It was a blowout of a game in Lake Elsinore, but some of the stars really came out to play in this one. Samuel Zavala had one of his best games of the season, Ethan Salas continued to do nothing but impress, and Josue De Paula showed off some of the raw tools that make him so exciting. Also walked away with some thoughts on another Dodgers prospect that is having something of a breakout season. Lake Elsinore has one of the biggest star duos in the Cal League, and it’s easy to see why after a night like tonight.
C Ethan Salas, #30 on T100:
It’s well known at this point how impressive he is, but I just can’t emphasize it enough. The approach and plate recognition at the plate is just so much more advanced than any player his age should be showing. He wrapped the game up with two hits and a walk. In both games I have seen him he has some plate appearances where he jumps on the first pitch and makes contact, and then other plate appearances where he is extremely patient and makes it a long at bat. His bat-to-ball skills are good enough to where he can look for a pitch he really wants early, and when he gets it he is not afraid to swing. Salas is just such an advanced hitter at the plate and gives off a hitterish feel that I cannot praise enough.
The swing itself is a beautiful one as well. He leans back more in his load depending on the count, and when he needs to make contact he shortens the load up and makes the toe tap really quick. His bat control is impressive and it’s why he can make contact with such ease. I like the hit tool I have seen from him and I think it’s his best feature at the plate, but the raw power could grow into plus territory with his size too. And if that power comes and he keeps this approach/ pitch recognition going, this guy is going to be the best prospect in baseball at some point.
This was also my first game seeing him behind the dish, and he was impressive. His communication with the pitcher was there in a big way, which is always something you want from a catcher. He moves well behind the plate and has soft hands, which should allow him to be a plus framer/receiver. He did not show off his arm, but overall the skills behind the plate are there. He is so young and how he matures will have a huge effect on him behind the plate, but right now he looks like an above average catcher in the works.
OF Samuel Zavala, #4 on Padres T30:
I have been waiting to catch Zavala on a night where he looks really good, and tonight was that night. He had two home runs, one being an inside the park home run on a questionable dive by De Paula, and another single to go on top of it. All three hits were on loud contact and they were early on in the count. He was jumping on pitches and mashing them. The inside the park home run was on a line drive to straight away center, and he came across to score when it got by the center fielder. He pulled the home run for a no doubter to right center field, and this was more raw power than I have seen from him. The raw power is at least average, but after seeing this there may be some above average power in there.
Just like every other time I have seen him, what jumps out with Zavala is the fluidity in the body. His hips move so quickly and his arms go with them, which helps him make contact in a big way. The hit tool is solidly average to me, but the tools are there in the body for him to be able to make consistent contact if he refines his swing a tad bit. I love watching Zavala hit and while the swing still needs to be more consistent, I walked away impressed with the raw power he showed in-game tonight and everything he needs to keep his stock rising is right there.
OF Josue De Paula, #14 on Dodgers T30:
Josue De Paula has one of the prettiest swings I have seen in person. The bat speed jumps out right away and the way he uses his body in the swing is impressive. He is a really tall dude, but he stays low through the swing and I think he has some real plus power in there as he fills out. The hit tool he has right now already looks average and he makes a ton of contact, so when that power comes watch out. Maybe what jumps out more than the swing is just the physical projection on this guy. He is a legit 6’3 and already has some strength on him, but he has room for much more.
In the field, De Paula is a definite corner outfielder to me. They play him in center right now, but he is not a very good runner at all and his reads in center are extremely raw. He takes some questionable routes and he made one bad choice to dive on a ball that led to an inside the park home run. Still, I think he has the arm strength to play right field and once he moves off center, he’ll have plenty of reps to be a good right fielder. This is a power corner outfielder profile, and a very good one at that. What he is doing at this level combined with the fact that he is barely 18 is going under the radar a bit to me, but I could not be more in on the upside of this guy. Sign me up for his combination of bat speed and plus raw power.
C Thayron Liranzo, #22 on Dodgers T30:
It was not the best game results wise for Liranzo, but I can see why he has some helium. His swing is a bit inconsistent for me with the amount of movement he uses, but you can’t deny that it is working for now. He has a lot of size on him already and clearly has raw power in there given he has 15 home runs this season, I just have not seen it live yet. He also whiffs a bit too much for my liking at this level, but he had one at bat where he fought off some real tough pitches and drew a walk. That plate appearance stood out to me and it was the best that I have seen from him so far.
He seems like a fine catcher behind the plate, but I would bet on him being a 1B/DH type, which makes a huge difference to the profile. Still, this is a guy with some impressive physicality and real power behind him. I feel like I have not caught him on his best days just yet, but the production this season is impossible to deny and the impact in the bat is hard to deny. I can see a bat with plus power and a below average hit tool in here, which is another good prospect in a stacked system.