Cubs Prospect Focus: Yohendrick Pinango

Cubs Prospect Focus: Yohendrick Pinango


by - Senior Writer -

When you take a look back at the 2022 Minor League season, it is hard to fathom the amount of success they had. Not only did three of the four teams make the Playoffs, but two played for league titles, with one claiming the title.

That team was the South Bend Cubs, as it was their second Midwest League Title in three years. That kind of success is borderline tilting toward a dynasty as the Cubs pipeline continues to churn out plenty of talent. A big reason for the Cubs success last season was pitching, but toward the end of the season, a lot of that pitching moved to AA.

It was up to the offense to get the job done once they left, and they did. Often overlooked by the likes of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Owen Caissie, Yohendrick Pinango is another talented and highly regarded Cubs OF, as he comes in at No. 18 in the Cubs system. An International signing back in 2018, Pinango is the definition of a player developing over time, as the Cubs have taken their time with him in terms of growth.

Despite being drafted in 2018, it wasn't until the summer of 2019 that he made his debut with the DSL Cubs and immediately became the best hitter in their lineup. Across 62 games that season, Pinango hit a .358 with zero homers and 36 RBIs. He added 27 stolen bases and recorded more walks 27 than strikeouts 20. It looked like he had all the makings of being a great hitter and a leadoff hitter down the road.

That was not only an impressive campaign, but to put those kinds of numbers up at 19 is unheard of. After losing a year due to COVID in 2020, Pinango was back at it in 2021, splitting time between Myrtle Beach and South Bend. Granted, his numbers were not as good, but he was still a solid player hitting .276 across 108 games. Pinango also started to see some of his power come as he connected for five homers and 36 RBIs.

Speaking of power, 2022 was the first time Pinango showed the fans the kind of power he had as he put on a show with South Bend this season. Despite hitting just .250 this past season, Pinango was willing to sacrifice some of his average for added power as he finished the season hitting .250 across a career-high 115 games. Entering the season with five career homers, Pinango clubbed 13 homers in 2022 and drove in a career-high 63 RBIs to go with 14 stolen bases. It will be interesting to see what he can do this season and where the Cubs plan to put him in 2023.

After signing his 400K deal in 2018, the Venezuelan-born product showed the value he is worth by leading the DSL in hits in 2019 while finishing fourth in batting. That helped the Cubs send him stateside in 2021 despite him not playing in 2020. Take his average from 2022 out of the equation for a minute, and Pinango continues to have some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the entire organization.

He may be young, but he has some of the best plate coverage in the game, while his smooth and level swing allows him to use all fields equally as well. Pinango not only has a quick left-handed stroke, but one that is doing a better job of lifting balls into the air. You saw that last season with the 13 homers, but most scouts feel he can be a 20-homer guy before all is said and done.

One of the negatives that some fans point to is his lack of walks. However, that is a direct result of him putting the ball in play so much that it has cut into his walk totals through three seasons. Pinango's speed, arm, and range all grade as average, and his high baseball IQ enable him to make the most of them.

He can steal an occasional base, gets the job done in left field, and has just enough arm and accuracy to get by in right. However, given that Seiya Suzuki is locked up for several years, look for Pinango to focus on LF for now, with potential playing time coming at DH. Pinango comes with a high floor compared to some prospects, but it also is a mystery as to what kind of player he can become. At this point, the Cubs are still figuring out whether or not he'll make enough impact to profile as a regular corner outfielder on a contender or if he is more suited for a platoon role.

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