AB | 380 |
---|---|
AVG | .263 |
OBP | .3 |
SLG | .479 |
HR | 20 |
- Full name Luis Alexander Baez
- Born 01/11/2004 in Bani, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.
Track Record: The Astros signed Baez for $1.3 million on Jan. 15, 2022, out of the Dominican Republic. He debuted the following summer in the Dominican Summer League and backed his reputation as a physically mature power hitter by putting up some of the best exit velocity data in the league. Baez came stateside in 2023 and began 2024 at High-A Asheville, where he hit .263/.300/.479 with 20 home runs. He was promoted to Double-A over the final 14 games of the season.
Scouting Report: Baez is a physical slugger who looks maxed out at 20 years old. He shows average bat-to-ball skills but his overaggressive swing-and-miss tendencies lead to lots of chase swings. Baez’s lack of pitch recognition skills are most apparent against spin, and he chased 46.6% of breaking balls outside the zone in 2024. Baez has plus bat speed and easy power to all fields. Both Baez’s contact quality and exit velocity data is above-average and he shows the ability to consistently pull the ball in the air. He’s a below-average runner whose lack of a second gear limits his ability in the outfield. Baez is adequate in a corner, with a plus throwing arm and solid routes. He has little ability to make difficult plays due to his lack of speed.
The Future: Baez is a corner outfield slugger with an overaggressive plate approach he’ll need to improve to get to average regular status.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Field: 40 | Arm: 60. -
BA Grade: 55/Extreme
Track Record: Baez was eligible to sign during the 2020-21 international signing period but waited until Jan. 15, 2022, to sign with the Astros for $1.3 million. A native of the Dominican Republic, Baez was noted for his physically mature build and present in-game power. Those traits showed up in Baez’s pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, when he hit .305/.351/.552 with eye-popping exit velocity to back his production. He made his U.S. debut in 2023 in the Florida Complex League. He hit seven home runs and slugged .661 in 17 games to earn a promotion to Low-A Fayetteville after the MLB all-star break. Baez hit .239/.324/.413 with four homers in 41 games as a 19-year-old in the tough hitting environment of the Carolina League.
Scouting Report: Baez is a power-over-hit prospect with swing-and-miss present in his game because he has vulnerability to spin. He’s a strong fastball hitter with present bat speed and strength. He shows some adjustability in his barrel but can get stiff at times. Baez will need to improve his swing decisions against spin on the outer half after Low-A pitchers exploited his aggression against sliders off the plate. When Baez does make contact, he has the ability to hit the ball out to any part of the park. He hits majestic drives that backspin off his barrel, with the ability to change a game with one swing. Baez has true plus-plus raw power and he’s shown the ability to get to it often. He’s a below-average runner who will show some closing speed in the outfield but little speed on the bases. He has enough range to handle an outfield corner, with a plus throwing arm that will allow him to run in the grass a little longer.
The Future: Baez has the ability to grow into a fearsome power-hitting outfielder with the potential for 30-plus home run seasons.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 65 | Run: 40 | Field: 40 | Arm: 60
Scouting Reports
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Baez is 18 and was eligible to sign the previous year, but the Astros made him their top signing for this year’s class that opened on Jan. 15. He’s a strong, physically mature player for his age at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, which results in some of the best raw power in the class. Baez should have at least plus power, with scouts highest on him also praising his ability to translate that power in game situations, with a righthanded swing and approach geared to pull the ball in the air. Baez has an arm that earns 55 to 60 grades from scouts, with the mobility now where he can post average run times underway. That’s good enough for him to play right field now, though he’s likely to slow down considerably, with some risk he could end up at first base depending on his physical development.