Guillermo Pimentel: The Other First Rounder?

Guillermo Pimentel from Kiley McDaniel on Vimeo.

While the Rangers go into the 2009 draft with the #14 overall selection and the #44 pick (as compensation for losing Milton Bradley in free agency), giving them two picks before the second round begins (and yet another exellent opportunity to load up high-upside talent to the game’s best farm system), it is widely rumored that they have already bagged the elephant of this year’s amateur class by having successfully wooed Dominican outfielder Guillermo Pimentel, who turned 16 in mid May.

Pimentel is said to have plus power and an extremely smooth stroke from the left side, tremendous athleticism and a below average arm (as opposed to the Guillermo Pimentel that Rangers already have, whose cannon might be the best among all oufielders in the system right now).

The signing date for international free agents is July 2, but Pimentel is known to have a strong relationship with the Rangers already — a product of the intensified scouting efforts by the organization in the DR over the past few years — and he has worked out at the Rangers’ Dominican academy. In recent months, however, nobody has seen him leading to speculation by other clubs that the Rangers are hiding him. Having been beaten to the punch by Oakland on Michael Ynoa last year, it may be that the Rangers decided to pounce early on Pimentel — even if it means irritating other clubs — rather than risk losing him .