Mention 19-year-old Esmil Valencia to Low-A Jupiter manager Nick Weisheipl, and the first reaction is one word:
Valencia is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound Dominican center fielder who was regarded as the throw-in piece in the Marlins’ July 31 trade that sent outfielder Jesus Sanchez to the Astros. The Marlins also got righthander Ryan Gusto and High-A shortstop Chase Jaworsky in the deal.
Valencia looked like much more than a throw-in during his debut for Jupiter. He went 3-for-4 with two doubles. All three hits registering an exit velocity greater than 100 mph.
Weisheipl said he believes Valencia to be the fastest player on a talented Jupiter squad that has rostered fellow teen prospects such as Starlyn Caba, Carter Johnson and Andrew Salas as well as Padres 2023 first-rounder Dillon Head.
“What a player,” Weisheipl said of Valencia, who bats from the right side. “He plays an elite center field. He’s quiet, goes about his business. His level of professionalism for a young player is impressive.”
Weisheipl said Valencia’s speed is so dynamic that in one game he turned what appeared to be a routine single to the left side into a double.
“He almost looked super-human,” Weisheipl said. “When he came around first base, he was absolutely flying. He is a long-strider. It’s incredible to watch when he gets it cranked up.”
Through his first 13 games in the Florida State League, Valencia batted .362/.400/.553 with two home runs and eight stolen bases. He drew five walks against five strikeouts.
Although Valencia doesn’t yet speak much English, Weisheipl, a Wisconsin native with no Spanish background, can communicate.
That’s because Weisheipl’s entry point into the Marlins organization was coaching in the Dominican Summer League last year from June to August. Weisheipl had previously coached some Puerto Rican players at Clarke University in Iowa, but this was different.
“Going to the Dominican was full immersion,” said Weisheipl, 45. “It gave me a strong understanding of the Latin player and of their life experiences. It taught me how to connect and how to relate so I can coach them to the best of my ability.”
Weisheipl said his initial objective was to build relationships, finding out about the person first and the baseball player second.
“I found out what made them tick, how they liked to be coached,” he said. “That stuff is so important before diving into teaching baseball.
“Everybody is unique. If you teach everyone the same, you are not going to be as impactful as you would like to be.”