Jean Carlos Batista

[domedogs]

http://www.dplbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117:jean-carlos-batista-agreed-to-terms-with-the-astros&catid=1:latest-news

Does anyone know where to find a scouting report on him?

[Reuben]

http://www.dplbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117:jean-carlos-batista-agreed-to-terms-with-the-astros&catid=1:latest-news

Does anyone know where to find a scouting report on him?

Wasn't there a video of him batting against Rojo Johnson, in a Columbian league, under a full moon?

[moriartp]

BP apparently reported that he's a 5-tool guy who drew interest from the Dodgers, Indians, Yankees, Rangers, and A's. I cannot get to the report, though, because the page is dead. This is probably a pretty high-dollar signing, so I'd expect to hear more about him from the Astros soon.

[accougars]

http://www.dplbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117:jean-carlos-batista-agreed-to-terms-with-the-astros&catid=1:latest-news

Does anyone know where to find a scouting report on him?

Here is a bit of a summary of scouts opinions from BP. It looks like the organization may have dusted their, previously lost, big boy pants off and committed some serious cash to a prospect:

Scouts look at Batista’s projectable frame (6’1, 170) and smooth switch-hitting stroke and mention Carlos Beltran Beverly Hills Cop III full movie , seeing possibly 20 home runs annually coming down the road. They mention his speed, glove, arm, and footwork are all solid, allowing you to easily project him as a shortstop at higher levels. One even noted that he looks like Derek Jeter in the face (the version that was a good defensive shortstop, no doubt). This type of five-tool talent gets well over the $150,000-$300,000 bonus range I referenced in the prior article. After consulting some sources, it appears Batista already has multiple offers over $500,000 on the table, and there is legitimate chatter that he will get over $1 million when all is said and done. The Dodgers, Rangers, A’s, Indians, and Yankees are believed to be the front-runners.

[domedogs]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOkmwY85fh0

[astrosfan76]

BP apparently reported that he's a 5-tool guy who drew interest from the Dodgers, Indians, Yankees, Rangers, and A's. I cannot get to the report, though, because the page is dead. This is probably a pretty high-dollar signing, so I'd expect to hear more about him from the Astros soon.

Aren't they unveiling the new Dominican Academy today?  Might be a package announcement.

[Navin R Johnson]

Turns out Jean Carlos is a central character in a documentary that is being shot about Basbeall in the Dominican called Pelotero.   

Here is a link to a pdf file that talks a lot about him.

http://peloterothemovie.com/press/Pelotero.pdf

[Navin R Johnson]

Here is the portion on Jean Carlos....

Among those on the field is another player featured in the film: Jean Carlos Batista, a 16-year-old switch-hitting shortstop whom Jacobo compares to a young Carlos Beltran.

Despite his age, Batista deals with some adult pressure. His family is depending on him to make it in baseball. Says Martin, “When you ask him what he wants out of baseball, he says he wants to make it to the big leagues. Ask him what he’s going to do with the money he gets, he says, ‘Buy a house for my mom.’ ” Batista grew up about 45 minutes away in a town call La Romana. His father died when he was 10. In order to buy his first glove, he had to collect and turn in bottles for money. “They are not competing for baseball. They are competing for their lives,”

Jacobo says. “You ask Jean Carlos to jump off a plane to become a ballplayer, he’s going to do it.”

Batista lives in a dormitory that Jacobo runs for some of his players. When Batista is hungry, Jacobo can feed him; when he needs shoes, Jacobo can buy them, and when his brother, who has asthma, needs medicine, Jacobo provides that too. The setup allows Batista to dedicate himself entirely to baseball. He does not even go to school. “We are in trouble with education,” Jacobo says. “A lot of parents don’t have enough [money], so the kids have to work.” And for Batista, work means baseball. He hasn’t been home in 15 days, and it will stretch to 25 before he can finally make the trip. “Sometimes you want to go see your mom,” he says, “but you can’t because you have too much work.”

[jbm]

http://www.onpointradio.org/2010/04/baseball-and-the-dominican-republic

if anyone is so inclined, the link is to an interview with a writer who wrote a book about a particular area of the Dominican Republic and it's relationship to baseball.  

Eta. Not related to Batista just Dominican ball in general

[Duman]

Aren't they unveiling the new Dominican Academy today?  Might be a package announcement.

Yes, here is the new web page with photos of the facility.

[Navin R Johnson]

Yes, here is the new web page with photos of the facility.

The last paragraph on that site is impossible to read without hearing Drayton's voice. 

[chuckd]

Does anyone know for sure if he has been signed by the Astros ? thxs

[OregonStrosFan]

Does anyone know for sure if he has been signed by the Astros ? thxs

Haven't seen confirmation from any of the usual sources (Levine, Footer, etc.) though have asked.  You may remember though, it was a couple of months (IIRC) before the rumored signing of Chia-Jen Lo was made official by the Astros. Perhaps we're dealing with similar internal issues here as well.

[astrosfan76]

Haven't seen confirmation from any of the usual sources (Levine, Footer, etc.) though have asked.  You may remember though, it was a couple of months (IIRC) before the rumored signing of Chia-Jen Lo was made official by the Astros. Perhaps we're dealing with similar internal issues here as well.

Last I read, the deal was pending approval from MLB. 

[accougars]

Last I read, the deal was pending approval from MLB. 

I believe these deals are taking longer to approve due to MLB wanting to reduce the number of age discrepancies.