Feb 15, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker (left) talks with former manager Bobby Cox during MLB spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker (left) talks with former manager Bobby Cox during MLB spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
Juan Yepez missed a big chunk of 2016 to injury. What can he show the Atlanta Braves in 2017?
Player Profile
The Atlanta Braves made Juan Yepez their big-money signing of the 2014 July 2nd class when they signed him out of Venezuela.
Juan opened his career in 2015 with the Gulf Coast League affiliate before earning his way to Danville in the Appalachian League. Splitting his time almost evenly between the two levels, he combined for a .299/.364/.458 line with 4 home runs and 3 stolen bases, adding 16 doubles, a 9.65% walk rate, and a 24.12% strikeout rate.
He spent 6 of his games at third base and 45 at first base (with a number of games spend either at DH or pinch hitting).
In 2016, Yepez opened the season working in extended spring training. He opened his season in low-A Rome in the South Atlantic League on May 8th, but an injury roughly 10 days later left him out for nearly 3 months. He finally returned to Rome on August 16th and finished the season with the team.
Yepez hit a combined .255/.309/.333 on the season with a single home run in 26 games, along with a 6.36% walk rate and a 23.64% strikeout rate.
He did not play in the playoffs for Rome. On the season, he played 22 games at first base and 4 games at third base.
Next: Riley's scouting report
Juan Yepez hit his 1st HR of the year (8G). .297/.366/.459 on the season, .298/.364/.459 for his career (67G) pic.twitter.com/QGDOEiewPZ
Yepez is listed at 6’1 and 200 pounds. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was roughly 6’3″ instead, but the 200 might even be 5-15 pounds on the heavy side, unless Yepez is a pretty lean 200 as he has some solid build under his jersey as well.
Yepez received some negative press before signing claiming poor conditioning, but not only has he received excellent marks on his conditioning in the Braves organization, he’s actually gone above and beyond.
He’s trimmed himself to the point where I truly believe that the organization moved him to first base after signing him as a third baseman originally, but he could find his way back to the hot corner with his improved conditioning.
Hitting
Contact (55) – Many see Yepez’s strength in his frame and his high hold of the bat, and they under-estimate the ability he has to make tremendous contact with the ball.
Yepez showed some struggle when he returned from his injury in getting solid barrel to the ball, but this was visibly due to some rust from his time off.
His ceiling here is quite high as I truly believe he could have a plus hit tool at full development.
Power (50) – While his build may make one think he’s a big masher, Yepez has a pure swing path that leads to more of a line drive swing.
He pounded the gaps in the low levels in 2015 with that swing, and many talk about how the ball sounds when he hits it into a gap, with a rare sound that the truly elite hitters get.
Eye (50) – Yepez actually has a solid eye, though his production did not show it well this season. I do worry, though, that he can fall into a bit of a rut where he’s trying too hard to produce and ends up swinging at more than he should, hurting both his strikeout and walk rates.
In general, for an 18 year-old, Yepez has a very good idea of the zone, and his pitch recognition is above average.
Base Running/Fielding
Speed (45) – While Yepez’s improved conditioning has certainly improved his quickness, he’s never going to be a guy who will be leading the team in stolen bases or any such thing.
He does do well when covering multiple bases, though, as he has an excellent top gear once he hits it, but it does take a couple steps to get there for him.
Defense (55) – If at first base, I had one scout for another organization tell me that there were three guys he saw as elite defensive first basemen on the season, and Yepez was one.
It was hard to find footage of Yepez at third as he had only two chances on the entire season, but in watching one of his starts, he did have a number of balls hit to his side of the infield, and he did show excellent instincts on them, though he happened to see all foul balls his way in the game I saw.
Those in the organization appear high that he could be a solid defender, albeit not elite, if he makes the move back to third.
Arm (50) – The one thing that could limit his move to the hot corner is his arm. He’s always had an arm that was average to perhaps just a hair above-average, but third base requires a solid arm, which Yepez does have as far as accuracy goes based on throws he made from first that I could view.
MLB Player Comp
He’s a switch-hitter, while Yepez hits only from the right side and he’s got a significant added build, but the type of players that each is really leads to an excellent comparison between Yepez and Chase Headley.
Headley had a similar contact focus in his swing with solid gap power and similar walk and strikeout rates at lower levels. He’s really only had the big 2012 season offensively, but otherwise has been solid overall more than elite offensively.
Defensively, Headley is graded with an average arm as far as strength, but excellent accuracy and quick release that allows the arm to play up.
At third base, Headley would be a likely outcome if Yepez were to make it to the major leagues, however, it’s yet to be seen if he makes the move over to third or remains at first base.
From what I can gather, the idea to play Yepez at third base is a real one, and it would lead me to believe that he very well could open the season back in Rome, which would likely be his destination regardless.
I think with a year at Rome under the tutelage of Randy Ingle and his staff, Yepez could see a very big leap up Braves team prospect lists if he shows he can handle third base as well as get back to his solid contact and continue to develop his power.
It is hard to remember with his physicality at the plate, but he is only going to be 19 years old when the season kicks off for 2017!
