Jorge Mateo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #15 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Mateo was a top prospect when the Yankees traded him and two others to the A's for Sonny Gray at the 2017 trade deadline. Mateo's bat never came around, and the A's traded him to the Padres for a player to be named last June. He appeared in 22 big league games, mostly as a pinch-runner.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Mateo is one of the fastest players in baseball. He's capable of stealing a base at any time and can score on shallow balls in play that others can't. Mateo's offensive value derives almost entirely from his plus-plus grade speed. He has shown flashes of a quick, direct swing, but overall he's a bottom of the scale hitter who is tentative against velocity and doesn't recognize spin. He does have some gap power when he connects. Mateo came up as a shortstop but is better in the outfield, where he covers a lot of ground and his plus arm is less encumbered by iffy accuracy.
  
  THE FUTURE: Mateo is purely a pinch-runner and defensive replacement, but he can create runs and add value at the bottom of a roster. He'll fill that role for the Padres in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #8 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Viewed as one of the top prospects the A's received in the Sonny Gray trade with the Yankees, Mateo remains a head-scratcher who flashes big tools but struggles to produce consistently. He repeated the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in 2019 and took encouraging steps, cutting his strikeout rate while increasing his power output—but he also suffered a massive second half drop-off.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Mateo's biggest tool is his 80-grade speed. He stole 82 bases in 2015 and 52 in 2017, though his stolen base totals have been more modest with Oakland. For Mateo to be at his sharpest, he needs to be on the basepaths, which has been a problem. Some days, he is on time in the box, stays within the strike zone and uses the whole field with a quick, direct swing. Other times he is tentative against velocity, swings from his heels and shows zero pitch-recognition. Evaluators don't know what to make of Mateo's offensive potential, but most see .250 with 15 home runs as the best possible outcome. Mateo is similarly inconsistent at shortstop, sometimes playing too aggressive and other times too passive. He has the athleticism and plus arm to play multiple positions.
  
  THE FUTURE: Mateo needs to find some semblance of consistency. He'll return to Triple-A in 2020.
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #8 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Mateo ranked as the Yankees' No. 1 prospect in 2016 and then checked in at No. 3 for the Athletics in 2018 after joining the organization, along with Dustin Fowler and James Kaprielian, in the Sonny Gray trade. After a big season at Double-A in 2017, Mateo appeared close to big league ready. Instead he scuffled through a miserable 2018 season at Triple-A Nashville in which nothing went right.
  
  Scouting Report: Mateo draws plus grades for his glove, double-plus grades for his arm and some 80 grades for his speed, but he came up short where it counts most--his bat--in the Pacific Coast League. He hit .230 because of poor plate discipline, too many swinging strikes and too many lazy fly balls for a batter with below-average power and a low walk rate. If Mateo can improve his launch angle and swing at more strikes, he has the bat speed and exit velocity to succeed. Even as an elite runner, Mateo stole just 25 bases in Triple-A, calling into question his basestealing instincts. Plus range and quickness gives him a chance to excel at shortstop if he curtail his error rate by improving his throwing accuracy.
  
  The Future: Barring an offensive breakthrough, Mateo's clearest path to Oakland will be as a glove-first shortstop or utility player. He has pro experience at second base and center field that could come into play down the line.
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #3 prospect in 2018
  One of three highly regarded prospects the A's received from the Yankees in the trade-deadline deal that sent Sonny Gray to New York, Mateo's game is based on his top-of-the-line speed. He had a combined 52 stolen bases for three teams in 2017. He stole a combined 82 for two teams in 2015. Mateo's development seemed to stall after he was sent back to high Class A Tampa in 2016. But a promotion to Double-A Trenton seemed to spur him to new heights and he was traded just a little bit more than a month later. Though the A's used Mateo exclusively as a shortstop in his stint with Double-A Midland, he did play some second base and center field in the Yankees' system. He's a disruptive force offensively. Infielders rush to make plays on his grounders, and pitchers can become distracted once he's on the bases. Mateo needs to make more consistent contact to best use his legs and sneaky power. He struck out 144 times in 584 plate appearances in 2017. Because Mateo hasn't played above Double-A in his six minor league seasons, he figures to begin 2018 at Triple-A Nashville. Whether Mateo ultimately stays at shortstop or moves to second or the outfield, he has the speed and arm to thrive in any spot. If he can cut down his strikeout rate, he can become an above-average major leaguer with the potential to steal 40-plus bases and hit 15 homers per season.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #4 prospect in 2017
  After signing for $225,000 in 2012, Mateo quickly blazed a path through the lower levels of the minors. Despite playing just 15 games in 2014, Mateo jumped to low Class A Charleston in 2015, and he responded by showing off an all-around tool set and leading the minor leagues with 80 stolen bases. His performance took a step backward in 2016, and his makeup took a hit, too, when the Yankees announced a two-week suspension for insubordination. He reportedly lashed out at team officials over not receiving a promotion to Double-A Trenton. As ever, Mateo is still blessed with 80-grade speed on the 20-80 scouting scale. How the Yankees want to employ it, however, is another question. That level of speed will play in the outfield, and Mateo saw time in instructional league in center field. He plays average defense at shortstop and second base, leading multiple evaluators to project center as his best path to the big leagues. He's got plenty of bat speed to catch up to good fastballs but still has rough edges to polish at the plate. He showed a vulnerability to breaking balls, though he should be an average hitter with surprising power for his wiry frame. Mateo probably will move to Double-A Trenton in 2017, where he will pair with Gleyber Torres and see time at shortstop, second base and center field.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #1 prospect in 2016
  Mateo was signed for $225,000 in January 2012, and blazed past injured catcher Luis Torrens to become the jewel of the Yankees' international signing class of that year. However, Mateo's development has taken a while. He took time to get out of the Dominican Summer League, in part due to a broken arm in 2012 that limited him to just 14 games. Once he came to the U.S., a broken hand cost him all but 15 games in 2014 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Even so, the Yankees were aggressive with Mateo in 2015, jumping him over both short-season Staten Island and Pulaski, the system's new affiliate in the Rookie-level Appalachian League, in favor of low Class A Charleston. Despite the relative lack of experience, Mateo thrived in his first taste of full-season ball. With the RiverDogs, he showed off plenty of tools, the foremost of which was his blazing speed. He stole 71 bases before being moved to high Class A Tampa, where he debuted with a four-hit game and added 11 more steals to finish with 82, the best figure in the minor leagues. At midseason, he was one of the main players rival teams sought when trying to strike a deal with the Yankees, along with outfielder Aaron Judge and righthander Luis Severino. Even though he's nowhere close to a finished product, Mateo still gave evaluators plenty to like in his first year in full-season ball. A wiry strong player, the 20-year-old showed above-average range and hands and well above-average arm strength, a combination that gives him plenty of tools to stick at shortstop in the long term. As with any young shortstop, there were areas to iron out. He made 30 errors between the two levels 2015 and needs to learn to slow the game down. Coaches at Charleston worked with Mateo to improve his technique on backhanding balls in the hole to his right. And while his arm strength his plus, his accuracy could stand to improve. Once he learns to set himself instead of rushing his throws, improvement should come quickly. He also saw a little bit of time at second base during instructional league, but only for future versatility. At the plate, he needs to develop more of an approach, which is to be expected for someone of his age at that level. When he does learn to refine his plan at the plate, he'll be able to more easily and frequently tap into the above-average raw power evaluators see. He shoots plenty of balls out of the yard in batting practice all across the field, but homered just twice in 449 at-bats in 2015. He's got 80 speed on the basepaths, which clearly plays as ascertained by his 82 stolen bases, but he also has showed sub-4.00 times to first base out of the righthanded batter's box. Even though he showed well in his brief time with high Class A, he ended the season on the disabled list with an injury sustained while running the bases. He's likely to head back to Tampa to start the year, where he'll pair up the middle with fellow prospect Abiatal Avelino. If he shows well there, he could move up to Double-A Trenton after the all-star break, where he'll get his first taste of the upper levels at 21 years old and is likely to be paired there with fellow infield prospect Tyler Wade. If he reaches his ceiling, he could be an above-average shortstop in the mold of current Yankee Didi Gregorius with a little more offensive potential and a little less glove.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #3 prospect in 2015
  Signed by the Yankees for $225,000 out of the Dominican Republic, Mateo has impressed when he's not sidelined in the training room, something that has slowed him in two of his three pro seasons. He missed time with a hairline fracture in his left arm in 2012. This year he missed all but 15 games after he was hit by a pitch that broke his left wrist. A top-of-thescale 80 runner, Mateo owns a rare and enticing combination of power and speed, and has an excellent chance to stick at shortstop in the long term. His body and quick-twitch athletic abilities led one evaluator to compare him to NFL wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Before the injury, Mateo had been more than playing up to lofty expectations. He's an aggressive hitter and basestealer, and the ball jumps off his bat with pop to the gaps. He's a bit of a free swinger who needs development time to refine his plate approach and baserunning. He's got the range to stick at shortstop with a plus arm as well, and the total package evokes comparisons to Jose Reyes. Mateo has played just 93 career games, so a return to extended spring training seems likely. The Yankees then could send him to either their new Rookie-level Pulaski affiliate in the Appalachian League or short-season Staten Island.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #8 prospect in 2017
  Mateo did not reach Double-A until late June of his sixth pro season, but once he reached the EL all of the tools he was lauded for in the low minors shined. Mateo starred for Trenton until the Yankees packaged him, James Kaprielian and Dustin Fowler in a trade to the Athletics for Sonny Gray. Mateo's calling card is his top-of-the-scale speed. He needs to work on refining his approach at the plate to chase fewer pitches out of the zone, but at his best he's a leadoff-type hitter who can spray balls from gap to gap and create havoc on the basepaths. He has sneaky power and slugged better than .500 at both of his Double-A stops. His speed makes him one of those players who can manufacture runs without the benefit of a hit. Mateo has the plus range and strong arm to play shortstop, where Oakland kept him after the trade. His athleticism plays in the middle of the field.
• 
  Ranked Texas League #6 prospect in 2017
  Traded from the Yankees to the Athletics on July 31 as a part of the Sonny Gray trade, Mateo spent the last five weeks of the season in the TL. Known for his top-of-the-scale speed, he showed well at Midland by hitting .292/.333/.518 with 13 stolen bases and tied for the league lead with seven triples in just 30 games. Though his speed would play all over the diamond, including center field, Mateo played only shortstop following the trade. He is at least an average defender there with an above-average arm. While he's not yet a finished product at the plate and is susceptible to breaking balls--as evidenced by his strikeout rate of 25 percent-- Mateo does show plenty of bat speed and surprising power for his size.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #5 prospect in 2016
  The Yankees already were playing Mateo at second base at times when Gleyber Torres arrived from the Cubs in the Aroldis Chapman trade, and the transaction cemented Mateo's fate. Mateo's stock already had slipped a bit after the Yankees suspended him for a violation of team rules, reportedly when he protested when the Yankees promoted teammate and friend Miguel Andujar, a third baseman, to Double-A Trenton without him. Managers and scouts used the word maturity frequently as a need for Mateo, not just with his makeup but with his fairly raw game. He's a top-of-the-scale runner who led the FSL with 36 stolen bases but needs a more mature approach at the plate to get on base more often and take advantage of his speed. Physical maturation also would help Mateo's athleticism produce more consistent results at the plate, where he has surprising pop, and in the field, where he shows a plus arm. Some scouts believe he would thrive most in center field due to his speed and arm strength.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #2 prospect in 2015
  Mateo has tools to rival the league's No. 1 prospect Yoan Moncada. Mateo is just as fast, just as prolific at stealing bases, has similar power potential and a better arm. Plus, he is a potentially above-average defender at shortstop. Moncada ranks higher because he has a better chance to be an above-average hitter, thanks in part to a better approach, but Mateo is a well-rounded prospect who could end up making an impact both offensively and defensively. Mateo's baserunning ability combined with his speed makes him a pest once he reaches. He led the league with 71 steals, then added 11 more at high Class A Tampa to lead the minors with 82. Mateo stole four bags in four different SAL games and had another six games where he stole three. If he sees a catcher with a below-average arm or a pitcher who is slow to the plate, Mateo is going to make a run for it, and he's just as comfortable stealing third base as he is second. "When he gets on base, something bad is going to happen for you,"" Asheville manager Warrren Schaeffer said.
• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #4 prospect in 2014
  Mateo signed for $225,000 in January 2012, then excited Yankees officials after blitzing through the Dominican Summer League in 2013 and performing well during extended spring training this year. After getting off to a hot start through the first two weeks of the GCL season, he missed most of the rest of the year with inflammation in his left wrist. An explosive, premium athlete, Mateo is at top-of-the-scale runner who should be a prolific basestealer. He has plus bat speed with average power potential and solid understanding of the strike zone, though he will swing through good breaking pitches. At shortstop he has good range and footwork, while his arm is another plus tool. "He's special," GCL Yankees-2 manager Patrick Osborne said. "(Hitting coach) Drew Henson and I talked about it--he played in NFL--and he said if he grew up in the U.S., he'd be (Redskins wide receiver) DeSean Jackson. That's who he's built like. He's quick-twich, lightning fast--he's really fun to watch."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #64 prospect in 2018
• Ranked Baseball America's #85 prospect in 2017
• Ranked Baseball America's #26 prospect in 2016

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Mateo was a top prospect when the Yankees traded him and two others to the A's for Sonny Gray at the 2017 trade deadline. Mateo's bat never came around, and the A's traded him to the Padres for a player to be named last June. He appeared in 22 big league games, mostly as a pinch-runner.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Mateo is one of the fastest players in baseball. He's capable of stealing a base at any time and can score on shallow balls in play that others can't. Mateo's offensive value derives almost entirely from his plus-plus grade speed. He has shown flashes of a quick, direct swing, but overall he's a bottom of the scale hitter who is tentative against velocity and doesn't recognize spin. He does have some gap power when he connects. Mateo came up as a shortstop but is better in the outfield, where he covers a lot of ground and his plus arm is less encumbered by iffy accuracy.
  
  THE FUTURE: Mateo is purely a pinch-runner and defensive replacement, but he can create runs and add value at the bottom of a roster. He'll fill that role for the Padres in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Mateo was a top prospect when the Yankees traded him and two others to the A's for Sonny Gray at the 2017 trade deadline. Mateo's bat never came around, and the A's traded him to the Padres for a player to be named last June. He appeared in 22 big league games, mostly as a pinch-runner.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Mateo is one of the fastest players in baseball. He's capable of stealing a base at any time and can score on shallow balls in play that others can't. Mateo's offensive value derives almost entirely from his plus-plus grade speed. He has shown flashes of a quick, direct swing, but overall he's a bottom of the scale hitter who is tentative against velocity and doesn't recognize spin. He does have some gap power when he connects. Mateo came up as a shortstop but is better in the outfield, where he covers a lot of ground and his plus arm is less encumbered by iffy accuracy.
  
  THE FUTURE: Mateo is purely a pinch-runner and defensive replacement, but he can create runs and add value at the bottom of a roster. He'll fill that role for the Padres in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Viewed as one of the top prospects the A’s received in the Sonny Gray trade with the Yankees, Mateo remains a head-scratcher who flashes big tools but struggles to produce consistently. He repeated the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in 2019 and took encouraging steps, cutting his strikeout rate while increasing his power output—but he also suffered a massive second half drop-off.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Mateo’s biggest tool is his 80-grade speed. He stole 82 bases in 2015 and 52 in 2017, though his stolen base totals have been more modest with Oakland. For Mateo to be at his sharpest, he needs to be on the basepaths, which has been a problem. Some days, he is on time in the box, stays within the strike zone and uses the whole field with a quick, direct swing. Other times he is tentative against velocity, swings from his heels and shows zero pitch-recognition. Evaluators don’t know what to make of Mateo’s offensive potential, but most see .250 with 15 home runs as the best possible outcome. Mateo is similarly inconsistent at shortstop, sometimes playing too aggressive and other times too passive. He has the athleticism and plus arm to play multiple positions.
  
  THE FUTURE: Mateo needs to find some semblance of consistency. He’ll return to Triple-A in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Viewed as one of the top prospects the A's received in the Sonny Gray trade with the Yankees, Mateo remains a head-scratcher who flashes big tools but struggles to produce consistently. He repeated the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in 2019 and took encouraging steps, cutting his strikeout rate while increasing his power output—but he also suffered a massive second half drop-off.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Mateo's biggest tool is his 80-grade speed. He stole 82 bases in 2015 and 52 in 2017, though his stolen base totals have been more modest with Oakland. For Mateo to be at his sharpest, he needs to be on the basepaths, which has been a problem. Some days, he is on time in the box, stays within the strike zone and uses the whole field with a quick, direct swing. Other times he is tentative against velocity, swings from his heels and shows zero pitch-recognition. Evaluators don't know what to make of Mateo's offensive potential, but most see .250 with 15 home runs as the best possible outcome. Mateo is similarly inconsistent at shortstop, sometimes playing too aggressive and other times too passive. He has the athleticism and plus arm to play multiple positions.
  
  THE FUTURE: Mateo needs to find some semblance of consistency. He'll return to Triple-A in 2020.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Mateo appeared close to the majors last year, when he swiped 52 bases and knocked 60 extra-base hits in a season he finished at Double-A. He has scuffled mightily during his first taste of Triple-A this year, however, failing to impact the ball regularly or even steal bases efficiently. Despite his struggles, scouts still see a lot to like about Mateo. He grades as a plus defender at shortstop with a double-plus arm and top-of-the-scale speed. Improving his plate discipline will determine how much he will hit.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: One of three highly regarded prospects the Athletics received from the Yankees in the trade deadline deal that sent Sonny Gray to New York, Mateo's game is based on his top-of-the-scale speed. Scouting Report: Mateo's development seemed to stall after he was sent back to high Class A Tampa in 2017. But a promotion to Double-A Trenton seemed to spur him to new heights and he was traded just more than a month later. Though the A's used Mateo exclusively as a shortstop in his stint at Double-A Midland, he played some second base and center field in the Yankees' system. Mateo needs to make more consistent contact to best use his legs and sneaky power. He struck out 25 percent of the time in 2017. Because Mateo hasn't played above Double-A, he figures to begin 2018 at Triple-A Nashville. The Future: Whether Mateo ultimately stays at shortstop or moves to second or the outfield, he has the speed and arm to thrive in any spot. If he cuts his strikeout rate, he can become an above-average major leaguer with the potential to steal 40-plus bases and hit 15 homers per season.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: After signing for $225,000 in 2012, Mateo quickly blazed a path through the lower levels of the minors. Despite playing just 15 games in 2014, Mateo jumped to low Class A Charleston in 2015, and he responded by showing off an all-around tool set and leading the minor leagues with 80 stolen bases. His performance took a step backward in 2016, and his makeup took a hit, too, when the Yankees announced a two-week suspension for insubordination. He reportedly lashed out at team officials over not receiving a promotion to Double-A Trenton. Scouting Report: As ever, Mateo is still blessed with 80-grade speed on the 20-80 scouting scale. How the Yankees want to employ it, however, is another question. That level of speed will play in the outfield, and Mateo saw time in instructional league in center field. He plays average defense at shortstop and second base, leading multiple evaluators to project center as his best path to the big leagues. He's got plenty of bat speed to catch up to good fastballs but still has rough edges to polish at the plate. He showed a vulnerability to breaking balls, though he should be an average hitter with surprising power for his wiry frame. The Future: Mateo probably will move to Double-A Trenton in 2017, where he will pair with Gleyber Torres and see time at shortstop, second base and center field.
• December, 2015 Scouting Report
  Mateo was signed for $225,000 in January 2012, and blazed past injured catcher Luis Torrens to become the jewel of the Yankees' international signing class of that year. However, Mateo's development has taken a while. He took time to get out of the Dominican Summer League, in part due to a broken arm in 2012 that limited him to just 14 games. Once he came to the U.S., a broken hand cost him all but 15 games in 2014 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Even so, the Yankees were aggressive with Mateo in 2015, jumping him over both short-season Staten Island and Pulaski, the system's new affiliate in the Rookie-level Appalachian League, in favor of low Class A Charleston. Despite the relative lack of experience, Mateo thrived in his first taste of full-season ball. With the RiverDogs, he showed off plenty of tools, the foremost of which was his blazing speed. He stole 71 bases before being moved to high Class A Tampa, where he debuted with a four-hit game and added 11 more steals to finish with 82, the best figure in the minor leagues. At midseason, he was one of the main players rival teams sought when trying to strike a deal with the Yankees, along with outfielder Aaron Judge and righthander Luis Severino. Even though he's nowhere close to a finished product, Mateo still gave evaluators plenty to like in his first year in full-season ball. A wiry strong player, the 20-year-old showed above-average range and hands and well above-average arm strength, a combination that gives him plenty of tools to stick at shortstop in the long term. As with any young shortstop, there were areas to iron out. He made 30 errors between the two levels 2015 and needs to learn to slow the game down. Coaches at Charleston worked with Mateo to improve his technique on backhanding balls in the hole to his right. And while his arm strength his plus, his accuracy could stand to improve. Once he learns to set himself instead of rushing his throws, improvement should come quickly. He also saw a little bit of time at second base during instructional league, but only for future versatility. At the plate, he needs to develop more of an approach, which is to be expected for someone of his age at that level. When he does learn to refine his plan at the plate, he'll be able to more easily and frequently tap into the above-average raw power evaluators see. He shoots plenty of balls out of the yard in batting practice all across the field, but homered just twice in 449 at-bats in 2015. He's got 80 speed on the basepaths, which clearly plays as ascertained by his 82 stolen bases, but he also has showed sub-4.00 times to first base out of the righthanded batter's box. Even though he showed well in his brief time with high Class A, he ended the season on the disabled list with an injury sustained while running the bases. He's likely to head back to Tampa to start the year, where he'll pair up the middle with fellow prospect Abiatal Avelino. If he shows well there, he could move up to Double-A Trenton after the all-star break, where he'll get his first taste of the upper levels at 21 years old and is likely to be paired there with fellow infield prospect Tyler Wade. If he reaches his ceiling, he could be an above-average shortstop in the mold of current Yankee Didi Gregorius with a little more offensive potential and a little less glove.