The Giants dominated the international market in the 1950s but have had little success since, with Pablo Sandoval and Camilo Doval their only homegrown All-Stars to come from that source in the last 60-plus years. They have hopes that Luciano will herald a reversal in fortune after signing for $2.6 million as the top middle infielder in the 2018 crop. Despite losing 2020 to the pandemic and dealing with back issues in '22 and '23, the Dominican native needed just 280 games in the Minors before making his big league debut at age 21 last July.
Few players have more bat speed than Luciano, whose electric right-handed stroke produces huge exit velocities and plus-plus raw power to all fields. He'll use the entire field and work his share of walks, but he's also an extremely aggressive hitter whose plate discipline has wavered as he has rushed through the Minors. He pummeled lefties but struggled against breaking balls from righties last season, and he also had difficulty avoiding chasing changeups out of the strike zone.
Though San Francisco is counting on Luciano to win its shortstop job in 2024, most evaluators outside the organization think he's better suited for third base or right field. He has solid arm strength but just fringy speed and range at short, where he's a bit error-prone and an average defender at best. But if his power translates as expected, he'll be a star no matter where he plays.
The top middle infielder available in the 2018 international class, Luciano has demonstrated electric power since signing for $2.6 million out of the Dominican Republic. Perennially one of the youngest players in his leagues, Luciano has looked raw at times against older pitching but the only thing that really has slowed him was a back injury that limited him to 57 full-season games in 2022. He still posted a .798 OPS with 10 homers as a 20-year-old in High-A.
Luciano's most notable asset is his lightning-fast bat speed from the right side of the plate, which produces plus-plus raw power to all fields. While he looks to do damage and can get overly aggressive, he does use the entire field and will accept walks when pitchers decline to challenge him. He'll always be a power-over-hit guy but his natural ability and aptitude for making adjustments could mean that he's a .270 hitter with 35 homers per season.
Though Luciano has a strong arm and a high baseball IQ, most scouts outside the organization believe he'll have to move off shortstop. He has fringy speed and range that are better suited for third base or right field, where he could be a solid defender. His offensive game will profile at any position.
The top-rated middle infielder in the 2018 international crop, Luciano signed for $2.6 million out of the Dominican Republic. He reached the short-season Northwest League as a 17-year-old in his 2019 pro debut, then jumped to full-season ball last year and matched his age with 19 homers between Low-A and High-A. He scuffled against more advanced pitching as the youngest player in the Arizona Fall League, though his huge raw power was still apparent.
Luciano generates electric bat speed from the right side of the plate and excels at hitting the ball hard and in the air. He does a nice job of using the opposite field and will take his share of walks, but he also can get overly aggressive at times and get himself out by chasing pitches. Though he'll always be a power-over-hit guy, he has enough natural ability to hit for a solid average once he matures.
Despite plus arm strength and a high baseball IQ, Luciano probably won't stay at shortstop. The Giants will give him every chance to do so, but his speed and range are fringy. The good news is that he has the tools to play a solid third base or right field and the bat to be a superstar at either position.
Following two years of international spending restrictions after signing Lucius Fox for $6 million in 2015, the Giants came out of the penalty box and were able to land Luciano for $2.6 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2018. The top-rated middle infielder in that year's international class, he came straight to the United States for his pro debut in 2019 and batted .302/.417/.564 while reaching the short-season Northwest League at age 17. He spent last year getting exposed to much more experienced pitching at San Francisco's alternate training site and getting more reps in instructional league.
Luciano's bat speed and raw power rank among the best in the Minors and stand out in particular for a middle infielder. He has a lightning-fast right-handed stroke with loft and his strength continues to increase as he fills out his 6-foot-2 frame. He also has the hitting ability to get the most out of his pop, already showing a willingness to use the entire field and take walks when opponents pitch around him.
In addition to his offensive promise, Luciano also offers plus arm strength, a high baseball IQ and good actions at shortstop. There's still some question as to whether he can remain at short because he has fringy speed and could lose a step as he gets more physical, but the worst-case scenario is that he shifts to third base or right field. He has the tools to be a solid defender at either spot and his bat makes him a potential superstar anywhere he plays.
The Giants haven't signed a homegrown international All-Star since Pablo Sandoval in 2003, but Luciano looks poised to end that drought. After two years of financial restrictions that stemmed from signing Lucius Fox for $6 million in 2015, they had the freedom to spend $2.6 million to land Luciano out of the Dominican Republic in 2018. The top-rated middle infielder in that year's international class, he began his pro debut last summer by posting a 1.055 OPS in the Rookie-level Arizona League and ended it as the youngest position player (age 17) in the short-season Northwest League.
Luciano might have more raw power than any infielder in the Minors, the product of crazy bat speed, surprising strength for his wiry build and loft in his right-handed swing. He already has a promising approach at a young age, displaying a willingness to use the entire field and take walks when pitchers are loathe to challenge him. His career is just starting and he's a long way from reaching his ceiling, but he offers the upside of hitting .300 with 40 homers on an annual basis.
Though Luciano has a plus arm, a high baseball IQ and some quick-twitch athleticism, scouts are split on whether he'll be able to remain at shortstop. He's already a fringy runner and could slow down further as he adds strength, which could necessitate a move to third base or right field. His offensive prowess should make him a star at any position.
After signing Bahamian shortstop Lucius Fox for $6 million in 2015, the Giants were restricted to paying international bonuses of no more than $300,000 in the next two years. Out of the penalty box in 2018, they spent $2.6 million to land Luciano, the top-rated middle-infield prospect on the international market. They haven't signed a homegrown international All-Star since Pablo Sandoval in 2003 and believe Luciano could end that drought.
Some scouts considered Luciano the best all-around hitter in the 2018 international crop and the Dominican has shown why while making his U.S. debut at age 17 this year. He has exceptional bat speed from the right side of the plate and already has surprising strength in a wiry frame that has plenty of room to add more muscle. He has a mature approach, keeping his swing compact and using the entire field rather than worrying about home runs.
Luciano is a quick-twitch athlete with present above-average speed. He may slow down a bit as he matures physically, which leads to some questions as to whether he'll outgrow shortstop. He definitely has the plus arm for that position, and more than enough offensive upside to still be a star if he has to shift to third base or right field.
After being limited to a maximum $300,000 on the international market the previous two years because they exceeded their bonus pool when they signed Bahamian shortstop Lucius Fox for $6 million in 2015, the Giants came out of the penalty box this summer. They used that freedom and $2.6 million to sign Luciano, MLB Pipeline's No. 2-ranked international prospect for 2018-19. San Francisco's recent big-ticket international signings haven't paid off, but club officials believe he'll change that trend.
Scouts considered Luciano the best all-around hitter in the 2018 international crop. A Dominican, he has lightning bat speed and surprising strength in a wiry frame that has room to add more muscle. Luciano does a nice job of letting his power come naturally, employing a compact right-handed stroke and using the entire field rather than swinging for the fences.
Luciano offers more than just a bat. He's a quick-twitch athlete with plus arm strength, giving him a chance to remain at shortstop. If Luciano outgrows the position and loses a half-step as he fills out, he still would profile well at third base or in right field.
These run values are leveraged, meaning the base/out situation at the time of the event does impact the run value (thus introducing context outside the batter's own contribution).
Note: xHR tells how many of this player's home runs would have been out of other stadiums. The "Adjusted" view here accounts for different wall heights, distances and environmental effects using Statcast Park Factor data.
Standard
Year
HR
2023
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2024
0
1
0
3
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Player
0
1
0
4
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Note: xHR tells how many of this player's home runs would have been out of other stadiums. The "Standard" view here accounts for different wall heights and distances but excludes environmental effects. It is based purely on the observed trajectory of the hit.
! Note: Shifts are through the 2022 season, Shaded starting from the 2023 season, Shift: three or more infielders are on the same side of second base, Shade: positioned outside of their typical responsible slices of the field. Learn more about how positioning is defined here
