Andres Gimenez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #3 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 50.Power: 40. Run: 70. Fielding: 60. Arm: 50.
  TRACK RECORD: The prize of the Mets’ 2015 international signing class, Gimenez worked his way to Double-A as a 19-year-old in 2018. He didn’t blossom until after the 2019 season, when he hit .371 to win the Arizona Fall League batting title. Expanded 28- man rosters afforded Gimenez the chance to make the Mets’ Opening Day roster in 2020. He seized the opportunity and showed himself more than capable defensively and on the basepaths. The Indians acquired him after the season in the trade that sent Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to New York.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gimenez appeared unfazed by the big league spotlight. His strike-zone judgment was sound and he hit his first two home runs to the opposite field. Even if he never develops more than average hitting ability or power, Gimenez has the type of barrel control and speed that makes him difficult to defend. He stole eight bases in nine tries to put his double-plus wheels to good use. Gimenez has the soft hands, reflexes and plus arm of a true shortstop and the versatility to handle second base or third base. He made only one error as a rookie and ranked 10th among infielders with five outs above average, according to Statcast.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gimenez wrested playing time from fellow trade acquisition Amed Rosario in New York, and his defensive ability and feel for the game give him a chance to be the Indians regular shortstop in 2021.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #5 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The No. 2 prospect in the 2015 international signing class, Gimenez shot to Double-A as a 19-year-old in 2018 but stalled offensively in a return to the Eastern League in 2019. He hit just .235 in the first half before showing signs of life in the second half, hitting .261/.306/.406 in 70 games with six of his nine home runs. He hit .358 with a .970 OPS in the Arizona Fall League, where he focused on keeping his upper and lower halves synced, trusting his hands and using all fields.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gimenez is a heady player who will flash all five tools but impacts games mostly with his glove, arm and plus speed. He is one of the best defensive shortstops in the minors and commands the infield at a tender age. He minimizes mistakes with reliable hands and a plus, accurate arm. Gimenez tinkered with his swing early in 2019 in an effort to generate more power, but it didn't take. At his best he is a disciplined, line drive-oriented hitter who should grow into double-digit power to go with an average overall bat. He has improved his speed to plus and tuned up his basestealing aggressiveness.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gimenez is athletic, but a lack of physicality limits his offensive upside. His defensive acumen will afford him opportunities to develop his bat in the big leagues, where outlooks range from a starting middle infielder to a utility role.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #1 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: When international scouting director Chris Becerra left the Mets to join the Red Sox after the 2018 season, he left the organization stocked with high-upside shortstops. Gimenez succeeded Amed Rosario as the system's No. 1 prospect, and Ronny Mauricio has a chance to succeed Gimenez in a year or two. Gimenez ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the 2015 international signing class and three years later had reached Double-A Binghamton as a teenager. He accelerated his timetable in 2018 by taming the pitcher-friendly high Class A Florida State League and moving to the Eastern League in late July. All told, Gimenez set career highs with six home runs, 29 doubles and 38 stolen bases. Scouts regarded him as one of the top talents in both the Florida State and Eastern leagues, and at the Futures Game he struck a 106.5 mph ground ball--albeit for a double play--that was hit harder than all but five other fair balls at the exhibition.
  
  Scouting Report: Gimenez is proof positive that looks can be deceiving. His lean physique, baby face and smaller stature belie a quick-twitch athlete with well-rounded skills, a high baseball IQ and leadership qualities. Elite contact ability and a quick, loose lefthanded swing give him above-average--and possibly plus--hitting potential. A discerning batting eye will keep his walk rate and on-base percentage high. While Gimenez shows merely gap power now, he generates impressive torque with his hips, and as his body matures he will hit for average home run totals. He is an average runner who reads pitchers well and uses his knowledge of game situations to steal bases. Scouts project Gimenez as a plus defender at shortstop with a plus, accurate arm. A quick first step, sure hands and quick exchange from glove to hand make him a reliable defender. Intense focus and a strong work ethic tie the whole package together on both sides of the ball.
  
  The Future: Gimenez has the ceiling of first-division shortstop, but the presence of Rosario in New York might push him to second base, a position he played sporadically until starting there the majority of the time in the 2018 Arizona Fall League. Gimenez should reach Triple-A Syracuse in 2019 and could receive a late-season callup with an eye toward regular big league work in 2020.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #1 prospect in 2018
  The Mets acknowledged Gimenez's talent by signing him for $1.2 million in 2015, when he ranked as the No. 2 prospect on the international market, but they now hold his athleticism, maturity and work ethic in similarly high regard. After hitting .350 in his pro debut in 2016, when he led the Dominican Summer League with a .469 on-base percentage, he skipped domestic short-season ball entirely to make his U.S. debut at low Class A Columbia in late April 2017. As one of four 18-year-old regular position players in the South Atlantic League, Gimenez more than held his own, ranking 12th in the league with a .346 OBP and 11th with a 15.3 percent strikeout rate. Described as a “ball of dynamite” by one Mets official, Gimenez has a shorter, thicker build than many shortstops but compensates with twitchy athleticism. Scouts expect him to impact the ball more frequently as his body matures in his 20s. Gimenez pushed his average to .289 on Aug. 2, but he closed the year in an 18-for-91 (.198) skid as he dealt with a jammed thumb and general fatigue. Nothing phases Gimenez at the plate, where he has the attributes to be an above-average hitter. His lefthanded swing is direct to the ball, and he identifies pitches well, doesn't swing and miss often and hangs in versus southpaws. Skeptics question his batting upside potential, however, because he has average present running speed, while his power projects to be below-average. Body control and quick actions serve Gimenez at shortstop, where he has above-average range, reliable hands and an arm that plays up to plus thanks to a quick release and accuracy. His instincts and feel for the game will keep him at shortstop--where he has plus defensive potential--as he climbs the ladder, while his arm and reliability would allow him to shift to second or third base as needed. Given his youth and distance from the big leagues, Gimenez's future role has not yet come into focus. Some scouts fall short of giving him a single plus tool, which could make him a second-division regular or utility infielder, but those who see a plus middle-infield defender and above-average hitter envision a potential double-play partner for shortstop Amed Rosario in Queens. Gimenez has three more minor league levels to master before then, and that task begins at high Class A St. Lucie in 2018.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #17 prospect in 2017
  The Mets zeroed in on Gimenez both for his talent--he ranked as the No. 2 prospect available on the 2015 international market--and also for his makeup. The 16-year-old Venezuelan signed for $1.2 million and is all business both on and off the field. Gimenez made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2016 and led the circuit in on-base percentage (.469) while ranking second in average (.350) and doubles (20). A lefthanded hitter, he shows plus bat speed, contact ability and enough latent power to suggest at least average thump down the line. He can spray the ball to all fields and could be a prototype No. 2 hitter. An above-average runner, Gimenez should be at least a solid-average defensive shortstop with good hands and a plus arm. He broke a finger on his right hand late in the DSL season but returned in time for Dominican instructional league in November. Thanks to a high baseball IQ, Gimenez should get the most out of his offensive and defensive tools to become a threat on both sides of the ball. An assignment to a domestic short-season affiliate--possibly Rookie-level Kingsport--is next.
• 
  Ranked New York Mets #16 prospect in 2016
  The Mets signed two of the top 10 players available on the international market in 2015, including Gimenez, the No. 2 overall talent, for $1.2 million. They also invested $1.5 million to sign Dominican shortstop Gregory Guerrero, the nephew of former big leaguers Vladimir and Wilton, but scouts regard Gimenez, a lefthanded-hitting shortstop from Venezuela, as the more promising prospect. He makes steady contact with a flat, repeatable swing that is short to the ball. His quick hands, all-fields approach and barrel control could make him a threat to hit .300. Gimenez has broad shoulders and strong hands, which along with impressive bat speed, could help him grow into more power as he matures, but it's a present below-average tool. An above-average runner, he projects to be an above-average defensive shortstop with good hands and plus arm strength. If the Mets follow the development template they established with Amed Rosario, then they will send Gimenez to Rookie-level Kingsport in 2016.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #9 prospect in 2019
  Gimenez made his return to the Eastern League after spending 37 games there in 2018. As the weather heated up in Binghamton, so did Gimenez. The shortstop slashed .295/.337/.500 with 10 extra-base hits in 25 games during the month of July. "He stood out. You don't see guys like that anymore. Excellent shortstop, great baseball IQ and the bat is good, too," one manager said. Gimenez has elite defensive skills on the infield, with a plus arm and internal clock for making plays. He also has a calm demeanor, which helps him stay consistent and make adjustments. He has below-average power and a hit tool that projects as average. While Gimenez isn't a burner, he runs the bases well and shows feel to steal bases. Gimenez's maturity, athletic ability and approach to the game help him to project as an everyday middle infielder with impact defense.
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #10 prospect in 2018
  After holding his own at low Class A Columbia in 2017, Gimenez moved two levels and continued to hit up through Double-A this year while making an appearance in the Futures Game. Despite his smaller stature, Gimenez proved he can impact the ball at the plate and stick at shortstop. League managers pointed to the impressive torque Gimenez generates with his hips as reason to believe more thump will come from his bat as he gets older, which is impressive considering he began the season as the third-youngest player in the high Class A Florida State League. In the field, scouts see an above-average defender with a chance to be even better as he matures and gets more reps. Gimenez’s arm is above-average and also should get stronger.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #7 prospect in 2018
  Gimenez started off hot in 2017 with low Class A Columbia before a jammed thumb derailed his year, but he still showed the Mets enough that they bumped him to the FSL, where he opened 2018 as the league's third-youngest player. A lot of Gimenez's offensive future is contingent on him gaining strength as he gets older, but what he showed in the FSL was still impressive. He's wiry strong now, and he sprayed doubles around the park with St. Lucie before he earned a bump to Double-A. A twitchy athlete, Gimenez will have to balance that twitchiness against future strength gains. He's got the range, arm and instincts to stick at shortstop and has displayed leadership qualities that belie his age. Gimenez might ultimately settle at second base, where he could one day team with shortstop Amed Rosario in New York.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #7 prospect in 2017
  While fans were streaming into Spirit Communications Park to watch Tim Tebow, they also got a chance to see a potentially key part of the Mets' future. Gimenez was one of the youngest players in the league (a full 11 years younger than Tebow), but he more than held his own at the plate with a short, contact-oriented swing. Some managers were shocked when they figured out he was only 18, as he has an approach and plan at the plate of a more experienced hitter. Gimenez makes his biggest impact right now defensively. He's a twitchy athlete and an easy plus runner. He's an above-average defender with a quick release and an accurate if average arm. He does already show the ability to be accurate from multiple arm slots, a prerequisite for shortstops.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #66 prospect in 2021
• Ranked Baseball America's #30 prospect in 2019
• Ranked Baseball America's #94 prospect in 2018

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50.Power: 40. Run: 70. Fielding: 60. Arm: 50.
  TRACK RECORD: The prize of the Mets’ 2015 international signing class, Gimenez worked his way to Double-A as a 19-year-old in 2018. He didn’t blossom until after the 2019 season, when he hit .371 to win the Arizona Fall League batting title. Expanded 28- man rosters afforded Gimenez the chance to make the Mets’ Opening Day roster in 2020. He seized the opportunity and showed himself more than capable defensively and on the basepaths. The Indians acquired him after the season in the trade that sent Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to New York.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gimenez appeared unfazed by the big league spotlight. His strike-zone judgment was sound and he hit his first two home runs to the opposite field. Even if he never develops more than average hitting ability or power, Gimenez has the type of barrel control and speed that makes him difficult to defend. He stole eight bases in nine tries to put his double-plus wheels to good use. Gimenez has the soft hands, reflexes and plus arm of a true shortstop and the versatility to handle second base or third base. He made only one error as a rookie and ranked 10th among infielders with five outs above average, according to Statcast.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gimenez wrested playing time from fellow trade acquisition Amed Rosario in New York, and his defensive ability and feel for the game give him a chance to be the Indians regular shortstop in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50.Power: 40. Run: 70. Fielding: 60. Arm: 50.
  TRACK RECORD: The prize of the Mets’ 2015 international signing class, Gimenez worked his way to Double-A as a 19-year-old in 2018. He didn’t blossom until after the 2019 season, when he hit .371 to win the Arizona Fall League batting title. Expanded 28- man rosters afforded Gimenez the chance to make the Mets’ Opening Day roster in 2020. He seized the opportunity and showed himself more than capable defensively and on the basepaths. The Indians acquired him after the season in the trade that sent Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to New York.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gimenez appeared unfazed by the big league spotlight. His strike-zone judgment was sound and he hit his first two home runs to the opposite field. Even if he never develops more than average hitting ability or power, Gimenez has the type of barrel control and speed that makes him difficult to defend. He stole eight bases in nine tries to put his double-plus wheels to good use. Gimenez has the soft hands, reflexes and plus arm of a true shortstop and the versatility to handle second base or third base. He made only one error as a rookie and ranked 10th among infielders with five outs above average, according to Statcast.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gimenez wrested playing time from fellow trade acquisition Amed Rosario in New York, and his defensive ability and feel for the game give him a chance to be the Indians regular shortstop in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The No. 2 prospect in the 2015 international signing class, Gimenez shot to Double-A as a 19-year-old in 2018 but stalled offensively in a return to the Eastern League in 2019. He hit just .235 in the first half before showing signs of life in the second half, hitting .261/.306/.406 in 70 games with six of his nine home runs. He hit .358 with a .970 OPS in the Arizona Fall League, where he focused on keeping his upper and lower halves synced, trusting his hands and using all fields.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gimenez is a heady player who will flash all five tools but impacts games mostly with his glove, arm and plus speed. He is one of the best defensive shortstops in the minors and commands the infield at a tender age. He minimizes mistakes with reliable hands and a plus, accurate arm. Gimenez tinkered with his swing early in 2019 in an effort to generate more power, but it didn’t take. At his best he is a disciplined, line drive-oriented hitter who should grow into double-digit power to go with an average overall bat. He has improved his speed to plus and tuned up his basestealing aggressiveness.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gimenez is athletic, but a lack of physicality limits his offensive upside. His defensive acumen will afford him opportunities to develop his bat in the big leagues, where outlooks range from a starting middle infielder to a utility role.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The No. 2 prospect in the 2015 international signing class, Gimenez shot to Double-A as a 19-year-old in 2018 but stalled offensively in a return to the Eastern League in 2019. He hit just .235 in the first half before showing signs of life in the second half, hitting .261/.306/.406 in 70 games with six of his nine home runs. He hit .358 with a .970 OPS in the Arizona Fall League, where he focused on keeping his upper and lower halves synced, trusting his hands and using all fields.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gimenez is a heady player who will flash all five tools but impacts games mostly with his glove, arm and plus speed. He is one of the best defensive shortstops in the minors and commands the infield at a tender age. He minimizes mistakes with reliable hands and a plus, accurate arm. Gimenez tinkered with his swing early in 2019 in an effort to generate more power, but it didn't take. At his best he is a disciplined, line drive-oriented hitter who should grow into double-digit power to go with an average overall bat. He has improved his speed to plus and tuned up his basestealing aggressiveness.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gimenez is athletic, but a lack of physicality limits his offensive upside. His defensive acumen will afford him opportunities to develop his bat in the big leagues, where outlooks range from a starting middle infielder to a utility role.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Gimenez made his return to the Eastern League after spending 37 games there in 2018. As the weather heated up in Binghamton, so did Gimenez. The shortstop slashed .295/.337/.500 with 10 extra-base hits in 25 games during the month of July. "He stood out. You don't see guys like that anymore. Excellent shortstop, great baseball IQ and the bat is good, too," one manager said. Gimenez has elite defensive skills on the infield, with a plus arm and internal clock for making plays. He also has a calm demeanor, which helps him stay consistent and make adjustments. He has below-average power and a hit tool that projects as average. While Gimenez isn't a burner, he runs the bases well and shows feel to steal bases. Gimenez's maturity, athletic ability and approach to the game help him to project as an everyday middle infielder with impact defense.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Scouts lauded Gimenez for his high baseball IQ when he was an amateur in Venezuela, and those forecasts have proven accurate in pro ball. He quickly acclimated to the low Class A South Atlantic League as an 18-year-old in 2017 and has upped his game in the Florida State League this season. Gimenez packs a punch at the plate thanks to his bat speed and selective, high-contact approach that profiles at the top of the order. Despite ordinary speed, he has racked up high stolen base totals this year with improved ability to read pitchers and game situations. Gimenez plays a strong fundamental shortstop but might be destined for second base down the line.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Mets acknowledged Gimenez's talent by signing him for $1.2 million in 2015, when he ranked as the No. 2 prospect on the international market, but they now hold his athleticism, maturity and work ethic in similarly high regard. After hitting .350 in his pro debut in 2016, when he led the Dominican Summer League with a .469 on-base percentage, he skipped domestic short-season ball entirely to make his U.S. debut at low Class A Columbia in late April 2017. The Mets were convinced of his readiness for the four-affiliate jump from the DSL to Columbia after watching his mature hitting approach in spring training. As one of four 18-year-old regular position players in the South Atlantic League, Gimenez more than held his own against older competition, ranking 12th in the league with a .346 OBP and 11th with a 15.3 percent strikeout rate. SCOUTING REPORT: Described as a "ball of dynamite" by one Mets official, Gimenez has a shorter, thicker build than many shortstops but compensates with twitchy athleticism. Scouts expect him to impact the ball more frequently as his body matures and he gains strength in his 20s. Gimenez pushed his average to .289 on Aug. 2, but he closed the year in an 18-for-91 (.198) skid as he dealt with a jammed thumb and general fatigue. Nothing phases Gimenez at the plate, where he has the attributes to be an above-average hitter. His lefthanded swing is direct to the ball, and he identifies pitches well, doesn't swing and miss often and hangs in versus southpaws. Skeptics question his batting upside potential, however, because he has average present running speed, while his power projects to be below-average because of his level swing plane and spray-hitting approach. Body control and quick actions serve Gimenez at shortstop, where he has above-average range, reliable hands and an arm that plays up to plus thanks to a quick release and accuracy. His instincts and feel for the game will keep him at shortstop--where he has plus defensive potential--as he climbs the ladder, while his arm and reliability would allow him to shift to second or third base as needed. THE FUTURE: Given his youth and distance from the big leagues, Gimenez's future role has not yet come into focus. Some scouts fall short of giving him a single plus tool, which could make him a second-division regular or utility infielder, but those who see a plus middle-infield defender and above-average hitter envision a potential double-play partner for shortstop Amed Rosario in Queens. Gimenez has three more minor league levels to master before then, and that task begins at high Class A St. Lucie in 2018.