Baseball Prospectus | | Eyewitness Scouting Report


	Jorge Alfaro Born: 06/11/1993 (Age: 20)
	Bats: Right	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 3"	Weight: 230
	Primary Position: C
	Secondary Position: 1B

physically looks great; lower half is thick and sturdy; upper half looks filled out and strong; looks like he’s filled out a bit and is still athletic; doesn’t need to add any more weight IMO; looks the part.

Evaluator	CJ Wittmann
Report Date	05/04/2014
Dates Seen	4/8-10/14; 4/26-28/14
Affiliate	Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High A, Cubs)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Video
2015	high	70	No

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	50	has extremely strong hands and wrists; plus-plus bat speed with leverage; exaggerated hand hitch in load was much calmer; still needs refinement in approach; often went up free swinging and did not adjust to the situation; gets himself down in counts often; has a relative idea of the strike zone but did expand the zone and had trouble with spin down in the zone; presently struggles with recognizing spin; presently wonder about ability to adjust and barreling spin; swing got wristy a few times and rolled over good pitches.
Power	60	plus-plus raw; has ox-like raw strength; natural leverage and good extension through contact; needs more hip torque and usage for in-game power to play plus; at times, can try to crush mistakes with all upper body and forget to get thick lower half involved; BP sessions were legit, showing off the plus-plus raw power and ability to use it throughout the whole field; believe it will transfer to game.
Baserunning/Speed	50	got out of the box and accelerated; stayed in athletic stance and had swift strides; 4.24 on ground ball in the hole; added weight and stayed athletic; very good athlete.
Glove	60	much improved from last year; showed strong wrist and has improved with pitch framing; got plenty of good looks of his blocking ability and ability to adjust because Buckel had no clue where it was going; deadened most balls in the dirt for easy front pickup; at times, glove got too stiff and ball popped out; still has the tendency to jump out of crouch to throw, cost his pitchers a few strikes; foot work was better but still improving; no longer stabbing at balls off target; moves very swiftly behind the plate; could end up being plus.
Arm	80	extreme arm strength; quick transfers from glove to hand; improved foot work helped when throwing; 1.75, 1.84 and 1.79 pop on 2B back pick; could throw out 40% of runners at highest level.

I know the tools may not match up exactly with the role but I think Alfaro is a stud. He’s going to be at least an average hitter with plus power that could even play higher. He needs a lot of refinement in his approach to get himself in more favorable counts but that is all a part of the developmental process. His glove is improving, along with his footwork and pitch framing. I am really impressed the strides he has made behind the plate in the course of the last year. The arm strength is elite and his footwork and blocking skills have improved since last season. From a premium defensive position, he will be enough defensively and more than enough at the plate. In a league where having a serious asset at catcher is rare, Alfaro could be special.