Deyvison De Los Santos

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #13 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/Very High
  
  Track Record: De Los Santos’ feel for hitting, penchant for loud contact and natural strength got the D-backs’ attention as an amateur. After back-to-back strong years in his first two seasons in the minors, he hit his first speed bump in 2023. His struggles at Double-A Amarillo reached a point that the organization paused his season and brought him back to Arizona to clean up his swing. The difference upon his return was night and day, and De Los Santos finished the year as perhaps the hottest hitter in the organization over the final two and a half months of the season. Still, Arizona did not add him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft and he was selected by the Guardians.
  
  Scouting Report: De Los Santos possesses a naturally powerful swing and the ability to drive the ball to all fields with authority, but that power got him into trouble in 2023. He developed bad habits trying to swing as hard as possible, and became too rotational and needed to make swing decisions too early. Once he toned down his approach while on the development list, De Los Santos went on a tear, and went from hitting .207 with a .576 OPS in his first 63 games to .322 with .936 OPS over his final 56. His approach is hyper-aggressive, but he maintained a manageable strikeout rate of 26%. De Los Santos is an average runner who could slow down as he matures. He has enough arm for third base, but his below-average footwork and hands limit his upside and make a shift across the diamond likely.
  
  The Future: As a Rule 5 pick, De Los Santos must remain on Cleveland’s roster for the entire 2024 season or else he will be waived and offered back to Arizona if unclaimed. With Jose Ramirez entrenched at third base, that means the Guardians will mostly use De Los Santos at first base and DH. His righthanded power gives him an impact tool, but he’ll also be 20 years old on Opening Day and hasn’t appeared in a game above Double-A. For the Guardians, De Los Santos represents a low-risk, high-reward play.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Field: 40 | Arm: 50
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #6 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High
  
  Track Record: The D-backs were drawn to De Los Santos' ability to impact the baseball when they signed him for $200,000 in 2019. So far, their hulking prospect has more than lived up to their expectations. His pro debut was delayed until 2021 by the pandemic, but he looked at ease as he climbed to Low-A Visalia as an 18-year-old. Despite being young for the level at every stop, De Los Santos has done nothing but hit, including turning in a monster 2022 season in which he not only hit for power and drove in runs but also finished eighth in the minors in hits.
  
  Scouting Report: De Los Santos' strong frame produces explosive bat speed and his high-end exit velocities lead the D-backs' system. When his swing is right, he keeps it tight and compact, getting his bat in the zone early and exiting late. De Los Santos has a tendency to tinker with his mechanics and his swing can get long. His aggressiveness at the plate can also be an issue. So, too, is his inability to recognize spin, particularly sliders breaking away from him. Still, De Los Santos has continued to hit at every stop, including for power despite still having strides to make toward pulling the ball with authority. He has good hands and enough arm to handle third base, but there are questions about his footwork, throwing accuracy and both present and future range, depending on how his body matures. Those factors could necessitate a move to first base. He is an average runner who could slow down as he develops physically.
  
  The Future: De Los Santos could have as much offensive upside as just about anyone in the organization, but his aggressive approach and willingness to expand the zone raises questions. If it comes together, he could be a masher in the mold of a peak Miguel Sano. De Los Santos figures to open 2023 with Double-A Amarillo.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 65. Speed: 45. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #8 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: De los Santos is a hulking prospect whose ability to impact the baseball has been his calling card since he signed out of the Dominican Republic for $200,000 in 2019. The D-backs pushed de los Santos aggressively in 2021 and watched him post strong numbers in his pro debut in the Arizona Complex League before more than holding his own after a late promotion to Low-A Visalia.
  
  Scouting Report: De los Santos possesses proverbial light-tower power and crushes balls to all fields with apparent ease. There is, and probably always will be, a good bit of swing-and-miss to his game, but the power he is capable of producing projects to be worth the tradeoff. De los Santos logged a solid 10 percent walk rate but his approach remains unrefined. He puts up impressive batted-ball data but needs to learn to hit fewer balls on the ground. De los Santos might eventually shift across the diamond to first base. For now, there is some optimism he could stick at third, where he showed improved footwork and reads on balls off the bat. He has enough arm strength for the hot corner, but his throwing accuracy needs to improve.
  
  The Future: For someone getting his first taste of pro ball, de los Santos did not disappoint. He fits the profile of a middle-of-the-lineup run-producer and figures to open the 2022 season back in Low-A.
  

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High
  
  Track Record: The D-backs were drawn to De Los Santos' ability to impact the baseball when they signed him for $200,000 in 2019. So far, their hulking prospect has more than lived up to their expectations. His pro debut was delayed until 2021 by the pandemic, but he looked at ease as he climbed to Low-A Visalia as an 18-year-old. Despite being young for the level at every stop, De Los Santos has done nothing but hit, including turning in a monster 2022 season in which he not only hit for power and drove in runs but also finished eighth in the minors in hits.
  
  Scouting Report: De Los Santos' strong frame produces explosive bat speed and his high-end exit velocities lead the D-backs' system. When his swing is right, he keeps it tight and compact, getting his bat in the zone early and exiting late. De Los Santos has a tendency to tinker with his mechanics and his swing can get long. His aggressiveness at the plate can also be an issue. So, too, is his inability to recognize spin, particularly sliders breaking away from him. Still, De Los Santos has continued to hit at every stop, including for power despite still having strides to make toward pulling the ball with authority. He has good hands and enough arm to handle third base, but there are questions about his footwork, throwing accuracy and both present and future range, depending on how his body matures. Those factors could necessitate a move to first base. He is an average runner who could slow down as he develops physically.
  
  The Future: De Los Santos could have as much offensive upside as just about anyone in the organization, but his aggressive approach and willingness to expand the zone raises questions. If it comes together, he could be a masher in the mold of a peak Miguel Sano. De Los Santos figures to open 2023 with Double-A Amarillo.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 65. Speed: 45. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High
  
  Track Record: The D-backs were drawn to De Los Santos' ability to impact the baseball when they signed him for $200,000 in 2019. So far, their hulking prospect has more than lived up to their expectations. His pro debut was delayed until 2021 by the pandemic, but he looked at ease as he climbed to Low-A Visalia as an 18-year-old. Despite being young for the level at every stop, De Los Santos has done nothing but hit, including turning in a monster 2022 season in which he not only hit for power and drove in runs but also finished eighth in the minors in hits.
  
  Scouting Report: De Los Santos' strong frame produces explosive bat speed and his high-end exit velocities lead the D-backs' system. When his swing is right, he keeps it tight and compact, getting his bat in the zone early and exiting late. De Los Santos has a tendency to tinker with his mechanics and his swing can get long. His aggressiveness at the plate can also be an issue. So, too, is his inability to recognize spin, particularly sliders breaking away from him. Still, De Los Santos has continued to hit at every stop, including for power despite still having strides to make toward pulling the ball with authority. He has good hands and enough arm to handle third base, but there are questions about his footwork, throwing accuracy and both present and future range, depending on how his body matures. Those factors could necessitate a move to first base. He is an average runner who could slow down as he develops physically.
  
  The Future: De Los Santos could have as much offensive upside as just about anyone in the organization, but his aggressive approach and willingness to expand the zone raises questions. If it comes together, he could be a masher in the mold of a peak Miguel Sano. De Los Santos figures to open 2023 with Double-A Amarillo.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 65. Speed: 45. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: De Los Santos is a hulking prospect whose ability to impact the baseball has been his calling card since he signed out of the Dominican Republic for $200,000 in 2019. The D-backs pushed De Los Santos aggressively in 2021 and watched him post strong numbers in his pro debut in the Arizona Complex League before more than holding his own after a late promotion to Low-A Visalia.
  
  Scouting Report: De Los Santos possesses proverbial “light-tower power” and crushes balls to all fields with apparent ease. There is, and probably always will be, a good bit of swing-and-miss to his game, but the power he is capable of producing projects to be worth the tradeoff. De Los Santos logged a solid 10 percent walk rate but his approach remains unrefined. He puts up impressive batted-ball data but needs to learn to hit fewer balls on the ground. De Los Santos might eventually shift across the diamond to first base. For now, there is some optimism he could stick at third, where he showed improved footwork and reads on balls off the bat. He has enough arm strength for the hot corner, but his throwing accuracy needs to improve.
  
  The Future: For someone getting his first taste of pro ball, De Los Santos did not disappoint. He fits the profile of a middle-of-the-lineup run producer and figures to open the 2022 season back in Low-A.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 70. Speed: 40. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: De los Santos is a hulking prospect whose ability to impact the baseball has been his calling card since he signed out of the Dominican Republic for $200,000 in 2019. The D-backs pushed de los Santos aggressively in 2021 and watched him post strong numbers in his pro debut in the Arizona Complex League before more than holding his own after a late promotion to Low-A Visalia.
  
  Scouting Report: De los Santos possesses proverbial light-tower power and crushes balls to all fields with apparent ease. There is, and probably always will be, a good bit of swing-and-miss to his game, but the power he is capable of producing projects to be worth the tradeoff. De los Santos logged a solid 10 percent walk rate but his approach remains unrefined. He puts up impressive batted-ball data but needs to learn to hit fewer balls on the ground. De los Santos might eventually shift across the diamond to first base. For now, there is some optimism he could stick at third, where he showed improved footwork and reads on balls off the bat. He has enough arm strength for the hot corner, but his throwing accuracy needs to improve.
  
  The Future: For someone getting his first taste of pro ball, de los Santos did not disappoint. He fits the profile of a middle-of-the-lineup run-producer and figures to open the 2022 season back in Low-A.