Gustavo Pierre

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #29 prospect in 2011
  Signed for $700,000 as a 16-year-old in 2008, Pierre is a gifted defender who ranks with Adeiny Hechavarria as the best among Blue Jays farmhands. Lean and athletic, he has good actions at shortstop and a cannon for an arm. Though he has made 43 errors in 106 pro games at shortstop, those can mostly be attributed to youth and inexperience. Pierre has plus speed to go with his defensive gifts, but he's still figuring things out with the bat. He has good bat speed and has the projectable frame to develop average or better power. He's too aggressive, however, which has led to struggles when he has faced significantly older pitchers in his two years in the United States. He has made some improvements, toning down his load and leg kick and keeping his head more still at the plate. Pierre's English is getting better, allowing him to soak up more instruction. Though he'll be just 19 in 2011, he may move up to low Class A.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #29 prospect in 2010
  While the Blue Jays' recent history of signing expensive international free agents hasn't worked out well, they're optimistic about a pair of 2008 signees, catcher Carlos Perez and Pierre. Perez took a bigger step forward last season and ranks higher on this list, but Pierre may have a higher ceiling. Signed for $700,000 out of the Dominican Republic, he has a great body with plenty of physical projection remaining. He's long and lean with fast-twitch muscles. Pierre has above-average speed and has the frame to develop solid power. He's still raw at the plate and swings at everything, but he's also just 18 and has plenty of time to make adjustments. There was a lot of disagreement about his arm strength before he signed, but it turned out that Pierre had an injured elbow that required Tommy John surgery. He has an average arm and good actions at shortstop, but he may have to move off the position as he fills out. Pierre figures to spend time in extended spring training before shipping out to Auburn in June.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #18 prospect in 2009
  The Blue Jays' recent track record in signing international talent is littered with misses, from the Taiwanese duo of lefty Chi-Hung Cheng ($400,000 in 2003) and righty Po-Hsuan Keng ($225,000 in 2004)--both were released in 2008--to Dominican third baseman Lee Soto ($600,000 in 2005), who has batted a miserable .201/.248/.293 in four years of short-season ball. The jury is still out on Venezuelan third baseman Balbino Fuenmayor ($725,000 in 2006) and Cuban righthander Kenny Rodriguez ($240,000 in 2007). Regardless, the organization is excited about the prospects for a pair of 2008 acquisitions from the Dominican, Pierre and 18- year-old catcher Carlos Perez, who signed in January and hit .306/.459/.378 in the Dominican Summer League. Regarded as one of the top international talents available last summer, Pierre signed for $700,000 on July 2, the first day of the signing period. He's a plus athlete and runner with a trim waist and broad shoulders, providing room to project future strength and power. In time, Pierre could outgrow shortstop, where he has average defensive potential, but evaluators disagree on the strength of his arm. Some say it's average and that he could move to third base, while others think he has below-average arm strength and see him as an outfielder. The ball comes off Pierre's bat well, but international scouts dinged him for inconsistent hitting mechanics, which Blue Jays coaches will address in extended spring training and perhaps in the Gulf Coast League in 2009.