Gabriel Maciel adds more speed to Oakland A’s farm system
The minor league portion of the Rule V Draft took place on Wednesday with the Oakland A’s making a pair of selections. With the 14th selection in the first round, the A’s selected outfielder Gabriel Maciel, a former international signing from Brazil by the Diamondbacks.
Maciel was sent to the Twins as part of the package of prospects that brought Eduardo Escobar to Arizona. He has been a part of the Twins’ farm system since 2018, getting as far as High-A ball before being selected by the A’s.
Gabriel Maciel an intriguing raw prospect
Despite his five years in the minors, Maciel is still developing as a prospect. He has several intriguing tools which certainly caught the A’s attention, but there are questions as to how much of an impact he will be able to make at the major league level, should he get that far.
The first thing that stands out with Maciel is his incredible speed. Rated as a 70 on the 20-80 scale, he uses that speed to great effect in the outfield. While he can play all three spots, his ability to get a jump on the ball and impressive range seemingly make him a natural for center. He is continuing to improve as a baserunner as well, learning how to steal bases and take that extra base.
Maciel also shows a solid approach at the plate and an impressive ability to make contact. He has drawn 145 walks while striking out just 257 times in his 1618 plate appearances. The problem is that he has been unable to generate much in the way of power, having hit 49 doubles and 11 homers over his minor league career.
His ability to develop as a hitter will determine how far Maciel can go. At this point, he appears to be a fifth outfielder – someone that can be used as a defensive replacement and pinch runner, but may never be more than that. If he can make harder contact, even if he ends up with just gap power, Maciel could become a solid piece at the top of a lineup.
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The Oakland A’s are taking a chance on Gabriel Maciel. His speed and ability to make contact make him an intriguing prospect to watch.