RAFELIN LORENZO, CATCHER
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Born: January 15, 1997 Height: 6′ 2″ Weight: 218 Bats: Right Throws: Right Signed: Int’l free agent, 2013 (Rays) How Acquired: Minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft Country: Dominican Republic Agent: N/A |
WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE |
Tampa Bay signed Lorenzo at age 16 out of the Dominican and he had a good debut in the DSL, but didn’t hit after that. He’s shown some power, but doesn’t have much patience. Lorenzo reportedly is a good defensive catcher and has had good caught stealing percentages in the seasons for which that information is available. The Pirates selected him in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.
2014 Lorenzo hit well in his debut, with good power, especially for a 16-year-old. He threw out 36% of base stealers. 2015 The Rays moved Lorenzo up to the Gulf Coast League and he struggled to hit. 2016 Lorenzo struggled even more in advanced rookie ball, with his plate discipline collapsing. 2017 In the New York-Penn League, Lorenzo caught only 14 games, serving mostly as a DH instead. He improved at the plate, with his power bouncing back somewhat. In his limited time as a catcher he did throw out eight of 18 base stealers, although he also had nine passed balls in just 114 innings. 2018 Lorenzo opened 2018 as the backup for Deon Stafford at West Virginia, but in late April he cut his hand badly. He didn’t return until July, when he spent most of the month on a rehab assignment in the GCL. He rejoined the Power late in the month. When he was able to play, he hit well, including for power, but didn’t show much willingness to take pitches. He threw out 39% of base stealers overall. Lorenzo should be back somewhere in class A in 2019. |
CONTRACT INFORMATION
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2019: Minor League Contract |
PLAYER INFORMATION
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Signing Bonus: N/A MiLB Debut: 2014 MLB Debut: N/A MiLB FA Eligible: 2020 MLB FA Eligible: N/A Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible Added to 40-Man: N/A Options Remaining: 3 MLB Service Time: 0.000 |
TRANSACTIONS
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July 2, 2013: Signed by the Tampa Bay Rays as an international free agent. December 14, 2017: Selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Tampa Bay Rays in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. |