Oscar Taveras

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #1 prospect in 2014
  As if the hesitancy of Taveras' steps rounding second base in May wasn't enough, the slam of his batting helmet as he got to dugout revealed just as much any MRI could. The top hitting prospect developed by the Cardinals since Albert Pujols lost a majority of the 2013 season because of an ankle sprain that three times knocked him off the field and eventually required high-ankle surgery. The lefthanded-hitting Taveras was limited to 173 at-bats and 46 games at Triple-A Memphis, but general manager John Mozeliak became fond of repeating, "When he played, he hit." Taveras always has. Signed for $145,000 from the Dominican Republic in 2008, Taveras has a .320/.377/.518 batting line in five professional seasons. In his first three seasons with a domestic affiliate he won a league MVP, a low Class A Midwest League batting title and three championships at three different levels. He was a comet streaking toward the majors with a scheduled debut in 2013 until his ankle gave out and chronic discomfort slowed his trip around the bases--and his arrival. Taveras has a preternatural gift for hitting, one honed by trying to hit the caps of water jugs spun fast to veer like a Frisbee, and thousands of swings against a tire lashed to a fence. He has electron-quick bat speed. He barrels pitches in the zone, and he can drive any pitch he can reach, sometimes going outside the zone to do so. He's a bad-ball hitter who doesn't strike out often, and whose 57 extra-base hits at Double-A show the power ahead. He displayed his knack during spring training against big league pitchers and had some staff members arguing he was ready to open the season in the majors. The other elements of his game, including attention to detail and constant effort, are catching up to his hitting. Taveras' zest is at the plate, and his game can wander away from it. His best position is right field, where his plus arm and range play, but the Cardinals believe his athleticism is a fit for center. The high-ankle injury cost him valuable experience in center, where he played well at times in 2013 and drifted at other times. Mozeliak said the big question because of the lost time "is where he can play defensively and how confident we are with him in center." Taveras had a turbulent 2013, one buffeted by the injury, fickle changes to his representation, two off-field matters that required returns to the Dominican and other instances that reminded the organization he's young and still adapting. He will have to mature on the job. Taveras would have been on the postseason roster in 2013 and perhaps the starting center fielder if not for injury. He will arrive in spring training with a chance to win a spot on the major league roster, and if he can prove reliable in center, an everyday job awaits him. The Cardinals want his bat in the lineup and believe that given health and given playing time he's a Rookie of the Year candidate and all-star in the making.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #1 prospect in 2013
  When Taveras arrived at spring training last year, he was brought into meetings with club officials, including big league manager Mike Matheny. They presented him a challenge. His bat was fit for Double-A Springfield, but to skip high Class A Palm Beach he'd have to show his fielding and baserunning were ready, too. He did that, leapfrogged a level and continued a meteoric ascent. Taveras earned Texas League MVP honors one year after winning the low Class A Midwest League batting title with a .386 average. He led the TL in batting (.321), doubles (37), extra-base hits (67) and total bases (270) while leading his team to a league title for a third consecutive year. General manager John Mozeilak calls him the organization's top hitting prospect since Albert Pujols. Signed for $145,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2008, Taveras has batted .321/.381/.525 in four pro seasons. Taveras has an innate ability to barrel pitches. Credit superb hand-eye coordination and the natural balance of his swing for the preternatural ease he brings to the plate. He's an aggressive hitter with a quick bat and the confidence he can drive any pitch he can reach within the strike zone-because he so often does. But he's not undisciplined, doesn't strike out often and has proven to be an effective bad-ball hitter. Taveras saw a spike in walks as his projected power blossomed in Double-A. He set career highs with 23 homers and 37 doubles, harbingers of more power ahead. The elements of Taveras' game that once lagged behind his offense started to keep pace in 2012. He improved enough in the field for St. Louis to consider him a center fielder going forward. He finished the Futures Game in center, earning praise from his manager, former Gold Glove winner Bernie Williams. Taveras has enough speed to be an average baserunner and provide average range in center. He probably fits best in right field, where his bat and strong arm profile well. His effort and attention waned at times in low Class A, and he has been benched a couple times for lapses. The Cardinals tied such moments to frustrations he had at the plate rather than apathy or a lackadaisical attitude, and he has acknowledged his need to eliminate them completely. St. Louis discussed bringing Taveras to the majors last September but opted not to push him without guaranteed playing time. He'll come to major league spring training with a chance to make an impression. He's positioned to replace Carlos Beltran in right field when the veteran's contract expires after 2013, but proving proficient in center could open a swifter route to the majors. The Cardinals want him to play regularly at the start of the year, and that could mean some seasoning in Triple-A Memphis.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #3 prospect in 2012
  Another product of the Cardinals' revived presence in Latin America, Taveras signed for $145,000 as a 16-year-old Dominican. Not yet 20, he won the Midwest League batting title in 2011 with a .386 average, the highest in the low Class A circuit since Deacon Jones hit .409 in 1956. The verb most often used to describe Taveras' game is "barrel," because of his preternatural ability to get good wood on pitches in all areas of the strike zone. His fluid mechanics and superb hand-eye coordination aid a swing that stays balanced as it sweeps through the zone. He's an aggressive swinger but doesn't strike out much. His line drives to the gap hint at the average power he'll have as he matures. Taveras has played all three outfield positions, though his average speed and solid arm will point him toward right field. He remained at Quad Cities all year because his baserunning and defense weren't ready for a promotion, and at times his effort waned. St. Louis shipped him to the Arizona Fall League as the second-youngest player there. He started slowly but caught up quick. He could make the leap to Double-A in 2012, and if his power continues to develop, he'll profile as a No. 3 hitter.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #24 prospect in 2011
  Less than two years after the Cardinals signed him as a 16-year-old athlete out of Puerto Plata, D.R., Taveras came to America and had arguably the best debut of any international signing from their recent wave. He seized the No. 2 spot in Rookie-level Johnson City's lineup with his aggressiveness and helped elevate the Cardinals to the Appalachian League title. Taveras was third in the league with a .322 average, fourth with 43 RBIs, fifth in slugging (.526), sixth in OPS (.889) and ranked as the second-best position prospect in the league. Scouts saw a teenager who played beyond his years, with a good feel for the game and bat speed that should allow him to hit at higher levels. Coaches see a five-tool type, with the solid-average arm and good range to play center if he gets more consistent with his routes. His speed is average. Taveras has a lefthanded stroke that preternaturally makes contact with the sweet spot and allows him to drive the ball to all fields. With two strikes, he limits his leg kick and adopts a streamlined swing that would work at other counts. He should make a full-season club before he turns 20.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #4 prospect in 2014
  Taveras had 27 extra-base hits among his 76 knocks for Memphis, but for some evaluators the bloom has come off the rose. He entered the season ranked as the No. 3 prospect in baseball and joined the Cardinals for good in July, but injuries and questions about Taveras' effort and intensity complicated his 2014 season. "He's a solid-average regular, not an all-star," one scout said. "He'll hit more for average than power, and he'll hit more doubles than homers." Taveras has good plane to his swing, a lightning-quick lefthanded bat and feel for the barrel, but he showed only occasional pull power and not the kind of all-fields pop to hit for more than average power with consistency. One evaluator said Taveras often takes bad routes to flyballs, that his speed is below-average and that his arm is average at best. A thickening lower half has reduced his range to the point where he projects solely as a corner outfielder.
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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #1 prospect in 2013
  Taveras is the jewel of the deep Cardinals system, and even an injury-marred season did not diminish his obvious skills. He does everything well, and the lift in his swing suggests his power will flourish as he matures. The high-ankle sprain he originally suffered in May bothered him the remainder of the season, and he ended up having season-ending surgery in August. He is expected back in time for spring training, where he will battle for a spot in the St. Louis outfield. Taveras projects as a middle-of-the-lineup hitter who can punish mistakes with a whiplash swing. He?s still working on his ability to draw walks, but he makes consistently hard contact. ?We didn?t see him much, but when we did, I liked what I saw,? Nashville manager Mike Guerrero said. ?He?s got great power and good speed.? Though he injured his ankle on a steal attempt, Taveras when fully recovered should be fine on the bases and in right field, where he has plus range.
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  Ranked Texas League #2 prospect in 2012
  Taveras might be the best pure hitting prospect in the minors. Like Profar, he had no trouble bypassing high Class A. Taveras led the TL in batting (.321), doubles (37), extra-base hits (67) and total bases (270) as a 20-year-old, earned league MVP honors and won a league title for the third straight year. He has a smooth stroke that generates good bat speed and he uses the whole field. While Myers generally gets higher marks for his pop, some scouts think Taveras will have more playable power in the big leagues. He has a tendency to chase high fastballs, but his hand-eye coordination allows him to keep his strikeout numbers low. Taveras improved his fundamentals this season, particularly with baserunning and defense. A center fielder for the bulk of the season, he's an average runner and defender with a solid arm.
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #6 prospect in 2011
  Taveras went 3-for-4 on Opening Day and never stopped hitting, winning the batting title with a .386 average that was the MWL's highest since Deacon Jones' league-record .409 in 1956. His quick, direct swing and excellent hand-eye coordination should allow him to continue hitting for average. His ability to drive the ball from gap to gap portends average power. "With the aggressiveness of his swing, you'd think he'd swing and miss a lot, but he gets the barrel on the ball," Peoria manager Casey Kopitzke said. "He hits the ball wherever it's pitched. It's pretty impressive." Taveras played all three outfield positions for Quad Cities and saw the most time in right field, where he fits best with his average speed and solid arm. The only real knock on him is his inconsistent effort level, which got him benched on a few occasions.
• 
  Ranked National League #4 prospect in 2010
  For a player with little pro experience and less fanfare, Taveras showed remarkable polish in making his U.S. debut for the Appy League's championship team. He flashed all five tools and finished third in the batting race. "He's got everything you want to see in a hitter, and he'll only improve with more at-bats," Johnson City manager Mike Shildt said. "He's able to handle different pitches, and he's got bat speed and strength as well as an aggressive, confident approach." Taveras employs a spread-out batting stance, and some managers wondered if his funky hitting mechanics would continue to work. His leg kick fires late sometimes, and his high back elbow slows his bat ever so slightly. But it's hard to quibble with the results. He hit well with two strikes and has tremendous hand-eye coordination. Furthermore, Taveras is a lanky athlete with plenty of room to mature and hit for even more power. While he may not stick in center field, he earns average grades for his defense, speed and arm.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #3 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #3 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #74 prospect in 2012

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: When Taveras arrived at spring training last year, he was brought into meetings with club officials, including big league manager Mike Matheny. They presented him a challenge. His bat was fit for Double-A Springfield, but to skip High Class A Palm Beach he'd have to show his fielding and baserunning were ready, too. He did that, leapfrogged a level and continued a meteoric ascent. A year after winning the low Class A Midwest League batting title with a .386 average, Taveras was the Texas League MVP. He led the circuit in batting (.321), doubles (37), extra-base hits (67) and total bases (270) while leading his team to a league championship for a third consecutive year. General manager John Mozeliak calls him the organization's top hitting prospect since Albert Pujols. Signed for $145,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2008, Taveras has batted .321/.381/.525 in four pro seasons. Scouting Report: Taveras has an innate ability to barrel pitches. Credit superb hand-eye coordination and the natural balance of his swing for the preternatural ease he brings to the plate. He's an aggressive hitter with a quick bat and the confidence he can drive any pitch he can reach within the strike zone--because he so often does. But he's not undisciplined, doesn't strike out and has proven to be an effective bad-ball hitter. Taveras saw a spike in walks as his projected power blossomed in Double-A. He set career highs with 23 homers and 37 doubles, harbingers of more power ahead. The elements of Taveras' game that once lagged behind his offense started to keep pace in 2012. He improved enough in the field for St. Louis to consider him a center fielder going forward. He finished the Futures Game in center, earning praise from his manager, former Gold Glove winner Bernie Williams. Taveras has enough speed to be an average baserunner and provide average range in center. He probably fits best in right field, where his bat and strong arm profile well. His effort and attention waned at times in low Class A, and he has been benched a couple of times in recent seasons for lapses. The Cardinals tied such moments to frustrations he had at the plate rather than apathy or a lackadaisical attitude, and he has acknowledged his need to eliminate them completely. The Future: St. Louis discussed bringing Taveras to the majors last September but opted not to push him without guaranteed playing time. That could wait until 2013. He'll come to major league spring training with a chance to make an impression. He's positioned to replace Carlos Beltran in right field when the veteran's contract expires at the end of this season, but proving proficient in center could open an alternate and swifter route to the majors. The Cardinals want him to play regularly at the start of the year, and that could mean some seasoning in Triple-A Memphis. He projects as the club's No. 3 hitter of the not-too-distant future, and expectations are as high as his batting average. "You always have this feeling that he's half a level ahead of where he's playing,"says Astros GM Jeff Luhnow, who oversaw Taveras' signing when he was Cardinals vice president of scouting and player development. "He's the guy who sells tickets in the future."
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Another product of the Cardinals' revived presence in Latin America, Taveras signed for $145,000 as a 16-year-old. Not yet 20, he won the Midwest League batting title in 2011 with a .386 average, the highest in the low Class A circuit since Deacon Jones hit .409 in 1956. Scouting Report: The verb most often used to describe Taveras' game is "barrel," because of his preternatural ability to get good wood on pitches in all areas of the strike zone. His fluid mechanics and superb eye-hand coordination aid a swing that stays balanced as it sweeps through the zone. He's an aggressive swinger but doesn't strike out much. His line drives to the gap hint at the average power he'll have as he matures. Taveras has played all three outfield positions, though his average speed and solid arm will point him toward right field. He remained at Quad Cities all year because his baserunning and defense weren't ready for a promotion, and at times his effort waned. The Future: To gauge what they had in their teen phenom, the Cardinals shipped him to the Arizona Fall League as the second-youngest player there. He started slowly but caught up quick. He could make the leap to Double-A in 2012, and if his power continues to develop, he'll profile as a No. 3 hitter.