Maikol Escotto

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2019
DSL:  315/429/552, 181 AB, 11 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 32 BB, 57 K, 13-16 SB

Escotto had a big debut season, hitting for average and power, and drawing a lot of walks.  He produced outstanding exit velocities, although he did strike out a lot.  The Yankees played him primarily at second, but he started eight games each at short and third.  Baseball America rated him 27th in the Yankees’ system, although FanGraphs had him higher, at 19th.

2020
DNP

2021
A:  234/354/347, 320 AB, 13 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 54 BB, 116 K, 22-27 SB

Escotto spent the season at Bradenton.  He started off hot at the plate, but struggled increasingly as pitchers got him to chase breaking balls off the plate.  His OPS by month, starting in May, was:  .904 .771 .741 .560 .602.  He hit seven home runs in his first 57 games and only one in his last 35.  Probably due to his problems with chasing breaking balls, he had a huge platoon split:  a .950 OPS against LHPs and .644 against RHPs.  He struck out in nearly 40% of his ABs against the latter.  He did do well as a base stealer.  Escotto played a little at second, but was the principal shortstop for the Marauders.  He showed good range, but was erratic.

2022
R:  300/462/300, 2 BB, 4 K, 3-3 SB
A:  253/333/391, 87 AB, 6 2B, 2 HR, 9 BB, 22 K, 3-9 SB
A+:  164/228/343, 146 AB, 4 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 9 BB, 58 K, 5-8 SB

The Pirates sent Escotto to Greensboro as the regular at short.  Like 2021, he got off to a good start at the plate and then tanked.  His OPS was .745 in April, then dropped to .475 in May.  In early June, the Pirates sent him to the development list and eventually to the FCL.  He moved up to Bradenton in early July.  In Greensboro Escotto did show some power, but he had a terrible time making contact.  With the Grasshoppers he fanned in 36% of his plate appearances.  One he got to Bradenton, Escotto did better, hitting for solid numbers.  At that level he fanned in 22% of plate appearances.  Defensively, Escotto mostly played short, but he saw some time at 2B.

The Pirates have had a lot of trouble developing their hitting prospects at the lower levels and Escotto could be exhibit A.  He won’t turn 21 until the middle of the 2023 season, so if he could get the bat going at Greensboro he’d be a good age for the level.