Prospect of the Day: Dayan Viciedo, OF, Chicago White Sox

by John Sickels on Jul 4, 2011 10:00 AM EDT

Dayan Viciedo of the Chicago White Sox (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Cuban slugger Dayan Viciedo has been named to the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Futures Game on July 10th, playing for the World Team. The White Sox signed him out of Cuba in 2008 for a major league contract worth $10 million. It took him some time to adapt to North America, but he's ripping the ball for Triple-A Charlotte this year, earning the All-Star honor.

Viciedo began his pro career by hitting .280/.317/.391 with 12 homers for Double-A Birmingham in 2009. This was considered somewhat disappointing, with less power than anticipated, but he was just 20 years old. He improved in the power department in 2010, hitting .274/.308/.493 in 86 games for Charlotte, then .308/.321/.519 in a 38-game, 104 at-bat trial with the White Sox. He's been excellent this year for Charlotte, hitting .329/.369/.530 in 78 games.

In 164 career Triple-A games, Viciedo has hit .300/.338/.511 with 33 homers, 39 doubles, 29 walks, and 138 strikeouts in 699 plate appearances.

Viciedo is a big guy at 5-11, 230. A right-handed hitter, he has outstanding raw power and has tapped into his physical strength more effectively over the last year. He crushes fastballs and has power to all fields, giving him a good chance to hit for a high average. He has made progress improving his reads on breaking pitches, but while his plate discipline is still a weakness, he's shown the willingness to make adjustments and learn from his mistakes. Given his age, his upside is huge.

Viciedo's biggest problem is defense. He has a strong throwing arm, but washed out as a third baseman and is just mediocre at first base. The White Sox are playing him primarily in right field at Charlotte, with results that can be described generously as mediocre. In the long run he'll probably be a DH who can fill in at first base or a corner outfield spot in an emergency.

Despite his defensive limits, Viciedo's bat makes him a player to watch very closely. If his offense develops as the White Sox hope, he could make future Major League All-Star games, in addition to minor league ones.

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Comments

Third base

With one of the Sox biggest weaknesses being thirdbase, any chance he is given another shot there? Or is his defense there sooooo bad that he’ll never get another chance?

by M J 888 on Jul 4, 2011 11:15 AM EDT reply actions

3B

You could use him there in an emergency but I wouldn’t for regular action.

by John Sickels on Jul 4, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

No reason to with Morel there.

He hasn’t exactly torn the cover off the ball so far this year, but his defense has been solid. Viciedo should take over left field when Pierre leaves this offseason.

by polodude017 on Jul 5, 2011 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions

The Tank

I ranked him 34th on my pre-season list, higher than any known human at that point. We’ll see If that turns out prophetic or not but, the reasons for the community whiff are common ones, in my opinion . . .

1) An overreaction to his statistical performance, and not enough consideration of the context of it. Take your favorite prospect and shove him into AA ball at the age of 20, at a position that was difficult for him and see how they’d do. In retrospect, If he had creamed AA pitching at that age he would have been a superstar, one of the very best prospects in the game, as is he is still pretty darned good.

2) The community’s fixation on walks, or whatever particular stat (like K-Rate for pitchers) at the expense of the rest of a player’s statistical record. I like walks too but, many many sucessful players don’t walk or even care about walks.

"It's always funny until someone gets hurt. Then it's just hilarious."
- Bill Hicks

by casejud on Jul 4, 2011 5:06 PM EDT reply actions

His walk rate has improved this seas, too.

His progress since 2009 has been outstanding in my opinion. Just about everything you want raised, he’s raised. Just about everything you’d want lowered, he’s lowered. I’ve been seeing Carlos Lee’s name thrown around as a comp, which seems fair.

by Bent Over Beckham on Jul 4, 2011 6:15 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

*season

by Bent Over Beckham on Jul 4, 2011 6:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Probably more age 30 Lee than mid 20s Lee

I can’t see Viciedo playing average OF defense like Lee did for quite a while and he’ll obviously never steal bases like Lee did earlier in his career. As hitters I can definitely see the similarity.

by nixa37 on Jul 4, 2011 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I like the Carlos Lee comp

Dayan Viciedo is gonna be an impact bat and prove the doubters wrong for not giving him the respect he deserves on prospect lists. As far as I’m concerned, he has one of the highest offensive ceilings in the minors.

by John Black on Jul 5, 2011 12:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I always liked Viciedo more than most on this site

As I feel that BB rate is somehow less important when the prospect is an import with glowing scouting reports. The thing with Viciedo is that while his BB rate is low, so is his K rate, and there are lots of great major leaguers that don’t take that many walks.

I always felt that walk rate should be taken more seriously for speedsters like Desmond Jennings, who can really only do their damage when they’re on base. Guys like Viciedo are there to hit, and while walks are always a safer bet, if he can put the bat on the ball he can do much more damage. If he gets better at taking a walk, sure, that’s great, but I see success in his future whether or not that happens.

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by The Congo Hammer on Jul 6, 2011 2:30 PM EDT reply actions