Jeter Deion Downs
Status: Active
Born: 7/27/1998 in San Andres, Colombia
Draft: 2017, Cincinnati Reds, Round: CB-A, Overall Pick: 32
High School: Pace, Miami Gardens, FL
MLB Debut: 6/22/2022
Acquired via waivers claim after being DFA'd by the Boston Red Sox. Was the top prospect acquired by Boston in the Mookie Betts trade with the LA Dodgers. Was previously sent by Cincinnati to LA with Josiah Gray as part of the Matt Kemp / Yasiel Puig trade in 2018.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeter_Downshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=downs-000jethttps://www.milb.com/player/jeter-downs-6690232022:
- AAA (Worchester) .197 / .316 / .416, 16HRs, 284 ABs
- MLB .154 / .171 / .256. 1HR, 39 ABs
Prospect report (2020 - MiLB)
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55
A Reds supplemental first-round pick who signed for $1,822,500 in 2017, Downs joined the Dodgers in December 2018 as part of a package for Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Alex Wood and Kyle Farmer. He batted .276/.362/.526 with 24 homers and 24 steals and reached Double-A shortly after turning 21 in his first season with his new organization, then was reunited with his old brother Jerry, a first baseman in the Red Sox system, in the February 2020 Mookie Betts/David Price trade. Boston originally was going to acquire Brusdar Graterol from the Twins as part of a three-team deal but balked at his medical records, so the Dodgers added Downs and catching prospect Connor Wong to Alex Verdugo to finalize the acquisitions of Betts and Price.
Named after Derek Jeter, Downs struggled at the outset of 2019 when he got too impatient at the plate, then took off once he settled down and started working counts and using the entire field. Just one of his 19 homers in his first two pro seasons went to the right side of the field, but he showed the ability to drive the ball the other way with six opposite-field blasts last year. With his simple right-handed swing, quick hands and deceptive strength, he should hit for power and average.
Downs is a smart and aggressive runner who makes the most of his average speed. After spending more time at second base in 2018, he saw most of his action at shortstop last season. He has the hands and enough arm to play shortstop, though his range fits better at second base.
2022 Scouting Report (SoxProspects.com)
Physical Description: Athletic, twitchy. Minimal projection remaining in frame. Has gotten stronger since signing. Thick lower half.
Hit: Starts open and vertical with his hands high. Leg kick timing device. Pronounced load with his hands pre-pitch. Struggles with timing his swing and getting to fastballs up in the zone. Has quick hands, but bat drags due to slow trigger. When he tries to speed things up to compensate, becomes susceptible to off-speed pitches. At his best, will show an all-fields approach. Had always hit prior to trade to Boston, but has generally struggled with Triple-A pitching save for a few short bursts of success. Will need to make adjustments to make enough contact. Has attempted to make changes to his setup, opening up to get to the ball quicker. Potential well below-average hit tool.
Power: Swing changes prior to trade to Boston have allowed him to tap into his raw power even though he does not have a prototypical power hitter's frame. Puts the ball in the air often and has shown the most power to the pull side. Will hit his share of home runs, but could add a substantial number of doubles. Development of hit tool will determine how much of his game power actualizes. If he can make enough contact, potential for average power.
Run: Fringe-average speed, but has shown strong instincts and could steal a handful of bases in the major leagues.
Field: Moves well and has shown soft hands. Makes the routine plays and shows confidence charging the ball and ranging to either side. Average range, that is passable at shortstop for a few days a week. Could be a better defender at second base than shortstop, but has made himself into a good enough defender after past questions about whether he could handle short that such a move would be done for versatility purposes, not because of his own limitations. Potential solid-average defender. Arm: Average arm. Arm is a little light for shortstop full-time, but quick release allows it to play there.
Career Notes: Named after Derek Jeter. Younger brother of Red Sox 2015 draft pick Jerry Downs. Born in Colombia but grew up in Florida. Drafted by the Reds, was dealt in December 2018 to the Dodgers with Josiah Gray and Homer Bailey for Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, Matt Kemp, Kyle Farmer and cash. Was acquired along with Alex Verdugo and Connor Wong in the reworked Mookie Betts trade after the Red Sox did not like Brusdar Graterol’s medicals. Played at the Alternate Training Site in 2020, working with a primary focus on his defense with coach Bruce Crabbe. Entered 2020 and 2021 seasons as a top 100 prospect. Opened 2021 at the Alternate Training Site. Competed for Colombia in the 2021 Americas Olympic Qualifier. Struggled for the majority of 2022 and into the 2022 winter ball season, when he was released by his Puerto Rican league team. Was designated for assignment in December 2022.
Summation: Potential emergency utility infielder. Ceiling of fringe-utility infielder who struggles to hold down a consistent role and jumps from team to team. Future potential is largely tied to development of his hit tool. Has really struggled to make contact in the high minors, especially on velocity. May have been promoted to Triple-A a bit too aggressively after the lost 2020 season given his limited exposure to Double-A. If he can develop even a below-average hit tool, has the chance to carve out a major league role, but even that is a question after prolonged struggles in Triple-A. Other tools are all about average, and he lacks another carrying tool if his hit tool does not develop.
