Catching prospect Edgar Quero drawing consideration at Angels’ camp
Edgar Quero is maybe one of many brightest younger prospects within the Angels system.
At 19 years outdated and ranked the Tenth-best catching prospect in baseball, Quero was given a non-roster invitation to massive league spring coaching this 12 months.
“I’m very excited to be here,” he mentioned in Spanish in the course of the first week of camp. “They noticed my work from last year, had a good season, and I’m happy they gave me the opportunity to be here with big league players like Shohei [Ohtani], [Mike] Trout and all the guys who are on the team.”
When he’s with the remainder of the catchers, if he’s not watching veterans akin to Max Stassi, he might be discovered listening and studying learn how to enhance himself, significantly on protection.
“I think sky’s the limit for him,” Stassi mentioned of Quero. “He’s definitely really advanced for his age. I’m looking forward to watching him play. It’s amazing what he’s doing at that age.”
Said Drew Butera, the Angels’ catching coordinator: “We know that he’s going to be a special talent.”
Quero, who was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, and began enjoying baseball when he was 5, confirmed potential on the worldwide stage. In 2018, he performed for the Cuban under-15 group within the Baseball World Cup.
Leaving Cuba was troublesome, particularly for Quero. He defined that the state had him “regulado” or “regulated.”
The time period “regulated” is utilized by Cuban authorities. Cuban residents who’re regulated are usually not allowed to legally depart the island. The state can regulate folks for quite a lot of causes, one being that an individual is of “national interest,” based on the non-profit journalism and media group, CONNECTAS.
At least 5 gamers from the 2018 Cuban U-15 group Quero performed on had been “regulated,” based on On Cuba News.
Quero defined he was regulated as a result of he was an athlete and was solely allowed to go away the island with the nationwide group. Eventually, Quero mentioned, his mom resolved the problem and he was in a position to board a flight along with his household to Haiti.
“It was very complicated. A lot of the baseball players follow the same process of going to Haiti,” he mentioned. “Some of them do it in a more risky way. Thank God I did it by airplane.”
Quero and his household left Cuba in 2019. From Haiti, they moved to the Dominican Republic and ultimately to Florida. He acquired his residency within the U.S. on the finish of 2022.
The Angels signed Quero as a free agent in February of 2021 and he made his debut with the Arizona Complex League Angels that summer season. He performed 29 video games in Arizona earlier than getting promoted to Class-A Inland Empire for 10 video games to finish the 12 months.
He was listed because the No. 3 prospect within the Angels system in 2022, a season through which he was chosen the California League‘s Most worthy participant and a Class-A All-Star.
“I think everything I’ve accomplished, and to be where I am now is thanks to God and all the blessings he gave me,” Quero mentioned towards the top of the 2022 season. “I consider myself a player that is hardworking and persistent. If I put my mind to something, I always come through.”
Quero, a switch-hitter, had 17 residence runs and 75 RBIs with a .965 on-base-plus-slugging price with the 66ers final 12 months.
“We’re really encouraged by the season Edgar’s had,” Joey Prebynski, the Angels’ director of participant improvement, mentioned final 12 months. “His performance on the field, certainly from an offensive standpoint, from both sides of the plate, he had a really good year.”
Baseball expertise apart, one factor that’s stood out about his off-the-field progress, significantly to Dave Stapleton, is Quero’s communication.
“He’s done a tremendous amount of work — and I know it might seem funny — but a tremendous amount of work on his English,” mentioned Stapleton, who’s managed two of Quero’s groups, the 2021 Arizona League Angels and the 2022 66ers. “For him to be able to do that and communicate with the pitchers that don’t speak any Spanish at all has been a huge growth in him.
“His story is really second to none being from Cuba, so when you really get into what he’s been able to do and the growth he’s made, it’s tremendous.”