Jerar Encarnacion

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #23 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Encarnacion was signed in 2015 and slowly wound his way through the minor leagues before a breakout season in 2019. He missed a chance for an encore in 2020 because of the pandemic and had his 2021 season severely curtailed by injuries. He made his big league debut on June 19 and homered in his first game.
  
  Scouting Report: Encarnacion is a big man with big power and a big throwing arm who reminds some evaluators of the Reds Aristides Aquino. His raw power is elite but he is unlikely to tap into it particularly often in games because of an extremely aggressive approach and long arms that leave him vulnerable to pitches both in and out of the zone. Encarnacion mashed lefties in Triple-A but was severely neutralized by righthanders, against whom he produced an OPS of just .678. He's a decent enough athlete but not a particularly nimble defender who evaluators noted tended to let a lot of balls drop. His arm is an equalizer and grades out to easily double-plus if not a true 80. He also began getting reps at first base at Triple-A.
  
  The Future: Encarnacion is a finished product and likely fits best as a platoon outfielder who needs a caddy on defense. He should bounce back and forth between Triple-A and Miami in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 30. Arm: 70.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #24 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Encarnacion vaulted up prospect boards in 2019 with a big year, then was cost a shot at an encore by the pandemic. The 2021 season, too, didn’t go as planned. Hand and leg injuries limited Encarnacion to just 65 games, spent mostly at Double-A Pensacola.
  
  Scouting Report: Extremely tall players are always likely to have plenty of holes pitchers can exploit, and Encarnacion is no different. When he was on the field, he had trouble getting to his massive raw power because of extreme swing-and-miss issues that led to a 38.3% strikeout rate. As a player with big power at the expense of hittability, his skill set is not unlike that of fellow Marlins prospects Griffin Conine and Peyton Burdick. Encarnacion plays surprisingly good defense for a player his size, and his throwing arm is the best in the organization. He’s an average runner who would fit just fine in right field, but the Marlins also exposed him to first base a bit this season.
  
  The Future: Encarnacion is likely headed back to Double-A Pensacola to begin next season, when he’ll work on unlocking the raw power he’s shown in the past. He fits best as a powerful backup outfielder.
  
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #18 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: A former basketball player in the Dominican Republic, Encarnacion got a late start in baseball and signed with the Marlins at age 18 in for $78,000. He had a breakout 2019 in with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs at low Class A Clinton and high Class A Jupiter. He hit three more home runs at the Arizona Fall League, including a grand slam in the championship game.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Encarnacion's high strikeout rate was alarming entering 2019, but he was able to lower it from 31% the previous two seasons to 25.3%. His closed stance from the right side generates plenty of power to all fields and his plate discipline on offspeed pitches and breaking balls showed improvement. He likely won't be more than a fringe-average hitter, but his above-average power should make him an offensive contributor. Encarnacion has average speed and is an average defender in right field. His plus arm helped him notch 20 outfield assists in 2019.
  
  THE FUTURE: How Encarnacion refines his approach and plate discipline will dictate how far he climbs. He should see Double-A in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #16 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Principally a basketball player growing up in the Dominican, baseball was never a true priority for Encarnacion. By the time that changed, Encarnacion was already 18, thereby making him older for free agents and leading to a bonus of just $78,000 in 2015. Encarnacion has shown glimpses of power but also contact issues as he's progressed through the Marlins system.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Encarnacion struck out in more than 31 percent of his at-bats from 2017-18. He lowered that rate to a more palatable 25.3 percent in 2019, while also showing much-improved power numbers. Armed with a simple righthanded swing and a closed stance, Encarnacion has plus raw power to all fields. While he needs to continue to work on pitch recognition, Encarnacion did a much better job managing sliders, particularly from righthanded pitching. Encarnacion has plus arm strength and profiles best as an average to above-average defender with average speed.
  
  THE FUTURE: The coming year will be key in determining Encarnacion's place in a suddenly crowded outfield picture.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Encarnacion was signed in 2015 and slowly wound his way through the minor leagues before a breakout season in 2019. He missed a chance for an encore in 2020 because of the pandemic and had his 2021 season severely curtailed by injuries. He made his big league debut on June 19 and homered in his first game.
  
  Scouting Report: Encarnacion is a big man with big power and a big throwing arm who reminds some evaluators of the Reds Aristides Aquino. His raw power is elite but he is unlikely to tap into it particularly often in games because of an extremely aggressive approach and long arms that leave him vulnerable to pitches both in and out of the zone. Encarnacion mashed lefties in Triple-A but was severely neutralized by righthanders, against whom he produced an OPS of just .678. He's a decent enough athlete but not a particularly nimble defender who evaluators noted tended to let a lot of balls drop. His arm is an equalizer and grades out to easily double-plus if not a true 80. He also began getting reps at first base at Triple-A.
  
  The Future: Encarnacion is a finished product and likely fits best as a platoon outfielder who needs a caddy on defense. He should bounce back and forth between Triple-A and Miami in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 30. Arm: 70.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Encarnacion was signed in 2015 and slowly wound his way through the minor leagues before a breakout season in 2019. He missed a chance for an encore in 2020 because of the pandemic and had his 2021 season severely curtailed by injuries. He made his big league debut on June 19 and homered in his first game.
  
  Scouting Report: Encarnacion is a big man with big power and a big throwing arm who reminds some evaluators of the Reds Aristides Aquino. His raw power is elite but he is unlikely to tap into it particularly often in games because of an extremely aggressive approach and long arms that leave him vulnerable to pitches both in and out of the zone. Encarnacion mashed lefties in Triple-A but was severely neutralized by righthanders, against whom he produced an OPS of just .678. He's a decent enough athlete but not a particularly nimble defender who evaluators noted tended to let a lot of balls drop. His arm is an equalizer and grades out to easily double-plus if not a true 80. He also began getting reps at first base at Triple-A.
  
  The Future: Encarnacion is a finished product and likely fits best as a platoon outfielder who needs a caddy on defense. He should bounce back and forth between Triple-A and Miami in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 30. Arm: 70.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Midseason Update: Encarnacion draws comparisons to Reds outfielder Aristides Aquino for his massive size and corresponding light-tower power. He crushes lefthanders in particular and has a powerful throwing arm, which could make him a useful piece off the bench.
  
  Track Record: Encarnacion vaulted up prospect boards in 2019 with a big year, then was cost a shot at an encore by the pandemic. The 2021 season, too, didn&#39t go as planned. Hand and leg injuries limited Encarnacion to just 65 games, spent mostly at Double-A Pensacola.
  
  Scouting Report: Extremely tall players are always likely to have plenty of holes pitchers can exploit, and Encarnacion is no different. When he was on the field, he had trouble getting to his massive raw power because of extreme swing-and-miss issues that led to a 38.3% strikeout rate. As a player with big power at the expense of hittability, his skill set is not unlike that of fellow Marlins prospects Griffin Conine and Peyton Burdick. Encarnacion plays surprisingly good defense for a player his size, and his throwing arm is the best in the organization. He&#39s an average runner who would fit just fine in right field, but the Marlins also exposed him to first base a bit this season.
  
  The Future: Encarnacion is likely headed back to Double-A Pensacola to begin next season, when he&#39ll work on unlocking the raw power he&#39s shown in the past. He fits best as a powerful backup outfielder.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Encarnacion vaulted up prospect boards in 2019 with a big year, then was cost a shot at an encore by the pandemic. The 2021 season, too, didn’t go as planned. Hand and leg injuries limited Encarnacion to just 65 games, spent mostly at Double-A Pensacola.
  
  Scouting Report: Extremely tall players are always likely to have plenty of holes pitchers can exploit, and Encarnacion is no different. When he was on the field, he had trouble getting to his massive raw power because of extreme swing-and-miss issues that led to a 38.3% strikeout rate. As a player with big power at the expense of hittability, his skill set is not unlike that of fellow Marlins prospects Griffin Conine and Peyton Burdick. Encarnacion plays surprisingly good defense for a player his size, and his throwing arm is the best in the organization. He’s an average runner who would fit just fine in right field, but the Marlins also exposed him to first base a bit this season.
  
  The Future: Encarnacion is likely headed back to Double-A Pensacola to begin next season, when he’ll work on unlocking the raw power he’s shown in the past. He fits best as a powerful backup outfielder.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A former basketball player in the Dominican Republic, Encarnacion got a late start in baseball and signed with the Marlins at age 18 in for $78,000. He had a breakout 2019 in with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs at low Class A Clinton and high Class A Jupiter. He hit three more home runs at the Arizona Fall League, including a grand slam in the championship game.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Encarnacion's high strikeout rate was alarming entering 2019, but he was able to lower it from 31% the previous two seasons to 25.3%. His closed stance from the right side generates plenty of power to all fields and his plate discipline on offspeed pitches and breaking balls showed improvement. He likely won't be more than a fringe-average hitter, but his above-average power should make him an offensive contributor. Encarnacion has average speed and is an average defender in right field. His plus arm helped him notch 20 outfield assists in 2019.
  
  THE FUTURE: How Encarnacion refines his approach and plate discipline will dictate how far he climbs. He should see Double-A in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A former basketball player in the Dominican Republic, Encarnacion got a late start in baseball and signed with the Marlins at age 18 in for $78,000. He had a breakout 2019 in with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs at low Class A Clinton and high Class A Jupiter. He hit three more home runs at the Arizona Fall League, including a grand slam in the championship game.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Encarnacion's high strikeout rate was alarming entering 2019, but he was able to lower it from 31% the previous two seasons to 25.3%. His closed stance from the right side generates plenty of power to all fields and his plate discipline on offspeed pitches and breaking balls showed improvement. He likely won't be more than a fringe-average hitter, but his above-average power should make him an offensive contributor. Encarnacion has average speed and is an average defender in right field. His plus arm helped him notch 20 outfield assists in 2019.
  
  THE FUTURE: How Encarnacion refines his approach and plate discipline will dictate how far he climbs. He should see Double-A in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A former basketball player in the Dominican Republic, Encarnacion got a late start in baseball and signed with the Marlins at age 18 in for $78,000. He had a breakout 2019 in with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs at low Class A Clinton and high Class A Jupiter. He hit three more home runs at the Arizona Fall League, including a grand slam in the championship game.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Encarnacion's high strikeout rate was alarming entering 2019, but he was able to lower it from 31% the previous two seasons to 25.3%. His closed stance from the right side generates plenty of power to all fields and his plate discipline on offspeed pitches and breaking balls showed improvement. He likely won't be more than a fringe-average hitter, but his above-average power should make him an offensive contributor. Encarnacion has average speed and is an average defender in right field. His plus arm helped him notch 20 outfield assists in 2019.
  
  THE FUTURE: How Encarnacion refines his approach and plate discipline will dictate how far he climbs. He should see Double-A in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Principally a basketball player growing up in the Dominican, baseball was never a true priority for Encarnacion. By the time that changed, Encarnacion was already 18, thereby making him older for free agents and leading to a bonus of just $78,000 in 2015. Encarnacion has shown glimpses of power but also contact issues as he’s progressed through the Marlins system.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Encarnacion struck out in more than 31 percent of his at-bats from 2017-18. He lowered that rate to a more palatable 25.3 percent in 2019, while also showing much-improved power numbers. Armed with a simple righthanded swing and a closed stance, Encarnacion has plus raw power to all fields. While he needs to continue to work on pitch recognition, Encarnacion did a much better job managing sliders, particularly from righthanded pitching. Encarnacion has plus arm strength and profiles best as an average to above-average defender with average speed.
  
  THE FUTURE: The coming year will be key in determining Encarnacion’s place in a suddenly crowded outfield picture. BA GRADE 50 Risk: High BA GRADE 50 Risk: High
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Principally a basketball player growing up in the Dominican, baseball was never a true priority for Encarnacion. By the time that changed, Encarnacion was already 18, thereby making him older for free agents and leading to a bonus of just $78,000 in 2015. Encarnacion has shown glimpses of power but also contact issues as he's progressed through the Marlins system.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Encarnacion struck out in more than 31 percent of his at-bats from 2017-18. He lowered that rate to a more palatable 25.3 percent in 2019, while also showing much-improved power numbers. Armed with a simple righthanded swing and a closed stance, Encarnacion has plus raw power to all fields. While he needs to continue to work on pitch recognition, Encarnacion did a much better job managing sliders, particularly from righthanded pitching. Encarnacion has plus arm strength and profiles best as an average to above-average defender with average speed.
  
  THE FUTURE: The coming year will be key in determining Encarnacion's place in a suddenly crowded outfield picture.