Future Watch: Gilberto Jiminez Baseball Cards, Boston Red Sox – The Sox have had some great outfielders in the team’s history. Carl Yastrzemski and Ted Williams come to mind from the past and Mookie Betts most recently. With the team rebuilding, the name Gilberto Jimenez is currently buzzing around Red Sox nation.
Jimenez was signed as an international prospect in August 2017. The 5-11, 212-pound center fielder started to shine in the Dominican League that season, hitting .319 and learning to be a switch hitter at the age of 17. His speed was evident as well stealing 16 bases. He was voted the Latin Program Position Player of the Year. This is when fans started to hear more about their prized prospect.
In 2018, most teams would send their new prospect to rookie ball, but since this guy was so good in the Dominican League the organization rewarded him with a promotion to the Lowell Spinners in low-A. Jimenez played in 59 games, hitting 11 doubles, driving in 19, and stealing 14. He won the league’s batting title hitting .359. He’s not a five-tool player, but he can be close to that. He has some power that seems to be emerging, but that’s not going to be the best part of his game.
Jiminez is a good contact hitter who can hit to all fields. When the Dominican prospect is batting from the left side, that could be a nice thing at Fenway Park because of the short right field dimensions by Pesky’s Pole, which is just 302 feet. When Jimenez hits it to left field, he’s always a risk to get a double. He busts it out of the box, and being a lefty, Jimenez has that quick step out of the box to help him get down the first baseline in a hurry.
During the New York Penn League Finals, Jimenez got a clutch single that drove in two runs to send his team to a decisive third game against the Brooklyn Cyclones. The Spinners lost the series, but this top prospect got some valuable postseason at-bats.
Check out Jiminez’s swing:
When the 2020 MiLB season was cancelled, Jimenez, like many other minor leaguers, had no place to play. He was too young to play at an alternate site, so his development stalled.
When baseball returned, there was a short fall instructional camp that he attended. Making good contact was expected, but the team boasted about his base running and stealing.
Now listed at 220 pounds and still not 21, MLB Pipeline projects Jimenez to be among the 30 breakout stars by 2023
Jimenez was invited to spring training in 2021 and will get an assignment after that. He’s a must collect.
Collectors can find Gilberto Jiminez cards in 2020 Bowman Draft, as well as Panini’s variety of prospect sets.
Future Watch: Gilberto Jiminez Baseball Cards, Boston Red Sox – More Resources
Future Watch: Gilberto Jiminez Baseball Cards, Boston Red Sox – Image Gallery
- NFL Future Watch: Zach Charbonnet Football Cards, Seattle Seahawks - April 25, 2024
- NHL Future Watch: Sean Farrell Hockey Cards, Montreal Canadiens - April 23, 2024
- MLB Future Watch: Zach Neto Baseball Cards, LA Angels - April 19, 2024