Rangel Ravelo

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Oakland Athletics #15 prospect in 2016
  After coming over from the White Sox in the Jeff Samardzija deal last offseason, Ravelo was out until June after wrist surgery. He regained his form quickly though, hitting a combined .304/.371/.439 at Double-A Midland and Triple-A Nashville. Ravelo faces hard questions as a righthanded-hitting first baseman without profile power, but he has pure hitting ability. Ravelo has a level swing that keeps his bat in the hitting zone a long time, has consistent quality at-bats and a feel for barreling balls in any part of the strike zone. There's enough strength and physicality in his frame to suggest he can hit for power, but his approach isn't optimized for it, preferring to go gap to gap. Unlike other members of the Athletics' crowded picture on the corner infield spots, Ravelo hasn't shown any signs he can play multiple positions. A below-average runner, his future looks to be strictly as a first baseman, where he's a passable defender but nothing special, his solid throwing arm being his best defensive tool. He's on the A's 40-man roster and could make his major league debut in 2016, especially if injuries create openings, but he'll otherwise be back in Nashville.
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  Ranked Oakland Athletics #10 prospect in 2015
  A relative bargain signee as a 2010 fifth-rounder for $125,000, Ravelo moved down the defensive spectrum but up the White Sox prospect list prior to being traded to the Athletics in the Jeff Samardzija deal in December. He had one of the best seasons of any organization farmhand, ranking second in the Double-A Southern League in batting (.309). Ravelo doesn't fit the typical profile of a mashing corner bat. Instead, he features an advanced approach with outstanding plate coverage. His barrel awareness allows him to square balls up, and he handles good pitching with his ability to stay inside the ball. His feel for hitting could allow him to hit for more power as he learns to keep his hips closed and pull the ball with authority. Having moved from third base to first, Ravelo defends adequately and still has solid-average arm strength. He's a below-average runner who could become a clogger if he doesn't watch his weight. If Ravelo keeps hitting, the A's will find a spot for him, possibly in a platoon role at first base or DH.
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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #30 prospect in 2014
  The Cuban-born Ravelo signed for $125,000 in 2010 and finally surpassed 100 games or 400 plate appearances for the first time in 2013. He missed part of the 2012 season on the restricted list, then had a lacerated thumb on his left hand in April and an elbow injury in August that cut into his playing time in 2013. When healthy, Ravelo showed a feel for the barrel, gap power and a discerning eye at the plate. Ravelo showed the ability to make adjustments to offspeed stuff. He struggled more against lefthanders with pitchability than with hard-throwing righthanders and likes using the opposite field. Ravelo shows raw power in batting practice but has yet to translate that into over-the-fence power. He's big-bodied and has moved from third base to first. He's a below-average runner on his way to being a baseclogger if he's not careful. If he's the kind of bat-first, power-second hitter who comes into his power later in his career, Ravelo could get interesting. He'll graduate to Double-A Birmingham for 2014.