Indians Top 100 Prospects: #84 Jose Constanza

84. Jose Constanza - Outfielder
Born: 09/01/1983 - Height: 5'9" - Weight: 150 - Bats: Switch - Throws: Left

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2003	19	DSL Indians	R	64	239	42	76	9	5	1	32	31	25	16	.318	.396	.410	.806
2004	20	DSL Indians	R	64	259	72	115	12	19	1	40	22	19	37	.444	.486	.649	1.135
2005	21	Mahoning Vy	A-	64	270	30	71	5	5	0	20	28	39	24	.263	.340	.319	.659
	21	Lake County	A	23	72	9	17	0	0	0	4	15	13	2	.236	.368	.236	.604
2006	22	Lake County	A	44	159	31	44	5	3	1	9	30	30	19	.277	.395	.365	.760
	22	Kinston	A+	76	275	55	90	15	6	1	27	42	50	20	.327	.419	.436	.855
2007	23	Kinston	A+	112	445	71	122	13	4	2	34	39	80	39	.274	.334	.335	.669
2008	24	Akron	AA	95	338	44	94	12	6	0	34	28	42	23	.278	.334	.349	.683
		Career		542	2057	354	629	71	48	6	200	235	298	180	.306	.379	.396	.775

History: Constanza was signed as an undrafted free agent in June 2003 out of the Dominican Republic.

Strengths & Opportunities: Constanza has outstanding bat control and bat-to-ball ability, and very good baseball instincts. He put himself on the radar screen back in the Dominican Summer League (DSL) in 2004 when he hit .444 and lead the league in just about every offensive category except home runs. The Indians were so impressed with Constanza's showing in the DSL in 2004, that they started him in Lake County in 2005, which is unheard of for players in the Indians academy in the Dominican Republic to start with a full-season squad in their stateside debut. The last player to do so was Jhonny Peralta. He broke in as a prospect after a breakout season in 2006, but since that breakout year his performance has been average to below average the last two years at Kinston and Akron.

Outlook: Constanza projects as a fourth outfielder because of his speed, versatility, and limited pop in his bat, and may eventually break in with the Indians in such a role down the road. He could spent most of the 2009 season on a shuttle back and forth between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, although he should open the season as the starting center fielder in Akron.

Photo courtesy of Ken Carr

Jose Constanza MinorLeagueBaseball.com stats page

Jose Constanza Baseball-Reference page

Jose Constanza MinorLeagueSplits.com page

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