2021 - Draft Target: 3B Alex Binelas

 Alex Binelas

 

3B 6-3 200 Louisville 

 

Next On Deck -

 

16. Alex Binelas, CIF, Louisville

 

6-foot-3, 210 pounds. Strong, compact frame with strong wrists. Left-handed hitter that has easy gap-to-gap power, especially to the pull-side. Punishes middle-in fastballs. Patient at the plate, knack for finding a way on base. Defensive profile is concerning. Might ultimately make the move over to first base. Intriguing power-hitting prospect that doesn’t swing-and-miss much.

  

AZ Snakepit -

 

Alex Binelas, 3B, Louisville

 

Speaking of power hitting infielders, Louisville third baseman Alex Binelas is another route the Diamondbacks can look to grab at No. 6 overall. Binelas has established himself as one of the elite college bats in the draft, and his impressive makeup of tools speaks for itself.

 

Standing at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Binelas has consistently hit for power and average in his two seasons at Louisville. He stays square through the ball with a slight leg kick to generate loud contact, and the results have followed. Binelas slugged 14 homers at a .291 clip as a true freshman in 2019.

 

Binelas’ ability to make solid contact and produce eye-opening exit velocities can translate to the next level. His lack of athleticism and average arm makes his defensive fit at the hot corner iffy at times, but he makes enough plays to potentially stick there in pro ball.

 

In a draft full of uncertainty due to COVID-19, Binelas is viewed as one of the safer options in the class with his bat-first profile. He has plenty of tools across the board, and the D-backs could scoop him up if he’s available.

 

 MLB -   

 

7. Alex Binelas, 3B, Louisville

 

Another in an increasing number of top prospects coming out of the Wisconsin high school ranks, Binelas slammed 14 homers as a freshman but played just two games last spring before needing surgery to repair a broken hamate in his right hand. He rivals del Castillo as the best lefty power hitter in the college crop and has the strong arm needed for the hot corner, but there are some swing-and-miss concerns and his lack of quickness may push him to right field or first base.

 

 Baseball Prospect Journal -

 

8. Colorado Rockies: Alex Binelas, 3B, Louisville

 

Binelas, a Wisconsin native, missed most of the spring-shortened season due to a hamate injury. But when healthy, the third baseman has produced for the Cardinals. The left-handed hitter can drive the ball to all parts of the field. He is one of the best power hitters in the 2021 MLB draft class. He does feature some swing and miss in his game, but it’s hard to deny his potential at the plate as a power-hitting corner infielder.

 

Defensively, he has a strong and accurate arm that will give him a chance to stick at third base long-term.

 

As a freshman in 2019, Binelas hit .291 with 14 doubles, five triples, 14 home runs, and 59 RBIs in 243 plate appearances in 59 games.

 

Diamond Digest -   

 

19) Alex Binelas, 3B, Louisville

 

Binelas has an intriguing offensive profile, but his future defensive home is unclear at the moment. He had a great freshman season at Louisville, leading the Cardinals in home runs and slashing .291/.383/.612. His explosive hands and great torque enable him to generate exceptional bat speed, and he gets good natural lift on the ball, especially in his wheelhouse down and in. He does swing and miss at a concerning rate, and he struck out about 18% of the time at Louisville in 2019. He may be one of the more three true outcome-dependent players in the draft, though, as he has advanced plate discipline and draws a good share of walks. His ability to walk bumps up his hit tool to at least average, and he rounds out the exciting offensive profile with plus raw power and 18-22 homer potential. Defensively, I don’t think he is a third baseman. He is already a pretty big guy, and there is a good chance he outgrows the position. He does nothing spectacular defensively, and his footwork, hands, range, and arm tools are all average or slightly below. Bineals also doesn’t possess the ‘twitchy’ athleticism or body control to handle some of the more difficult plays a third baseman needs to make. His decent foot speed could make him a corner outfielder, but 1B seems more likely. Even if he has to play first base one day, Binelas still has the offensive profile to provide value as he tumbles down the positional spectrum.

 

Pitcher List -

 

9. Alex Binelas, 1B, University of Louisville

 

Alex Binelas absolutely tore the cover off the ball in his frosh season at Louisville to the tune of a .307/.651/1.047 line. I don’t care what conference you play in, 15 homers is elite as far as freshman power goes. A hand injury in 2020 really hindered his performance in non-conference play (just two games played). He’ll get a chance to right that ship in 2021. I’m thinking a 20 homer season isn’t out of the question because the power is legit.

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