Victor Prieto: The Gambler
Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2023 2:06 pm
The Charlotte Cougars made high schooler Victor Prieto their first pick in the 2054 amateur draft, the 19th pick over-all. Prieto comes from the High School All-Star team the MGM Gamblers. This may seem an odd and borderline inappropriate name and team sponsorship arrangement for a group of minors, to be affiliated with a gambling entity, but Prieto has hit the jackpot and the Cougars front office hopes they don't lose on the flop.
Prieto is a 16 year old catching prospect on whom Cougars management has gambled big-time (we promise, the gambling jokes are NEARLY over). Cougars GM Seth Moland-Kovash was willing to take the leap on Prieto after meeting the young man and spending time with him away from the field. "His work ethic is off the charts," Moland-Kovash said. "He knows he's got a tough road ahead of him. Getting drafted isn't the end goal of a young baseball players life and he knows it. He knows that now the real work begins." Growing up in the Bronx, Prieto has not had everything handed to him on a silver platter. He's had to work and prove himself at each step of the process and is ready to do more.
Prieto projects out to be a good (not great) offensive catcher. He has particularly shown the ability to control the strike zone and avoid those costly wild swings at strike 3 out of the zone. His catching could use a little work, especially his control of the opponent's running game. If that doesn't work out, there would definitely be a spot for Prieto at first base or DH, somewhere lower down the defensive spectrum.
The remaining question is about whether Prieto will sign with the Cougars. Victor could opt to go to college instead. He's been scouted by some college teams but let's just say that academics does not seem to be the highest priority for him. He was cagey when asked by this reporter whether he'd be signing, but you can be sure that Moland-Kovash will push all his chips in in an attempt to sign the young catcher.
Prieto is a 16 year old catching prospect on whom Cougars management has gambled big-time (we promise, the gambling jokes are NEARLY over). Cougars GM Seth Moland-Kovash was willing to take the leap on Prieto after meeting the young man and spending time with him away from the field. "His work ethic is off the charts," Moland-Kovash said. "He knows he's got a tough road ahead of him. Getting drafted isn't the end goal of a young baseball players life and he knows it. He knows that now the real work begins." Growing up in the Bronx, Prieto has not had everything handed to him on a silver platter. He's had to work and prove himself at each step of the process and is ready to do more.
Prieto projects out to be a good (not great) offensive catcher. He has particularly shown the ability to control the strike zone and avoid those costly wild swings at strike 3 out of the zone. His catching could use a little work, especially his control of the opponent's running game. If that doesn't work out, there would definitely be a spot for Prieto at first base or DH, somewhere lower down the defensive spectrum.
The remaining question is about whether Prieto will sign with the Cougars. Victor could opt to go to college instead. He's been scouted by some college teams but let's just say that academics does not seem to be the highest priority for him. He was cagey when asked by this reporter whether he'd be signing, but you can be sure that Moland-Kovash will push all his chips in in an attempt to sign the young catcher.