Izaac Pacheco

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #23 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: For much of his amateur career, Pacheco’s power stood out, but there were just as many concerns he’d struggle to get to that power because he sold out too much to try to hit home runs. So far as a pro, those skeptics’ fears have been realized. Pacheco was too often an easy out in 2023. He struck out 31% of the time and needed a late-season surge to get his batting average above .200.
  
  Scouting Report: Pacheco seemed lost for weeks at a time at the plate. He’s got significant power, but his pull-heavy approach is getting picked apart by more advanced pitchers, especially ones who can feed him a steady diet of changeups off the plate. He seemed to be guessing too often. He has plus-plus raw power, but he won’t get to it regularly in games until he can string together better at-bats. He is young enough to still figure out a better approach, but the trendlines are concerning. Pacheco’s offensive struggles haven’t followed him into the field, where he’s an above-average defender at third with a plus arm. He’s a below-average runner, but isn’t a baseclogger.
  
  The Future: After reaching West Michigan at the end of the 2022 season Pacheco will likely need to return there again in 2024. He has the tools to be a power-hitting third baseman, but he’ll need better pitch recognition and plate coverage to get to that potential.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 30 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #15 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The Tigers were enamored with Pacheco's power potential to the point that they were willing to accept some risk as far as his contact ability. Despite some swing-and-miss concerns, the appeal of natural, raw power has always been difficult to overlook. At 6-4, 225 pounds, Pacheco was selected 39th overall as the Tigers' 2021 second-round pick for $2.75 million. The 18-year-old shortstop was in the mix about a month later, making his debut with the Florida Complex League Tigers in July. Over 30 games, Pacheco slashed .226/.339/.330 with seven extra-base hits. Entering the 2022 season at 20 years old, Pacheco split the year between Class A Lakeland and High-A West Michigan, slashing a combined .254/.331/.408 with 36 extra-base hits.
  
  Scouting Report: Still just 20 years old, Pacheco has plenty of physical projection remaining. Like many young developing power hitters, Pacheco has some contact issues, but mainly because he expands the strike zone too much rather than missing hittable strikes. Pacheco's swing produces plus raw power with plenty of natural loft and solid bat speed. Defensively, the Tigers have moved Pacheco to third base primarily. The speed of the game sometimes seemed too much for him at shortstop and his range was limited. He's more effective at third base where he has a plus arm and a decent first step. His offensive profile should be fine at third base long-term.
  
  The Future: With his first full-season campaign behind him, Pacheco's highly improved pitch recognition has him positioned for an impact season in 2023. Likely to begin the regular season with High-A West Michigan, Pacheco should move quickly, as long as his offensive production and continuing maturation can keep up with the pace.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Speed: 45. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #10 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Pacheco showed some of the biggest power in the high school class but also swung and missed more than ideal. The Tigers took the optimistic view and drafted Pacheco in the second round, No. 39 overall, and signed him for an above-slot $2.75 million to forgo a Texas A&M commitment. Pacheco made his pro debut in the Florida Complex League after signing and showed impressive physicality and raw power, but he hit just .226 with one home run and a 34% strikeout rate.
  
  Scouting Report: Pacheco is every bit of 6-foot-4, 225 pounds and has a powerful lefthanded swing. He looks for pitches on the inner half of the plate and turns on them with giant hacks, sometimes rotating and landing on one knee a la Adrian Beltre. He has plus-plus raw power, solid bat speed and natural loft in his swing. How much Pacheco will get to his power is in question. He recognizes pitches, but struggles with anything on the outer half and swings and misses an inordinate amount. He projects to be no more than a below-average hitter and has substantial gains to make to get there. Pacheco plays a solid shortstop for his large frame with clean hands and plus arm strength, but his future home is third base, where he could be an above-average defender.
  
  The Future: Pacheco’s biggest challenge will be proving he can make enough contact to get to his power. If he can, he has to be a dangerous lefthanded power threat in the Tigers’ lineup.
  

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #36 prospect in 2021 draft
  Pacheco has long been on the radar as a lefty bat with big power, but he left the showcase season with plenty of questions about his tendency to swing and miss. Pacheco shows future plus productive power and present plus-plus raw power. He gets to that power by taking big hacks that sometimes will leave him finishing on one knee a la Adrian Beltre. Pacheco has a pretty advanced but somewhat limited approach. He looks for balls on the inner half that he can turn. He has the pitch recognition and awareness to make that work as he understands the strike zone, and that gives him a shot of posting solid on-base percentages despite a likely below-average hit tool. A pitcher with command to stay on the outer third of the strike zone can cause him issues, although he showed an improved ability to go the other way this spring. He has a fluid swing with some ability to use his hands to adjust to offspeed offerings. Pacheco alleviated some concerns by performing consistently throughout his senior season at Friendswood (Texas) High. He’s an average runner. Defensively, he’s likely to move immediately to third base as a pro—he has the hands for shortstop or third and a plus arm, but his filled-out frame (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) is seen as a better fit at third, and some scouts see an above-average defender there. Others see him needing to eventually move to a corner outfield spot or even first base. His plus power gives him a shot of fitting almost anywhere on the diamond if he can get to a fringe-average hit tool. Pacheco is committed to Texas A&M.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #9 prospect in 2021
  Pacheco stood out for his size and power coming out of high school, with the Tigers signing him for $2.75 million, well above slot for the 39th overall pick. Pacheco has plus raw power, but he showed swing-and-miss tendencies in high school which continued in the FCL, where he struck out 34% of the time. Pacheco uses his hands well at the plate with a fluid swing and a solid sense of the strike zone, but he will need to make more contact. Pacheco has a high baseball IQ that helps him defensively, especially at his size at shortstop. Scouts generally see him as a future third baseman, with some chance he ends up in an outfield corner. His hands should work int he infield, and his plus arm should fit at third.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The Tigers were enamored with Pacheco's power potential to the point that they were willing to accept some risk as far as his contact ability. Despite some swing-and-miss concerns, the appeal of natural, raw power has always been difficult to overlook. At 6-4, 225 pounds, Pacheco was selected 39th overall as the Tigers' 2021 second-round pick for $2.75 million. The 18-year-old shortstop was in the mix about a month later, making his debut with the Florida Complex League Tigers in July. Over 30 games, Pacheco slashed .226/.339/.330 with seven extra-base hits. Entering the 2022 season at 20 years old, Pacheco split the year between Class A Lakeland and High-A West Michigan, slashing a combined .254/.331/.408 with 36 extra-base hits.
  
  Scouting Report: Still just 20 years old, Pacheco has plenty of physical projection remaining. Like many young developing power hitters, Pacheco has some contact issues, but mainly because he expands the strike zone too much rather than missing hittable strikes. Pacheco's swing produces plus raw power with plenty of natural loft and solid bat speed. Defensively, the Tigers have moved Pacheco to third base primarily. The speed of the game sometimes seemed too much for him at shortstop and his range was limited. He's more effective at third base where he has a plus arm and a decent first step. His offensive profile should be fine at third base long-term.
  
  The Future: With his first full-season campaign behind him, Pacheco's highly improved pitch recognition has him positioned for an impact season in 2023. Likely to begin the regular season with High-A West Michigan, Pacheco should move quickly, as long as his offensive production and continuing maturation can keep up with the pace.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Speed: 45. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: The Tigers were enamored with Pacheco's power potential to the point that they were willing to accept some risk as far as his contact ability. Despite some swing-and-miss concerns, the appeal of natural, raw power has always been difficult to overlook. At 6-4, 225 pounds, Pacheco was selected 39th overall as the Tigers' 2021 second-round pick for $2.75 million. The 18-year-old shortstop was in the mix about a month later, making his debut with the Florida Complex League Tigers in July. Over 30 games, Pacheco slashed .226/.339/.330 with seven extra-base hits. Entering the 2022 season at 20 years old, Pacheco split the year between Class A Lakeland and High-A West Michigan, slashing a combined .254/.331/.408 with 36 extra-base hits.
  
  Scouting Report: Still just 20 years old, Pacheco has plenty of physical projection remaining. Like many young developing power hitters, Pacheco has some contact issues, but mainly because he expands the strike zone too much rather than missing hittable strikes. Pacheco's swing produces plus raw power with plenty of natural loft and solid bat speed. Defensively, the Tigers have moved Pacheco to third base primarily. The speed of the game sometimes seemed too much for him at shortstop and his range was limited. He's more effective at third base where he has a plus arm and a decent first step. His offensive profile should be fine at third base long-term.
  
  The Future: With his first full-season campaign behind him, Pacheco's highly improved pitch recognition has him positioned for an impact season in 2023. Likely to begin the regular season with High-A West Michigan, Pacheco should move quickly, as long as his offensive production and continuing maturation can keep up with the pace.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Speed: 45. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Pacheco showed some of the biggest power in the high school class but also swung and missed more than ideal. The Tigers took the optimistic view and drafted Pacheco in the second round, No. 39 overall, and signed him for an above-slot $2.75 million to forgo a Texas A&M commitment. Pacheco made his pro debut in the Florida Complex League after signing and showed impressive physicality and raw power, but he hit just .226 with one home run and a 34% strikeout rate.
  
  Scouting Report: Pacheco is every bit of 6-foot-4, 225 pounds and has a powerful lefthanded swing. He looks for pitches on the inner half of the plate and turns on them with giant hacks, sometimes rotating and landing on one knee a la Adrian Beltre. He has plus-plus raw power, solid bat speed and natural loft in his swing. How much Pacheco will get to his power is in question. He recognizes pitches, but struggles with anything on the outer half and swings and misses an inordinate amount. He projects to be no more than a below-average hitter and has substantial gains to make to get there. Pacheco plays a solid shortstop for his large frame with clean hands and plus arm strength, but his future home is third base, where he could be an above-average defender.
  
  The Future: Pacheco&#39s biggest challenge will be proving he can make enough contact to get to his power. If he can, he has to be a dangerous lefthanded power threat in the Tigers&#39 lineup.
  
  Scouting Grades:Hit: 40. Power: 60. Speed: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Pacheco showed some of the biggest power in the high school class but also swung and missed more than ideal. The Tigers took the optimistic view and drafted Pacheco in the second round, No. 39 overall, and signed him for an above-slot $2.75 million to forgo a Texas A&M commitment. Pacheco made his pro debut in the Florida Complex League after signing and showed impressive physicality and raw power, but he hit just .226 with one home run and a 34% strikeout rate.
  
  Scouting Report: Pacheco is every bit of 6-foot-4, 225 pounds and has a powerful lefthanded swing. He looks for pitches on the inner half of the plate and turns on them with giant hacks, sometimes rotating and landing on one knee a la Adrian Beltre. He has plus-plus raw power, solid bat speed and natural loft in his swing. How much Pacheco will get to his power is in question. He recognizes pitches, but struggles with anything on the outer half and swings and misses an inordinate amount. He projects to be no more than a below-average hitter and has substantial gains to make to get there. Pacheco plays a solid shortstop for his large frame with clean hands and plus arm strength, but his future home is third base, where he could be an above-average defender.
  
  The Future: Pacheco’s biggest challenge will be proving he can make enough contact to get to his power. If he can, he has to be a dangerous lefthanded power threat in the Tigers’ lineup.
  
• October, 2021 Scouting Report
  Pacheco stood out for his size and power coming out of high school, with the Tigers signing him for $2.75 million, well above slot for the 39th overall pick. Pacheco has plus raw power, but he showed swing-and-miss tendencies in high school which continued in the FCL, where he struck out 34% of the time. Pacheco uses his hands well at the plate with a fluid swing and a solid sense of the strike zone, but he will need to make more contact. Pacheco has a high baseball IQ that helps him defensively, especially at his size at shortstop. Scouts generally see him as a future third baseman, with some chance he ends up in an outfield corner. His hands should work int he infield, and his plus arm should fit at third.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  The Tigers made the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Pacheco their third-round selection this year, enticed by the plus-plus raw power in his lefty bat. That impressive power came with an ample amount of swing and miss on the showcase circuit last summer, but Pacheco alleviated some of those concerns following a consistent senior season at Friendswood (Texas) High. Pacheco played shortstop in high school and works with above-average defensive tools, including a plus arm. He's likely to transition to third base as a professional, where his filled-out frame is likely better suited and he has above-average potential.