Jairo Pomares, OF
DOB: 8/4/2000
BATS: L / THROWS: R
ACQUIRED: International Signing, July 2018
LAST LEVEL: High-A
VOLATILITY: Extreme
GiantFutures 2023 Ranks: #23 Overall, #3 Corner Outfielder
2022 Performance: Jairo Pomares spent most of 2022 in Eugene, struggling with strikeouts but showing off some of his promised power.
He started off slow, batting just .198 in April and May, but hit better as the season went along. In 95 games at Eugene, Pomares had a .254/.330/.438 batting line, with 20 doubles and 14 home runs. He struck out 127 times in 386 plate appearances (32.9%) while walking 36 times (9.3%). Pomares was mostly healthy until the end of August, and finished the season on the Injured List with an undisclosed injury. He also had an issue with his visa, which stopped him from being able to travel to Vancouver, leading to four games in Arizona while Eugene was north of the border, where the 21-year old predictably dominated, going 8-for-15 with three doubles and three home runs.
Strengths and Weaknesses: It’s all about the power for Jairo Pomares. He has exceptional batspeed and that leads to extreme power. It’s the kind of raw plus-plus power that can carry a prospect.
The downside is that it is his only plus tool, and his biggest challenge is that he’s an aggressive swinger who swings only for the home run, leading to a lot a strikeouts. He’ll need to make better swing decisions to be able to turn his raw power into consistent in-game power.
Defensively, he’s an average defender at best, limited to left field with an average arm.
2023 Outlook: Pomares should be headed to Richmond for the 2023 season, where he will face much more advanced hitting, with a trial-by-fire.
Future Profile: Pomares fits the profile of a power-first slugger, and his power is enough that can keep him moving up the system. However, he’ll need to make better swing decisions to reach his ceiling. He could end up as an everyday left fielder or first baseman, or even fill the role of a designated hitter.
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