Cristian Pache, CF

Age: 20 (11/19/98)

Level: AA - Atlanta Braves

2017 A: .281/.335/.343, 0 HR, 21 XBH, 20.3% LD, 51.5% GB, 28.2% FB, 7.6% BB, .062 ISO, .360 BABIP - 469 AB

2018 A+: .285/.311/.431, 8 HR, 33 XBH, 22% LD, 48% GB, 30% FB, 3.9% BB, .146 ISO, .330 BABIP - 369 AB

2018 AA: .260/.294/.337, 1 HR, 5 XBH, 24% LD, 50.7% GB, 25.3% FB, 4.6% BB, 0.77 ISO, .347 BABIP - 104 AB

Stock: Trending Up

Much has been written about the progression that Cristian Pache made from 2017 to 2018. He came into 2018 with only 32 XBH in 689 career minor league at-bats and ended the year with 9 HR and a promotion to Double-A as a teenager. He shored up the lower half of his swing and added muscle over the off-season, which resulted in an increase in game power. Pache is still very raw at the plate and is learning how to hit. There are concerns about his walk rate, his high ground-ball rate, and approach at the plate. However, the overall athleticism, tools, and projection are more than enough to start loading up on Pache in your fantasy leagues.

The Tools

Pache is the true epitome of a five-tool player. His speed, defense, and arm have all been graded as high as 80 on various sites. I grade his speed and arm as solid 70s while his defense is 80. He is a Gold Glove-caliber defender right now. You might be saying to yourself, “That’s all good, but he doesn’t hit or walk enough.” My answer is quite simple: defense matters. It gives prospects a longer leash to develop and keeps them in the lineup. These three tools usually lead to a long MLB career (see Alcides Escobar, Peter Bourjos, and Jarred Dyson). When I am scouting the minors, I always ask myself three questions: Is what I am seeing the player’s ceiling? Can he play in the majors? And if so, what sort of role? Concerning Pache, and most teenagers playing in A/AA, the answer to the first question is always no. The answer to the next question, in Pache’s case, is yes, because the defense is so good. All Pache really needs to do is develop enough of a hit tool to stay employed.