Kelvin De Leon
| AB | 1759 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .236 |
| OBP | .304 |
| SLG | .371 |
| HR | 45 |
- Full name Kelvin Miguel De Leon
- Born 10/29/1990 in Jubey, Boca Chica, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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DeLeon signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2007 for a $1.1 million bonus, but the two scouts who signed him were fired by the Yankees after accusations that they each took $100,000 cuts, part of the Dominican bonus-skimming epidemic. DeLeon has been on a slow track, spending his first two seasons in Rookie ball. He grinded his way through his U.S. debut in 2009, showing his talent as well as his rough edges. His raw power is the second in the system only to Jesus Montero's, and it's usable, as he ranked third in the Gulf Coast League with seven homers last summer. He's wiry strong and has shortened his swing while retaining his power. He's still too aggressive at the plate but has the bat speed to catch up to good fastballs. He fits the right-field profile, with solid athleticism, plus arm strength and average speed. DeLeon is quite raw, with contact issues (he ranked fourth in the GCL with 61 strikeouts) and below-average defensive skills. He'll need a good spring to earn a job in low Class A, but he's also just 19 and has plenty of time to add polish. -
The Yankees typically assign their top Latin American prospects--such as Robinson Cano, Jairo Heredia, Jose Tabata, to name a few--to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. DeLeon, however, started his career last year in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League after signing for $1.1 million in 2007. He disclosed in an ESPN. com story that he didn't see his entire bonus, as he had to pay $100,000 to the scouts who signed him, Carlos Rios and Ramon Valdivia. Both scouts were later fired by the Yankees for their role in the Dominican bonus skimming scandal. The Yankees were willing to pay DeLeon a seven-figure bonus because of his raw power. He's exceptionally strong and has a long, powerful swing that helped him hit nine home runs in the DSL, more than a third of his team's total and good for fourth in the league. His game is quite raw, not unexpected for someone who played last season at age 17. His swing can get long and he's prone to strikeouts. The Yankees also didn't think he was ready defensively for the GCL, though he has a strong arm and projects as a right fielder down the line. In other words, despite the $1.1 million bonus, DeLeon is far from a sure thing. He'll make his U.S. debut in 2009, almost certainly in the GCL.
Minor League Top Prospects
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When DeLeon signed for $1.1 million two years ago, he gave $100,000 to his signing scouts, Carlos Rios and Ramon Valdivia. The Yankees since have fired the scouts, but DeLeon is making good on the investment so far. He ranked fourth in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer league with nine homers in his 2008 pro debut and third in the GCL with seven homers this summer. DeLeon has a short, quick swing and is making strides with his strike-zone discipline, a point of emphasis for him. He has obvious power to his pull side but can drive the ball the other way as well. "He knows how to hit," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "He hunts for his pitch. If it's a fastball count, he doesn't miss. I didn't want any part of him." A lean, athletic 6-foot-2, 180-pounder, DeLeon runs well. He has average defensive tools with a strong arm in right field, though he's still learning to harness his arm strength and align his throws with the cutoff man.
