Wander Javier - 2017

[Bob Sacamento]

 

In 2015, the Minnesota Twins gave the organization's largest bonus in team history to a 16 year old shortstop from Bonoa, Dominica Republic.  The $4 million that Terry Ryan's crew headed by international scout Fred Guerrero gave Wander was more than the 3.15 million they gave the club's now 3B Miguel Sano in 2009. In fact there are only three other players in Twins history to sign for more money than Javier, Byron Buxton (6M 2012), Joe Mauer (5.15M 2003), and Kohl Stewart (4.54M 2012).

 

 

Last year, Wander started the Dominican Summer League on fire before injuring his hamstring.  Javier says it was nothing bad just the team protecting him.  In 9 games, Wander hit .308/.400/.654/1.054 going 8 for 26 with 3 doubles, 2 homeruns, 7 runs, 6 rbi, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts.  The team called Javier up to Fort Myers for during late GCL season but he didn't get game action instead he spent time rehabbing and working out at the Twins Developmental Complex and getting acclimated to American customs.  What many of us fans don't take into account is the huge culture shock that foreign players especially from developing countries go thru.  Javier was no different, the language barrier is still present as he still is learning and improving his English on a daily basis. That's also what makes the players from the Dominican a very close knit group from early on.  Miguel Sano often frequents the backfields to give advice, guidance, and gear to the younger players. 

 

Pictured Gorge Munoz, Lean Marrero and Wander Javier

 

 At 6'1 179 lbs, Javier is wiry, lithe, thin-railed, long limbed, or whatever adjective you want to use for a guy on the skinny side.  But with Wander, one can see that he has the body type that will (and already has) add muscle over time with better nutrition and workout regime.  Since October, he's gained close to 10 pounds of muscle already with more room to grow.  Scouts rave about his five tool ability but he is still very raw as he has plus speed on the bases and in the field, a plus arm at shortstop, plus contact skills, and plus bat speed that leads to easy homeruns.  I have never seen a Statcast or other technological reading on him but from the eye test the ball jumps off his bat and he hits with good launch angle which is ideal for homeruns and extrabase hits.  There is some trepidation over whether he will stay at shortstop the further he climbs the organizational ladder.  As of right now that doesn't appear to be a problem but if he develops more physically than what others are thinking it could be. 

 

As for Javier's swing, I'm not a swing guru like Alex Kiriloff's dad but it's been stated in several publications that Javier needs to clean up his mechanics and I've sat with several scouts this Spring Training who've said the same.  Visually it's got it's hiccups with the led foot and tendency to lunge at breaking balls but his superior bat speed often makes up for it at this stage.  It will be something to work no doubt but it shouldn't hold him back as long as he continues to evolve.  

 

Wander Javier Louisville Slugger early Spring Training glove and bat

 

Wander Javier's bat selection is now Old Hickory

 

Wander Javier will start the 2017 season in the GCL and he still has a ways to go but watch out for this kid, he has all the makings of the next big thing.

 

Video from 9/16/16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jClkBUxZfMg

 

Video from 3/4/17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pND_FZ0z0W8

[Bob Sacamento]

With the addition of another young highly touted SS in Royce Lewis, the Twins were aggressive with Wander and started him at Short Season Etown despite not having more than 26 at bats in the Dominican Summer League and skipping the GCL entirely.  

 

Well so far the results have been what one should expect, in 6 games, he's just 3 for 19 with 2 2B, 1 BB, 8 K.  He was given the night off Friday for a breather. If Wander falters for a long duration, it's not inconceivable that Royce and him switch leagues.

 

Bob's Grade:

 

CONTACT: 40/55

POWER: 45/60

SPEED: 50/55

DEFENSE: 45/60

ARM: 55/60

 

OVERALL: 45/60

[Kwak]

New management's first draft selection to become the next "golden boy"?  I've read that story before.  I just hope it's the right decision.

[Rosterman]

Well, the Twins have invested a lot in three shortstops, that's fer sure. Which one could be potential tradebait?

 

[Bob Sacamento]

Wander Javier started off his season in Etown quiet slowly as he was considered an aggressive advancement due to his age and prior playing experience.  But since the beginning of July, Wander has been killing the ball, in 31 games, he is 41 for 121 with 30 runs, 10 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 16 BB, 34 K, 3/4 SBA with a line of .339/.416/.512/.928.  

 

From the reports I've got from Etown along with his defensive stat line Wander has looked very poor in the field, from regular grounders in the field to turning double plays.  In 33 games, he's committed 14 errors at SS for a FLD% of .897.  And after watching him in Instructs/EXST, the worry was never his bat but whether he'd stick at SS or have to move to 3B or 2B.

[AZTwin]

 

Wander Javier started off his season in Etown quiet slowly as he was considered an aggressive advancement due to his age and prior playing experience.  But since the beginning of July, Wander has been killing the ball, in 31 games, he is 41 for 121 with 30 runs, 10 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 16 BB, 34 K, 3/4 SBA with a line of .339/.416/.512/.928.  

 

From the reports I've got from Etown along with his defensive stat line Wander has looked very poor in the field, from regular grounders in the field to turning double plays.  In 33 games, he's committed 14 errors at SS for a FLD% of .897.  And after watching him in Instructs/EXST, the worry was never his bat but whether he'd stick at SS or have to move to 3B or 2B.

Correct me if I'm wrong but he looks like he has a frame of a 3B.  Could possibly be an oversized 2B too.  I like him at 3rd when Sano has to move over to 1B.
 

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but he looks like he has a frame of a 3B.  Could possibly be an oversized 2B too.  I like him at 3rd when Sano has to move over to 1B.
 

When Javier finishes filling out his frame in the next couple of years yes it is easier to envision a 3B rather than a MI. And despite what Twins' fans want to believe but Sano will eventually outgrow the hot corner the timeline will depend on his conditioning and flexibility.