4/15: 4 for 5, with 2 hr's (1st, and 2nd of the year), a double, bb, and 4 rbi.

Now 10 for 32, with 3 doubles, 2 homers, 7 rbi, 3 bb's, and 8 k's.

4/15: 4 for 5, with 2 hr's (1st, and 2nd of the year), a double, bb, and 4 rbi.

Now 10 for 32, with 3 doubles, 2 homers, 7 rbi, 3 bb's, and 8 k's.

This is good. If I'm not mistaken he's lauded for his defense, so hitting the ball so well is a bonus.
Would love to hear a scout's opinion if they've seen him.

This is good. If I'm not mistaken he's lauded for his defense, so hitting the ball so well is a bonus.
Would love to hear a scout's opinion if they've seen him.

http://camdendepot.b...ospect rankings
Discussion:
Backstop Gabriel Lino has some offensive upside and a strong arm behind the dish, but may lack the lateral quickness needed to stick at catcher long term, particularly if he gets any bigger. He has soft hands but lets his glove float a little too often when receiving, which he'll need to tighten. The power is still raw, and does not project particularly well to a corner infield spot. Just 18-years old this year, he has time to work on his problem areas. Should his power tool emerge, he could shift to first base in order to allow more developmental focus on his bat. He is on the large side for a catcher, and it still remains to be seen how he will hold up physically over the stress of a long full season ball season.

Ceiling: Starting catcher on first division team
Floor: Non-prospect
Projected: Fringe back-up catcher

http://mlbdirt.com/2...p-16-prospects/
Defense is already plus and showed solid approach in small sample. Scouts believe the power will develop to above-average. Has easy potential to be a top-10 (organization) prospect soon.

http://www.baseballp...articleid=15526
Excellent defensive prospect still has to prove he can hit, but there are signs of power.

http://www.baseball-...prospects-2012/
11. Gabriel Lino | C | Age – 18 | Grade – C+ … Sleeper alert…good defensive catcher showed some intriguing power last season.

Ask and you shall receive I suppose. Thanks Chris

4/24: 1 for 4, with a k.
Season: 18 for 54 (.333), 5 doubles, 2 hr's, 9 rbi, 5 bb's, 14 k's, .930 OPS

5/13: 0 for 4

Last 10 games: 6 for 38, 2 doubles, 3 bb's, 16 k's, .449 OPS

Season: 25 of 99 (.253), 7 doubles, 2 hr's, 12 rbi, 8 bb's, 33 k's, .702 OPS

Last 10 games: 3 for 35, 2 bb's, 16 k's, .244 OPS

Season: .583 OPS, 7 doubles, 2 hr's, 10 bb's, 49 k's

Last 10: 9 for 33, 4 doubles, 2 hr's, 5 rbi, 4 bb's, 6 k's

Season OPS up to .658

Getting much better in June. A few people I've talked to said he looks to be more lively suddenly. The upcoming break should do wonders for him.

Important to remember he has not caught this much in his entire lifetime. A lot to take in for a guy not even 20.

Remember that Lino began this year at age 18. Extremely young for full-season ball. With someone THIS young playing full-season ball for the first time (especially while playing a demanding position), stats should be taken with a massive grain of salt in my opinion. Lino is not only going through the physical demands of playing catcher a lot over a full season, but also the emotional ups and downs. One of the biggest things for Lino's development is that when he goes through a month-long slump like he did, it cannot affect his catching duties -- either his preparation or in-game work. Look at Wieters. He didn't hit a ball hard for all of May but there's no difference between Wieters catching in April, May or June. I feel like that type of stuff at this young age is way more important than AVG/OBP/SLG numbers, although upward improvement in that area between now and September would be nice.

Remember that Lino began this year at age 18. Extremely young for full-season ball. With someone THIS young playing full-season ball for the first time (especially while playing a demanding position), stats should be taken with a massive grain of salt in my opinion. Lino is not only going through the physical demands of playing catcher a lot over a full season, but also the emotional ups and downs. One of the biggest things for Lino's development is that when he goes through a month-long slump like he did, it cannot affect his catching duties -- either his preparation or in-game work. Look at Wieters. He didn't hit a ball hard for all of May but there's no difference between Wieters catching in April, May or June. I feel like that type of stuff at this young age is way more important than AVG/OBP/SLG numbers, although upward improvement in that area between now and September would be nice.

Good points overall.

Like you said, he is playing full-season ball at an extremely young age. Due to that, you only worry about individual numbers so much. I do think you want to see progression as the year goes on though.

Each of the scouting reports linked above point to him being strong defensively. Of course, showing he can maintain or improve the positives he previously showed over a full-season are something different. I completely agree that seeing him not carrying any offensive slumps into the field being something important to watch.

I'm encouraged to see him emerge from an offensive slump, and get the bat going again.