Christian Arroyo

Arroyo's "what did you do last summer" report would include watching a lot of games from the bench, getting designated for assignment twice, spending time on the COVID-19 list while he cleared intake protocol and impressing his new employer down the stretch to the point there's a good chance they'll want him back next summer (and spring). Arroyo started the season with Cleveland but didn't get any playing before being waived and claimed by Boston. The Red Sox played him almost every day the final three weeks and Arroyo responded with a career-best .736 OPS and solid defense at the keystone. He has prospect pedigree, but it's mostly as a slick fielder with a good hit tool but little power or speed. Those hoping for a Gio Urshela-like breakout will be disappointed, but Arroyo can still have a career as a utility infielder if he can return to the high-contact ways displayed early in his development.

Arroyo is now with his third club in three years, and is out of options, so will have to make the roster in order to keep his job. Ironically, he's in the spot that Gio Urshela once owned in Cleveland until he was sent away because he was more glove than bat. Arroyo is a former top-100 real-life prospect with a good hit tool and enough arm to handle shortstop and third base, but has done very little at the major-league level. Last season was a lost year, as Arroyo missed a significant chunk of time with an elbow injury. He was having a big year at the plate in Durham with the livelier baseball before the injury shut ended his season. The Rays shipped him to Cleveland near the deadline for international signing money and a minor-league outfielder. Arroyo would serve as a backup infielder, and could occupy the short side of a second-base platoon with Mike Freeman if the Indians do not upgrade that position.

Arroyo was acquired by the Rays prior to the 2018 season in the deal that sent Evan Longoria to the Giants. His first year with Tampa Bay was derailed by heath issues, as Arroyo appeared in just 68 games between the majors and minors due to a trio of injuries (calf and oblique strains followed by a concussion). While Arroyo was better than league average at the dish during his brief stint with the big club (106 wRC+), slashing .264/.339/.396 in 20 games, he struck out in an unsightly 27.1% of his plate appearances and benefited from a .361 BABIP, so it's difficult to read too much into the small-sample success. He struggled to a .235/.286/.341 line in 46 games with Triple-A Durham. Seeing as the Rays have better internal options across the infield, Arroyo seems likely to open the year back on the farm or in a utility role. Even if injuries pave the way to regular playing time, he doesn't offer any noteworthy speed or pop.

Arroyo was the best prospect the Rays could get back in an Evan Longoria trade, even with Tampa Bay taking back Denard Span's dead money and covering some of the remaining dollars on Longoria's deal. That's not to say Arroyo doesn't bring anything to the table, it's just that Longoria's bad contract prevented the Rays from getting a fair talent-for-talent package. The 22-year-old infielder is best suited for second base or third base, even though his bat is a little light for both positions. He may have a plus hit tool, but he is a below-average runner and has below-average power. Arroyo was incredibly lucky at Triple-A (.427 BABIP) and similarly unlucky in the majors (.231 BABIP), so it's hard to read too much into his statistical lines at either stop. He appears poised to compete for the second base job in spring training, as the Rays have better internal options at shortstop and third base. Given his limited upside, he should go undrafted in most mixed leagues.

Arroyo, one of the Giants' top prospects, had a down year with Double-A Richmond in 2016. To be fair, the reduced production may be a byproduct of the poor hitting conditions in Richmond -- Arroyo had a dramatic home and road splits (.224/.278/.294 at home compared to .315/.348/.438 on the road). The Giants continued to keep him primarily at shortstop despite the team's glaring need for a third baseman. Arroyo will likely transition more to third base in 2017 in order to prep for his eventual call to the majors. While Arroyo probably won't provide enough in the power department to warrant immediate fantasy consideration at third base, his contact skills alone could eventually thrust Arroyo into NL-only prominence.

The 2013 first-rounder had his best season in the minors this past year, slashing .304/.344/.459 in 409 plate appearances with High-A San Jose. Arroyo — who was drafted out of high school — continues to steadily improve, adding power (which carried over to the Arizona Fall League) while maintaining a strikeout rate under 18 percent. He should make the jump to Double-A Richmond or even Triple-A Sacramento in 2016. With the Giants being set at shortstop and second base at the major league level, it may be tempting to downgrade Arroyo out of fear that he will be blocked when he is ready, but he is still too far for dynasty league owners to think like that. He lacks the superstar offensive ceiling of some of the more highly touted minor league shortstops, but there is value in a player with Arroyo's relatively high floor.

The Giants selected Arroyo with the 25th pick of the 2013 draft and he went on to excel in the rookie league, winning the league MVP award to the tune of a .326/.388/.511 line in 209 plate appearances. The Giants received a bit of criticism for taking Arroyo a round or two before he was projected to go, but the team saw something in the 18-year-old that others did not. Despite his young age, Arroyo brings a mature approach to the plate; he doesn't try to do more than is asked of him, and that mindset has made him a difficult out in his early years. He has a level swing with gap power, but doesn't project to be a legitimate basestealer in the majors. Arroyo is still a few years away from sniffing the majors, but he is definitely a prospect to consider or at least track in dynasty leagues for 2014.