Getting To Know Jorge Mateo

Today’s prospect profile centers around Gulf-Coast League shortstop, Jorge Mateo. Mateo was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2012 at the age of 17. He spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons in the Dominican League, before making his debut in the states this past June. Despite playing less than a hundred games in the minors, he is already garnering a lot of attention.

The Yankees signed Mateo in 2012 as an international free agent out of Santo Domingo. He has shown an array of tools, highlighted by his speed. He has been graded in the mid seventies on the 20-80 Scouting Scale. The natural speed, shows Mateo is a threat to steal every time he’s on base, and gives him great range as a shortstop.

Mateo enjoyed his first taste of pro ball in 2012 at the age of seventeen. In fourteen games, the youngster hit .255 with a homer, a triple and four steals. He struck out eleven times and drew twelve walks in fifty-five at-bats.

2013 proved to be a showcase season for Mateo. He made his speed apparent, with forty-nine steals and six triples, but what jumped out was his offensive prowess. Mateo went deep seven times, had nine doubles and drove in twenty-six runs in sixty-four games. He hit .287, despite striking out fifty-two times, compared to thirty-four walks.

Through thirteen games in the Gulf Coast League this season, Mateo is hitting .308 with a triple, five doubles, and eleven steals in fifty-two at-bats.

Mateo is nineteen years old, and has a long way to go before he is looked at as a potential Major Leaguer. With that being said, he is, unlike Cito Culver, a guy that has a chance to be a future shortstop for the New York Yankees. If he can continue to develop as a hitter, and improve his plate discipline, you very well may see Mateo make a quick rise through the Yankees Minor League system.