December 1, 2008

 

Position: Third Base
Hits/Throws: Right/Right
Height/Weight: 6'3''/220
Birthday: 6/29/1989 (Age 19)
Roster Status: Rule V Eligible after 2010 Season; Minor League Free Agent after 2012 Season

Background: Emmanuel Solis was a high-profile international signee out of the Dominican Republic in the summer of 2006. The Rangers had to compete with several interested teams, as Solis' bat was considered one of the best in his entire Latin American signing class. Seen as a corner infielder, his fielding skills were also seen as a potential plus. For that reason, he commanded a signing bonus of over half a million dollars, and the Rangers gladly inked him as a complement to their pitching-heavy 2006 international signing haul.

Tools: To this point, Solis has been a purely tools-oriented prospect. He has done very little on the field to show that his tools translate into baseball skills. His bat is considered his best tool. He projects for plus power, as his frame and swing both fit the mold of power hitters. However, his swing is long, and he pulls off breaking pitches, causing his pull-happy approach to collapse. Therefore, his hit tool is rated very low by me, as his approach will never allow him to hit for average at any level. His potential plus power is still somewhat undeveloped to this point, so I'd grade him about average for power for his age. As for his defense, he hasn't shown the ability that was spoken of early on in his career. He makes a ton of errors at third, and I don't think he'll ever have the consistency there to be a legitimate fielder. His arm is still very strong, and there has been some speculation of a move to the mound like Johan Yan. It's definitely a third baseman's arm, but he makes a good number of throwing errors, so that will also keep from playing a good third base. He wasn't know at all for his speed when he entered the Texas organization in 2006, and he grades a little below-average for pure speed. He's a fairly efficient base-stealer, so he has that in his favor. Overall, his inconsistency and his approach at the plate are his greatest struggles, and they will likely prevent him from playing to his potential.

Professional Experience: Solis did not play his first professional game until the Dominican Summer League opened their schedule in 2007. The Rangers planned to keep him comfortable at the beginning, but were open to challenging him over time. In his short stint with the DSL Rangers, Solis hit .210/.301/.330, a bit of a disappointment. His raw approach at the plate was very evident, but the Rangers decided to push Solis with a mid-season promotion to the Arizona Rookie League. He became the AZL Rangers' everyday third baseman, and his struggles at the plate and in the field continued. In 166 at-bats, he hit .205/.264/.289, and he made 16 errors in 37 games at third. He played a pair of games at first base, not making an error in 22 chances. He did manage to hit 13 extra-base hits with the AZL Rangers, though his 57 strikeouts and only 14 walks served to more than discredit him as a hitter. However, he was given a bit of a pass due to being only 18 for most of the season. He entered 2008 looking to improve upon his disappointing pro debut.

2008 Season: With Johan Yan being given a final chance to be an everyday third baseman, the Rangers decided to return Solis to the DSL for 2008. The thought was that he could improve his approach at the plate in a more friendly environment. He did in fact make a few strides over the course of the DSL season. Playing for the primary Texas DSL entry team, Solis hit .244/.318/.392 in 209 at-bats, striking out just 35 times and walking 22 times. This increase in production is somewhat encouraging, though the Rangers were hoping he could bust out against younger competition. He hit 7 home runs, along with 8 doubles and a triple, proving that his raw power was indeed developing. He also managed to go 8 for 11 in stolen base attempts, though that is more likely due to pitchers inexperienced at holding runners and catchers that have little catching experience. In the field, Solis made 22 errors in 52 games at third, which was an improvement over 2007. However, 2008 was another disappointing year for Solis, as he was unable to play very well in the DSL at age 19. His tools were still evident from time to time, but his season has to be seen as a failure.

Future Outlook: If Emmanuel Solis doesn't start hitting quickly in 2009, he likely faces a transition to pitching. With Johan Yan out of his way on the depth chart, I expect Solis to be manning third for one of the two short-season teams next summer, with the AZL being the more likely destination. He'll be 20 in late June, so time is certainly becoming a factor. He has just 2 years left before he's eligible for the Rule V draft for the first time. At this point, I'm almost certain the Rangers will try Solis on the mound. He just doesn't have the right approach to hitting, and he can't touch offspeed stuff. I expect to see him at instructs in 2009 in the same place we saw Johan Yan. It's very unlikely he ever makes it to the big leagues.

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