Top Prospect
Alert - Alejandro Cadena
DOB: 3/14/80, Age: 21, Height: 5’11’’,
Weight: 205, Bats: R, Throws: R. Acquired: Mariners - Drafted in the 45th
Round of 2000 Draft (Galveston College, Laredo, TX). 2000 Stats: (Rookie -
AZ Mariners) .301 AVG, 123 AB, 9 2B, 0 3B, 5 HR, 0 SB, 15 BB, 12 K, .395
OBP, .496 SLG. 2001 Stats: (Rookie - AZ Mariners) .327 AVG, 217 AB, 21 2B,
1 3B, 7 HR, 4 SB, 14 BB, 23 K, .385 OBP, .530 SLG. (Sseason-A - Everett)
.100 AVG, 10 AB, 1 2B, 4 K, .100 OBP, .200 SLG.
And now, we return to our seemingly weekly
segment of: "The 2000 Peoria Mariners: Where Are They Now?" Alejandro
Cadena was drafted as a catcher late in the 2000 amateur draft. After a
fairly hideous display behind the plate, the M’s moved him to first base,
where he might be able to play passable defense. More likely, he is a
future DH in the making. He has a catchers’ build, short and squat, so he
has very little speed, and projects to be only a moderate power prospect.
He had an excellent season in 2000 for Peoria, exhibiting some pop, some
patience, and a quick bat. This season was more of the same at the same
level, a bit surprising for a 21 year old. An OPS of .915 is impressive,
but many a player can generate numbers like this in Rookie ball,
especially if they already weigh over 200 pounds (which most 18 and 19
year olds don’t). A full season league would be a much more appropriate
test at this point.
The Mariners don’t have any terrific
first-base prospects in the minors, so Cadena may have a shot with the
position switch. I would expect to see him start in the Midwest League
next year, but the M’s may choose to keep him in Everett to open the year.
You can’t project a career track for a 21 year old with 340 Arizona Summer
League at-bats (well actually, you can, it just doesn’t look very good),
so I won’t bother to guess. He could turn into another Edgar Martinez with
his moderate power, quick bat, and patience, which is what I’m sure M’s
fans are hoping for. Being cynical, I would say that for every ten guys
with numbers and skills like this at this point in their career, one might
make it. Take that for what it’s worth
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