a great body with broad shoulders, a tapered torso and lean lower half with lots of room to get stronger. Increased strength should enhance his bat speed and ability to impact the baseball, though his power is mostly to the gaps at present.

• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Mercado was dealt to the Indians last season, made his big league debut on May 14 and has showed a well-rounded skill set ever since getting to Cleveland. Mercado uses his plus speed on the basepaths and in center field, where he’s an above-average defender. He traveled to Cleveland last winter to revamp his swing, and the results have helped make him one of just a handful of rookies with double-digit totals in doubles, homers and stolen bases.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Mercado’s rapid advancement as a hitter has made him the best outfield prospect in the system for some evaluators. He’s developed a short quick stroke, has vastly improved his approach, and is showing the strength to hit balls over the fence on a line. Mercado is playing an above-average center field with top-flight speed, and only needs to show he can maintain his offensive improvements over the course of a season. Even if he doesn’t, his speed and defense make him a major league bench option.