Author Topic: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF  (Read 2450 times)

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Offline imref

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Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Topic Start: March 07, 2022, 08:41:51 PM »
Cristhian Vaquero, OF
6' 3", 180lb
B/T: S/R
Signed in January, 2022

https://www.milb.com/player/cristhian-vaquero-703143

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Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 70 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

The Nationals had $5,179,700 in their international signing pool for the 2022 period and used $4,925,000 on Vaquero alone, making him the highest signee in his class. The Cuba native had moved to the Dominican Republic, where he picked up switch-hitting before signing, and stayed in the DR for his first taste of the Minors, hitting .256/.379/.341 with nine extra-base hits and 17 steals in 55 games in the Dominican Summer League.

Vaquero’s mother was an Olympic swimmer and his father a judo fighter, and it’s clear the 18-year-old picked up their athletic genes. He’s already a plus-plus runner, and the Nats leaned into that by placing him exclusively in center field in the DSL. His arm should work in center as well. However, Vaquero didn’t show a ton of power at the Minors’ lowest level, in part because he hit a plurality of balls on the ground, and the pop he did exhibit came from his natural left-handed side (slugging .358 there compared to .250 as a righty) as he continues to get comfortable as a switch-hitter.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds entering 2023, Vaquero has plenty of projection remaining to get to his at least above-average power potential, and his overall approach, in which he walked nearly as much as he struck out, adds to that promise. He’ll still only be 18 for much of his first summer playing stateside, where he’ll pick up the at-bats to develop into a potential star up-the-middle talent.


Offline Section214

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #1: June 06, 2022, 08:14:37 PM »
Made his professional debut in the Dominican League. 2-3 1 2B 1 3B 2 RBI and a SB. #5 prospect in our system listed as a 6'3" 190 lb CF. Only 17 years old. Will be monitoring closely.

Offline Natsinpwc

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #2: June 06, 2022, 08:34:55 PM »
Made his professional debut in the Dominican League. 2-3 1 2B 1 3B 2 RBI and a SB. #5 prospect in our system listed as a 6'3" 190 lb CF. Only 17 years old. Will be monitoring closely.
Bring him up!

Offline zimm_da_kid

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #3: June 06, 2022, 08:51:03 PM »
Good start!

Offline zimm_da_kid

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #4: June 06, 2022, 08:52:03 PM »
Was hoping they’d start him in the gulf coast league.  Wondering if he kills it for a month he’ll get promoted.

I hope so because I want him starting next year in low a

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #5: June 07, 2022, 08:53:58 AM »
Was hoping they’d start him in the gulf coast league.  Wondering if he kills it for a month he’ll get promoted.

I hope so because I want him starting next year in low a
it's probably a friendlier environment for a kid to start playing.  He's still a kid.  Moving that quick to the States can be a shock.  I haven't heard how his English is.  It can be isolating even with the support structure.  Even Soto learned most of his English when he was hurt and could focus. 

Offline imref

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #6: June 12, 2022, 10:53:46 AM »
1-1, 3B, 3RBIs, BB yesterday. In 18 PAs he's at .250 / .444 / .667 with 5BBs and 2Ks.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=vaquer000cri

Offline Section214

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #7: July 17, 2022, 09:50:24 AM »
Hit his first career HR yesterday. Not exactly lighting it up in the DSL, but he is only 17.

.268/.351/.381

Online Slateman

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #8: July 17, 2022, 09:51:36 AM »
.351 OBP is solid

Offline imref

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #9: July 17, 2022, 01:48:46 PM »
We’ll use the Soto money to lock him up. :(

Offline zimm_da_kid

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Any word on if he’s still trying to switch hit?

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Any word on if he’s still trying to switch hit?

He is switch hitting. Batting .256/.314/.397 left handed and .316/.480/.316right handed. Much smaller sample batting right but hes walking and putting the bat on the ball. Showing more pop.left handed.

Search him on Twitter, and you can see individual clips of him hitting g from each side, including his 1st bomb.

Offline imref

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #12: August 16, 2022, 01:34:50 PM »
Checking in on Vaquero in the DSL: 158ABs, .253   / .365 /.713 OPS, 13SBs and a homer.

Offline imref

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #13: January 05, 2023, 06:07:15 PM »
via TalkNats
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Way to go @jimcallisMLB at @MLBPipeline picks Cristhian Vaquero as his projected top mover from the DSL to Top-100 prospect status for 2023. #Nats

Offline Natsinpwc

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #14: January 05, 2023, 06:52:02 PM »
Kewl.

Offline Elvir Ovcina

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #15: January 09, 2023, 10:39:30 AM »
Cool, but like all prospects let's see him do it in AA before anyone gets too excited.

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #16: January 09, 2023, 11:57:25 AM »
Cool, but like all prospects let's see him do it in AA before anyone gets too excited.
Yep

Offline imref

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Offline imref

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Re: Follow the Prospects: Cristhian Vaquero, OF
« Reply #18: March 31, 2023, 09:30:41 AM »
It looks like he'll be at the FCL this year to start.

Offline imref

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starting to heat up in the FCL. Slugging up to .357 and OPS up to .705

Might see him in Fredricksburg before the year is out

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starting to heat up in the FCL. Slugging up to .357 and OPS up to .705

Might see him in Fredricksburg before the year is out

I hope not. He appears to be in the Cruz/Green area. A little raw, and no short season, they're kind of stuck in no man's land. Pushing him too fast can damage confidence and set him back. I'd rather see him kill it in the FCL the rest of the year, then get instructs and a Spring before heading to Fredericksburg. Promoting him because he can barely keep his head afloat in the FCL seems a bit fast to me.

Offline imref

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OPS up to .739, still hitting....

Offline imref

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OPS up to .764, 1-2, BB, HBP yesterday.

Over his last 4 games: 7-15, 2 2B, SB, 1K, 1BB

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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https://blogs.fangraphs.com/picks-to-click-who-we-expect-to-make-the-2024-top-100/

these are prospects not on the Fangraphs top 100 this year that their prospect hounds select as potential top 100 prospects for next year.  They have between a 25% - 35% correct rate over the past few years.  Vaquero makes the list as a Longenhagen pick. As they describe it:

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this is the prospect phenotype comprised of the high-variance players, risky toolsheds who are far away from the big leagues but who have gigantic ceilings.

regarding Vaquero:
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Vaquero is the Platonic Ideal of this prospect category, an uber-projectable outfielder built like Justin Jefferson who stands a chance to break out at basically any time.

Offline Natsinpwc

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Maybe he should try wide receiver?