infielders
Guillermo Quintana
#6
Quintana is a rare breed. A player with a lot of pop who does not strike out a lot. Because the Royals’ catching room is loaded, particularly in the lower levels, he’s making the transition on the infield dirt at first base this year, but in a pinch, he could catch four games per week if needed. In 2021, he excelled at beating starters, averaging .444 against the first man out and because of those hot starts to games, he was named the 2021 ACL Royals Player of the Year.
Josh Rivera #1
Rivera has one of the more interesting paths to make it to Columbia. He was originally signed by the White Sox, but was cut without playing a full season due to the Minor League team contraction. He got a second chance with Chicago’s division-rival, Kansas City. In 15 games through July and August last year, he crushed the ball, slashing .364/.447/.758 in the ACL. His ISO was .394 in that stretch. If Rivera can consistently put it together, he could be a dangerous middle infielder for years to come.
Enrique Valdez #8
The Fireflies got to see a bit of Enrique last season, and he really started to put things together at the end of the year. He finished a career-high five-game hitting streak on the penultimate game of the season. All five of his career homers were hit after July 2021 when he unlocked a new power stroke. His continued growth and move to the hot corner could provide him a lot of upside for the future.
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