Miguel Cabrera is a nice comp this early on in his development.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/p ... 63635.html
Scout's View: Carlos Rivero
By Chris Kline
April 3, 2007
LAKELAND, Fla.--Several clubs passed on Venezuelan shortstop Carlos Rivero as a 16-year-old in 2005 when the Indians finally nabbed him for $100,000--a bargain-basement price if his performance matches his tools.
Now 18 (he turns 19 in May), Rivero will begin his first full season at low Class A Lake County. He split time in between the Rookie-level Gulf Coast and Appalachian League, hitting .260/.314/.350 in his first 200 at-bats since leaving his home country.
Rivero also split his time--at least in the Appy League--at third base, which is a position he seems destined for sooner or later. At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Rivero still shows good hands, range and a plus arm for the premium position.
We caught up with a National League scout to get the breakdown on the Indians toolsy middle infielder:
"He needs to be on everybody's radar. If he's not now, he will be soon.
He has every tool except (the) run (tool). He's not a plus runner--maybe a little bit below average, but power, bat ability, glove, hands, strength . . . hopefully he can stay at short, but if he can't . . . when I look at this kid, there is no way I could say, 'Nah, he could never be Miguel Cabrera.' I couldn't say that.
"All of the sudden, balls are jumping off his bat (in spring training). His frame--he's a teenager with that body. And he's performing now. He's shown power to all fields--easy power. Great swing, needs work on breaking ball recognition.
"He should be--if he's disciplined enough and he's professional in the way he goes about it--he should be on everybody's radar as soon as everybody in the South Atlantic League gets a look at him. If he doesn't have that discipline, then he's one of those forgotten guys. But the tools and the athleticism; the power . . . they're more than there.
"This kid--I watched him take ground balls two days ago and the range, athleticism and arm strength are all in place. It's a matter of how he maintains his body. I don't think he's a shortstop two years from now--I think he's a third baseman . . . I don't want to say Cabrera because I know how that sounds. Let's just say there's a whole bunch of upside if he can command the strike zone and if he keeps working at it--everything else is already there. But I couldn't say he couldn't be Miguel Cabrera. I just couldn't.”
