Pittsburgh Pirates 2021 Prospect Preview: Corner Infielder Alexander Mojica

The Pittsburgh Pirates have plenty of young prospects with high ceilings. One of them is corner infield slugger Alexander Mojica.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have multiple under-20 prospects throughout the system. Many of them are exciting with a ton of talent. One of these extremely young and interesting prospects is corner infielder Alexander Mojica who will be looking to play a full professional season in 2021.

Mojica was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of the Dominican Republic on August 8, 2018. He would eventually make his pro debut in 2019 and crushed the ball when he got to the team’s Dominican Summer League affiliate.

Through 218 plate appearances, Mojica put up an outstanding .351/.468/.580 line with 14 doubles and 8 home runs. If he kept hitting extra-base hits at the rate he was at, he would have had 38 doubles and 22 home runs across a full 600 plate appearances. All told, Mojica ended the season with a wOBA just south of .500 at .491 and wRC+ of 182.

Impressively, this was when he was just 16-years-old. What’s even more impressive is that he’s already displayed strong plate discipline. Mojica walked 17% of the time to go against a 15.6% strikeout rate. His 37:34 BB:K ratio represents a great eye at the plate.

Overall, he’s considered a great hitter with a 55-future grade hit tool. His game power tool comes in at a 55-future grade and his raw power is even more promising. His 89 MPH exit velo and 38% hard-hit rate at such a young age gives him a 60-future raw power grade.

Despite only being 18-years-old, Mojica already has the body of a grown man. He is listed at 6’1″, 225 pounds. An MLB comparrison in terms of size is Washington Nationals’ superstar outfielder Juan Soto, who’s listed at 6’0″, 220 LBS. Boston DH J.D. Martinez only comes in at 2 inches taller and 5 pounds heavier as another apt comparison.

A good comparison overall when you factor in frame, and batted ball rates is Nolan Arenado. Arenado is 6’2″, 215 LBS, making him just an inch taller and 10 pounds lighter than Mojica. However, in 2019, he had an average exit velocity of 89.4 MPH and a hard-hit rate of 37.6%.

Mojica’s offensive potential is through the roof. But he’s not nearly as stable when it comes to defense. Mojica mainly played third base in 2019 while seeing a few innings over at first base. He’s only considered a 35-grade fielder now and a 40-grade fielder in the future. Sure, he has the arm to stick at third base, coming in with a 50-grade, but his long-term future is likely going to be first base, especially considering Ke’Bryan Hayes.

If the universal DH comes back long term, he likely sees a decent bit of time there as well. With a speed grade of just 20, the lowest grade a player can possibly receive, any consideration of sticking him out in left field, a position some big corner infielders who are blocked at a position tend to take up, should not be considered.

While Mojica doesn’t have a defined position, he definitely has the making of a consistent Silver Slugger finalist in his future. A strong, full season from the corner infielder could propel him beyond the current highest rated first base prospect the Pittsburgh Pirates have in Mason Martin.