Guerrero has great bloodlines as the cousin of Vladimir and Wilton Guerrero, and youth is still on his side--though his age was revised upward nine months last year. But the Brewers are tiring of waiting for him to live up to his promise. With a 6-foot-5 frame, a strong arm and a powerful swing, he has the tools scouts covet but hasn't been able to put everything together. He's fun to watch in batting practice, when his moonshots draw oohs from the crowd, but not as enjoyable when the games begin. Guerrero's swing is long and he lacks plate discipline, a deadly combination. Too often, he gets tied up with inside pitches and chases breaking balls in the dirt. Though his defense has improved, he still has work to do in that area. In one memorable sequence during a big league spring-training game in 2002, he muffed a routine liner, then caught a fly on the next play and threw the runner out at the plate. That's the way things have gone for Guerrero, who needs to show consistency before he can be considered a true prospect. He'll repeat Double-A this season.
The Brewers are still waiting for Vladimir Guerrero's cousin to approach his potential. Because Cristian is just 21 they're far from panicking, even though he has shown little evidence of Guerreroesque performance so far. He missed six weeks at High Desert with a broken foot last season, so he didn't make as much progress as club officials had hoped. Guerrero still has the tools to become a star player. He hits for average, shows flashes of power and has a solid arm in the outfield. Guerrero isn't a great runner but gets the job done in the field. With four tools, he can be an impact player in the majors if he gets the most out of all of them. He must continue to work on his defense and also needs to add strength, which should increase his power numbers. He's a free swinger who doesn't draw many walks. "He has so much ability," one member of the organization said. "We're just waiting for it all to come together." Guerrero is still young, so the Brewers won't rush him. If they can get him to the Double-A level at some point in 2002, they'll be pleased.
Because Guerrero was so young, the Brewers weren't discouraged when he failed at Beloit at the outset of 2000 and had to be sent back to Rookie-level Ogden. By the end of the year, he was playing so well that he rejoined Beloit in the playoffs and more than held his own. Guerrero not only has power but also runs well. In fact, he has five-tool potential along the lines of cousin Vladimir Guerrero. With a lanky frame that should fill out as he gets older, Cristian's ceiling is very high. His failure at Beloit, where he was bothered by the cold weather, showed he has work to do mentally. Projected as a right fielder because of his power potential and arm, he must continue to work on his defense to be a complete player. At this stage, comparisons to his cousin are premature and counterproductive. If it all comes together, Guerrero could be something special, though. He's still a teenager, so the Brewers have no reason to rush him. This time around, he should be ready for Beloit.
Minor League Top Prospects
Guerrero began this season in the Class A Midwest League and returned there for the playoffs but in between spent a second season in the Pioneer League. He was the No. 5 prospect in the league in 1999 and moved up to No. 2 this year.
The story remains much the same as a year ago. Guerrero is a huge kid (listed at 6-foot-4, possibly as tall as 6-foot-7) with a lot of potential for power and a strong throwing arm. He also has every one of the holes in his swing that might be expected from a 19-year-old with that big a body. Things worked out pretty well for his similarly built cousin, Expos outfielder Vladimir Guerrero.
"If he ever figures out how to hit a curveball, this kid has all the tools," Butte manager Joe Urso said.
Guerrero has the same type of body frame as his cousin, Expos outfielder Vladimir Guerrero--only he's five inches taller. The Brewers hope he has the same type of ability. "He has all the tools," Billings manager Russ Nixon said. "He runs very, very well and has a plus arm and power potential. He really improved throughout the year as he learned how to relax."
Scouting Reports
Guerrero began this season in the Class A Midwest League and returned there for the playoffs but in between spent a second season in the Pioneer League. He was the No. 5 prospect in the league in 1999 and moved up to No. 2 this year.
The story remains much the same as a year ago. Guerrero is a huge kid (listed at 6-foot-4, possibly as tall as 6-foot-7) with a lot of potential for power and a strong throwing arm. He also has every one of the holes in his swing that might be expected from a 19-year-old with that big a body. Things worked out pretty well for his similarly built cousin, Expos outfielder Vladimir Guerrero.
"If he ever figures out how to hit a curveball, this kid has all the tools," Butte manager Joe Urso said.
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