Alex Reyes, RHP
Carson Kelly, C
Magneuris Sierra, OF
Jack Flaherty, RHP
Sandy Alcantara, RHP
Jordan Hicks, RHP
Andrew Knizner, C
Tyler O’Neill, OF
Harrison Bader, OF
Wadye Ynfante, OF
10. Wadye Ynfante, OF
DOB: 8/15/1997
Height/Weight: 6’0”, 160 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Acquired: Signed February 2014 by the St. Louis Cardinals out of the Dominican Republic for $125,000.
Previous Ranking(s): N/A
2017 Stats: .299/.374/.491, 7 HR, 11 SB in 43 games at short-season Johnson City
The Good: The 2014 Dominican signee is tooled up, with plenty of upside. The dream is that he sticks in center, where his 50 arm is enough to go with a 50 glove at the position. He’s an athletic player with 60 speed, but I expect him to add a little mass that slows him down a half-grade. Combine this average center field defense with 60 power and a chance for a 50 hit tool, and things begin looking pretty good. The key is a high-leverage, lofted swing with a closed shoulder, strong hands, and excellent barrel control; best displayed when he lets the ball travel deep and relies on quick hands to go oppo, or his powerful hip rotation to pull with power. His zone awareness is inconsistent, and the timing of the swing rests upon a leg-lift he likely doesn’t need to get to his power. In later looks, he shortened his load to quicken his bat while still displaying plus power.
The Bad: It is difficult to separate the “bad” from the “risks,” with the Ynfante’s since it is his rawness on both sides of the ball that limits his realistic value. While I like the swing when he’s locked in, when he’s not he gets fooled by soft stuff, borne out in his high K-rate. If things don’t break well, he could move to left field, continue having K-issues, make the above hit-tool projection look foolish and not be able to tap his plus power. Splitting the difference, it’s a 45 hit tool for me and a future regular role.
The Role:
OFP 55— Above-average center fielder
Likely 45— second-division outfielder
The Risks: He’ll head to full-season ball at age 20, so Ynfante has plenty of development time left. He’ll need it, as he’s still raw as an outfielder, including late breaks and some rough routes, and the swing-and-miss is enough to give pause. I’m bullish, but the risk profile is significant.
Major league ETA: 2021
Ben Carsley’s Fantasy Take: Watch list unless your name quality is a category in your league. Then, Ynfante becomes a solid third- or fourth-rounder.