Delino DeShields

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Texas Rangers #24 prospect in 2015
  The Astros did not protect DeShields on the 40-man roster after the 2014 season, so the Rangers picked him in the Rule 5 draft. DeShields showed toughness in a quick return from being struck in the face with a fastball in April 2014, though his offensive production took a tumble. Despite a thick, stocky frame, DeShields is a 70 runner. He has average raw power, but he got homer-happy after hitting 12 in 2012 across two levels. He tries to pull the ball too often and needs to rely more on his speed to get on base. A fringy defender at second base, DeShields moved to the outfield in 2014, and with his speed, he could be above-average in left field or perhaps center, with a below-average arm. DeShields doesn't project as an everyday player, but his speed and versatility give him a chance to stick as a Rule 5 pick.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #13 prospect in 2014
  With 12 home runs and 101 stolen bases in 2012, DeShields became the first player in minor league history to reach double digits in homers and triple digits in steals in the same season. Moving to the hitter's paradise of high Class A Lancaster in 2013, he seemed poised for a loud encore, but instead he turned in a solid, but not spectacular, effort. After the season, the Astros looked at DeShields' limitations at second base--where his father Delino Sr. spent the bulk of his 13-year big league career--and decided to move him to center field, his position in high school. While DeShields had worked hard to become a fringy defender at the keystone, he looks like a better fit in center, where 80 speed gives him excellent range and a below-average arm is less of a liability. He still has work to do on his jumps and reads. At the plate, DeShields was susceptible to being busted inside early in the season, but he developed the ability to pull the ball more consistently as the season developed. With a compact stroke and a solid feel for the strike zone, he projects as a potentially disruptive leadoff hitter with on-base skills and the speed to wreak havoc once he reaches. Surprisingly stocky and strong for a speedster, DeShields has average power potential as well. Disappointed not to be assigned to Double-A Corpus Christi in 2013, he will get his shot to go there in 2014.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #6 prospect in 2013
  Delino DeShields Sr. stole 463 bases in a 13-year big league career and now manages in the Reds system. He helped mentor Billy Hamilton, whose pro-record 155 stolen bases in 2012 obscured the fact that DeShields Jr.--who signed for $2.125 million as the eighth overall pick in 2010--stole 101 himself in a breakout year. Humbled after hitting .220/.305/.322 at low Class A in 2011, DeShields got in better shape and regained his speed, which grades as a 75 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He also played harder and smarter, and his bat heated up when he stopped trying to pull everything and used the whole field. He's surprisingly strong for his size and could develop average power. He draws walks, so he'll profile as an elite leadoff hitter if he can maintain his improvements. DeShields is an aggressive basestealer who reads pitchers well and has a quick first step. He also has worked to grow as a defender, improving his footwork around the bag at second, though his arm strength and accuracy remain erratic. DeShields batted .318 in the California League playoffs and may advance to Double-A to start 2013. If he can't stay at second base, center field is always an option for a player with his explosive speed.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #8 prospect in 2012
  The son of the big leaguer who once was traded for Pedro Martinez and now manages in the Reds system, DeShields doesn't look like his lithe father. He's built more like Mike Tyson and was a star prep football player before being drafted eighth overall in 2010. Signed for $2.125 million, he struggled in 2011 as the sixth-youngest player in the South Atlantic League. DeShields' youth and inexperience showed in his first full pro season. He didn't make consistent contact but still showed bat speed and strength. He must improve his ability to identify pitches and work counts. He could develop average power, though he mostly drives balls to the gaps for now. DeShields graded as an 80 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale as an amateur, and as a 70 runner as he adjusted to the pro grind, though he's still learning to maximize his speed on the bases. In his first extended time at second base, he improved his footwork and double-play pivot and became more consistent after making seven errors in his first 13 games. He has a fringy arm that will play in center field if he can't stick in the infield. The Astros are encouraged by DeShields' progress and still love his upside. He'll probably head back to low Class A to start the 2012 season.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #2 prospect in 2011
  Rated by Baseball America's as the top 12-year-old prospect in 2005, DeShields has worn the spotlight that comes with that notoriety and his name for years. His father Delino Sr. played 13 seasons in the majors and was traded straight up for Pedro Martinez in 1993. The son went eighth overall in the 2010 draft--four spots higher than his old man went in 1987--and signed for $2.125 million, a franchise draft record. Few 2010 draftees can match DeShields' athleticism, top-of-the-line speed and sheer explosiveness. He's an 80 runner and should be even more of a basestealing threat than his dad, who swiped 463 bases in the big leagues. His bat speed helps him catch up to the best of fastballs, and he has the strength to project to hit for average power. His swing is fairly low-maintenance and compact. The Astros started DeShields in the center field and intended to move him to second base in instructional league until elbow soreness kept him from throwing. He has a below-average arm, but it's fine for second or center. While his low-energy body language put off some scouts, Houston believes in his makeup. The Astros expect DeShields to be healthy enough to give second base a try in 2011 at low Class A Lexington. His bat will play anywhere. He projects as a leadoff man or possibly a No. 3 hitter.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Texas League #20 prospect in 2014
  DeShields missed three weeks after suffering a facial fracture when he took a 9o mph fastball to the face in late April. He became an internet sensation when he Tweeted out a photo of his severely swollen face. Rather than return skittish, though, DeShields hit two homers in his first game back and went 7-for-16 over a four-game stretch. He's a hard-nosed player who, when at his best, can impact a game with above-average speed and surprising power. DeShields still tends to get pull-happy and swing for the fences too frequently instead of using the whole field and taking advantage of his speed with a small-ball approach that would require improved bunting skills. He's a threat to steal when he reaches base--he ranked second to Billy Hamilton in 2012 with 101 stolen bases and has topped the 50-steal mark each of the past two seasons--and is still learning to read pitchers' moves. The Astros moved DeShields back to center field in 2013--his position in high school--and he did a better job of reading the ball off the bat this season instead of simply relying on his speed to chase down balls. He has a below-average arm.
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  Ranked California League #4 prospect in 2013
  After stealing 101 bases in 2012, DeShields was a marked man whenever he got on base this year, and his output dropped to a mortal 51 thefts, which ranked him 20 behind league leader Travis Jankowski. The decline certainly wasn?t caused by any loss of speed, which still rates at least a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. DeShields hit leadoff for the JetHawks all year and fits the profile for the job. He shows a solid feel for hitting and uses a short, compact stroke he used to rank third in the Cal League batting race at .317. Pitchers could bust him inside early in the season, but he got better at pulling those balls as the year progressed. A nagging hand injury limited his power production, but he should have more than he showed this year. His hands are plenty fast to lash line drives into the gaps. The Astros will move DeShields back to the outfield, his high school position, in the Arizona Fall League. With his top-shelf speed and athleticism, it should be a smooth transition. Cal League observers had doubts about his future on the infield, and his 24 errors were the most among league second baseman.
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #12 prospect in 2012
  Like Foltynewicz, DeShields opened 2012 back at Lexington after experiencing significant growing pains there in his first full pro season. He boosted his numbers from .220/.305/.322 in 2011 to .298/.401/.439 this year before earning a promotion to high Class A in August. Between the two stops, he stole 101 bases in 120 attempts. Managers rated DeShields the fastest and best baserunner in the SAL. He has plus-plus speed, a quick first step and the ability to read pitchers. Some skippers thought he was too greedy stealing bases, going at any time regardless of the game situation. DeShields possesses good bat speed yet struggles at times to make consistent contact. He has some gap power but gets too pull-conscious at times, though his overall plate discipline has improved. He has fringy hands and arm strength, so he eventually may move from second base to center field.
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  Ranked American League #5 prospect in 2010
  Selected eighth overall in June, DeShields signed with the Astros in early August and quickly made an impression on Appy managers in his three weeks with Greeneville. DeShields' father, also named Delino, stole 463 bases in a 13-year big league career, and the younger Delino also boasts top-of-the-line speed. He swiped five bases and showed gliding actions and plus instincts in center field. The Astros intend to transition DeShields to second base in instructional league, and they envision him as a top-of-the-order hitter. What he lacks in physicality, he makes up for with a simple, repeatable swing that bodes well for his ability to hit for average as he moves up. He frequently got himself out by chasing breaking balls, but observers saw the present strength and bat speed to foresee at least average power in DeShields' future.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #99 prospect in 2013

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Delino DeShields Sr. stole 463 bases in a 13-year big league career and now manages in the Reds system. He helped mentor Billy Hamilton, whose pro-record 155 stolen bases in 2012 obscured the fact that DeShields Jr.--who signed for $2.125 million as the eighth overall pick in 2010--stole 101 himself in a breakout year. Scouting Report: Humbled after hitting .220/.305/.322 at low Class A in 2011, DeShields got in better shape and regained his speed, which grades as a 75 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He also played harder and smarter, and his bat heated up when he stopped trying to pull everything and used the whole field. He's surprisingly strong for his size and could develop average power. He draws walks, so he'll profile as an elite leadoff hitter if he can maintain his improvements. DeShields is an aggressive basestealer who reads pitchers well and has a quick first step. He also has worked to grow as a defender, improving his footwork around the bag at second, though his arm strength and accuracy remain erratic. The Future: DeShields batted .318 in the California League playoffs and may advance to Double-A to start 2013. If he can't stay at second base, center field is always an option for a player with his explosive speed.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The son of the 13-year big leaguer who now manages in the Reds system, DeShields doesn't look much like his lithe father. He's built more like Mike Tyson and was a star prep football player before being drafted eighth overall in 2010. Signed for $2.125 million, he struggled in 2011 as the sixth-youngest player in the South Atlantic League. Scouting Report: DeShields' youth and inexperience showed in his first full pro season. He didn't make consistent contact but still showed bat speed and strength. He must improve his ability to identify pitches and work counts. He could develop average power, though he mostly drives balls to the gaps for now. DeShields graded as an 80 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale as an amateur, and as a 70 runner as he adjusted to the pro grind, though he's still learning to maximize his speed on the bases. In his first extended time at second base, he improved his footwork and double-play pivot and became more consistent after making seven errors in his first 13 games. He made adjustments, including shortening up his longer arm stroke. He still has fringy arm strength that will play in center field if he can't stick in the infield. The Future: The Astros are encouraged by DeShields' progress and still love his upside. He'll probably head back to low Class A to start the 2012 season.