2024 Cleveland Guardians Prospect Scouting Report: #19 INF Welbyn Francisca

Will Francisca work as a hit over power infield prospect?

Justin Lada

Mar 24, 2024

Welbyn Francisca Bio

Age (2024 season): 18
Acquired: International Free Agent (2023)
2023 Level: DSL Rookie League
Height: 5’8
Weight: 148
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right

Welbyn Francisca Stats

PA: 179
AVG/OBP/SLG: .316/.419/.500
2B: 7
HR: 3
SB: 11/18
K%/BB%: 19.6%/13.4%

Welbyn Francisca 2024 Scouting Grades

Hit: 60
Power: 45
Speed: 55
Defense: 50
Arm: 50
Overall: 40
Risk: High
ETA: 2027

Build & Background

Compact, athletic middle infielders build. Moderate projectable to add strength to frame. Strong hands. Wide open stance. Leg kick is mostly inwards to the plate with short landing forward. Whippy like, quick swing. Signed for $1.375M out of the Dominican Republic.

What Francisca Does Well

Given that Francisca hasn’t played any stateside ball yet, I don’t have much, but off reports I’ve heard from people who I trust, this has the potential to be a special, bat-driven profile. Plenty of quick whip and bat speed in the swing. Looks to have strong hands and can get to the ball with some poolside pop. It might be hit over power profile as the Guardians tend to collect, but it shouldn’t be empty contact. Looks to be an athletic mover on the run and in the field.

https://x.com/JL_Baseball/status/1665836159950258181?s=20

Where Francisca Needs to Improve

With his frame, whatever growth he has might still lead to gap power mostly. Most see a future move to second base but should still be an athletic infielder. Runs well but needs to learn more about reading pickoff moves and being smarter on the bases. Arm profiles as average. More pressure on the bat i he moves to second.

Key Stats

All data from this level should not be taken seriously. But as far as data goes, I’d like to see if he can keep up the 53% pull rate and 30.4%/36.5%/33% line drive, fly ball, ground ball rate that was pretty evenly distributed.

Intangibles

Hard to know much about Francisca given his age and no full season experience. But Cleveland usually vets these players pretty well for character and work ethic.

Future

Really hard to project the long term future for Francisa at this point. All signs so far would point to a bat driven second baseman with athletic defensive skills. He’ll spend all of 2024 in the ACL likely.

Role

40 - Hit over power infield with heavy reliance on his bat as a prospect. Good upside, high bust rate at this point.