Dante Bichette
| AB | 2137 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .267 |
| OBP | .34 |
| SLG | .379 |
| HR | 33 |
- Full name Alphonse Dante Bichette Jr.
- Born 09/26/1992 in Orlando, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Orangewood Christian
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Drafted in the C-A round (51st overall) by the New York Yankees in 2011 (signed for $750,000).
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Bichette's father played 14 seasons in the major leagues, earning four All-Star Game nods, collecting 1,906 hits and 274 home runs and even posting a 30-30 season in 1996. His son is cut from similar cloth. He's a righthanded hitter who has solid athleticism and a track record of performance, going back to helping his Little League team reach Williamsport, Pa. The younger Bichette is a high school infielder, but his profile will wind up being that of a power-hitting left fielder. He lacks fluidity defensively, and his best tool when he's not in the batter's box is his throwing arm. Offense is his calling card, and he's a cage rat who often can be found taking extra rounds of batting practice. Bichette has had a lot of movement in his swing but has toned down a bit this season while still producing big power and plenty of bat speed. He has as much raw power as any prep player in Florida and runs well enough to be a corner outfielder if he can't stay in the infield. He's committed to Georgia.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Bichette's father Dante made four all-star teams despite struggling early in his minor league career, posting a .688 OPS in low Class A in 1985 as a 21-year-old. Two years younger at the same level in 2012, Dante Jr. grinded his way to a .653 OPS. That was a far cry from his pro debut after he signed for $750,000 as New York's top draft pick in 2011, when he ranked as the No. 1 prospect and earned MVP honors in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Bichette struggled with the heavier diet of breaking balls he saw in low Class A, making lots of weak contact. His bat-to-ball skills kept him from striking out more, and when he did connect, the ball often was swallowed up at spacious Riley Park in Charleston. He posted a .591 OPS at home, compared to a more respectable .713 on the road. Bichette has solid raw power with good bat speed and the ability to put backspin on the ball. His defense made significant progress as he became more comfortable with third base. His quickness, range and arm are all fringy to average, so he's not a lock to stay at the hot corner. He'll likely start 2013 back in Charleston. -
The son of the former all-star outfielder of the same name, Dante Jr. is a baseball rat who hit .640 as a high school senior and became the Yankee's top 2011 draft pick (51st overall). He signed quickly for $750,000 and adjusted on the fly after a slow start to pro ball, lowering his hands and quickening his swing. He earned top-prospect and MVP honors in the Gulf Coast League and led his team to the championship. Like his father, Bichette combines righthanded power and underrated athletic ability. He's an advanced hitter with good hand-eye coordination, present strength and above-average bat speed. He doesn't sell out for power, uses the whole field and has a mature two-strike approach. While area scouts considered Bichette a lock to move to the outfield while he was an amateur, he impressed New York with his agility, arm strength and aptitude at third base. He's an average runner. His work ethic impresses coaches and opponents alike, and he should have the makeup to handle the Big Apple. Bichette's passion for the game helped him make a name for himself with his strong debut. He could move quickly, and if J.R. Murphy remains a catcher, the Yankees don't have another third-base prospect ahead of him. Bichette is ready to advance to low Class A in 2012.
Minor League Top Prospects
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The Yankees used their top 2011 draft choice (51st overall) on Bichette, whose father Dante was a four-time all-star in the 1990s. The son led the league in hits (67), doubles (17) and RBIs (47), winning MVP honors and a league title before getting a brief promotion to the short-season New York-Penn League. Bichette impressed GCL managers with his advanced approach at the plate, good bat speed and plus-plus power. He works the count and makes adjustments pitch to pitch, showing the ability to drive the ball to all fields when he's ahead in the count. While there's movement in his swing, scouts noticed that he lowered his hands in his set-up as the season went on, which helped him get ready to hit sooner. While amateur scouts questioned whether Bichette would have to move to a corner outfield position, GCL evaluators said he was fine defensively at third base. He made the routine plays, showing solid actions and a strong arm.
Scouting Reports
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Background: The son of the former all-star outfielder of the same name, Dante Jr. is a baseball rat who became the Yankees' top 2011 draft pick (51st overall). He signed quickly for $750,000 and adjusted on the fly after a slow start to pro ball, lowering his hands and quickening his swing. He earned top-prospect and MVP honors in the Gulf Coast League and led his team to the championship. Scouting Report: Like his father, Bichette combines righthanded power and underrated athletic ability. He's an advanced hitter with good hand-eye coordination, present strength and above-average bat speed. He doesn't sell out for power, uses the whole field and has a mature two-strike approach. While scouts considered Bichette a lock to move to the outfield while he was an amateur, he impressed New York with his agility, arm strength and aptitude at third base. He's an average runner. He should have the makeup to handle the Big Apple. The Future: Bichette's passion for the game and work ethic helped him make a name for himself with his strong debut. He could move quickly, and if J.R. Murphy remains a catcher, the Yankees don't have another third-base prospect ahead of him. Bichette is ready to advance to low Class A in 2012.
