Oscar Taveras

Oscar Taveras
Taveras in spring training, 2013
St. Louis Cardinals
Outfielder
Born: (1992-06-19) June 19, 1992 Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Bats: Left	Throws: Left

Oscar Francisco Taveras (born June 19, 1992) is a Canadian-Dominican professional baseball outfielder from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic who plays in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Taveras is one of the highest-rated prospects (top 100) in all of Minor League Baseball due in part to wielding a Major League-ready bat likened to the style of Vladimir Guerrero, with a smooth, balanced stroke that allows him to hit pitches well outside of the strike zone. He is the recipient of a litany of awards and won batting titles in three minor leagues, including in the Midwest League with a .386 batting average in 2011. Through 2013, Taveras' career minor league batting average was .320 with 45 home runs and 275 runs batted in in 374 games.

Early life

Taveras' father was an outfielder in the Milwaukee Brewers' minor league system. Taveras lived in Montreal from ages 12 to 16. At that time, he returned to the Dominican Republic; had he stayed in Canada, he would have entered the draft after high school.^[1]

Professional career (2009–present)

The St. Louis Cardinals signed Taveras as an undrafted free agent on November 25, 2008 for $145,000 and assigned him to the rookie league Dominican Summer League Cardinals the next season.^[2][3] Although he hit just .265 with one home run (HR) and 42 runs batted in (RBIs) in 65 games, Taveras earned a promotion to the Johnson City Cardinals rookie league team in 2010. The talent of whom scouts discovered in the Dominican Republic quickly actualized, as he hit .322 with eight home runs and 43 RBIs in 53 games.^[4] He earned another promotion to the low-A Quad Cities River Bandits in 2011, increasing his production to a .386 batting average, .444 on-base percentage (OBP) and .584 slugging percentage (SLG) with eight HRs and 62 runs batted in in 78 games.^[4] He also earned the Midwest League batting title with the highest average in the league since 1956.^[3]

With improved play coupled with ranking as one of the league's top hitters at just age 19, Taveras began to garner notice outside the Cardinals organization. Prior to the 2012 season, Baseball America named Taveras the Cardinals' third-best prospect.^[5] He was ranked 74th in all of baseball.^[6]

He maintained high effort in 2012, belting 23 HRs with 94 RBIs and a league-leading .321 batting average with the Cardinals' Double-A affiliate, the Springfield Cardinals. His batting achievements helped lead the team to the Texas League Championship and the conferral of Baseball America's Minor League Team of the Year award. Tavares was named the Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year as well as the Texas League Player of the Year.^[7][8]

Baseball America ranked Taveras as the Cardinals best prospect and the third-best prospect in all of baseball entering 2013.^[9][10] MLB.com also ranked Taveras as the Cardinals number one prospect,^[11] and the number three prospect in its Top 50 Prospects.^[12] Prior to the 2013 World Baseball Classic, Taveras' agent was approached about him playing for team Canada.^[13] Taveras continued to play well after another promotion to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds; however, he was troubled by a high ankle sprain suffered on a hard slide into second base in a May 12 game and played in only 15 games after that -- 46 total. For the season he finished with a .306 batting average with twelve doubles, five home runs and 32 RBIs.^[14] Taveras underwent season-ending ankle surgery in August.^[14] His timetable for rehabilitation and return depends on what exactly a 'scoping' of the ankle by noted specialst Dr. Robert Anderson discovers and how much repair work is needed. However, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak stated he is hopeful Taveras is ready by 2014 spring training.^[14]

The Cardinals added Taveras to their 40-man roster on November 20, 2013.^[15]

Skill profile

Regarded as a left-handed hitting version of Vladimir Guerrero, one of Taveras' prized skills is an ability that few possess to square the bat on – and effectively hit – pitches that are out of the strike zone, much as the case was with Guerrero. Because of his bat speed and the wide range of pitch locations of which he can hit, Taveras successfully unravels what are termed as "pitcher's pitches," which helps contribute to his high batting average.^[3] An aggressive hitter, Taveras maintains control with his smooth swing.^[16] With a wide batting stance and slight leg kick that "allows him to maintain both incredible balance and timing," he shifts his weight on his right (back) leg "before connecting with the ball with an explosive, quick swing." His combination of strong, quick hands and excellent hand-eye coordination allow him to assert considerable bat control to make constant, square contact with the incoming pitch.^[17] With an ability to drive the ball to all fields, his power ceiling is high, projected with 25 to 30 home runs in his peak. His preparation has also received high marks.^[3] Through 2013, Taveras' career minor league batting average was .320 with 45 home runs and 275 RBIs in 374 games.^[4]

Although Taveras' defensive skills are not as prodigious as his hitting abilities, he runs routes well and has solid instincts.^[17] Earlier in his professional career, he gained a reputation for concentrating too heavily on hitting at the expense of his fielding. However, Taveras worked to increased his abilities in the outfield.^[16] With a strong throwing arm, his defensive skills project him to be corner outfielder, particularly right field. However, the Cardinals believe that Taveras shows the range and skill to be an effective center fielder, at least for the near future, so he has been taking an apprenticeship to learn the position.^[3]

Awards

Minor leagues

See also

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)