Luis Alexander Basabe

Position: OF
Born: 8/26/1996
Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 180 lb B-T: S-R
Acquired: Acquired from Boston Red Sox as part of Chris Sale trade on Dec. 6, 2016
Career Stats

FutureSox Prospect Rankings

  • #9 – 2017 Preseason
  • #20 – 2017 Midseason
  • #21 – 2018 Preseason
  • #10 – 2018 Midseason
  • #9 – 2019 Preseason
  • #12 – 2019 Midseason
  • #11 – 2020 Preseason

FutureSox Media

Accolades

  • New York-Penn League All-Star, 2015 Midseason
  • South Atlantic League All-Star, 2016 Postseason
  • Carolina League All-Star, 2018 Midseason
  • Futures Game, 2018

Scouting Report

Basabe was the ‘third’ piece in the Chris Sale blockbuster trade, but that’s more credence to the preceding names than a blemish on Luis. Basabe was signed out of Venezuela by the Boston Red Sox in 2012 for a $450,000 bonus (as was his twin brother, Luis Alejandro Basabe).

He was just 16 years old when he played his first slate of rookie ball in the DSL. He made it stateside in 2014 as a 17-year-old. Basabe was challenged in 2015 with an assignment to short season A-ball. Roughly three years younger than the average competition, he put himself on the map with a .243/.340/.401 line while showing some game power and the speed to go with it (15 SB). He was promoted again in 2016 to Greenville in the South Atlantic League, where the switch-hitter slashed .258/.328/.447 with 24 2B, 8 3B, 12 HR, and 25 SB. His ISO rose to .189 but was countered with a 25.7% K-rate.

However, 2017 saw him struggle quite a bit at the plate, hitting .221 with minimal power numbers. His walk and strikeout rates were basically in line with previous years. The level challenge can certainly be a factor in that, but speaking with his coaches, the word was that his knee was really bothering him throughout the season. The way he performed in 2018 seemed to confirm that. He improved in all facets with Winston-Salem (.873 OPS) for 58 games before being promoted to Double-A Birmingham in June. There he ended up with a .251/.340/.394 line in 61 games that showed well in context of being a 21-year-old.

Basabe went back to Birmingham in 2019, but injuries limited him to 69 games there (plus a five-game rehab stint in Kannapolis). His production was way down, hinting that he still wasn’t 100%. Basabe hit .246/.324/.336.

Basabe has enough tools to carry his prospect stock beyond just the encouraging results. Any time a player features potentially four above average tools, the betting man is willing to wager on the hit tool coming around in hopes of churning out a dynamic player. His profile is buoyed by plus speed, which has translated on the base paths but has yet to fully manifest in the outfield. He has the speed to stick in center with improved routes and the arm/power package to profile in right as a fallback. Luis currently gets most of his power out of his solid bat speed, but he certainly has room in his frame to add mass, so there’s still some projection there.

As is often the case, the progression of Basabe’s hit tool will script his career. He’s shown the ability to take a walk and has sustained respectful OBP outputs, but he struggles with pitch recognition and the K-rate has been a red flag at times, especially from the right side. Those who dream see Basabe as a player who could hit 25 bombs and steal 25 bags at a premium position, while his safe floor is more that of a speedy fourth OF.