Jean Segura, SS Los Angeles Angels
3/17/1990
Height: 5’10″ Weight: 185
Jean Segura was signed as an International Free Agent in 2007 out of the Dominican Republic. Since that time he’s hit and stolen bases in between breaking his ankle in 2008 and fracturing a finger in 2009. But he has hit, and in 2010 he broke out on the prospect ranks as a dynamic middle infielderwhile playing 2B for the Angels affiliate in Cedar Rapids of the Midwest League.
Segura put up a .313 AVG with an IsoP of .151 powered by 24 doubles, 12 triples and 10 HR while stealing an elite level 50 bases.
After that outburst, not only was Segura on the radar, he was high on our Top 100 Prospect List checking in at #26 overall:
Jean Segura, SS Angels
26. Jean Segura SS LAA – Came up as a 2B in the Angels system and has possibly the best hit tool in all of the minors. The question at this point isn’t if he’ll hit, it’s how much power and speed will he really have. He’s an above average defender and since the Angels are set at 2B with Kendrick and also have Amarista as a back up there, Segura has been tested at SS and seems like he could be above average there. He should be a .300+ hitter with above average speed capable of 30+ SB seasons and some decent power. He could be special.
Well, in 2011 we got a little confirmation of Segura’s ability. But it was only a brief glimpse as he was hampered by a hanstring injury early and then brought back too quickly before ultimately injuring the same hanstring further. He missed a total of more than 2 months of the season. He is still the same prospect and has been named to the Arizona Fall League.
Let’s take a look at his Hit and Catch tools and see what made Segura such a heralded prospect headed into the season.
The Bat
Segura has good bat speed and uses the entire field when he hits. His bat speed is good enough that he already has average power despite a smaller frame and his power could come on stronger as he gets older. His best tool is his contact ability at this point and he makes hard contact. During his healthy stretches he’s managed a 6.2, 12.4 and 13.3 strikeout percentages. Those are elite level numbers. With that said his walk rates are low for the type of hitter that he is.
As he moves up the ladder his contact ability will begin to be negated by better pitchers and he will need to adjust by working better counts and taking walks to utilize his speed.
Segura is a solid framed player, especially in his lower half. But he’s able to produce well above average speed on the basepaths. He was able to steal 50 bases in 130 games in 2010 and in limited action this year he stole another 18 in just 44 games.
The Glove
Even though he has thick legs, Segura is still an agile middle infielder and the Angels decided in 2011 to test him once again at SS to see if they could find their next major league starter at the position.
Segura has the arm and the glove to stick at SS long term and with Kendrick in Anaheim it’s his clearest path to the majors.
Our Instinct
With a virtually lost season in 2011 it will be difficult to judge Segura’s spot in prospect rankings. But in the long run the lost season isn’t that much of an issue. The Angels are testing him in the AFL and if he produces there at a high level he could start 2012 in Double-A. If not, he will repeat High-A, where I would expect him to dominate for a half season before making his Double-A debut.
His ETA is probably 2013 where I think his tools will allow him to be successful enough to stick. But I also expect growing pains in the strikeout category as he learns how to work his way into the 2 hole for the Angels. If he can bring his walk rate up to an average level he has the ability to be a .300 hitter with a high on base percentage and solid SB numbers. His power will never be more than average, so 10-15 HR would be where he tops out.
He should be able to make his way to Anaheim as their starting SS and team with Howie Kendrick for a couple of years. Over the longer term I still think the Segura will be the player that replaces Kendrick should he leave via free agency in the future. That’s simply because Segura is not a classic SS, but fits well there with the Angels based on need. Upside: .300/20/ 30 SB SS. Downside: Utility IF with .280/10/30 potential. Either way, he’s an exciting prospect. Now if he can just stay healthy to polish his game.
Check back soon as we profile many more Top MLB Prospects and also get our baseball geek on and take a look at some of the later draft picks from the 2011 draft that we think could be big names on the prospect radars in the near future. While you’re here, take a look at our on going series Touch’em All | Appalachian League and be a step ahead of the game. Thanks for checking Baseball Instinct. We’re working hard to bring you the best of the minor leagues and make the site the best experience it can be. So don’t hesitate to tell us what you would like to read about. Email us now at mailbag@baseballinstinct.com.
