Compared to Gleyber Torres when he signed with the Rangers for $1.65 million out of Venezuela in 2019, Acosta had the pandemic delay his debut until 2021, when an ankle injury and thoracic outlet syndrome limited him to 17 games and the latter ailment required surgery. He didn't hit much in the next two seasons before rebounding to slash .288/.353/.425 in Double-A at age 21 last year, then continued to play well in the Arizona Fall League. The Marlins acquired him along with two other prospects in a trade for Jake Burger at the Winter Meetings in December.
Doing a better job of managing the strike zone translated into more consistent contact for the righty-hitting Acosta in 2024. Though he has enough bat speed and strength to dream of 20-homer power, he doesn't hit balls especially hard or launch them in the air consistently. His offensive game centers around his ability to hit for average because he probably won't provide more than 10-12 homers annually and his bat-to-ball skills cut into his walk totals.
Acosta has gained 15-20 pounds of muscle since turning pro, costing him some speed and making him more of an average runner, though he's still an effective basestealer. His quick hands and solid arm work at shortstop, but his fringy range limits his value there. His tools fit better at second base, and he projects as more of a utilityman than a regular in the Majors.
Acosta received Gleyber Torres comparisons when he signed with the Rangers for $1.65 million out of Venezuela in 2019, but his career got off to a slow start. The pandemic delayed his pro debut until 2021, when an ankle injury and thoracic outlet syndrome limited him to 17 games and the latter condition required surgery, and he didn't produce much at the plate in the following two seasons. After he rebounded in Double-A and the Arizona Fall League in 2024, the Marlins acquired him, fellow middle infielder Echedry Vargas and left-hander Brayan Mendoza in a trade for Jake Burger at the Winter Meetings in December.
Acosta did a better job of managing the strike zone last season, making more consistent contact than ever from the right side of the plate. He has enough bat speed and strength to create hope for 20-homer power, but he doesn't hit balls especially hard or drive them in the air on a regular basis. Most of his offensive value will come from his ability to hit for average, because he'll probably top out at 10-12 homers per season and his bat-to-ball skills cut into his walk totals.
After adding 15-20 pounds of muscle since turning pro, Acosta has lost a bit of speed and is now more of an average runner, albeit still an effective basestealer. He has good hands and solid arm strength at shortstop, but his range is fringy there. He's better suited for second base and destined more for a utility role than everyday play in the big leagues.
When the Rangers signed Acosta for $1.65 million out of Venezuela in 2019, his combination of tools and skills prompted Gleyber Torres comparisons. But the pandemic delayed his pro debut until 2021, when an ankle injury and thoracic outlet syndrome limited him to 17 games and the latter condition required surgery in August. When he finally got to play a full and healthy season in 2022, he batted .262/.341/.361 in Single-A.
Acosta recognizes pitches and manages the strike zone better than most youngsters, but he's not very dynamic at the plate. He makes regular contact with his quick right-handed swing and fine hand-eye coordination, but he doesn't hit the ball especially hard or drive it in the air consistently. He needs to be more selective about the pitches he puts in play but even then might max out at 10-12 homers per season.
Acosta has gained 15-20 pounds since turning pro and the added strength has resulted in less speed, as he's now more of an average runner. He does have good instincts on the bases, swiping 44 bags in 61 tries last year, and in the field, he displays average range and arm strength at shortstop. He needs more dependability on routine plays and looks more reliable and rangy at second base.
After signing Acosta for $1.65 million out of Venezuela in 2019, the Rangers looked forward to seeing how his mix of tools and skills would play out on the diamond. They still haven't learned much because he had his 2020 season wiped out by the pandemic and his 2021 debut limited to 17 games by an ankle injury and thoracic outlet syndrome. He tried to play through the latter ailment without telling the club, and it affected his swing and required surgery in August.
An advanced hitter for a teenager, Acosta already recognizes pitches, manages the strike zone and uses the entire field. He has a quick right-handed stroke and impressive hand-eye coordination. He has added 15 pounds since turning pro and could produce 20 or more homers per season once he learns to turn on more pitches and drive them in the air.
Acosta's stocky build and hitting ability garner him comparisons to Gleyber Torres, though he should be a better defender. While he has lost some quickness as he has added muscle, he still has a chance to remain at shortstop thanks to his strong arm and fine instincts. He's an average to solid runner who's aggressive on the bases.
Acosta drew comparisons as an amateur to fellow Venezuelan Gleyber Torres because of his mix of tools and skills, which earned him a $1.65 million bonus in 2019. One of the most advanced hitters in that year's international crop, he would have made his U.S. debut at age 17 last year if the coronavirus pandemic hadn't wiped out the Minor League season. His development was limited to instructional league, where he was the youngest player in Rangers camp.
Extremely mature at the plate for a teenager, Acosta recognizes pitches and manages the strike zone well, stays inside the ball with a quick right-handed swing and utilizes the entire field. While he currently focuses on drilling line drives from gap to gap, he has the hitting ability, bat speed and projectable strength to develop at least average power. He already has added 15 pounds since turning pro.
A plus runner when he signed, Acosta has lost a half-step as he has added muscle. He still has the quickness to play shortstop, where his instincts enhance his range. He has a strong arm and could play all over the infield and probably the outfield if needed.
Though his $1.65 million signing bonus ranked just 16th among international players in the 2019 crop, Acosta already is being hailed as one of the very best prospects in his class. Dominican outfielder Bayron Lora signed with the Rangers for $3.9 million and has huge power potential, but the consensus inside and outside the organization is that Acosta is the superior talent. He earned Gleyber Torres comparisons as an amateur in Venezuela because of his mix of tools and advanced skills, which should enable him to make his pro debut in the United States this year.
Very advanced at the plate for his age, Acosta recognizes pitches well, stays inside the ball with a quick right-handed stroke and uses the entire field. His current approach focuses on producing line drives, but he has the bat speed, projectable strength and ability to put the barrel on the ball to develop perhaps plus power. Presently a plus runner, he offers at least 20-20 potential.
Acosta's quickness, arm strength and instincts should allow him to make an impact defensively as well. His offensive upside would allow him to profile well at several positions, but there's no reason to think he won't stay at shortstop. Club officials praise his makeup as much as his physical ability.
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 batted balls 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.
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HR
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3
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1
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1
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4
3
4
3
4
4
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3
0
0
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4
3
Player
3
4
4
2
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3
0
1
2
1
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
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4
3
3
0
0
4
4
3
Note: xHR tells how many of this player's batted balls 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
