Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 60 | Overall: 45

The son of legendary Cuban outfielder Victor Mesa, Victor Jr. topped Cuba's 18-and-under league in all three slash stats (.440/.560/.667) in his final season before defecting with his older brother Victor Victor in May 2018. They signed with the Marlins five months later, with Victor Victor ($5.25 million) getting the much larger bonus, but Victor Jr. ($1 million) emerging as the much better prospect. He spent 2023 in Double-A at age 21 and set a career high with 18 homers after going deep just 11 times in three previous pro seasons.

Mesa generates easy bat speed with his left-handed stroke, and while he's an aggressive hitter, he distributes the ball to all fields. He has good feel for the barrel but chases pitches so frequently that he may be an average hitter at best. He did a better job of tapping into his raw power last season after adding strength and could deliver 20 homers per year.

Mesa developed a high baseball IQ while growing up around the game and plays faster than his average speed on the bases and in center field. He stole a career-best 16 bases in 19 attempts last season and gets to balls in the outfield with quality reads and routes. He exhibits plus range with solid arm strength in center and easily can handle all three outfield spots.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45 

Mesa led Cuba's 18-and-under league in batting (.440), on-base percentage (.560) and slugging (.667) in his final season before defecting along with older brother Victor Victor in May 2018. The sons of legendary Cuban outfielder Victor Mesa, they signed with the Marlins five months later, with Victor Victor receiving $5.25 million and Victor Jr. getting $1 million. The latter has shown much more offensive promise while being consistently young for his leagues, playing in High-A and the Arizona Fall League last year at age 20.  

A left-handed hitter, Mesa has one of the sweetest swings and some of the best feel for the barrel among Miami farmhands. He controls the strike zone, uses the entire field and makes consistent contact, but he needs to add muscle so he can provide more impact. He'll probably always be a hit-over-power guy, but he could swat 15-20 homers per season if he gets stronger and drives balls in the air more regularly. 

Mesa's high baseball IQ helps him play quicker than his average speed. He runs the bases aggressively and uses good reads and routes to enhance his range in center field. He has a chance to stick in center, and his solid arm strength works anywhere in the outfield.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45 

Though older brother Victor Victor Mesa's $5.25 million bonus dwarfed his $1 million when they signed with the Marlins in 2018, Victor Jr. has far surpassed his sibling as a prospect. While Victor Victor is more athletic along the lines of their father, legendary Cuban outfielder Victor Mesa, Victor Jr. has the potential to make much more of an impact with the bat. He led Cuba's 18-and-under league in hitting (.440), on-base percentage (.560) and slugging (.667) in his final season before defecting in May 2018. He held his own as a 19-year-old in Low-A last season. 

A natural hitter, Mesa has one of the smoothest left-handed swings and some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the system. He makes consistent hard contact and controls the strike zone reasonably well, and the next step will be to get stronger so he can do more damage. He cleaned up his lower-half mechanics and began to turn on more pitches last season, and he could have 15- to 20-homer power if he can make some adjustments to drive balls in the air more regularly. 

Mesa plays faster than his average speed on the bases and in center field. His fine instincts give him a chance to remain in center, and his solid arm strength enables him to fit anywhere in the outfield. Besides his hitting ability, the Marlins also love his work ethic and high baseball IQ.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45 

When the sons of legendary Cuban outfielder Victor Mesa signed with Marlins in October 2018, their bonuses reflected the perception that Victor Victor ($5.25 million) was a far superior prospect to Victor Jr. ($1 million). But the younger Victor Jr. has eclipsed his more athletic brother thus far in pro ball, showing far more ability to make an impact at the plate. After batting .284/.366/.398 as a 17-year-old making his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019, he was one of the more impressive hitters at Miami's instructional league program last fall. 

Mesa topped Cuba's 18-and-under league in hitting (.440), on-base percentage (.560) and slugging (.667) in his final season before defecting in May 2018, and his advanced bat-to-ball skills immediately became apparent in the United States. A natural hitter with a fluid left-handed stroke, he has good feel for managing the strike zone and using the entire field. He doesn't have a ton of raw power but his ability to make hard contact should allow him to produce 15-20 homers annually once he adds strength and learns to drive more balls in the air. 

Mesa's high baseball IQ allows him to play quicker than his average speed on the bases and in the outfield. While he spent most of his debut in center field, he may not be quite fast enough to play there regularly at higher levels. He profiles better defensively as a right fielder with solid range and arm, and he should provide enough offense to fit a corner profile.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45 

When the sons of legendary Cuban center fielder Victor Mesa defected from the island in May 2018, Victor Victor was considered a superior prospect to Victor Jr. Their signing bonuses that October reflected that perception, with Victor Victor receiving $5.25 million and Victor Jr. getting $1 million, but the latter eclipsed his older and more athletic brother during their 2019 debuts. He batted .284/.366/.398 as a 17-year-old in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.

Mesa led Cuba's 18-and-under league in hitting (.440), on-base percentage (.560) and slugging (.667) in his final season before defecting, and his fluid left-handed swing and advanced bat-to-ball skills immediately translated to the United States. He works counts and manages the strike zone better than most teenagers. His feel for the barrel and ability to backspin balls has the Marlins believing he might develop average power as he gets stronger and drives the ball in the air more often.

Mesa has average speed and the instincts to play faster than that on the bases and in the outfield. He spent most of his pro debut in center field, though he probably lacks the quickness to play there regularly at the highest levels. He's more likely to wind up in right field, where he can be a solid defender with arm strength to match.

Awards

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2023
2021

SOU Player of the Week

Week	Team
05/14/2023

FSL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2021

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	10/01/2024	Miami Marlins recalled CF Victor Mesa Jr. from Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
	07/31/2024	Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp transferred OF Victor Mesa Jr. from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	07/31/2024	Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp transferred OF Victor Mesa Jr. from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	04/09/2024	Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp placed OF Victor Mesa Jr. on the 7-day injured list.
	04/09/2024	Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp activated OF Victor Mesa Jr. from the 7-day injured list.
	04/05/2024	Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp sent OF Victor Mesa Jr. on a rehab assignment to Jupiter Hammerheads.
	03/31/2024	Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp placed OF Victor Mesa Jr. on the 7-day injured list retroactive to March 29, 2024.
	03/11/2024	Miami Marlins optioned OF Victor Mesa Jr. to Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
	03/11/2024	Miami Marlins reassigned OF Victor Mesa Jr. to the minor leagues.
	03/07/2024	Miami Marlins Prospects activated OF Victor Mesa Jr..
	11/14/2023	Miami Marlins selected the contract of OF Victor Mesa Jr. from Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
	04/05/2023	OF Victor Mesa Jr. assigned to Pensacola Blue Wahoos from Beloit Sky Carp.
	04/05/2023	Pensacola Blue Wahoos activated OF Victor Mesa Jr..
	02/25/2023	OF Victor Mesa Jr. assigned to Miami Marlins.
	02/25/2023	OF Victor Mesa Jr. roster status changed by Miami Marlins.
	02/25/2023	OF Victor Mesa Jr. roster status changed by Miami Marlins.
	09/16/2022	Mesa Solar Sox activated OF Victor Mesa Jr..
	09/16/2022	Mesa Solar Sox activated OF Victor Mesa Jr..
	04/08/2022	OF Victor Mesa Jr. assigned to Beloit Sky Carp.
	03/26/2022	OF Victor Mesa Jr. and assigned to Miami Marlins.
	04/25/2021	Marlins Organization activated OF Victor Mesa Jr.. ABS test.
	02/12/2021	OF Victor Mesa Jr. assigned to Jupiter Hammerheads.
	02/12/2021	OF Victor Mesa Jr. assigned to Jupiter Hammerheads.
	02/12/2021	OF Victor Mesa Jr. assigned to Jupiter Hammerheads.
	02/12/2021	OF Victor Mesa Jr. and assigned to Jupiter Hammerheads.
	10/08/2019	OF Victor Mesa Jr. assigned to Clinton LumberKings.
	10/08/2019	OF Victor Mesa Jr. assigned to Clinton LumberKings from GCL Marlins.
	06/24/2019	OF Victor Mesa Jr. assigned to GCL Marlins.
	10/22/2018	Miami Marlins signed free agent OF Victor Mesa Jr. to a minor league contract.