Dawel Lugo

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #17 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Lugo came to Detroit as one of the pieces in the deal that sent J.D. Martinez to the Diamondbacks in 2017. He made his big league debut in 2018, providing help up the middle for the rebuilding Tigers. While not known for his bat, Lugo hit .269 in 123 games at Triple-A before the promotion. Although he smashed 17 home runs the prior season, Lugo has mostly doubles power.
  
  Scouting Report: Lugo’s hit tool is contact-oriented, as he hits for little power and doesn’t draw many walks. Primarily a third baseman, Lugo has been asked to move over to second for the time being. Although he isn’t a fast runner, his defense plays as average on the infield. Lugo is gifted with a plus arm, good enough to play on the left or right side of the diamond.
  
  The Future: Lugo will probably get at-bats at both Triple-A and the big leagues next year as he looks to adjust to the competition. He will also need more defensive repetitions at second base, which will help Detroit see where he best fits on the club. By moving around the infield, Lugo can help his case to become a reliable backup infielder.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #8 prospect in 2018
  One of the top signees in the Blue Jays' 2011 international class, Lugo has gotten used to the realities of pro baseball as he's been traded around the trade deadline twice in the past three seasons. The first time he went to the Diamondbacks for Cliff Pennington and in 2017, the D-backs included him in the trade that also sent Jose King and Sergio Alcantara to the Tigers for J.D. Martinez. Lugo is trying to straddle a tricky paradox. He's a solid third baseman defensively, but he'll have to get to his power more often to really fit at third base. Scouts are less confident he can be an average defender at second base, where his above-average hit and average power would be a better fit. Lugo has plenty of bat speed and above-average hand-eye coordination. He recognizes pitches quickly out of the hand and has steadily turned himself into a very tough out. But that has come at the expense of power. He has above-average raw power, but he has a hit-first approach come game-time at the expense of power. Lugo has a plus arm which plays very well at third and good hands, but his first-step quickness is modest. He's a below-average runner. Lugo isn't all that far away from competing for a big league job. The former shortstop could end up at second or third base depending on team need. He doesn't have exceptional upside, but he has a good chance at a solid big league career.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #2 prospect in 2017
  Originally signed by the Blue Jays in 2011 for $1.3 million, Lugo was acquired by the Diamondbacks in August 2015 for veteran infielder Cliff Pennington. Lugo dropped 15 pounds at the beginning of 2016, and his better conditioning helped him become a more explosive in all facets of his game. He did everything well at high Class A Visalia and Double-A Mobile before finishing the 2016 season in the Arizona Fall league. Lugo also became more disciplined at the plate by significantly improving his strikeout rate from 17.5 percent in 2015 to 11 percent in 2016. A potentially average hitter with quick hands, Lugo shows excellent hand-eye coordination and has above-average power with strong wrists. Defensively, Lugo came up as a shortstop but has moved to third base, where he has good hands and a plus arm. He will return to Double-A to begin 2017 and has a good chance to reach Triple-A Reno during the summer.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #15 prospect in 2015
  Lugo signed for $1.3 million in 2011 but didn't reach full-season ball until last year, when he was one of the youngest position players in the low Class A Midwest League. He has a loose, handsy, line-drive stroke with above-average bat speed. He has natural feel for the barrel and has posted well above-average contact rates throughout his career. Lugo has an aggressive approach that may keep him from reaching his ceiling, however. He swings and misses against breaking pitches and has walked just 3.2 percent of the time. He flashes at least average raw power and projects to hit a dozen home runs annually with additional loft to his stroke. A below-average runner, he has smooth athletic actions, soft hands and an above-average arm, though his body and moderate range and quickness make Jhonny Peralta his best comparison defensively if he stays at short. Other scouts project a move to third base. Lugo's next stop is high Class A Dunedin.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #9 prospect in 2014
  The Jays had the second-largest expenditure ($7.57 million) during the 2011 international signing period, and Lugo was one of three seven-figure signings ($1.3 million). He led Rookie-level Bluefield in home runs (six), hitting .297/.317/.469 to earn a promotion to short-season Vancouver. An above-average athlete, Lugo is a natural, pure hitter with supreme hand-eye coordination, feel for the barrel and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. He had the third-lowest strikeout rate of any Appalachian League teenager (13.9) in 2013, which leads scouts to project him to be an above-average hitter. Lugo has surprising power that could enable him to hit more than 20 home runs annually. His see-ball, hit-ball approach leaves him impatient, walking in 2.2 percent of plate appearances in 2013. Lugo excels at driving balls on the inner half but has struggled at times with pitches on the outer half. Defensively, he has good, dependable hands with smooth actions at shortstop. His arm is plus, but he's a fringy runner. While he has worked diligently to improve his lateral quickness and range, Lugo may fit better at third base long-term than at short. He will compete for a spot at low Class A Lansing but could return to Vancouver in 2014.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #26 prospect in 2013
  One of the top hitters in the 2011 international class, Lugo matched Wuilmer Becerra's $1.3 million bonus and joined him in the Gulf Coast League for his pro debut last year. Lugo batted just .224/.275/.329, but he also was one of the youngest players in the league at age 17. He routinely makes contact but must learn to let some pitches go if he can't drive them with authority. He has a quick bat and projects to hit for plus power, though he can try to pull the ball too much. He's an average runner. He plays a sound shortstop and could be a Jhonny Peralta type, but most scouts think Lugo will have to shift to third base. He has the arm and athleticism to make the transition. He'll probably spend 2013 in Bluefield and not get his first taste of full-season ball until the following year.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Southern League #17 prospect in 2017
  Lugo began the year in the Diamondbacks system but finished with the Tigers following the July trade in which he was the headlining prospect exchanged for J.D. Martinez. He played third base and some shortstop before the trade and added second base, where his bat profiles best, while at Double-A Erie in the Detroit system. Lugo goes to the plate looking to swing the bat, and he has enough bat control to hit for average. Even when he gets caught on his front foot he tends to hit the ball hard. Lugo can drive the ball for home runs to his pull side but is more of a gap hitter overall with average power. If he learns to keep his weight back against breaking pitches, he could probably access more power. Lugo showed the best infield arm in the SL and received positive reviews for his athletic, sure-handed play and accurate throws at third base. He runs well for his size but isn't a basestealing threat.
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  Ranked California League #12 prospect in 2016
  Lugo rededicated himself after being traded last year from the Blue Jays for two months of Cliff Pennington. He dropped 15 pounds in camp and arrived at Visalia a more explosive player. Lugo carried that explosiveness throughout the season, displaying lightning-quick bat speed, wide range defensively, a plus arm and first-step quickness. The Diamondbacks promoted him to Double-A Mobile in July, and he continued to hit there after an all-star first half in the Cal League. He finished with a .311 average and 17 home runs. "He's a good-looking player," Bakersfield manager Eddie Menchaca said. "He plays good defense, didn't miss a fastball and has a little bit of power to both sides of the field. I thought he was interesting." Lugo hardly ever walks, but he gets his barrel to the ball quickly and showed the ability to hit all pitches to all fields, though most of his power is to the pull side. Signed as a shortstop, he shifted to third base this season and projects as a possible everyday player there.
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  Ranked American League #5 prospect in 2013
  After mediocre results in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League last summer?he hit .224/.275/.329?Lugo was one of the Appy League?s top offensive performers this year. He?s a natural, pure hitter with supreme hand-eye coordination and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Lugo offers surprising pop for his size and could grow into 20-home run power at his peak. He has an aggressive approach and makes lots of contact?with a strikeout rate of 13.9 percent and walk rate of 2.5 percent?but can struggle with balls on the outer half of the plate. ?His hitting style, obviously on a smaller scale, is like a young Vlad Guerrero, kind of swinging at everything and barreling a lot,? a league hitting coach said. ?He can look silly on some pitches, but you throw the same pitch again and he will crush it into the gap.? Lugo has dependable hands, smooth actions and an above-average arm at shortstop. He?s a fringy runner who could move to third because he lacks lateral quickness and range, though he is working to improve that.

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: One of the top signees in the Blue Jays' 2011 international class, Lugo has gotten used to the realities of pro baseball after being traded twice in the past three seasons. In 2017, the D-backs included him in the trade that also sent Jose King and Sergio Alcantara to the Tigers for J.D. Martinez. Scouting Report: Lugo is a solid defensive third baseman, but he'll have to get to his power more often to really fit the profile there. Scouts are less confident he can be an average defender at second base, where he began playing at Double-A Erie after the trade. His above-average bat and average power would be a better fit at second. Lugo has plenty of bat speed and above-average hand-eye coordination. He recognizes pitches quickly and has steadily turned himself into a tough out. He has above-average raw power, but he has a hit-first approach in games. Lugo has a plus arm, which plays at third base, and good hands, but his first-step quickness is modest. He's a below-average runner. The Future: Lugo isn't far away from competing for a big league job. The former shortstop could end up at second or third base. He doesn't have exceptional upside, but he has a good chance at a solid career.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Originally signed by the Blue Jays in 2011 for $1.3 million, Lugo was acquired by the Diamondbacks in August 2015 for veteran infielder Cliff Pennington. Lugo dropped 15 pounds at the beginning of 2016, and his better conditioning helped him become a more explosive in all facets of his game. He did everything well at high Class A Visalia and Double-A Mobile before finishing the 2016 season in the Arizona Fall League. Scouting Report: In addition to changes to his physique, Lugo also became more disciplined at the plate by significantly improving his strikeout rate from 17.5 percent in 2015 to 11 percent in 2016. A potentially average hitter with quick hands, Lugo shows excellent hand-eye coordination and has above-average power with strong wrists. Defensively, Lugo came up as a shortstop but has moved to third base, where he has good hands and a plus arm. He improved his times to first base after losing weight but is no more than a fringe-average runner.
  
  The Future: Lugo has to show he can continue his all-around improvement to become an everyday third baseman down the road. He will return to Double-A to begin 2017 and has a good chance to reach Triple-A Reno during the summer.