Scouting Report

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

What Guanipa lacks in size he more than makes up for in ability and instincts.

He has a strong frame and a mature body that gives him a physical presence despite being only 5-foot-9. He also plays big.

Guanipa is aggressive at the plate and swings with intent to do damage. He has shown plus bat speed and the ability to drive the ball to the gaps. He should hit for average and his raw power is emerging. On defense, he displays plus instincts in the outfield. Combine his natural abilities with average to solid-average run times, and he should stay in center field.

Guanipa trains with Omar Alvarez and Johan Hidalgo. The Braves have shown interest in him.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 65 | Arm: 45 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Since the Braves got out of the penalty box for international signing violations, they have not hesitated to go after high-end talent who commanded large bonuses. In 2021, that was Ambioris Tavarez. In 2022, Diego Benitez and Douglas Glod got seven-figure deals. When the 2023 signing period opened in January, the Braves targeted Guanipa, who was in the middle of MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 international prospects list and signed him for $2.5 million. He showed off his considerable tools, and his rawness, during his Dominican Summer League debut after signing.

Guanipa plays bigger than his listed height of 5-foot-11. The Venezuelan outfielder has impressive bat speed and the ball can jump off his bat. He doesn’t get cheated at the plate and there’s plenty of raw power for him to continue to tap into as he matures, with the ability to drive the ball to all fields, though while he draws walks he will have to learn to refine his approach.

A plus runner who has good defensive instincts, Guanipa should continue to be a threat on the basepaths after swiping 20 bags in the DSL a year ago while being able to stick in center field for a long time. The Braves are excited to see what he can do stateside for the first time.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 65 | Arm: 45 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

The Braves are active players on the international market, giving a seven-figure bonus to Ambioris Tavarez in January 2021 and handing out a pair of seven-figure bonuses to Diego Benitez and Douglas Glod a year later. The top acquisition from the most recent international class is Guanipa, a toolsy Venezeulan outfielder who trained with Omar Alvarez and Johan Hidalgo. Guanipa’s potential of power and speed had him ranked among the best outfielders in the 2023 international signing class. The Braves certainly thought so, signing him for $2.5 million when the period opened in mid-January.

While Guanipa is undersized, listed at 5-foot-11, he’s the kind of prospect who plays “big.” A lot of that assessment comes from his plus bat speed and how the ball jumps off his bat. He can drive the ball to the gaps now and has raw power that will certainly develop, with the ability to hit the ball to all fields. 

He’s also a plus runner, one who has excellent instincts defensively. That should allow him to stay in center field for a long time. There’s a lot to dream on here, with the hope that he can develop into a dynamic up-the-middle player who can both run and rake.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/29/2024	Augusta GreenJackets activated OF Luis Guanipa from the 7-day injured list.
	08/21/2024	Augusta GreenJackets placed OF Luis Guanipa on the 7-day injured list.
	07/19/2024	OF Luis Guanipa assigned to Augusta GreenJackets from FCL Braves.
	07/19/2024	OF Luis Guanipa assigned to Augusta GreenJackets from FCL Braves.
	05/03/2024	OF Luis Guanipa assigned to FCL Braves from DSL Braves.
	03/25/2024	OF Luis Guanipa assigned to Atlanta Braves.
	03/07/2024	Atlanta Braves Prospects activated OF Luis Guanipa.
	02/07/2023	OF Luis Guanipa assigned to DSL Braves.
	01/15/2023	Atlanta Braves signed free agent OF Luis Guanipa to a minor league contract.