South Side Hit Pen Top Prospect 68: Alex Destino
Time to accelerate: Destino needs to put his power and plus-defense to work with a climb to Birmingham by season's end. (Tiffany Wintz/South Side Hit Pen)
Alex Destino
Right Fielder
6´2´´
215 pounds
Age: 24
SSHP rank among all right fielders in the system: 5
After posting a nifty .882 OPS in his sophomore season, Alex Destino struggled a bit for the University of South Carolina during his junior year. That year (2017), he slashed .255/.338/.441 for the Gamecocks with eight doubles, 10 homers, 41 RBIs, three stolen bases, 27 walks (11.5%) and 42 strikeouts (17.9%). Due in part to his power potential, the White Sox selected him in the 14th round of that year's draft. Destino rewarded the Sox with a strong campaign with the AZL squad, slashing .290/.408/.432 in 49 games with 13 doubles, two triples, three homers, 23 RBIs, one stolen base, 38 walks (16.9%) and 40 strikeouts (17.8%).
The 2018 season saw Destino split his time between Great Falls and Kannapolis, where his combined numbers declined a bit to .248/.298/.407 in 68 games with 18 doubles, five triples, five homers, 36 RBIs, 17 walks (5.9%) and 55 strikeouts (19.0%). Aside from a brief four-game sting with Winston-Salem, Destino spent the entire 2019 season with Kannapolis and posted rock-solid numbers despite playing in a pitching-friendly ballpark. In a combined 116 games, he slashed .293/.372/.465 with 20 doubles, two triples, 17 homers, 64 RBIs, 51 walks (10.4%) and 121 strikeouts (24.6%).
Destino possesses an above-average arm ideal for right field and is considered an adequate defender. Baseball America said of him, "Plus lefth-anded power is now Destino's calling card, and he can bang hanging breaking balls and average velocity. Scouts have their doubts about his ability to hit plus fastballs." While Destino had an All-Star season for the Intimidators, his stats should be taken in context that he performed against competition about 1.5 years younger.
Destino should be a lock to begin the 2020 season with Winston-Salem, with an opportunity for promotion to Birmingham if he gets off to a great start.