Eyewitness Accounts: September 1, 2016

A Colombian international signee acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade, Alfaro is a five-tool catching prospect with plus-plus arm strength. The hit tool shows average potential despite an aggressive, swing-heavy approach with a high propensity for swing-and-miss. He offsets those vulnerabilities with the ability to make hard contact, use the middle and opposite side of the field, and scratch out infield hits with his speed. Above-average raw strength and the ability to create hard contact should result in average power output, while his tendency to produce lower-trajectory hits could result in more doubles than home runs. The strength is there to leave the yard, however. He's a max-effort runner up the line and will show present plus speed, though the demands of the position are likely to diminish that.

Alfaro is a solid receiver behind the plate, though he'll get too comfortable at times and stab at balls rather than use his athleticism. Plus-plus arm strength helps to combat the running game. Has the offensive tool set to be more than just a catch and throw receiver, with the overall ability to develop into an above-average catcher.

Works hard during infield/outfield, confident player

Diaz profiles as a selective hitter who has plus zone command and bat-to-ball skills. He has moderate strength in his swing and will hit for power and average at the highest level. There is a high amount of risk with the player, as he has a considerable amount of swing-and-miss to his offense-reliant game. He is not a special defender, though he shows a steady glove and he has the bat to carry him to a plus profile.

Intense players, some demonstrable grumpiness on the field, let bad swings/calls bleed into remainder of multiple at-bats; team-sanctioned suspension for "prank" with a knife that injured a teammate at Low-A earlier this season

Drafted 12th overall out of high school in Canada by the Marlins in 2015, traded to San Diego in the Andrew Cashner deal this summer. Naylor's body is mature and the frame is pretty well maxed out for a 19-year-old. His physique is one that will carry ample maintenance weight throughout its middle, though he shows impressive present agility and some explosiveness to his actions. He's a hyper-aggressive hitter whose quality barrel control and plus bat speed have hindered him in developing much of an approach to date. A good portion of his plus raw power should play in the form of hard line-drive contact and carry to the pull side, though the approach will limit the game utility enough to where it's like to wind up short of a true impact bat.

He's not a base-clogger, but the speed is decidedly below-average and likely to peter out quickly. It's a first base-only profile, and while he is quite raw at present his actions suggest potential to develop into a won't-hurt-you defender there. The tools to become a solid big-league hitter are here, though this is a higher risk prospect due to proximity and a bat-first profile that will require his hit tool max out in spite of the approach.