Jermaine Palacios
DOB: 7-19-96, in Barquisimeto, VE
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 145
Position: SS, IF, OF
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
 

2014 statistics:

DSL:

225 PA, .270/.404/.399 (.804), 11 doubles, six triples, 35 walks, 37 strikeouts, 14 steals, and three times caught stealing

 

2015 statistics:
GCL:

106 PA, .421/.472/.589 (1.061), nine doubles, two triples, one homer, nine walks, 11 strikeouts, four steals, two times caught stealing

 

ELZ:
 

15 PA and a 1.467 OPS. He has two homers already.

 

Here is a game story featuring him:

http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/article/128374/palacios-powers-twins-past-royals

 

Palacios looks like the real deal, so this is a fantastic development for the Twins. Key questions will surround both his actual physical growth as well as his defense, which doesn't look abysmal at SS so far. FLD% is all I have to go off, and it is at .955 for his short career at SS.

As one would expect, the E-Town numbers have dropped:

 

84 PA, .333/.345/.506 (.851), eight doubles, two homers, two walks, 12 strikeouts, two steals, two times caught stealing

 

If he levels that off for the rest of the season, though, it will be an overall very impressive season for someone who was just in the DSL in 2014 (usually there is an adjustment period of two years at least before significant numbers happen in advanced rookie ball--see Minier and Diaz this year).

He has leveled off now.

 

Fun fact for 2015: 46 AB against lefties, 23 hits. 1.248 OPS against lefties.

Palacios was named Twins Daily's short-season hitter of the year.

 

2015 wrap up:

 

GCL/ELZ: 251 PA, .370/.398/.540 (.939), 23 doubles, four triples, three home runs, 12 walks, 31 strikeouts, nine steals, four times caught stealing.

 

2016 outlook: Palacios had a fantastic season, and should be the starting shortstop out of the gates for Cedar Rapids next season. He has legit doubles power. The defense at short is a question mark, and it will be interesting to see if the Twins move him somewhere else if things start poorly for him there.

 

He has leveled off now.

 

Fun fact for 2015: 46 AB against lefties, 23 hits. 1.248 OPS against lefties.

 

Yeah, I noticed that, and wondered why there wasn't a spot made available for him on the Cedar Rapids post-season roster.