#19 - INF César Prieto
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 45 | Arm: 45 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40+
Background: Prieto was signed by the Orioles as an international free agent in 2022, receiving a $650,000 bonus. He was a standout performer in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, where he established himself as one of the league’s top hitters and also represented the Cuban national team. In 2021, Prieto defected from the country after arriving in Florida for an Olympic qualifier. The Cardinals acquired him in 2023, alongside Zack Showalter and Drew Rom, as part of the trade that sent Jack Flaherty to Baltimore at the deadline.
Scouting Report: Since making his professional debut in 2022, Prieto has stood out as one of the most impressive contact hitters in the minor leagues. He’s maintained elite in-zone contact rates throughout his pro career and has struck out just 12% of the time over three full seasons. He’s aggressive at the plate and rarely lets a hittable pitch go by, which helps him when pitchers challenge him in the zone. However, that aggressiveness also leads to a high number of unproductive at-bats when he chases out of the zone. His career out-of-zone swing rate has hovered around 44%. For context, his 2024 mark (44.4%) would have ranked second-highest in MLB in 2024, behind only Ceddanne Rafaela. While his approach has worked in the minors thus far, questions remain about how it will translate to the next level. His ability to make productive contact inside the zone is clearly a strength, but I worry that pitchers with more advanced command will exploit his tendency to chase.
Prieto has decent plate coverage, but his results on out-of-zone contact are poor relative to how frequently he expands. Improving his swing decisions without compromising his strengths in-zone will be key to maintaining offensive value as he climbs the ladder. One area of development worth noting is his improvements to his power. After posting a .127 ISO across his first two pro seasons, Prieto saw that number rise to .166 in 2024. That jump was driven largely by his ability to lift the ball to his pull side. He posts below-average barrel rates and doesn't make a ton of impactful contact, so continuing to unlock pull-side juice will be crucial. His pull-happy approach works when he gets the ball in the air, but his groundball outcomes leave something to be desired. Nearly 46% of his batted balls were on the ground in 2024, and he produced just a .180 wOBA on those events. Getting the ball in the air more consistently will be especially key for his pull-driven profile.
Defensively, Prieto isn’t going to add much value. He has the ability to at least cover second and third base, but his actions are fringe-average at best and his arm is clearly below-average for third. He’s not a twitchy athlete and his run times are a tick below average. Most of his long-term value is tied directly to his bat. That said, I do believe his offensive profile still has room to grow if he can refine his approach and continue to elevate more consistently. Sacrificing too much of his aggression might take away what makes him effective inside the zone, but I think there are more positives to be had by honing in on the approach a bit.
Future: Prieto is an ultra-aggressive contact bat with the potential to provide elite bat-to-ball skills and sneaky pull-side power. If he can work on his approach and elevate the ball more consistently, there’s a chance for him to offer real offensive value at the next level. He currently projects as a utility infielder with second and third-base versatility. It’s not out of the question that he carves out a steady role in some capacity. If that comes to fruition, I’d expect him to settle in as a below-average regular, if not for drastic improvements to his offensive skillset.
