Alex Guerrero

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #21 prospect in 2015
  Guerrero was one of the top offensive shortstops in Cuba's Serie Nacional, but the Cubans used him sparingly on the national team. Many scouts were skeptical after watching him in the Dominican Republic, but that didn't dissuade the international scouts for the Dodgers, who signed him after the 2013 season to a four-year, $28 million deal that included a $10 million signing bonus. The Dodgers' major league staff shared that skepticism, so Guerrero spent 2014 at Triple-A Albuquerque. He missed nearly two months, though, when he was involved in a fight with teammate Miguel Olivo, who bit off part of Guerrero's ear, requiring surgery. Guerrero has the power to hit 20 home runs, but he's a pull-oriented hitter with holes in his swing, though he didn't strike out excessively. He expands the zone and has trouble hanging in against breaking pitches. Guerrero lacks the first-step quickness for shortstop and has trouble at second base, where he has an average arm but lacks natural infield actions. The offseason trade for Howie Kendrick shows the Dodgers' lack of faith in Guerrero, who will repeat Triple-A as a 28-year-old.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #7 prospect in 2014
  Guerrero had been one of the top performers in Cuba before he left the country, hitting .290/.402/.576 with 21 homers, 39 walks and 30 strikeouts in 328 plate appearances for Las Tunas. He played sparingly on Cuba's national team, and scouts said the tools didn't match the performance. Nevertheless, Guerrero landed a four-year, $28 million deal that includes a $10 million signing bonus. While Guerrero claimed legal residency in Haiti, teams were able to evaluate him before he signed in the Dominican Republic, where he transformed his body and improved his power and speed. Above-average raw power is Guerrero's best tool, but the Dodgers were drawn to his hitting potential and ability to hit to all fields. Other scouts were skeptical, believing Guerrero has a pull-oriented approach that he will have to adjust to hit quality pitching. Some scouts called Guerrero's stroke rigid with holes that will leave him susceptible to good velocity, and he can lose his balance against breaking pitches. Guerrero was no basestealer in Cuba, but he ran above-average 60-yard times in the Dominican Republic. A shortstop in Cuba, Guerrero has solid hands but his lack of range and first-step quickness make him a better fit at second base, though he could see some time at shortstop. His arm is average. Those highest on Guerrero believe he can be an offensive-oriented second baseman, but he's far from the scouting favorite that Yoenis Cespedes was when he left Cuba. Several teams consider Guerrero to be a fringe big leaguer. The Dodgers are paying him to be their immediate second baseman in 2014.