Vivas has stood out with his advanced bat-to-ball skills since his amateur days in Venezuela, and they earned him a $300,000 bonus from the Dodgers in 2017. He progressed steadily through their system, advancing to Triple-A at age 22 in 2023 before getting traded to the Yankees in a package deal for Trey Sweeney when Los Angeles needed to free up 40-man roster space that December. He was hit in the face by a pitch toward the end of Spring Training last March, breaking the orbital bone around his left eye and leading to an uncharacteristic .225/.347/.366 line at Triple-A.
With a quick, compact left-handed swing and excellent hand-eye coordination, Vivas has a history of making consistent contact against all types of pitches and all over the strike zone. He never looked like his usual self in 2024, chasing and missing pitches much more than usual as his strikeout rate jumped to 17 from 12 percent in his first five pro seasons. He adds to his on-base ability by working counts, drawing walks and getting hit by pitches, and he has enough sneaky pop to provide 10-15 homers per year.
Vivas earns fringy grades for his speed, arm strength and defense at second base. He has the savvy to steal a few bases but isn't as instinctive in the field. He has reliable hands and settled down at third base after struggling there in the past, though his arm is stretched at the hot corner.
Vivas' advanced bat-to-ball skills earned him a $300,000 bonus when he signed with the Dodgers in 2017 and have been evident throughout his pro career. He has ranked in the top 15 in the Minors in strikeout rate in each of his three years in full-season ball, fanning in just 11 percent of his plate appearances during that time. He reached Triple-A at age 22 in 2023 before Los Angeles needed to clear 40-man roster space and dealt him and Victor González to the Yankees for shortstop prospect Trey Sweeney in December.
His uncanny hand-eye coordination and quick, compact left-handed stroke allow Vivas to make consistent contact against all types of pitches all over the strike zone. He enhances his on-base ability with a willingness to draw walks and a knack for getting hit by pitches. He has gained 25 pounds since turning pro and developed some sneaky 10-15 homer pop that plays almost entirely against right-handers.
Vivas has fringy speed and arm strength that limit his value on the bases and in the field. He has sure hands and average range at second base but isn't really suited to play elsewhere. The Dodgers tried playing him at third base, but the game speeds up too much on him there and he doesn't have the arm for the hot corner.
Vivas' impressive bat-to-ball skills helped him overcome a lack of physicality and earn a $300,000 bonus from the Dodgers out of Venezuela in 2017. He has ranked among the Minor League leaders in strikeout rate in each of the last two seasons, ninth at 12 percent in 2021 and fourth at 10 percent last year. He reached Triple-A at age 22 in 2023 before getting dealt to the Yankees along with Victor González in exchange for shortstop prospect Trey Sweeney in December, a move designed to clear 40-man roster space for Los Angeles.
Vivas' 5-foot-10 frame and ability to barrel balls seemingly at will from the left side of the plate are reminiscent of countryman Luis Arraez. His size and fast hands produce a short, quick swing that makes contact with all types of pitching in any part of the strike zone. He generates some sneaky pop (mostly against right-handers) that could translate into 10-15 homers per season, has the patience to draw walks and adds to his on-base ability with a knack for getting hit by pitches.
Most of Vivas' value comes from his bat because he has fringy speed and arm strength, limiting his effectiveness on the bases and in the field. He's a sure-handed second baseman with decent range but not much versatility. He has seen considerable action at third base, but the game speeds up on him there and his arm isn't suited for the hot corner.
The Dodgers signed Vivas for $300,000 out of Venezuela in 2017 on the basis of his bat-to-ball skills, and he has been one of the best hitters in the system since struggling in his pro debut. He batted .327 in his U.S. debut in 2019 and .312 with nearly as many extra-base hits (44) as strikeouts (55) as a 20-year-old in Low-A and High-A in 2021. Added to Los Angeles' 40-man roster in November, he slammed 14 homers in 106 games last year after going deep just twice in his first 105 pro contests.
His small stature and contact-hitting ability from the left side of the plate resemble those of countryman Luis Arraez, though Vivas comes with more power. He has a quick, compact swing and tremendous feel for the barrel, allowing him to hit seemingly any type of pitch in any part of the strike zone. He has some sneaky pop (mostly against right-handers) that could translate into 12-15 homers per season and enhances his on-base ability by getting drilled by more than his share of pitches.
Vivas has just fringy speed and average arm strength, which limits his value on the bases and in the field. He plays a steady second base, the only position at which he profiles as a regular. He saw considerable action at third base last year but his arm is a bit stretched there, and he's not suited for shortstop or a utility role.
Signed for $300,000 out of Venezuela in 2017 on the basis of his hitting ability, Vivas struggled in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League the following year but has taken off since adding some much-needed strength. He batted .327 as an 18-year-old making his U.S. debut in 2019 before his development was limited to instructional league last year. After holding his own as a teenager in Venezuela's winter league last offseason, he has made a successful jump to Low-A.
Vivas resembles Luiz Arraez in terms of his build and style of offensive play. A left-handed hitter with a quick, compact stroke, he has tremendous feel for the barrel and makes hard contact with ease. While he's not very physical, he has some sneaky pop that could develop into 15-homer power, though he hasn't done much damage against left-handers in full-season ball.
Vivas has just fringy speed, which limits his value on the bases and his defensive versatility. Add in his average arm, and second base is his best-case scenario. The Dodgers have given him time at third base in 2021 to increase his options but he doesn't fit a true utility profile.
These run values are leveraged, meaning the base/out situation at the time of the event does impact the run value (thus introducing context outside the batter's own contribution).
! Note: Shifts are through the 2022 season, Shaded starting from the 2023 season, Shift: three or more infielders are on the same side of second base, Shade: positioned outside of their typical responsible slices of the field. Learn more about how positioning is defined here
