Rangers No. 10 Prospect Luis Sardinas

Mar 5, 2014; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Luis Sardinas (3) forces out Colorado Rockies shortstop Paul Janish at second base in the seventh inning of their spring training game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

Over the next few weeks I plan on going through and giving my own scouting report for my top 10 Texas Rangers Prospects. Allow me to clarify that I am not a scout, I am just stating what I think based on what I’ve seen from scouts, and the limited amount I have seen some of these prospects play. With that said, here is my scouting report on Luis Sardinas.

Signed in July of 2009 out of the nation of Venezuela, this young short stop received a signing bonus of 1.5 million dollars. Though Luis was signed around the same time as Jurickson Profar, Sardinas was initially thought to be the better prospect. This might have been because many scouts thought that Profar would have been better suited as a pitcher than a position player. Sardinas is a switch hitter who throws right handed. Listed at 6′ 1″ and 150 pounds, Sardinas is not a slugger in any sense of the word.

A better hitter from the left-handed side of the plate, Luis makes consistent contact and sprays line drives to all parts of the field. In 126 at bats last year, only 2 of Sardinas’ 24 extra base hits left the yard. He hit .298 in 97 at bats for advanced A Myrtle Beach but had a drop off at the plate when he received a promotion to AA Frisco where he hit only .259 in 29 at bats. Luis Sardinas is also a solid base runner stealing 32 bags last year in only 126 games. Though he doesn’t walk often, he also doesn’t strike out often. Sardinas accrued 75 strike outs over the season to only 36 walks. Those walk numbers are not terrible but they could use some improvement.

Though Luis will be a solid hitter from the short stop position, Sardinas’ best tool by far is his fielding ability. He has not committed an error yet in spring training (17 total chances) and has turned one double play. Sardinas has good reactions at short stop and has slick and steady hands that make difficult plays appear easy. His about average arm helps him to make strong throws over to first even when off balance. The main area in his fielding for which Sardinas is chastised is the same area for which he has been chastised as a whole: his effort.

In the few games of spring training that I have watched Sardinas I have noticed a distinct lack of urgency in the field. There have been several slowly hit grounders that Luis has sauntered towards and slowly picked up and as a result has let some speedy base runners on when he should have been able to make a play. Unfortunately there is no way at this time for these types of plays to show up in the box score. This is the main reason as to why I am not as sold on Sardinas as most other writers and bloggers. His lack of hustle might be highlighted because of his double play partner Rougned Odor‘s Dustin Pedroia like hustle. I still believe that this lack of hustle and desire will hurt Sardinas’ development and ability to reach his full potential at the major league level.

Overall I think Sardinas is a good player with solid major league potential. At this point in his career, Sardinas is a relatively low risk prospect so he does have decent trade value. Honestly I do not see a way for Sardinas to stay with the Rangers for much longer past the 2015 season. He is at the position of least need for the Rangers current major league club and has enough trade value to bring back a solid return if he was a part of a good package. Sardinas will be at least a utility middle infielder for a big league club within the next 2 years and could be an average to above average every day short stop at the major league level for years to come. I see Sardinas being dealt either this year or next year, some time where his value is highest, and bringing in a good return.

Scouting Grades:  Hit: 60 Power: 30 Run: 65 Arm: 65 Field: 70

ETA to the majors: 2015

What do you think Luis Sardinas’ career will hold?