Denzer Guzman

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #9 prospect in 2026
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Adjusted Grade: 35
  
  Track Record: Guzman signed with the Angels for $2 million out of the Dominican Republic in January 2021 and hit well in Rookie ball before scuffling at full-season affiliates, hitting .232 with a .649 OPS and 27.8% strikeout rate across three levels in 2023 and 2024. Guzman began tapping into his power in 2025 while cutting down his strikeouts, posting a 119 wRC+ with 17 home runs between Double-A Rocket City and Triple-A Salt Lake. The Angels moved him from shortstop to third base to better suit the big league club and called him up on Sept. 13.
  
  Scouting Report: Guzman is a glove-first shortstop with power projection. His swing is geared for pull-side damage but can get long and grooved uphill, leading to swing-and-miss tendencies. He handles fastballs well, with his biggest hurdles coming on swing decisions and barrel adjustments on offspeeds from righthanders. Discipline on breaking pitches and in-zone contact will dictate how often Guzman can tap into his above-average raw power. He is a fringe-average runner who is better underway than in quick bursts, making him an extra-base threat more than a basestealer. Because he has maintained his athleticism and agility as he’s matured, Guzman is an above-average shortstop defender with the cadence and rhythm for the position. He shows ease on the backhand play and solid range up the middle, supported by a plus arm. He added third base to enhance his versatility and embellish the Angels’ depth chart.
  
  The Future: Guzman has the floor of a utility infielder because of his glove and power, while improvements to his hit tool and discipline could turn him into a bottom-of-the-lineup regular. He will have a chance to break camp as the Angels’ starting third baseman out of spring training in 2026.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #8 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
  
  Track Record: Guzman signed with the Angels for $2 million in January 2021. Following a mediocre pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, he hit well in his U.S. debut in the Arizona Complex League in 2022 and spent a full season as a teenager with Low-A Inland Empire in 2023, where he struggled offensively. After Guzman spent one month in High-A in 2024, the Angels pushed him to Double-A as a 20-year-old. He showcased enticing tools despite lackluster performance as one of the youngest players in the Southern League.
  
  Scouting Report: Guzman is a toolsy, glove-first shortstop. He is a rhythmic hitter with a simple line-drive swing from the right side, with some feel for the barrel and intent in his swing. He makes hard contact to his pull side with budding power projection. Guzman handles fastballs well, with his biggest hurdles coming on swing decisions and barrel adjustments on offspeeds from righthanders. His swing tends to get long, resulting in swings and misses. The Angels are optimistic these struggles will improve with reps, but tightening his swing decisions and in-zone contact will dictate how much he hits for average and taps into his average raw power. Guzman is a fringe-average runner who is better underway than in quick bursts, making him an extra-base threat more than a basestealer. He has maintained his agility and athleticism while physically maturing, and he is an above-average defender at shortstop with the cadence and rhythm for the premium defensive position. He showed ease on the backhand play, with solid range up the middle, backed by a plus arm that will keep him on the left side of the infield.
  
  The Future: Guzman has the glove and pop to project as a future bottom-of-the-lineup regular, but he will need to refine his hit tool and swing decisions against non-fastballs to reach his ceiling.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 45 | Run: 45 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #10 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Guzman signed with the Angels for $2 million in January 2021. Following a mediocre pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, he hit well in his U.S. debut in the Arizona Complex League and was the biggest standout at instructional league following the 2022 season. Assigned to Low-A Inland Empire in 2023, Guzman struggled offensively against older competition as one of the youngest players in the California League, posting a .680 OPS.
  
  Scouting Report: Guzman is a young, glove-first shortstop with some feel for hitting. He is a rhythmic hitter with a simple line-drive swing from the right side who has a natural feel for the barrel. He consistently makes hard contact to his pull side and to the gaps, with most of his power coming from hard doubles as opposed to over-the-fence authority. Guzman handles fastballs well, with his biggest hurdles coming from recognizing and adjusting to offspeed pitches from righthanders. His solid approach and eye for the zone means could help him improve as he gains more experience, and doing so will be the biggest marker in his future offensive impact. Guzman is a fringe-average runner who is better underway than in quick bursts, making him an extra-base threat more than a basestealer. He is an above-average defender at shortstop with the rhythm and cadence for longevity at a premium defensive position. He maintained his agility and athleticism while physically maturing, allowing him to keep his solid range up the middle with improved footwork, backed by a plus arm.
  
  The Future: Guzman will need reps and success against non-fastballs to prove his bat can handle an everyday starting spot near the back of a lineup. His glove will carry him to utility consideration at minimum.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 30 | Run: 45 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #6 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Guzman signed with the Angels out of the Dominican Republic for $2 million as one of the top prospects in the 2020-21 international class that was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. He showed positive traits despite mediocre numbers in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League and flourished with a move to the U.S. in 2022. Guzman showed some of the best physical tools of any infielder in the Arizona Complex League and earned a promotion to Low-A Inland Empire for the final week of the season. He wrapped up his year with a standout performance in instructional league that had team officials buzzing.
  
  Scouting Report: Guzman is a rhythmic hitter with excellent plate coverage who regularly finds the barrel with a fast, loose swing. He consistently makes hard contact and drives the ball back up the middle with an advanced approach. Guzman has solid raw power and explosive bat speed, but he'll have to continue growing and adding strength to his frame to tap into his potentially average power. He is a disciplined hitter with good strike-zone awareness who draws plenty of walks and rarely strikes out. On top of his offensive promise, Guzman has great instincts, sound footwork, soft hands and above-average arm strength at shortstop, but he's a fringe-average runner and could slow down and outgrow the position as he gets bigger. He would be an above-average defender at third base. Guzman receives high praise for his aptitude and work ethic and is a high-energy player who is fun to watch on the field.
  
  The Future: Guzman has many years of physical development left, but he has a chance to grow into an above-average everyday player who makes an impact on both sides of the ball. He will begin 2023 back at Inland Empire.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #8 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Once the pandemic-delayed international signing period opened in Jan. 2021, the Angels snapped up Guzman, one of the best pure hitters in his class, for a $2 million bonus. The 17-year-old had a solid pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, showing good power, plate discipline and speed, with 14 extra-base hits, 20 walks and 24 strikeouts in 164 plate appearances and 11 stolen bases in 18 attempts.
  
  Scouting Report: Guzman has a knack for barreling balls with a loose, effortless swing that he starts with a small leg kick to create a good rhythm. He has an advanced approach and knowledge of the strike zone for his age and makes hard, consistent contact on pitches in all parts of the zone. Guzman has plenty of raw power to his pull side and, because of his big-time bat speed, should tap into even more as he matures and adds more loft to his swing. He’s an average runner who probably will be less of a base-stealing threat as his body fills out physically. Guzman is a solid defender with good footwork and hands and the potential to have a plus arm that will fit on the left side of the infield. He has a chance to stick at shortstop, but his below-average speed could force the organization to move him to third base. Guzman is mature for his age and earns high marks for makeup and aptitude.
  
  The Future: Guzman is set to make his stateside debut in the Arizona Complex League in 2022. He is many years away but has the potential to be an everyday infielder with a potent bat if everything clicks.
  

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Guzman signed with the Angels out of the Dominican Republic for $2 million as one of the top prospects in the 2020-21 international class that was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. He showed positive traits despite mediocre numbers in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League and flourished with a move to the U.S. in 2022. Guzman showed some of the best physical tools of any infielder in the Arizona Complex League and earned a promotion to Low-A Inland Empire for the final week of the season. He wrapped up his year with a standout performance in instructional league that had team officials buzzing.
  
  Scouting Report: Guzman is a rhythmic hitter with excellent plate coverage who regularly finds the barrel with a fast, loose swing. He consistently makes hard contact and drives the ball back up the middle with an advanced approach. Guzman has solid raw power and explosive bat speed, but he'll have to continue growing and adding strength to his frame to tap into his potentially average power. He is a disciplined hitter with good strike-zone awareness who draws plenty of walks and rarely strikes out. On top of his offensive promise, Guzman has great instincts, sound footwork, soft hands and above-average arm strength at shortstop, but he's a fringe-average runner and could slow down and outgrow the position as he gets bigger. He would be an above-average defender at third base. Guzman receives high praise for his aptitude and work ethic and is a high-energy player who is fun to watch on the field.
  
  The Future: Guzman has many years of physical development left, but he has a chance to grow into an above-average everyday player who makes an impact on both sides of the ball. He will begin 2023 back at Inland Empire.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Guzman signed with the Angels out of the Dominican Republic for $2 million as one of the top prospects in the 2020-21 international class that was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. He showed positive traits despite mediocre numbers in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League and flourished with a move to the U.S. in 2022. Guzman showed some of the best physical tools of any infielder in the Arizona Complex League and earned a promotion to Low-A Inland Empire for the final week of the season. He wrapped up his year with a standout performance in instructional league that had team officials buzzing.
  
  Scouting Report: Guzman is a rhythmic hitter with excellent plate coverage who regularly finds the barrel with a fast, loose swing. He consistently makes hard contact and drives the ball back up the middle with an advanced approach. Guzman has solid raw power and explosive bat speed, but he'll have to continue growing and adding strength to his frame to tap into his potentially average power. He is a disciplined hitter with good strike-zone awareness who draws plenty of walks and rarely strikes out. On top of his offensive promise, Guzman has great instincts, sound footwork, soft hands and above-average arm strength at shortstop, but he's a fringe-average runner and could slow down and outgrow the position as he gets bigger. He would be an above-average defender at third base. Guzman receives high praise for his aptitude and work ethic and is a high-energy player who is fun to watch on the field.
  
  The Future: Guzman has many years of physical development left, but he has a chance to grow into an above-average everyday player who makes an impact on both sides of the ball. He will begin 2023 back at Inland Empire.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Once the pandemic-delayed international signing period opened in Jan. 2021, the Angels snapped up Guzman, one of the best pure hitters in his class, for a $2 million bonus. The 17-year-old had a solid pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, showing good power, plate discipline and speed, with 14 extra-base hits, 20 walks and 24 strikeouts in 164 plate appearances and 11 stolen bases in 18 attempts.
  
  Scouting Report: Guzman has a knack for barreling balls with a loose, effortless swing that he starts with a small leg kick to create a good rhythm. He has an advanced approach and knowledge of the strike zone for his age and makes hard, consistent contact on pitches in all parts of the zone. Guzman has plenty of raw power to his pull side and, because of his big-time bat speed, should tap into even more as he matures and adds more loft to his swing. He&#39s an average runner who probably will be less of a base-stealing threat as his body fills out physically. Guzman is a solid defender with good footwork and hands and the potential to have a plus arm that will fit on the left side of the infield. He has a chance to stick at shortstop, but his below-average speed could force the organization to move him to third base. Guzman is mature for his age and earns high marks for makeup and aptitude.
  
  The Future: Guzman is set to make his stateside debut in the Arizona Complex League in 2022. He is many years away but has the potential to be an everyday infielder with a potent bat if everything clicks.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 50. Speed: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Once the pandemic-delayed international signing period opened in Jan. 2021, the Angels snapped up Guzman, one of the best pure hitters in his class, for a $2 million bonus. The 17-year-old had a solid pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, showing good power, plate discipline and speed, with 14 extra-base hits, 20 walks and 24 strikeouts in 164 plate appearances and 11 stolen bases in 18 attempts.
  
  Scouting Report: Guzman has a knack for barreling balls with a loose, effortless swing that he starts with a small leg kick to create a good rhythm. He has an advanced approach and knowledge of the strike zone for his age and makes hard, consistent contact on pitches in all parts of the zone. Guzman has plenty of raw power to his pull side and, because of his big-time bat speed, should tap into even more as he matures and adds more loft to his swing. He’s an average runner who probably will be less of a base-stealing threat as his body fills out physically. Guzman is a solid defender with good footwork and hands and the potential to have a plus arm that will fit on the left side of the infield. He has a chance to stick at shortstop, but his below-average speed could force the organization to move him to third base. Guzman is mature for his age and earns high marks for makeup and aptitude.
  
  The Future: Guzman is set to make his stateside debut in the Arizona Complex League in 2022. He is many years away but has the potential to be an everyday infielder with a potent bat if everything clicks.
  
• January, 2021 Scouting Report
  Last year the Angels' top international signing was Arol Vera, a physical, switch-hitting shortstop from Venezuela. Their top target in 2020 is Guzman, another physical, offensive-oriented shortstop with a bonus expected to be around $2 million. Guzman makes a lot of contact against live pitching with a loose, easy swing, with the bat speed and physical projection to grow into considerable power as well. His strong arm should play on the left side of the infield, though his defense might fit better at third base.