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TopProspectAlert.com Minor League News & Autograph Blog HomeTop Prospect Alert - Franklin Gutierrez By Schuyler DombroskeDOB: 2/21/83, Age: 20, Height: 6’2’’, Weight:
180, Bats: R, Throws: R. Acquired: Dodgers - Signed as a free agent out of
Venezuela on 11/18/00. 2002 Stats: (Low-A - South Georgia) .283 AVG, 361
AB, 18 2B, 4 3B, 12 HR, 13 SB, 31 BB, 88 K, .349 OBP, .454 SLG; (AAA - Las
Vegas) .300 AVG, 10 AB, 2 2B, 1 BB, 4 K, .364 OBP, .500 SLG. 2003 Stats:
(High-A - Vero Beach) .286 AVG, 374 AB, 25 2B, 5 3B, 18 HR, 16 SB, 33 BB,
99 K, .345 OBP, .524 SLG.
Franklin Gutierrez is
still one of the better-kept secrets in the prospect ranks, despite
leading the FSL in homers for most of this season. He still looks like a
kid, being listed at a generous 180 pounds, which makes what he is doing
to FSL pitching all the more impressive because you know he is going to
get much stronger over the next few years. His .286 batting average is
good for 11th in the FSL, which makes it one of the few categories in
which he is not found in the top five. He has the makings of a good
average hitter, but that will not be his strength. He strikes out too much
to be a contender for a batting title, in my opinion, but he could be a
.300 hitter in time. His power is the tool that is going to carry him
forward. Not only does he have 18 homers in mid-July in what is probably
the toughest pitchers’ league in the minors, his doubles and triples bring
his extra-base hit total for the year to 48. Last season, he had 36
extra-base hits despite missing over one third of the season with a broken
wrist and finger. This kid has enormous power potential: potentially more
so than any other minor league player. His strike zone judgment is an area
where he is still extremely raw. His BB/K ratio is even worse this year
than last, and he is on pace for over 150 strikeouts this year. That will
be an area in which he absolutely must improve before he can become the
impact player that I believe he will be. On the bases, Gutierrez is not a
burner, but he has good speed, and he certainly is a stolen base threat,
as evidenced by his 29 steals since the beginning of 2002. In the field,
Gutierrez is athletic enough to be a good outfielder, although probably in
one of the corners. His arm is a bit above average, so he could be slotted
in either left or right ultimately, depending on the needs at the time.
All in all, Gutierrez doesn’t really have any glaring weaknesses, other
than his selectivity at the plate. In my opinion, despite all the press
coverage over his hot start to 2003, he is still a big-time
sleeper.
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