Angels Official Website: Cuban Baldoquin brings plenty of promise to Angels

[AngelsWin.com]

Angels shortstop prospects Roberto Baldoquin has impressed with his tireless work ethic and calm demeanor since defecting from Cuba last year.

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[Spirit]

Aaannnndddd ... with his first swing in his first at bat:  Home Run! 

[red321]

he knows how to flip a bat

[Richard]

Shades of Kendry(s) Morales, who also homered in his first AB for the Quakes:

 

http://m.angels.mlb.com/laa/video/v55494083/arilaa-baldoquin-homers-in-his-first-ever-atbat/?game_pk=429729

Edited March 27, 2015 by Richard

[LAAMike]

You only get one chance to make a first impression and Baldoquin delivered (in a MLB ST no less).

[Troll Daddy]

Shades of Kendry(s) Morales, who also homered in his first AB for the Quakes:

http://m.angels.mlb.com/laa/video/v55494083/arilaa-baldoquin-homers-in-his-first-ever-atbat/?game_pk=429729

Good call ... I attended that game in Rancho. It was a no doubt-er to to right/center into the trees!

[Second Base]

Nice to see him turn on an inside pitch. Scouting repeat indicated his power was more oppo field and doubles type. He also wasn't as "big" as I pictured from his scouting video where he looked ripped in the jersey.

Whatever, he should just keep doing that.

Edited March 28, 2015 by ScottyA_MWAH

[bloodbrother]

That was sweet

[rafibomb]

BAT FLIP.

[Hollyw00d]

Yaberto baldopuig

[Diaz15]

It was very awesome to see that happen live.

[NrM]

The angels should just give him the job at 2nd this year. After seeing literally one atbat, I have more confidence in him than any other 2nd base option.

[Docwaukee]

The angels should just give him the job at 2nd this year. After seeing literally one atbat, I have more confidence in him than any other 2nd base option.

so maybe my memory is fading or I am just being selective, but I have watched a ton of baseball over a number of years and I truly don't remember a guy slated for A ball cruising in and covering an inside fastball on the first pitch he sees.  Delgado throws 93-95mph btw so it's not like it was an 88mph fastball.  

 

It doesn't mean he's gonna be a star, but it's a pretty damn cool thing for him to do.  

[JAHV76]

Who would be a comparable shortstop from previous Angels? Cabrera, Fregosi, Aybar, Eckstein, Disarcina, Schofield, other?

[Tyler]

That bat flip though... 

[Angelsjunky]

I have high hopes for this kid. I'd like to see more from him before making a prediction, but he seems to have star potential.

 

Does he have any plate discipline? Will he take a walk?

 

I wonder how Erick Aybar feels about him.

[ten ocho recon scout]

I have high hopes for this kid. I'd like to see more from him before making a prediction, but he seems to have star potential.

Does he have any plate discipline? Will he take a walk?

I wonder how Erick Aybar feels about him.

its possible after that bat flip aybar sees him as a hot dog.

Its also possible aybar would eat his hot dog.

Could go either way

[JAHV76]

its possible after that bat flip aybar sees him as a hot dog.

Its also possible aybar would eat his hot dog.

Could go either way

I thought it was Callaspo that like to eat guys hotdogs?

[Second Base]

I have high hopes for this kid. I'd like to see more from him before making a prediction, but he seems to have star potential.

Does he have any plate discipline? Will he take a walk?

I wonder how Erick Aybar feels about him.

I've read contradicting reports on his plate discipline, so we'll just have to wait and see on that. As for his relationship with Aybar, apparently they get along quite well. Baldoquin asks a lot of questions and Aybar's turned into a good veteran leader.

Plus Baldoquin may not even be Aybar's replacement any more than someone like Stamets. Roberto can be moved to 2B, 3B or even LF. Just because he.'a playing SS right now and has the tools to stick there doesn't mean Aybar's time with the Angels is bearing an end. There's still 2 years before he's a free agent, a lot can happen.

Perhaps Hamilton is washed up now, Joyce is a one year rental and Cowgill can't take the position and run with it.

Perhaps no one hits enough to stay at 2B for very long and Aybar expresses interest in retiring as an Angel.

Perhaps Freese leaves in FA and for some reason Kubitza can't cut it.

I do admit the most likely of all is Aybar leaves via FA, the Angels net a draft pick and slot Baldoquin at SS.

[ten ocho recon scout]

I thought it was Callaspo that like to eat guys hotdogs?

.... dangit. Wasnt aybar part of it though? Either he was the eater or the dog?

[JAHV76]

.... dangit. Wasnt aybar part of it though? Either he was the eater or the dog?

I could be wrong but I thought the story from their minor league days was that Callaspo ate Aybar's hotdog. I may have it wrong however either way its a weird event.

[disarcina]

if he can play D at all -- I agree -- give this guy the 2B job and see how it goes..........

 

saves a lot of questions on the other guys let them all go with the exception of Featherston who can be the bench depth guy and I assume this new guy can also play 3B and spell Freese over there on D in the late innings.

 

so this guy plays NOW and when Aybar is gone, he takes over SS.......I sort of like this plan a lot better than the stop gaps we've been discussing at 2B.

[ten ocho recon scout]

I could be wrong but I thought the story from their minor league days was that Callaspo ate Aybar's hotdog. I may have it wrong however either way its a weird event.

Ok. Im changing my statement to either aybar thinks baldoquin is a hot dog, and if so he can eat his