Joe Bojc
Cleveland Guardians 2023 Top 50 Prospects, No. 36 OF Alexfri Planez
As the future of the organization prepares for a new year and spring there’s no better time to bring you the Cleveland Baseball Insiders top 50 prospects for the upcoming 2023 season.
The Guardians are widely regarded as having one of the deepest and top farm systems in all of baseball. So deep, in fact, that it was very difficult to trim the list down to just 50 players I think could have an impact at the MLB level. I probably could easily have ended up listing 75 or more players.
I am implementing the Fangraphs future value grading scale which you will be able to locate under each player video. Future Value is a grade on the 20-80 scale that maps to anticipated annual WAR production during the player’s first six years of service.
My rankings are based off seeing the players live, watching video and having conversations with other evaluators and writers. While prospect lists are fun and entertaining for fans, they are not an end-all-be-all in terms of who make it eventually to the major leagues. Remember, Jose Ramirez was never a top 100 prospect nationally and Oscar Gonzalez wasn't even a top 20 prospect in the Guardians organization.
The ultimate goal here is to inform our readers and give you information on some of the young talent in the organization that they can follow and look forward to seeing in the future at the MLB level.
No. 36 Alexfri Planez - OF
2022 Stats
Bio
Planez was signed as an International free agent on August 17th, 2017, out of Caracas Venezuela. He made his pro-debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2018 were he had 27 extra base hits and nine home runs hitting for a .279 average and a .801 OPS as a 16-year-old.
In 2019 Planez only played in six games in the Arizona Rookie League having to undergo surgery on his hamate bone. 2020 was another lost season due to the global pandemic and cancellation of the minor league season.
Planez got off to a slow start over his first 20 games of full-season ball at Lynchburg in 2021, hitting just .157 with one HR and a .467 OPS. Something clicked for the young 19-year-old though, as he showed his potential over the final 83 games by posting a .292 AVG with 15 HR's and a .827 OPS.
2022 Season
Planez spent his entire season at High-A Lake County as a young 20-year-old not turning 21 until mid-August. He spent almost a month early on in the season with a wrist injury. Despite his young age he had a very nice season collecting 40 extra base hits including 19 home runs in just 89 games on the season. He hit for a .251 batting average with a 106 wRC+ and .766 OPS. He only walked 16 times leading to a less than ideal .289 OBP.
Scouting Report
Planez already has tremendous raw power grading out plus-plus. He has good hand eye coordination but struggles some with breaking balls; swing and miss may always be part of his game. He lacks plate discipline and doesn't draw many walks drawing just 39 over 259 minor league games. Has a similar profile to current Guardians outfielder Oscar Gonzalez but a much better defender.
He runs well for his size (his 6'2 180lbs listed size is from when he signed, bigger than that now) and can cover a lot of ground in the outfield. Planez appeared in 43 games in center at Lynchburg in 2021, but likely will transition to RF as he continues to mature. He has an above-average arm that is strong and accurate, and he led the organization last year in OF assists with 12 in 2021.
2023 and Future Outlook
Planez is currently on the disabled list at Double-A Akron with an ankle injury he suffered in spring training. Once healthy he will start his 2023 year with the RubberDucks.
He has tremendous ceiling but a very low floor and has boom or bust potential as a prospect. Planez could easily rise up the prospect list in 2023 if he does well and continues to develop. Health is a concern as he has missed a lot of time to the injured list in his career. He has the potential if he reaches the Major Leagues to be a power-hitting starting right fielder or a platoon bat vs. lefties.
----
Read More:
This Is What Josh Bell Said After Big Night For The Guardians
This Could Be Behind Emmanuel Clase's Slow Start To The Season
Guardians 2023 Top 50 Prospects, No. 37 RHP Ethan Hankins
Takeaways From Guardians Series Loss To The Yankees
Be sure to stay locked into Cleveland Baseball Insider all the time!
SUBSCRIBE to the CBI YouTube channel
Follow Cleveland Baseball Insider on Twitter: @CBI_FanNation
