Omar Estevez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #20 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The Dodgers invested heavily in Cuban talent during the 2015-16 international period, including signing Estevez for $6 million. He struggled initially, but broke out during the second half of the 2018 season and hit .291/.352/.431 at Double-A in 2019. The Dodgers brought him to their alternate training site in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Estevez reinvented himself as a hitter by doing weighted ball drills. Previously an all pull hitter, he now makes frequent contact up the middle and drives the ball gap-to-gap for doubles. He was one of the Dodgers' most consistent hitters at the alternate site and shows the contact skills and barrel awareness to project to run into 10-15 home runs. Estevez is more limited on the defensive side of the ball. He is a below-average runner without much range and is stretched playing shortstop. He has decent footwork and enough lateral agility to survive at second base, where his fringe-average arm will play.
  
  THE FUTURE: Estevez will rise as far as his bat takes him. He'll see Triple-A in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #16 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Signed out of Cuba for $6 million in 2015. Estevez struggled for two years before overhauling his swing during the second half of 2018. He advanced to Double-A in 2019 and performed despite missing nearly two months with a hamstring strain.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Estevez began doing weighted ball drills in the second half of 2018 and turned into a different hitter. After previously pulling off the ball, he now makes frequent contact up the middle and drives the ball gap-to-gap for doubles. With increased success has come increased confidence, and Estevez now shows advanced feel and solid strike-zone discipline in the batter's box. Estevez lacks impact tools beyond his bat. He is a below-average runner with a thick lower half and limited twitch, making him a below-average shortstop and fringe-average second baseman. His arm strength is fringy and he's prone to sailing throws over the first baseman's head.
  
  THE FUTURE: Estevez has to hit to rise, but he keeps doing exactly that. He'll move to Triple-A in 2020.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #26 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Dodgers gave Estevez $6 million during their 2015 Cuban signing spree that included Yadier Alvarez and Yusniel Diaz. After looking like a poor investment for two years, Estevez overhauled his approach, swing and preparation and turned into a different player in 2018. On the back of scorching second half, Estevez led the California League in runs (87) and doubles (43).
  
  Scouting Report: Estevez chased everything and pulled off the ball for two seasons before changing it up. He began doing weighted ball hitting drills to help him stay through the baseball, and once that clicked, it opened up the big part of the field and the doubles came in spades. With increased confidence and success came improved pitch selection as well, with Estevez overall showing the potential to be an average hitter with gap power. Estevez's tools are lacking beyond his bat. He has decent hands but is a below-average runner with a thick lower half who will have to move off shortstop. His arm is fringy.
  
  The Future: Estevez's long-term defensive home will be second base, and only if he hits. He'll try to maintain his improvements at Double-A Tulsa in 2019.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #24 prospect in 2017
  Estevez was one of the better hitters in Cuba's junior national leagues. Estevez played for Cuba as a 16-year-old in the COPABE 18U Pan American Championship in Mexico in 2014, then made his Serie Nacional debut at 16 during the 2014-15 season in Cuba. While Estevez played against older competition from a young age, he was regarded as more of a steady prospect than a premium player. Yet when he became eligible to sign after the 2016 season, the Dodgers gave him a $6 million bonus, with the team's total tab coming to $12 million including the 100 percent overage tax for having already exceeded their international bonus pool. The Dodgers aggressively pushed Estevez as an 18-year-old to the low Class A Midwest League, where he hit just .212/.252/.311 in the first half. He turned things around in the second half by batting .293/.340/.458 with eight of his nine home runs. There's nothing plus on Estevez, who isn't athletic or flashy. His bat speed is just fair, but he does have a simple, balanced swing. He can pull an occasional home run, but his power is mostly to the gaps. Estevez is a well below-average runner without great range or agility at second base and a below-average arm.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Dodgers invested heavily in Cuban talent during the 2015-16 international period, including signing Estevez for $6 million. He struggled initially, but broke out during the second half of the 2018 season and hit .291/.352/.431 at Double-A in 2019. The Dodgers brought him to their alternate training site in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Estevez reinvented himself as a hitter by doing weighted ball drills. Previously an all pull hitter, he now makes frequent contact up the middle and drives the ball gap-to-gap for doubles. He was one of the Dodgers' most consistent hitters at the alternate site and shows the contact skills and barrel awareness to project to run into 10-15 home runs. Estevez is more limited on the defensive side of the ball. He is a below-average runner without much range and is stretched playing shortstop. He has decent footwork and enough lateral agility to survive at second base, where his fringe-average arm will play.
  
  THE FUTURE: Estevez will rise as far as his bat takes him. He'll see Triple-A in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Dodgers invested heavily in Cuban talent during the 2015-16 international period, including signing Estevez for $6 million. He struggled initially, but broke out during the second half of the 2018 season and hit .291/.352/.431 at Double-A in 2019. The Dodgers brought him to their alternate training site in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Estevez reinvented himself as a hitter by doing weighted ball drills. Previously an all pull hitter, he now makes frequent contact up the middle and drives the ball gap-to-gap for doubles. He was one of the Dodgers' most consistent hitters at the alternate site and shows the contact skills and barrel awareness to project to run into 10-15 home runs. Estevez is more limited on the defensive side of the ball. He is a below-average runner without much range and is stretched playing shortstop. He has decent footwork and enough lateral agility to survive at second base, where his fringe-average arm will play.
  
  THE FUTURE: Estevez will rise as far as his bat takes him. He'll see Triple-A in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Signed out of Cuba for $6 million in 2015. Estevez struggled for two years before overhauling his swing during the second half of 2018. He advanced to Double-A in 2019 and performed despite missing nearly two months with a hamstring strain.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Estevez began doing weighted ball drills in the second half of 2018 and turned into BA GRADE 45 Risk: High BA GRADE 45 Risk: High BA GRADE 40 Risk: Medium a different hitter. After previously pulling off the ball, he now makes frequent contact up the middle and drives the ball gap-to-gap for doubles. With increased success has come increased confidence, and Estevez now shows advanced feel and solid strike-zone discipline in the batter’s box. Estevez lacks impact tools beyond his bat. He is a below-average runner with a thick lower half and limited twitch, making him a below-average shortstop and fringe-average second baseman. His arm strength is fringy and he’s prone to sailing throws over the first baseman’s head.
  
  THE FUTURE: Estevez has to hit to rise, but he keeps doing exactly that. He’ll move to Triple-A in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Signed out of Cuba for $6 million in 2015. Estevez struggled for two years before overhauling his swing during the second half of 2018. He advanced to Double-A in 2019 and performed despite missing nearly two months with a hamstring strain.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Estevez began doing weighted ball drills in the second half of 2018 and turned into a different hitter. After previously pulling off the ball, he now makes frequent contact up the middle and drives the ball gap-to-gap for doubles. With increased success has come increased confidence, and Estevez now shows advanced feel and solid strike-zone discipline in the batter's box. Estevez lacks impact tools beyond his bat. He is a below-average runner with a thick lower half and limited twitch, making him a below-average shortstop and fringe-average second baseman. His arm strength is fringy and he's prone to sailing throws over the first baseman's head.
  
  THE FUTURE: Estevez has to hit to rise, but he keeps doing exactly that. He'll move to Triple-A in 2020.
• November, 2016 Scouting Report
  Estevez was a 16-year-old when he played for the Cuban junior national team in Mexico in 2014 at the COPABE 18U Pan American Championships. He was the same age when he made his Serie Nacional debut during the 2014-15 season as one of the youngest players in Cuba's top league. While Estevez is a solid prospect, the Dodgers are reported to have paid a steep price to sign him. Although the deal had not been made official as of the publication date for the Propsect Handbook, Estevez is expected to sign for a $6 million bonus that essentially comes out to a $12 million tab for the Dodgers, who have to pay a 100 percent tax for exceeding their 2015-16 international bonus pool. Estevez lacks a plus tool and isn't a quick-twitch athlete, standing out more for his smart, steady play, instincts for the game and advanced hitting approach for his age. He's calm in the box and tracks pitches well for a 17-year-old. He has below-average power mostly to the gaps, though he did get stronger once he arrived in the Dominican Republic. Estevez has a thick lower half and is a below-average runner. His bat is ahead of his defense, as he's not the most agile or sure-handed fielder and has a fringy arm. Estevez should be ready to make his debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2016.