Baseball Instincts Elevate Geraldo Perdomo

While the upper reaches of the Diamondbacks’ farm system is light on high-upside position players, the lower levels have their share of intriguing prospects. Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo ranks among the best.

The 18-year-old possesses an interesting combination of skills and polish. He’s a switch-hitter with plate discipline and emerging power. He has strong baseball instincts, both in the field and on the bases. Few in the organization question his ability to stick at shortstop.

On top of that, Perdomo has produced across three levels in his first season in the U.S., rising from the Rookie-level Arizona League to short-season Hillsboro. He hit .336/.456/.450 with two home runs and 22 stolen bases through 40 games, with just as many walks (31) as strikeouts (31).

“I think he’s going to get better and better,” AZL D-backs manager Darrin Garner said. “When you have a kid like that who is a student of the game, he’s going to do what it takes to get better. I see a good future for him—hitting, defense, baserunning, the whole package. He’s going to be a good player.”

During his month-long stay in the AZL, Perdomo appeared to know the strike zone better than umpires. Garner said Perdomo has a plan at the plate and an ability to discern balls from strikes, though some think he could benefit from being more aggressive.

Perdomo, who signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2016 for just $70,000, also showed hitting proficiency from both sides of the plate, according to first-year hitting coach Jonny Gomes.

“One game he came up and led the game off with a home run righthanded,” Gomes said. “We hit around, and he came up lefthanded and hit a ball inches away from a homer from the left side. That’s pretty rare.”

Coaches and executives rave about Perdomo’s baseball acumen and his willingness to make adjustments. They say he might not have the strongest arm or be the fastest runner, but his internal clock at shortstop and his instincts on the bases allow him to excel.

SNAKE BITES

** Double-A Jackson righthander Jon Duplantier returned from a two-month disabled list stint (biceps tendinitis) by retiring all 15 batters he faced on Aug. 6 against Tennessee. 

** Shortstop Blaze Alexander was named the organization’s position player of the month for July. In 32 games in the Arizona League, he hit .357/.457/.589. Promoted to Rookie-level Missoula, Alexander went 13-for-37 (.351) in his first nine Pioneer League games.