Baseball's Cuban influence resonates daily in the achievements of some wondrous talents in the field and on the mound. It's evident in Aroldis Chapman's triple-digit radar-gun readings in Cincinnati and Jose Fernandez's extraordinary four-pitch repertoire in Miami. Yasiel Puig is a magnet for attention and jersey sales in Los Angeles and Yoenis Cespedes has become a pivotal figure in the middle of Oakland's batting order.

Jose Dariel Abreu, the latest Cuban-born player intent on pursuing a new life in the majors, defected in August and took up residence in the Dominican Republic. Now he's navigating the obligatory red tape with help from Bart Hernandez, who has guided Jorge Soler, Leonys Martin, Adeiny Hechavarria and other Cuban players through the transition to the majors as an agent with the Praver-Shapiro group.

Abreu, 26, flirted with two Triple Crowns in the Cuban National Series league, where he established his credentials as a 30-homer man and middle-of-the-order force. He hit .360 with three homers and nine RBIs in six games during the World Baseball Classic in March, and the buzz has continued to grow in anticipation of the free-agent chase that's about to unfold. Sources told ESPN.com that he will begin auditioning for clubs in the Dominican later this month.

Cespedes recently told USA Today that Abreu shares some attributes with Miguel Cabrera, another former shortstop who outgrew the position and flourished as baseball's best hitter. "If he had just a tad more speed, he would be a complete player," Cespedes told the paper.

The scouting community is more restrained in its evaluation. We interviewed four talent evaluators with extensive international experience for this story. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, they provided their takes on Abreu and the attributes he brings to the table.

What kind of hitter is Abreu?

Multiple scouts used the term "slider-speed bat" in reference to Abreu. Translation: He might be challenged against pitchers who can crowd him with fastballs on the inner half of the plate.

But Abreu hangs in the box -- as evidenced by his Shin-Soo Choo-like HBP totals -- and his power is undeniable. He's not quite Giancarlo Stanton, who merits a "90" on the 20-80 scouts scale as a long-ball threat. But his raw power compares favorably with Puig, Cespedes and White Sox outfielder Dayan Viciedo, who all have the ability to scatter clouds when they catch a ball just right.

"He has monstrous power," said a scout who began following Abreu at the 2009 IBAF World Cup.