CINCINNATI -- The Reds reportedly got infielders Jose Peraza and Brandon Dixon and outfielder Scott Schebler in the from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the three-team trade that sent Todd Frazier to the Chicago White Sox.
Baseball America, the bible of the minors and player development, has scouting reports on on all three. Pereaza, 21, was the Atlanta Braves No. 1 prospect going in 2014. Here’s BA’s scouting report on him:
“Signed out of Venezuela for $350,000 in 2010, Peraza has emerged as a top prospect over the past three seasons by displaying an incredible feel for the game. He made his U.S. debut in 2012 and ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League prior to spending the last five-plus weeks in the Appalachian League. He then stole 64 bases at low Class A Rome in 2013 before busting out as a prospect in 2014, when he stole 60 bases (to rank third in the minors) as he raced to Double-A Mississippi in the second half. Along the way, Peraza started for the World team in the Futures Game in Minneapolis, collecting a single in two at-bats. He helped guide Mississippi to a second-half record of 44-26. Peraza employs speed, quickness and intellect with tremendous instincts for the game, which led to a combined .339 average in 2014, ninth-best in the minors. A spray hitter with a good understanding of the strike zone, Peraza has the handeye coordination to hit all types of pitches but is patient enough to wait for those he can handle and winds up barreling the ball more often than not. He has quick wrists and strong hands that generate a compact swing. He's tinkered with moving his hands in his stance to give him more of a trigger, because he has below-average power. Peraza keeps the ball on the ground by rarely getting under pitches and uses his plus speed to get on base. He has been timed as fast as 3.9 seconds from home to first base, which is top-of-the-scale speed that makes him one of the fastest players in the minors. Once on base, he creates an instant distraction for pitchers and the defense. He reads pitchers well and has a great first step in stealing bases. He made a seamless move from shortstop to second base in 2014 while displaying steady, soft hands with above-average range and solid arm strength. He is not flashy in the field but makes all of the routine plays and was voted best defensive second baseman by high Class A Carolina League managers. Peraza's other weakness other than his modest pop is his unwillingness to walk, which may set him back as a future leadoff man. Some scouts questioned Atlanta's decision to shift Peraza off shortstop to the less-demanding job at second base. With Andrelton Simmons entrenched at shortstop, the Braves gave Peraza a chance to accelerate his timetable by moving him to second, and he seized the opportunity. The organization considered calling up Peraza in August when Simmons was sidelined with an injury, but Peraza was battling a mild groin strain at the time. The Braves traded second baseman Tommy La Stella to the Cubs in November, meaning the musical chairs at that position will end soon in Atlanta. In anticipation of filling the Braves' longstanding need at second, Peraza will compete with Phil Gosselin in big league camp this spring for the starting job and could wind up bypassing Triple-A Gwinnett with an impressive showing.”
Dixon, 22, was 30th on the BA’s list of Dodger prospects in 2013. Here’s BA’s scouting report on him:
“The Rangers drafted Dixon out of a California high school with their 48th-round pick in 2010, but he didn't sign and played at Arizona instead, getting the winning hit in the 2012 College World Series. Going into his junior year, Dixon had laser eye surgery and emerged as the team's best hitter in 2013 when the Dodgers drafted him in the third round and signed him for $566,500. Dixon looked overmatched in his pro debut in the low Class A Midwest League, where he struggled to make contact and catch up to the speed of the game. He's strong, has a quick swing and shows above-average raw power in batting practice, but he doesn't project to be a huge home run hitter because his game swing doesn't have the loft or leverage for big power numbers. He runs well for his size with solid-average speed, though his feet are prone to getting tangled and his arm is below-average, so he could be destined for left field. After a rough debut, Dixon should head back to the Midwest League to try to get back on track.”
Schebler, 25, was the eighth on the list the Dodger prospects in 2014. Here’s BA’s scouting report on him:
“When Scott Van Slyke came through the Dodgers' system as a 14thround pick, he dealt with detractors at every level. Schebler, who signed for $300,000 as a 26th-rounder in 2010, has faced similar skepticism from scouts but has now strung together two stellar offensive seasons, with improvement across the board upon making the jump to Double-A Chattanooga in 2014. He led the Southern League in home runs (28), triples (14) and slugging (.556). Schebler sliced his strikeout rate from 26 percent in 2013 to 20 percent in 2014 while facing better pitchers. Early in the season, teams had success against Schebler by pitching him away and getting him to chase sliders off the plate. In the second half, he improved his pitch recognition, tightened up his plate discipline and forced pitchers to come into the zone, where he made them pay. Scouts who once questioned his bat speed and ability to cover the inner third of the plate saw a quicker stroke in 2014. Schebler has above-average raw power that plays in games. He's an average runner who played center field in a pinch, but he mostly split time between left and right field, with left a better fit due to his below-average arm. While he's on the 40-man roster, Schebler has no big league opportunity in the foreseeable future. He's headed to Triple-A Oklahoma City for 2015 and could develop into a solid everyday left fielder.”
