8. MARCK MALAVE, C
VENEZUELA
B-T: B-R Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 200
Malave drew widespread notice in October 2008, when he was the youngest player on Venezuela's 14-and-under-team as a 13-year-old along at the COPABE Pan American championship, where he was teammates with righthander Victor Sanchez and 2010 signings Adonys Cardona (Blue Jays) and Rougned Odor (Rangers). Malave batted .467 (7-for-15) with a homer, two doubles and a walk in the tournament, spending time as a catcher and an infielder. Now 16, Malave trains with Ciro Barrios as a full-time catcher.
Malave's arm might be his best tool. He has a short arm stroke and delivers plus throws consistently with great carry. Scouts who like Malave see him as a catcher who can hit from both sides of the plate, but not everyone is sold on his bat. He's a better hitter from the right side, with questions about his bat speed from both sides of the plate, as the ball jumps off his bat due to his strength rather than his bat speed. He'll have to make mechanical adjustments in pro ball. Malave is strong, but his thick, boxy body raises questions about his projection and isn't the athletic frame that many scouts look for in young catchers. His below-average speed wouldn't an issue as a catcher, but his lack of athleticism and experience are evident in his receiving, so he's not a lock to stick behind the plate. Malave was connected to the Reds, who have signed a slew of Barrios' players, but now most international sources believe Malave will end up with the Cubs.
!
