Orlando Arcia

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #1 prospect in 2016
  The younger brother of Twins outfielder Oswaldo, Arcia enhanced his standing as one of the top shortstop prospects in baseball with his performance at Double-A Biloxi in 2015. He established personal bests in nearly every offensive category, while continuing to display impressive defensive skill and played for the World team in the Futures Game. Beyond his on-field performance, Arcia became a team leader while playing much of the season at age 20. The Shuckers played the first 54 games of the Southern League season on the road while awaiting the completion of their new ballpark in Biloxi, Miss., and Arcia and his teammates rose to the occasion by claiming the first-half Southern Division crown. He raised his performance to a new level in the SL playoffs, when he hit .400 (12-for-30) with three homers, three doubles, a triple and 10 RBIs in eight games for the league runners-up. He made the SL postseason all-star team after clubbing a league-leading 37 doubles and hitting .307 to rank fifth in the batting race. He also finished among the SL elite with 157 hits (second), 52 extra-base hits (third), 74 runs (fifth) and 68 RBIs (fifth), and he led all SL shortstops in assists (376) and double plays (82). Arcia has a confidence that is easy to see, maturity beyond his years and the instincts that only come naturally in being at the right place at the right time. His defensive skills are beyond reproach, and he could likely excel defensively in the major leagues right now. He has the range, hands and arm strength teams seek in a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop, with tremendous instincts and flair for making big plays at key times. SL managers voted Arcia the best defensive shortstop and the best infield arm in the circuit. But it was at the plate that Arcia showed the most growth in 2015, though he still is too aggressive at times for his own good and does not draw enough walks (5.4 percent) to produce a high on-base percentage. As a result, he'll likely be a streaky hitter. He has gap power with enough pop to be dangerous at the top of the lineup. Arcia does most of his damage against fastballs and, therefore, sees lots of breaking pitches, which contributed to one skid in the middle of the season. Arcia rebounded from his slump to hit .300/.336/.451 with 24 extra-base hits, 17 steals and 40 strikeouts in his final 60 games. His swing still gets long at times, but he has become better at making adjustments as he matures as a hitter. He is a threat to steal at any time with plus speed on the basepaths, and has stolen at least 20 bases in all three of his years in full-season ball. Arcia likes coming to the plate with games on the line, a sign of his growing confidence in his offensive game. The rebuilding Brewers will establish Arcia's time line for reaching Milwaukee, but he will certainly be their starting shortstop at some time in the near future, and he has all-star potential. He could probably begin the 2016 season in the majors and hold his own, but the Brewers will take things slow unless they surprisingly find themselves in contention. With Jean Segura still manning shortstop in Milwaukee until further notice, Arcia probably will begin the 2016 season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, a hitter's haven. When he does arrive at Miller Park, Arcia could be the first homegrown impact player developed by the Brewers since Ryan Braun arrived in the majors in 2007.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #2 prospect in 2015
  Arcia played most of the 2014 season at high Class A Brevard County at age 19, but he didn't play like a teenager. In fact, he shows uncommon maturity and a well-rounded game . He moved full-time to his natural position of shortstop at midseason when double-play partner Yadiel Rivera moved to Double-A. Arcia's older brother Oswaldo plays right field for the Twins. Arcia could probably play shortstop in the big leagues in 2015 and hold his own. He has a plus arm, great first-step quickness and above-average range. His hands are soft and his instincts are good, and he believes he can make every play. At the plate, Arcia continues to improve, with good hand-eye coordination and pitch recognition that keep his strikeouts manageable. He shows mostly gap power at present but has enough pop to stop pitchers from grooving the ball, especially for his size. With plus speed, he is a threat on the bases and an exciting, daring player to watch. Sometimes his swing gets long and his plate discipline lags, but that can improve with experience and coaching. Everyone agrees that Arcia will get to the big leagues on the basis of defense alone, but the Brewers also have high hopes for his offense . He shows leadership skills that add to the package, and it's only a matter of time before he is wearing a Brewers uniform.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #7 prospect in 2014
  Arcia missed the 2012 season when he broke his right ankle sliding into second base in extended spring training. Despite missing that year, the Brewers had Arcia skip Rookie ball in 2013 and assigned him to low Class A Wisconsin. His older brother Oswaldo, a power-hitting corner outfielder, reached the majors with the Twins in 2013. Unlike his big brother, the Brewers' Arcia focuses on contact ability rather than power at the plate, rarely striking out. He doesn't walk much either and has to work on his plate discipline to reach base more often. Arcia has decent pop for being so thin and figures to get stronger as he matures physically. He doesn't have great speed but is aggressive on the bases and shows good instincts there as well. In the field, Arcia can be fun to watch. He has above-average range to both sides, nimble footwork around the bag, soft hands and plenty of arm strength to stick at shortstop. Like all young players, he will make sloppy errors at times, but he has all-star potential in the field. As might be expected, Arcia had an inconsistent year at the plate but was dazzling at times in the field, showing tremendous natural instincts. His athleticism is evident and nobody doubts he will be major league ready with the glove first. He will step up to high Class A Brevard County in 2014.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #17 prospect in 2013
  Following a strong showing in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2011, Arcia saw his U.S. debut end before it even began when he broke his ankle sliding into second base during extended spring training. The break was so severe that doctors inserted a metal plate to repair it. Arcia, whose older brother Oswaldo is a top prospect in the Twins system, recovered in time to participate in instructional league and got more action over the winter at the Brewers' Dominican academy. The good news is that Arcia is just 18 and still has plenty of time to make up for the lost season. He has the skills to be an outstanding defender at shortstop, with good range to both sides, solid footwork around the bag and plenty of arm strength. He also shows great instincts in the field. Milwaukee hopes Arcia will develop into an above-average offensive player. He shows contact ability and some surprising pop for his size, so he could hit for a solid average with gap power down the road. His speed is average at best, but he runs the bases well and shows good instincts there as well. The Brewers may consider sending Arcia to low Class A in 2013, though that might be pushing it considering his age and inexperience.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #22 prospect in 2012
  The Brewers let their Latin American program laps in the mid-2000s and at one point were the only organization without an academy in the Dominican Republic. They re-opened an academy after the 2009 season and have tried to increase their presence on the international market. The best of Milwaukee's recent finds is Arcia, who signed out of Venezuela for $95,000 in 2010. His brother Oswaldo is a top outfield prospect in the Twins system. Making his pro debut as one of the youngest players in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League last year, Orlando attracted attention with his live bat. He showed surprising pop at times for a player with such a lanky frame, and his plate discipline was just as impressive. He shows average speed and good instincts on the basepaths. In the field, Arcia displays fine range to both sides and solid footwork around the bag on double plays. He's a very instinctive defender and has enough arm to stay at shortstop. While Arcia will need plenty of time to develop, the early returns on him are intriguing. He should make his U.S. debut this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #4 prospect in 2016
  Though he hit just .267 with ordinary power this year in the PCL, Arcia boasts the potential to develop all five tools. Immediate Gold Glove-caliber value at shortstop carries the torch for his talents, and he has hit in the past, such as in 2015 when he hit .307 at Double-A Biloxi. He is the younger brother of outfielder Oswaldo Arcia. "He is the most exciting player in this league," Colorado Springs manager Fred Dabney said. "His instincts are through the roof. He goes to his right in the hole (at shortstop) better than anybody I have ever seen." Arcia has shown glimpses of an ability to hit for average and gap power, with his present strength geared toward spraying liners to the gaps and taking the ball the other way. He uses his plus speed on the bases and will continue to develop as a basestealer with experience. Arcia worked deeper, more competitive at-bats in the PCL but has shown a tendency to get too big with his swing in an effort to hit for power. He plays with elite instincts and exudes confidence in his game, which shines in big moments but at times leads to overconfidence at the plate.
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  Ranked Southern League #3 prospect in 2015
  Arcia continued to build his case as one of the finest two-way shortstop prospects in the game in 2015, when he led the SL with 37 doubles and hit .307 to rank fifth in the batting race, while on defense he led his position peers in assists (376) and double plays (82). He also finished among the SL elite with 157 hits (second), 52 extra-base hits (third), 74 runs (fifth) and 68 RBIs (fifth). Arcia always has been an aggressive hitter, but he did a better job channeling that aggression into the zone this season, when he established career highs in virtually every category in his first exposure to Double-A. Because he feeds off fastballs, Arcia saw a steady diet of breaking stuff during a summer funk (.676 OPS in June and July) before he adjusted later in the summer. He will hit for average in the majors and collect extra bases with his gap power and plus speed. He's not the most patient batter, and his swing gets too big at times, so he probably will be a streaky hitter. Arcia's glove will keep him in the lineup regardless of his batting performance. One of the best defenders among shortstop prospects, he boasts plus range, plus arm strength and fine actions to make every play. Evaluators believe he has occasional all-star potential because of his competitive makeup and aura, which borders on cockiness.
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  Ranked Florida State League #9 prospect in 2014
  Arcia began the year splitting time at second base and shortstop in deference to Yadiel Rivera, who was repeating the league. He moved to short full-time when Rivera moved to Double-A in July and continued to make an impression as a toolsy, well-rounded player. The younger brother of Twins outfielder Oswaldo, Arcia is a completely different player. His excellent hand-eye coordination and fine pitch recognition helps him avoid strikeouts. He adds plus speed to makes him a dangerous basestealer and enough pop in his gap-to-gap approach to keep pitchers honest. All four of his homers came away from Space Coast Stadium, which mutes righthanded power. Defensively, Arcia has plus arm strength, first-step quickness and above-average range, with the actions to make all the plays at short.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #8 prospect in 2016
• Ranked Baseball America's #94 prospect in 2015

• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  Arcia played most of the 2014 season at high Class A Brevard County at age 19, but he didn't play like a teenager. In fact, he shows uncommon maturity and a well-rounded game . He moved full-time to his natural position of shortstop at midseason when double-play partner Yadiel Rivera moved to Double-A. Arcia's older brother Oswaldo plays right field for the Twins. Arcia could probably play shortstop in the big leagues in 2015 and hold his own. He has a plus arm, great first-step quickness and above-average range. His hands are soft and his instincts are good, and he believes he can make every play. At the plate, Arcia continues to improve, with good hand-eye coordination and pitch recognition that keep his strikeouts manageable. He shows mostly gap power at present but has enough pop to stop pitchers from grooving the ball, especially for his size. With plus speed, he is a threat on the bases and an exciting, daring player to watch. Sometimes his swing gets long and his plate discipline lags, but that can improve with experience and coaching. Everyone agrees that Arcia will get to the big leagues on the basis of defense alone, but the Brewers also have high hopes for his offense . He shows leadership skills that add to the package, and it's only a matter of time before he is wearing a Brewers uniform.