Brandon Valenzuela

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #28 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Valenzuela enjoyed a growth spurt after the Padres purchased his rights from the Mexican League’s Mexico City franchise for $100,000. He rose quickly up the minors but regressed across the board in 2022, leading him to buy into the organization’s wishes for him to improve his conditioning. Valenzuela arrived at 2023 spring training with 12 pounds and 4-5% of body fat shaved off his frame and had a bounceback season. He hit his way to Double-A San Antonio before having season-ending surgery on his MCL in his left knee in August.
  
  Scouting Report: Valenzuela is a thick, physical catcher who looks the part of a big league backstop. A switch-hitter, Valenzuela doesn’t possess great bat speed but knows the strike zone and which pitches to attack. He sprays line drives all over the field with a short, sound swing from both sides and has developed a newfound aggressiveness that allows him to do damage. Valenzuela is a highly advanced catcher who stands head and shoulders above his peer group in his ability to call a game, learn hitters’ tendencies and manage a pitching staff. He has an above-average arm and is a plus receiver and blocker, especially with a better body helping to improve his agility.
  
  The Future: Valenzuela is set to return in 2024. He projects to be a dependable backup catcher.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 30 | Run: 30 | Field: 60 | Arm: 55
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #22 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Valenzuela enjoyed a growth spurt after the Padres purchased his rights from the Mexican’s League’s Mexico City franchise for $100,000 and rose up the organizational depth chart after the Padres traded away most of their catching depth. Long thought of as a defense-first backstop, Valenzuela showed he could swing the bat too in his full-season debut in 2021. He hit .307/.389/.444 while showing increased power at Low-A Lake Elsinore and earned a late promotion to High-A Fort Wayne.
  
  Scouting Report: As a catcher, Valenzuela is heads and shoulders above his peer group in his ability to call a game, learn hitters’ tendencies and manage a pitching staff. He has an innate ability to know who needs a pep talk and who needs a kick in the pants. He’s an elite receiver and blocker with an above-average arm. Valenzuela’s feet are not particularly quick, however, and there are questions about his conditioning. Getting in better shape could improve what he lacks in quick-twitch and help him at the plate, too. He has a strong eye for the strike zone and sprays the ball to all fields with a short, sound swing, but his bat speed is below-average and his power potential is fringy.
  
  The Future: Valenzuela profiles nicely as a backup catcher. He’ll need to increase his bat speed to hit enough to start.
  
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #25 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres scouted Mexico heavily during the 2017-18 international signing period and purchased Valenzuela's rights for $100,000 from the Mexico City Red Devils. The switch-hitting catcher grew three inches after signing and impressed with more walks (34) than strikeouts (32) in the Rookie-level Arizona League. He earned plaudits during 2020 instructional league for his ability to catch older, more advanced pitchers.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Valenzuela is a physical backstop with premium defensive ability for his age. He's an excellent framer who takes low pitches and turns them into strikes, records pop times in the 1.9s with his above-average arm and is often the smartest player on the field. He remembers hitters' tendencies and expertly guides his pitchers through difficult situations. Valenzuela has a simple swing from both sides of the plate. His bat speed is limited, but he doesn't chase outside the strike zone and draws enough walks to be an offensive contributor. His strength gives him a chance to reach double-digit home runs at maturity.
  
  THE FUTURE: Valenzuela has the look and defensive attributes of a future major league catcher. He'll move to full-season ball in 2021.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Valenzuela enjoyed a growth spurt after the Padres purchased his rights from the Mexican’s League’s Mexico City franchise for $100,000 and rose up the organizational depth chart after the Padres traded away most of their catching depth. Long thought of as a defense-first backstop, Valenzuela showed he could swing the bat too in his full-season debut in 2021. He hit .307/.389/.444 while showing increased power at Low-A Lake Elsinore and earned a late promotion to High-A Fort Wayne.
  
  Scouting Report: As a catcher, Valenzuela is heads and shoulders above his peer group in his ability to call a game, learn hitters’ tendencies and manage a pitching staff. He has an innate ability to know who needs a pep talk and who needs a kick in the pants. He’s an elite receiver and blocker with an above-average arm. Valenzuela’s feet are not particularly quick, however, and there are questions about his conditioning. Getting in better shape could improve what he lacks in quick-twitch and help him at the plate, too. He has a strong eye for the strike zone and sprays the ball to all fields with a short, sound swing, but his bat speed is below-average and his power potential is fringy.
  
  The Future: Valenzuela profiles nicely as a backup catcher. He’ll need to increase his bat speed to hit enough to start.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres scouted Mexico heavily during the 2017-18 international signing period and purchased Valenzuela's rights for $100,000 from the Mexico City Red Devils. The switch-hitting catcher grew three inches after signing and impressed with more walks (34) than strikeouts (32) in the Rookie-level Arizona League. He earned plaudits during 2020 instructional league for his ability to catch older, more advanced pitchers.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Valenzuela is a physical backstop with premium defensive ability for his age. He's an excellent framer who takes low pitches and turns them into strikes, records pop times in the 1.9s with his above-average arm and is often the smartest player on the field. He remembers hitters' tendencies and expertly guides his pitchers through difficult situations. Valenzuela has a simple swing from both sides of the plate. His bat speed is limited, but he doesn't chase outside the strike zone and draws enough walks to be an offensive contributor. His strength gives him a chance to reach double-digit home runs at maturity.
  
  THE FUTURE: Valenzuela has the look and defensive attributes of a future major league catcher. He'll move to full-season ball in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres scouted Mexico heavily during the 2017-18 international signing period and purchased Valenzuela's rights for $100,000 from the Mexico City Red Devils. The switch-hitting catcher grew three inches after signing and impressed with more walks (34) than strikeouts (32) in the Rookie-level Arizona League. He earned plaudits during 2020 instructional league for his ability to catch older, more advanced pitchers.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Valenzuela is a physical backstop with premium defensive ability for his age. He's an excellent framer who takes low pitches and turns them into strikes, records pop times in the 1.9s with his above-average arm and is often the smartest player on the field. He remembers hitters' tendencies and expertly guides his pitchers through difficult situations. Valenzuela has a simple swing from both sides of the plate. His bat speed is limited, but he doesn't chase outside the strike zone and draws enough walks to be an offensive contributor. His strength gives him a chance to reach double-digit home runs at maturity.
  
  THE FUTURE: Valenzuela has the look and defensive attributes of a future major league catcher. He'll move to full-season ball in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Padres scouted Mexico heavily during the 2017-18 international signing period and purchased Valenzuela's rights for $100,000 from the Mexico City Red Devils. The switch-hitting catcher grew three inches after signing and impressed with more walks (34) than strikeouts (32) in the Rookie-level Arizona League. He earned plaudits during 2020 instructional league for his ability to catch older, more advanced pitchers.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Valenzuela is a physical backstop with premium defensive ability for his age. He's an excellent framer who takes low pitches and turns them into strikes, records pop times in the 1.9s with his above-average arm and is often the smartest player on the field. He remembers hitters' tendencies and expertly guides his pitchers through difficult situations. Valenzuela has a simple swing from both sides of the plate. His bat speed is limited, but he doesn't chase outside the strike zone and draws enough walks to be an offensive contributor. His strength gives him a chance to reach double-digit home runs at maturity.
  
  THE FUTURE: Valenzuela has the look and defensive attributes of a future major league catcher. He'll move to full-season ball in 2021.