William Bergolla

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #8 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Bergolla was the gem of the Phillies’ signing class in the international period that opened on Jan. 15, 2022. The Venezuelan native got a signing bonus of $2.05 million and put together an excellent pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, where he hit .380/.470/.423 with just three strikeouts in 83 plate appearances. The Phillies showed their faith in him in 2023 by skipping him over the Florida Complex League and straight to the Florida State League, where he racked up more walks (30) than strikeouts (17) in 55 games. His father, William Sr., was a middle infielder who appeared in 17 games for the 2005 Reds.
  
  Scouting Report: Bergolla’s game is centered on putting the bat on the ball and playing steady, reliable defense at shortstop. The 18-year-old made a remarkable amount of contact at Low-A, producing an overall miss rate of just 5.4%, a minuscule in-zone whiff rate of 3.3% and a chase rate of 18.1%. But that contact came with minimal impact. His exit velocities were well below-average and he found the barrel less often than he whiffed. The Phillies acknowledge the Bergolla needs to get much stronger to access any sort of power and to hold up over the rigors of a long season against more advanced pitchers. Bergolla has the skills to be an average defender who makes all the plays at shortstop and the above-average arm strength to stick at the position. He’s a plus runner but needs to sharpen his basestealing instincts to make that aspect of his game more successful.
  
  The Future: Bergolla could return to Low-A to begin the 2024 season with a shot at High-A Jersey Shore by sometime in the summer. If he adds strength, he has the ceiling of an everyday big league shortstop who can hit toward the bottom of an order.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 30 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #13 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Bergolla Jr., the son of William Bergolla, who played in 17 games for the Reds in 2005 and had a 10-year minor league career, was one of the top international signings in the 2021-2022 class. Bergolla Jr. received a $2.05 million signing bonus, and started his minor league career as a 17-year-old in the Dominican Summer League, where he posted a .380/.470/.423 slash line and walked more times (11) than he struck out (three).
  
  Scouting Report: Bergolla Jr. stands out for his above-average hitting ability and smooth defense at shortstop, where he has the instincts and speed to stick long term. Bergolla has a compact, quick swing with strong bat-to-ball skills and the ability to hit to all fields. He does a good job of recognizing pitches and makes a high rate of contact, with good bat control. At 5-foot-10, 155 pounds, he doesn't hit for much power--just 5% of his balls in play were hit 95 mph or higher--but he should add more strength in the future and get to below-average power. It's likely going to be more gap-to-gap power than over-the-fence juice in the future, and Bergolla has the skill set that fits as a table setter at the top or bottom of the lineup. He's an effective basestealer with plus speed and good baserunning skills, which led to eight stolen bases in nine tries in his debut. The organization was pleased with his work at shortstop in 2022, citing his impressive actions, and he profiles as an above-average defender with an above-average arm.
  
  The Future: Bergolla should make his stateside debut in the Florida Complex League in 2023. He's years away from making an impact in the big leagues, but he profiles as a high-contact table setter who provides above-average defense at shortstop.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 35. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Bergolla Jr., the son of William Bergolla, who played in 17 games for the Reds in 2005 and had a 10-year minor league career, was one of the top international signings in the 2021-2022 class. Bergolla Jr. received a $2.05 million signing bonus, and started his minor league career as a 17-year-old in the Dominican Summer League, where he posted a .380/.470/.423 slash line and walked more times (11) than he struck out (three).
  
  Scouting Report: Bergolla Jr. stands out for his above-average hitting ability and smooth defense at shortstop, where he has the instincts and speed to stick long term. Bergolla has a compact, quick swing with strong bat-to-ball skills and the ability to hit to all fields. He does a good job of recognizing pitches and makes a high rate of contact, with good bat control. At 5-foot-10, 155 pounds, he doesn't hit for much power--just 5% of his balls in play were hit 95 mph or higher--but he should add more strength in the future and get to below-average power. It's likely going to be more gap-to-gap power than over-the-fence juice in the future, and Bergolla has the skill set that fits as a table setter at the top or bottom of the lineup. He's an effective basestealer with plus speed and good baserunning skills, which led to eight stolen bases in nine tries in his debut. The organization was pleased with his work at shortstop in 2022, citing his impressive actions, and he profiles as an above-average defender with an above-average arm.
  
  The Future: Bergolla should make his stateside debut in the Florida Complex League in 2023. He's years away from making an impact in the big leagues, but he profiles as a high-contact table setter who provides above-average defense at shortstop.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 35. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Bergolla Jr., the son of William Bergolla, who played in 17 games for the Reds in 2005 and had a 10-year minor league career, was one of the top international signings in the 2021-2022 class. Bergolla Jr. received a $2.05 million signing bonus, and started his minor league career as a 17-year-old in the Dominican Summer League, where he posted a .380/.470/.423 slash line and walked more times (11) than he struck out (three).
  
  Scouting Report: Bergolla Jr. stands out for his above-average hitting ability and smooth defense at shortstop, where he has the instincts and speed to stick long term. Bergolla has a compact, quick swing with strong bat-to-ball skills and the ability to hit to all fields. He does a good job of recognizing pitches and makes a high rate of contact, with good bat control. At 5-foot-10, 155 pounds, he doesn't hit for much power--just 5% of his balls in play were hit 95 mph or higher--but he should add more strength in the future and get to below-average power. It's likely going to be more gap-to-gap power than over-the-fence juice in the future, and Bergolla has the skill set that fits as a table setter at the top or bottom of the lineup. He's an effective basestealer with plus speed and good baserunning skills, which led to eight stolen bases in nine tries in his debut. The organization was pleased with his work at shortstop in 2022, citing his impressive actions, and he profiles as an above-average defender with an above-average arm.
  
  The Future: Bergolla should make his stateside debut in the Florida Complex League in 2023. He's years away from making an impact in the big leagues, but he profiles as a high-contact table setter who provides above-average defense at shortstop.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 35. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  William Bergolla played 17 games in the majors for the Reds in 2005, ranking as a Top 30 prospect for the Reds for five years as a middle infielder. His son, William Bergolla Jr., was the centerpiece of the Phillies' 2021-22 international signing class out of Venezuela. Bergolla has a slender frame that lacks strength, but he's a smooth, instinctive player on both sides of the ball. It starts with a compact, fluid swing from the left side and a knack for slowing the game down at the plate. He stays balanced throughout his swing, helping him recognize pitches well with impressive bat control to produce a high contact rate and line drives to all fields with doubles power. Bergolla is also a plus runner whose high baseball IQ should help him become a stolen base threat. He has the defensive actions and internal clock for shortstop, where he has soft hands and a slightly above-average arm. Bergolla is young and needs to get stronger, but his athleticism and feel for the barrel make for a promising foundation for a prospect who should stick at shortstop.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record:: William Bergolla played 17 games in the majors for the Reds in 2005, ranking as a Top 30 prospect for the Reds for five years as a middle infielder. His son, William Bergolla Jr., was the centerpiece of the Phillies&#39 2021-22 international signing class out of Venezuela, joining the organization when the signing period opened on Jan. 15, 2022.
  
  Scouting Report: Bergolla has a slender frame that lacks strength, but he&#39s a smooth, instinctive player on both sides of the ball. It starts with a compact, fluid swing from the left side and a knack for slowing the game down at the plate. He stays balanced throughout his swing, helping him recognize pitches well with impressive bat control to produce a high contact rate and line drives to all fields with doubles power. Bergolla is also a plus runner whose high baseball IQ should help him become a stolen base threat. He has the defensive actions and internal clock for shortstop, where he has soft hands a slightly above-average arm.
  
  The Future: Bergolla is young and needs to get stronger, but his athleticism and feel for the barrel make for a promising foundation for a prospect who should stick at shortstop. He should get started in the Dominican Summer League in 2022.