Yiddi Cappe Thrills Marlins With His Hitting Potenial

Dan Radison has seen this movie before—and it’s a thriller.

Radison, the first-year hitting coach for High-A Beloit, had one thought when he saw 20-year-old second baseman Yiddi Cappe for the first time.

“I saw Yiddi’s body type, and I thought: (Carlos) Correa,” Radison said. “I coached Correa in Double-A. Offensively, Yiddi compares very favorably because of his ability to drive the ball a long way in the gaps.”

At 6-foot-4, Correa is one inch taller than Cappe, who at 176 pounds still has a lot of projection remaining in his frame.

Cappe defected from his native Cuba in 2018 and signed with the Marlins for $3.5 million in January 2021.

Last year, Cappe made his U.S. debut in the Florida Complex League. He reached Low-A Jupiter in late July. At the two stops he hit .290/.328/.438 with nine home runs and 13 stolen bases in 67 games.

This season he hit .303/.353/.526 with three homers and two steals in 20 April games.

“His quick bat stands out,” Beloit manager Billy Gardner Jr. said. “He doesn’t miss fastballs, and he has a good ability to adjust at the plate.”

“For his age and this level,” Gardner said, “Yiddi has an advanced control of the strike zone.”

Added Radison: “Strike-zone management is always going to be an issue for Yiddi because some pitchers are afraid to pitch to him and don’t throw him strikes.”

Radison said he often yells one particular thing in Spanish to connect to Cappe’s native language.

“No pescado,” Radison will say. “No fishing.”

Signed as a shortstop, Cappe has moved to second base this season and has experience at third base.

Marlins scouting director DJ Svihlik said Cappe’s arm plays better at second, and it helps that Beloit shortstop Kahlil Watson has a “cannon” arm.

Watson, Miami’s first-round pick in 2021, has struggled with a high ankle sprain this season. Once Watson returns, he and Cappe should form a terrific middle-infield duo.

“Yiddi is going to eventually become an exciting player at the major league level,” Gardner said. “He’s a high-character guy with a big personality.”

 

FISH BITES

— Besides Cappe and Watson, the Marlins also have a stellar double-play combo at Double-A Pensacola in the form of second baseman Jose Devers and shortstop Nasim Nuñez. The speedy Nuñez (70 steals last year) had been particularly impressive. Marlins scouting director DJ Svihlik said Nuñez plays “supreme” defense, and “his bat is proving to be enough to arrive as a potential starting shortstop.”

— Righthander Bryan Hoeing, known for his stellar groundball rate and a plus changeup, has an improved slider and a fastball up to 93-96 mph. “He is getting results . . .” Svihlik said. “He looks the part of a back-end starter.”