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    Cincinnati Reds #8 Prospect: Carlos Jorge – 2B/CF

    Doug Gray 28

    In the first two seasons of his career, Carlos Jorge was among the best offensive players in both of the leagues that he played in. He hit for average and for power while also stealing plenty of bases at a high rate.

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    After performing well at both complex levels for the Reds, Cincinnati sent Carlos Jorge to join the Single-A Daytona Tortugas to begin the 2023 season. He got out to a solid start in the first two weeks in Daytona, but it was the final week of April that saw him really catch fire. In the final five games of the month he went 10-20 with three extra-base hits. Jorge carried that hot hitting forward with him for the first three weeks of May, too, hitting .361 in 16 games before going into a month long slump from May 24th through June 23rd where he hit just .180. He did walk nearly as often as he struck out in that stretch, with just one more strikeout than he had walks, but the hits just weren’t showing up.

    On June 24th he went 1-3 against Palm Beach and didn’t look back for the next six weeks. In 28 games through August 9th he hit .330/.448/.575 with 17 walks and just 20 strikeouts. Following a doubleheader on the 9th he was promoted up to join High-A Dayton.

    Carlos Jorge got out to a slow start with Dayton, going 1-14 in his first four games and he struck out eight times. During this time he also began to see regular time in center field, though he was still getting some playing time at second base. On August 17th – his 5th game with Dayton – he would pick up two hits in Fort Wayne. He seemed to settle in at the plate from there, hitting .270 the rest of the season (19 games).

    For all 2023 Season Reviews and Scouting Reports – click here (these will come out during the week throughout the offseason).

    Carlos Jorge Scouting Report

    Position: Second Base/Center Field | B/T: L/R

    Height: 5′ 10″ | Weight: 160 lbs. | Acquired: International FA (2021) | Born: September 22, 2003

    Hitting | He has an above-average hit tool.

    Power | He has fringe-average power.

    Speed | He shows plus speed.

    Defense | He’s an average defender.

    Arm | He has average arm strength.

    Much like the past, Carlos Jorge was one of the best hitters in the league he was playing in during much of the 2023 season. He had the highest OPS in the Florida State League among players with at least 250 plate appearances and he did so while also stealing 31 bases in 86 games played with the Tortugas. Offensively he showed everything you want to see – particularly in Daytona. Once he got to Dayton he didn’t walk much, but he was only there for a month and did start to do better at the plate the more time he had in the league.

    At the plate he’s got a pull heavy approach, but it’s worked well for him. He showed off good power numbers when he pulled the ball and when he hit the ball to center. His slugging percentage in the minors isn’t quite indicative of his likely future power potential. That’s not to say he’s incapable of hitting for power – he’s got a little bit of pop and could hit 15-20 homers in the future. But he’s able to use his plus speed to pick up some extra bases that help boost his slugging percentage a little bit, too.

    Speaking of that speed, it helped him leg out 22 infield hits in 2023. It also helped him steal 32 bases – making him 86-for-104 in his 198 professional games played in the last three seasons. It may also eventually allow him to be a strong defender in center if that’s where he winds up on the defensive spectrum…..

    Currently he’s much better at second base than in center field. That’s not much of a surprise given that he’s long been an infielder and he’s just now getting time in the outfield. With that said, he’s got the tools to be a good defender in center and the tools to be a solid defender at second base. He’s going to need to get more reps and experience in center, but it could be the landing spot for him down the road.

    There’s a chance that Carlos Jorge can be a 5-tool player in the future. He still needs to improve defensively – particularly in center – but he’s got a profile that could make him an above-average offensive player at either second or in center.

    Video

    Carlos Jorge Spray Chart

    Interesting Stat on Carlos Jorge

    His OPS against left-handed pitchers was 205 points higher than it was against right-handed pitchers on the season.

    Doug Gray
    Doug Gray is the owner and operator of this website and has been running it since 2006 in one variation or another.

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    28 Responses

    2. Ok, Doug, you wrote Jorge bats R/R in the scouting report but really he is a left-handed hitter.
      Jorge is a very good prospect that could be ranked as a top 5 in other farm system, hopefully he will establish at Dayton with a likely promotion to AA by 2024 season final month…He forms a very attractive trio with Stewart and Hector Rodriguez climbing thru the Reds system

      1. This is what happens when you copy/paste, then delete stuff and edit/add stuff for the current guy…. DOH! I’ll go fix it now.

    3. He looks like Juan Pierre in stature. A thought brought about by Doug mentioning CF as an option for him. Wouldn’t that be nice.

    4. @Doug, Thanks for the write up. Just an idea, but for simpletons like me, it would be nice if your provided a comp or two in your player write ups. Maybe you do that elsewhere, and I have missed it. Anyway, Thanks for all you do and providing such great content.

      1. So here’s the thing about comps: I hate them.

        Let me explain why: To some people and even to some scouts, when they drop a comp, it’s about what the player looks like. Physically, mechanically, their swing is like, etc. That can be useful when you’ve never seen the player before. But it’s not really all that useful when it comes to telling you what the player could perform like. To others, the comps are about what the player could perform like. But even in that case, I’m still not the biggest fan of them. I prefer to just state what kind of offensive performance they could have – though that’s not exactly something I often do to the full extent. For Jorge, as an example, I think in his best years (though perhaps not all of these things happen in the same year), he could hit .300, hit 20 home runs, and steal 30 bases.

        1. Another way to bring this into layman’s terms is to do a primer on what your terms mean. What is average, fringe average, etc.? I understand why you do like comps and I appreciate why you do attempt to make them.

        2. Thanks Doug. I figured you had a reason as why you didn’t include them. Always appreciate your knowledge.

      2. The funny thing about comps is they are almost always of a ML player and a superstar at that. Some comps are obvious. EDLC has only one comp (Oneil Cruz). Problem is Oneil Cruz was injured last year and now EDLC has more MLB PA than him.

        As baseball evolves it is difficult to compare prospects to players from the 50’s. You can find a player who has Musial’s power and speed but difficult to find a player with these two attributes and a BB% of 12.5% and a K% of 5.5%.

        When I do a comp I look at both where a player is now and where he was when he was younger.

        When I do a comp it is usually for my own benefit. My best comp for Jorge is Hector Rodriguez. My best comp for them in the majors is Jose Altuve. Altuve is short and when he was younger he was deemed to have some power but not much (may 20 HR in his best year).

        But Altuve changed his projection by getting substantially stronger. Will Jorge or Rodriguez change their projection in some way? Will they be able to hit ML breaking balls. If they can hit a ML breaking ball they may prove to be better hitters than Altuve. I could see Jorge hitting 30 HR just like Altuve has. I can also see him stealing 50 bases. But if he can’t hit a breaking ball I could see him stranded in Louisville

    6. I’d love to see him stick at 2B. I know CF is a premium positon, but I think having a LHB at 2B is also a premium. Add power, and speed into that position, and it lengthens your lineup.

      1. In accounts, Jorge had a pretty rough go defensively in his short time at Dayton. Being deposited for the first time in CF can do that. He’s been moved off of short stop for a reason as well, though his defense at 2B is solid if not spectacular, IMO. I thought the experiment in CF might have had as much to do with Tyler Callahan being settled in at 2B when Jorge was promoted, as well as another injury to Jay Allen. I suppose if he spends his winter shagging fly balls, he could see more time in the OF. I prefer him right where he is, however, too. He’s a very, very good hitter. For me, he doesn’t yet fit the profile of a guy (with less of a bat) to groom as a utility player. At least not now. I think Ivan Johnson, Nick Quintana, Francisco Urbaez, and Jose Torres fit that development track. Miguel Hernadez at AAA, too, who a few here think could make a big mark this season. In other words, leave him the heck alone.

        1. Doug’s post of average defender is high praise indeed for what my eyes saw especially in the outfield. Notsaying he can not improve but at this point he would need a 50% improvement to play above High A, unless it as a DH.

    7. Jorge is similar to Arroyo but in a yin/yang complementary way.

      Arroyo, exceptional glove overshadows very good offense.

      Jorge, exceptional hitter overshadows very good defense.

      This is a dumb way of saying I see Jorge as a bit more of a bat first 2B.

      If he goes Hi-A/AA in 2024, AA/AAA in 25, and AAA/ML next, Jorge will arrive to back up McLain in 2026, the latter’s fourth year. With teams trading guys a year before free agency, it’s almost fair to say Jorge replaces McLain in his fifth year

      If you want to be Tampa Bay, you have to follow the plan.

      1. The next wave is the only way to stay competitive. If we can develop like the Rays, and spend like the Cardinals then we can build a sustained winning atmosphere here. Something is going right on the player development, and acquisition side of things. Lets see if Krall can continue it.

    8. A little surprising watching Perth game in Australian League, our Carlos Sanchez is starting at third base and Ricardo Cabrera is assigned to their minor league team. Thought if someone was in the minors it would be just the opposite.

      1. As far as I can tell base on his instagram feed, Cabrera is still in Venezuela. Unless he’s just posting stuff from his phone that is old.

    9. In the 3 games I saw Jorge play in Daytona (May, June, and July 21), he played phenomenal games! Stole 2nd and 3rd in first game, then hit for the “cycle” in July. The first time I watched him play, I told him he wouldn’t be here (Daytona) long. Shortly after AS break he was promoted. IMO, one of the organization’s most promising prospects.

    10. Excited for winter meetings this week. I’ll be hitting refresh 1,000 times on mlbtraderumors.com.

      What I’m expecting (in another timeline we can watch but not experience) is to see the Reds trade for and sign Juan Soto to a 12 year 480 million dollar contract to pick up his age 25 through 38 year old hall of fame seasons.

      IMO he’s a better ticket than Ohtani.

    11. Marte injured last night. Winter ball season over. Should have taken a break and come to Redsfest instead.

    12. I think Bowden sort of relishes the Reds being dismantled. His latest trade proposal: Glasnow, he of 7 career WAR, all of 2 WAR in 2023, 60 starts in 5 years, for the following: Lodolo, Ashcraft, and Phillips. If this is indicative of the trade market, stay far far away.

      1. The Athletic publishes a Bowden article almost every day. So many journalists need to understand how vital their credibility is. Suggestions like this call into question other things he says that appear reasonable or insightful.

    13. Assume at least 1 of Jorge, Balcazar, Acosta are traded this off-season. I believe all 3 will need to be protected from Rule 5-Draft next off-season. Can’t see Reds being able to protect all 3.

      1. I’m not sure about these guys’ exposure to the Rule 5 draft next year. Here is what milb.com says about eligibility: “Players who were signed when they were 19 or older and have played in professional baseball for four years are eligible, as are players who were signed at 18 and have played in pro ball for five years.” https://www.milb.com/events/rule-5-draft

        I’ve seen it on the MLB site as “within” 4 or 5 years, so I suppose it depends on what the definition of “is” is. Plus, it isn’t clear how the Covid-year layoffs are calculated on some guys, although not the three that you mentioned. I also don’t know if the Minor League part of the Rule 5 draft comes into play.

        Balcazar, Jorge and Victor Acosta (and Edwin Arroyo) were all signed at 17, and 2024 will be their 4th year playing pro ball. So, I would think that the Rule 5 decision would arise after 2025, not 2024. Arroyo would be an obvious 40-man addition, even if it was after 2024.

      2. Even if they do have to consider Rule 5 at the end of 2024 for these guys, I don’t see why the Reds would want to trade them now. The acquiring team would inherit the same Rule 5 concern, and that team wouldn’t offer as much in return, or consider any of them to be a great sweetener on a deal.

        The Reds might as well keep them and see another year of development from them (and the guys ahead of them), and then make a more informed decision when the time comes.

      3. According to Roster Resource, none of these players must be protected until the 2025 offseason (two years from now).

    14. What are the Brewers thinking with that 80 m extension for Chourio? I mean he’s a nice young prospect but he’s no Bryce Harper or Juan Soto is he?

      1. If he can hit around .275 with 20 HRs over the last 6 years of it, then it is an excellent decision by the Brewers. He can always get a bad injury or head-case himself out of the league, ala Wander Franco or He Who Can’t Be Mentioned, but there isn’t a major downside risk to having the amount spread over 8 years.

        It isn’t like the Brewers would be doing something insane, like having to pay Mike Moustakas $22 million in his age 34 season.

        I get that he has never played MLB, but developmental analytics have advanced so much in the past ten or fifteen years that the “can’t-miss” hitters pretty much never totally miss.

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