ANDURY ACEVEDO

8/23/90; NDFA '07; Dominican Republic
R/R; 6-4, 200

Level
BA
OBP
SA
AB
2B
3B
HR
BB
K
SB
CS
2007 R
.444
.474
.667
18
2
1
0
0
5
0
0
2008 R
.216
.287
.261
153
3
2
0
10
42
9
2

The Pirates signed Acevedo in the summer of 2007.  Apparently, he had the size and raw talent to attract interest from several teams, but he signed with the Bucs because they told his agent he could start off in the US.  He debuted with Bradenton, went 2-for-2 in one partial game and promptly strained an oblique.  He eventually hit well in limited action.  Acevedo's presence in the GCL generated a bit of interest among Pirate fans, who are used to a farm system loaded with overage players.  Whether he's really a prospect remains to be seen.  He returned to the GCL in 2008 and showed his inexperience by struggling with the bat and glove.  At bat he obviously struggled with the strike zone, and also with RHPs, against whom he posted a .516 OPS.  He split his time between 3B and SS, playing the former somewhat more often, and committed 20 errors in 37 games in the field.  Considering his size, he's probably more likely to end up at 3B than SS.  He played most of the season at age 17, so his struggles probably aren't surprising.  It might have been better if he'd spent a year in the DSL.  Even Aramis Ramirez spent a year there before coming to the US.  Acevedo is a big, athletic guy with good speed, but no doubt needs time for his baseball skills to catch up to his tools.  Whether he gets a shot at a higher level in 2009 probably depends on whether he shows significant improvement in fall instructional league and spring training.

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