In July 2015, Gimenez signed with the Mets for $1.2 million, via scouts Robert Espejo and Hector Rincones. The Mets zeroed in on Andres for his talent, athleticism and makeup as he is all business both on and off the field. (2017)

When international scouting director Chris Becerra left the Mets to join the Red Sox after the 2018 season, he left the organization stocked with high-upside shortstops. Gimenez succeeded Amed Rosario as the system’s No. 1 prospect.

Gimenez grew up idolizing former Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel.

In 2016, the Baseball America Prospect Handbook rated Andres as the 16th-best prospect in the Mets organization. And he was at #17 in the spring of 2017. But he was ranked the #1 prospect in the Mets system in the winter before 2018 spring training. And stayed at #1 in the spring of 2019.

They moved him back down to 5th-best Mets prospect in the offseason before 2020 spring camps opened. But he was at #3 in the spring of 2021.

In 2017, Gimenez, after hitting .350 in his pro debut in 2016, when he led the Dominican Summer League with a .469 on-base percentage, he skipped domestic short-season ball entirely to make his U.S. debut at low Class A Columbia in late April 2017. As one of four 18-year-old regular position players in the South Atlantic League, Gimenez more than held his own, ranking 12th in the league with a .346 OBP and 11th with a 15.3 percent strikeout rate.

At the 2018 Futures Game Andres struck a 106.5 mph ground ball for a double-play. But it was hit harder than all but five other fair balls at the exhibition.

Intense focus and a strong work ethic tie the whole package together for Gimenez on both sides of the ball.

Andres is a real joy to be around, with an ideal personality in the clubhouse. And has a true humility about him.

2019 Season: Gimenez won the Arizona Fall League batting title, slashing .371/.413/.586. In 70-at-bats, he drove in 15 while homering twice. Also, his .999 OPS was the highest of any qualifying player. 

2020 Season: Gimenez was one of the Mets top prospects heading into summer camp but quickly proved to be more than that. Gimenez made the Mets roster. He took full advantage of limited playing time early in the season and parlayed that into an everyday role at shortstop. Through July, Gimenez only played in eight games (two starts) but went 4-13 (.308) during that period. His stellar defense and surprising early success at the plate started earning him opportunities to play every day. Gimenez ended up starting 27 of the final 41 games he played in and showed plenty of potential at the plate.

It was easy to forget that Gimenez was just a 21-year old rookie, but his slash line of .263/.333/.398 shows there is still more work to be done at the plate. For a player who has played less than 200 games at AA, it is very promising to see him survive and, at times, excel at the big league level. His strikeout rate (20.6%) and hard contact rate (26.4%) were below what they should be for an everyday shortstop.

Gimenez can use his 13.5-degree launch angle and 27.5% line drive rate as something to build on. He pulled the ball almost half the time, so he can take advantage of his speed on extra-base hits once he learns to use the whole field.

When teams started to scout Gimenez fully, they figured out how to get him out. They shifted on him more, and he only had a .125 wOBA against the shift compared to .336 without it. Pitchers also started throwing him more breaking balls; he only hit .192 with a .167 slugging against them. His issue was not only being able to hit the fastball, hitting .292 against the hard stuff. Gimenez hit a tremendous 7-for-16 (.438) against off-speed pitches. It shows he can keep his weight back on the slow stuff but cannot recognize the sliders and curveballs thrown at him yet.

Statistics aside, this kid has the hitting mechanics in place to become a good major league hitter. Gimenez added a leg kick to his batting stance, allowing him to access more of his power. He showed opposite-field power in flashes as well, which shows it can be something he brings out more as he adjusts to major league pitching.

The glove and base stealing ability of Gimenez is already major league ready. Gimenez had a positive outs-above-average and one defensive run saved at all three infield positions he played (SS, 2B, 3B). Despite a small sample size, all of the projections put him as an outstanding defender. Gimenez was a menace on the bases, successful in eight of nine stolen base attempts. His speed also ranked him in the top 6% in all of baseball.

Overall, Gimenez is on track to becoming the next star shortstop for the Mets. His eight stolen bases were tied for 10th in the NL, along with his three triples. Gimenez put himself in a position to battle for the shortstop job in 2021 due to his first season.

2020 Grades on the 20-80 scale (with 2021 projections in parentheses)

Hitting: 50 (55), Biggest key will be using the whole field.

Power: 35 (40), Still a couple of years from breaking into the 15-20 home run threshold.

Run: 65 (70), Doubt he will get faster, but his baserunning/stealing ability will get better and better.

Arm: 60 (60), Solid arm allowing him to play anywhere in the infield.

Field: 70 (75), Gold Glove-caliber player, which earned him everyday opportunities.

Overall: 45 (55)

His career arc will go as high as his bat takes him.  (Daniel Marcillo - October 16, 2020)

July 10, 2022: The Gimenez was named as a reserve to the All-Star Game in Los Angeles on July 19.  José Altuve, the starter at second base for the American League, did not participate. That meant Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez started at second instead.

In 2022, Gimenez had the third-highest WAR in the American League (7.2). He trailed only Aaron Judge (10.6) and Shohei Ohtani (9.6). (Baseball-Reference.com - Oct 2022)

2022 Season: Gimenez finished strong. He hit .282/.387/.385 in his final 137 plate appearances.

For the season on the whole, Gimenez batted .297/.371/.466 with 17 home runs, 26 doubles, three triples and 20 steals — pairing that all-around offensive value with some of the game’s best defense at second base. Even if you expect some regression based on this year’s .353 average on balls in play — Statcast pegged him with an “expected” .257 batting average, based on the quality and frequency of his contact —

For the season on the whole, Gimenez batted .297/.371/.466 with 17 home runs, 26 doubles, three triples and 20 steals — pairing that all-around offensive value with some of the game’s best defense at second base. Even if you expect some regression based on this year’s .353 average on balls in play — Statcast pegged him with an “expected” .257 batting average, based on the quality and frequency of his contact.

Jan 21, 2023: - Jonathan Hrusovsky has done a lot of cleat designs, but he’s never done one quite like this.

Hrusovsky teamed up with Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez to host a cleat design competition for those in attendance. Fans will have the opportunity to draw a design and one lucky winner will have his or her design printed on a pair of cleats for Giménez to wear during Spring Training.

“I still get goosebumps sometimes when I go to a game, regardless if it’s here or somewhere else and I see a player wearing cleats [I designed],” Hrusovsky said. “So I can only imagine a child being able to see that and being able to say, ‘Hey, I designed that cool design for that player.’” Hrusovsky is a custom artist from Cleveland, who has been doing designs for a handful of athletes for the past few years. He still remembers sitting on his couch, watching the NFL one January, realizing the new fad was right up his alley. Players were expressing themselves through designs on their cleats -- something he could do masterfully. With the Super Bowl just weeks away, he knew he didn’t have the time to reach out to football players. That’s when his inner Cleveland fan told him to reach out to Carlos Carrasco.

In 2017, Hrusovsky and Carrasco teamed up to create Hrusovsky’s first design for a Cleveland player. From there, word started to spread that he could make shoes or gloves for anyone who was interested. Guys like Carrasco, José Ramírez, Mike Clevenger and now Giménez have all turned to Hrusovsky for designs. And one in particular for Clevinger will forever stand out as Hrusovsky’s favorite.

“I think it was back in ’18,” Hrusovsky said. “That year we had Carrasco, [Trevor] Bauer, Clev and [Corey] Kluber all have that milestone of 200 innings, 200 K's. So, the Hall of Fame called for something from each one of those players and Clev gave over his cleats and to this day, they’re still in Cooperstown. A nice, simple red pair that has Lilo and Stitch and Moana, too.” 

Giménez wanted to represent Venezuela, Cleveland and his family in his cleats for last year’s All-Star Game, so he paired up with Hrusovsky for the first time to bring his vision to life. It wasn’t long after that they realized this could be done again in the future -- but with fan involvement. Giménez was specific in his requests when it came to his cleats, which makes the design process much easier, according to Hrusovsky. That shouldn’t be a problem when it comes to fans’ designs this weekend.

Those who are interested in participating in the cleat design competition will be able to sit down, draw their design on a printed-out cleat template and submit it for review. Giménez will find time during both the morning and afternoon sessions to pop by, weigh in on the designs and help those who are drawing. At the end of the night, Hrusovsky and Giménez will review the submissions and will determine a winner. That person will be contacted shortly after Guards Fest and will receive a pair of cleats with their winning design, on top of watching the Guardians second baseman sport the look during Spring Training. “The kids are the future of the game, regardless of whether they play baseball or softball it does not matter,” Hrusovsky said. “Even if they don’t want to play. Maybe they’re inspired by creating something and maybe they’ll work for Adidas or Nike one day and be like, ‘Hey, my designs are gonna be worn by professional athletes.’ It’s just really cool, and it helps the game, too. It helps it grow.”

Hrusovsky has done plenty of fan design competitions in the past, but none have ever resulted in a professional athlete sporting the winning design. And the artist is looking forward to working with someone like Giménez, who is excited about connecting with his community in a way few have done in the past.

“It shows [a player’s] personality,” Hrusovsky said. “It shows who they are. It shows that they want to do good, they want to be part of the team and the community that they’re with. So seeing Andrés want to help and I just found out he likes to dabble in art himself ... so I just think it’s amazing.” (M Bell - MLB.com - Jan 18, 2023)

Andres committed to play for Venezuela in the 2023 WBC.



TRANSACTIONS

July 2015: Gimenez signed with the Mets for $1.2 million, via scouts Robert Espejo and Hector Rincones. The Mets zeroed in on Andres for his talent, athleticism and makeup as he is all business both on and off the field. (Spring 2017)

Gimenez is a really pure line-drive hitter. He projects as a .300 hitter in the Majors. He has a sweet lefty stroke that’s short to the ball, very quick and fluid. For someone who isn’t that physically developed yet, Andres has impressive bat speed thanks to his explosive hands. He is adept at controlling the barrel and hitting line drives to all fields with a flat, repeatable swing and a high contact rate.

Making his major league debut in 2020, Andres appeared unfazed by the big league spotlight. His strike-zone judgment was sound, and he hit his first two home runs to the opposite field. Even if he never develops more than average hitting ability or power, Gimenez has the type of barrel control and speed that makes him difficult to defend. (Matt Eddy - Baseball America - Spring, 2021)

Though physically undersized, Gimenez does have sneaky pop that shows when he drives the ball to the opposite-field gap, and he stands to unlock more power as he adds strength and learns how to turn on the ball. A true plus runner who gets out of the box well and consistently posts plus home-to-first run times, he led all Mets farmhands with 38 stolen bases in 2018 and added another 28 steals in his first full Double-A campaign.

While Gimenez wouldn't be overmatched defensively if he opened the 2020 season in the Major Leagues, the same cannot be said about his bat. At the same time, Gimenez also is still plenty young -- he'll be 21 for the entire 2020 season. But he has already shown a capacity for making adjustments against almost exclusively older competition. (Spring 2020)

Scouting Grades: Gimenez has a 50 hit tool, but only 45 grade power. A left-handed hitter, he shows plus bat speed, contact ability and enough latent power to suggest at least average thump down the line. He can spray the ball to all fields and could be a prototype No.2 hitter.

Andres is proof that looks can be deceiving. His lean physique, baby face and smaller stature belie a quick-twitch athlete with well-rounded skills, a high Baseball IQ and leadership qualities. Elite contact ability and a quick, loose lefthanded swing give him above-average—and possibly plus—hitting potential. A discerning batting eye will keep his walk rate and on-base percentage high.

While Gimenez shows merely gap power now, he generates impressive torque with his hips, and as his body matures, he will hit for average home run totals.

Andres has an approach and plan at the plate of a more experienced hitter. He displays advanced plate discipline. (Spring 2019)

Evaluators expect him to impact the ball more frequently as his body matures in his 20s. Nothing phases Gimenez at the plate, where he has the attributes to be an above-average hitter. His lefthanded swing is direct to the ball, and he identifies pitches well, doesn’t swing and miss often and hangs in versus southpaws.

Skeptics question his batting upside potential, however, because he has average present running speed, while his power projects to be below-average.

Andres doesn’t project to be a big power threat, but the ball jumps off the bat well for his size and he has the strength projection with his broad shoulders and strong hands to grow into double-digit home run power.

Gimenez has plate discipline well beyond his years.

Gimenez has a sweet lefthanded swing that’s short and fluid. He has explosive hand speed and keeps the barrel through the hitting zone a long time, with the bat control to make contact at a high clip and an all-fields approach.

Plus, he hangs in well against lefthanders. Gimenez diligently studies video to make sure his swing stays consistent. His strike-zone discipline is superb, and he collected more than twice as many walks as strikeouts in the DSL.

Andres has a chance to be a .300 hitter with plus on-base ability. Gimenez is a line-drive hitter who makes hard contact, with a chance to grow into 10-15 home run power—possibility more.

Scouts pointed to the impressive torque Gimenez generates with his hips as reason to believe more thump will come from his bat as he gets older. (Spring, 2019)

2018 Season: The Mets don't shy away from pushing their young players aggressively, and Gimenez responded, reaching Double-A before he turned 20. And he put up his best offensive numbers stateside (.281/.347/.409).

The 2018 Futures Gamer is a tremendous defender at a premium position, and while he likely will never have a ton of pop, he's starting to grow into more extra-base thump at the plate.

Oct 25, 2019: Gimenez, the Scottsdale Scorpions shortstop had two hits to up his batting average to .371 in 18 games to win the AFL batting title in a 3-0 loss to the Mesa Solar Sox at Sloan Park in the season finale for both teams. 

Gimenez, the Mets No. 3 prospect, also collected five doubles, two triples and hit two home runs during his 70 AFL at-bats. He drove in 15 runs.

2020 Season: Gimenez was better than advertised. Regarded mostly for his speed and defense, Gimenez produced offensively at a respectable .263/.333/.398 with three home runs and eight stolen bases in 49 games. In September 2020, he emerged as the team's starter at shortstop, ahead of Amed Rosario.

Mets assistant general manager Adam Guttridge said. “With Gimenez, he can make so many contributions on the defensive side and on the baserunning side, that he also doesn’t have to be that guy in order to help you at the big league level.

“He certainly benefited from having 28 (players), because otherwise it might have been more difficult for him to break camp . . . But he certainly had the argument to be one of our best 28 and then maybe even better than that.”

Andres is a true shortstop. He has good hands, a plus arm and a high baseball IQ. He should get the most out of offensive and defensive tools to become a threat on both sides of the ball.

Gimenez has the soft hands, reflexes and plus arm of a true shortstop and the versatility to handle second base or third base. He made only one error as a rookie in 2020, and ranked 10th among infielders with five outs above average, according to Statcast.

Gimenez is mature beyond his years. He is a young, athletic, lefthanded-hitting infielder with a chance to develop into a productive major league hitter.

His defense at shortstop is probably his calling card, but he’s also a really adept baserunner, has a good feel for the game, and transitioned seamlessly to the big leagues.

One of the better defensive shortstops in the Minor Leagues, Gimenez shows excellent range in all directions thanks to his combination of speed, first-step quickness and veteran-like instincts. Soft hands and a plus, accurate arm fuel his overall consistency, and he enjoyed his best defensive campaign to date in 2019, committing just 11 errors in 112 games as Binghamton's everyday shortstop.

Scouts are more optimistic than ever about Gimenez's chances of becoming a regular after his strong finish in 2019, and, at the very least, he should offer value as a defensive-minded backup who provides value on the basepaths. 

Gimenez makes his biggest impact right now defensively. He’s a twitchy athlete and an easy plus runner. He’s an above-average defender with a quick release and an average, accurate arm. (Spring 2020)

Gimenez gets a 60 grade for better-than-average glovework at shortstop. And his arm is a 60—strong and accurate with his throws. He is one of the best defensive shortstops in the minors and commands the infield at a tender age. He minimizes mistakes with reliable hands and a plus, accurate arm. 

Andres may ultimately shift to second base.

“But he can play both,” Mets special assistant J.P. Ricciardi said before 2019 spring training. “He has got talent and he’s a very intelligent baseball player. He is going to be a gap-to-gap player with occasional power. A very solid player.”

Gimenez displays impressive body control at shortstop. His hands have always worked well, but the biggest improvement for Gimenez since signing has been his footwork.

In the past, he had a habit of taking his right foot and stepping behind his body, costing him momentum on his throws. Mets coaches helped him clean up his footwork, allowing him to get rid of the ball quickly and make full use of his plus arm.

Evaluators who see a plus middle-infield defender and above-average hitter envision a potential double-play partner for shortstop Amed Rosario in Queens. (Matt Eddy - Baseball America - 11/03/2017)

Andres has a shorter, thicker build than many shortstops but compensates with twitchy athleticism. Body control and quick actions serve Gimenez at shortstop, where he has above-average range, reliable hands and an arm that plays up to plus thanks to a quick release and accuracy. His instincts and feel for the game will keep him at shortstop—where he has plus defensive potential—as he climbs the ladder.

Gimenez continues to impress the Mets with his defense.

“Instincts and baseball aptitude are strengths,” a Mets talent evaluator said. “He makes adjustments, but he still has physical maturity ahead. He has a plus arm, plus glove and the potential to hit better as he gets stronger.” (Mike Puma - Baseball America - 8/24/2018)

A twitchy athlete, Andres will have to balance that twitchiness against future strength gains. He’s got the range, arm and instincts to stick at shortstop and has displayed leadership qualities that belie his age.

Gimenez might ultimately settle at second base, where he could one day team with shortstop Amed Rosario in New York. (Oct. 2018)

In 2018, Andres was named the MLB Pipeline All-Defender for shortstop. Gimenez reached Double-A as a teenager, partially because of an advanced approach at the plate, but also because of his glovework at the premium position. He has the hands, arms, range and internal clock to play the position long-term.

2019: Gimenez’s defensive instincts were on display with a play this summer in which he turned a line-drive out into a double play. According to the evaluator, Gimenez, with runners on first and second and one out, took a step in and then back on a line drive, letting the ball bounce. Gimenez stepped on second for the force play before spinning and throwing to third to get the lead runner.

"Who knows that?” the evaluator said. "Who knows to do that?"

“We think Gimenez is a pretty special one,” Mets assistant GM John Ricco said. “We were pretty aggressive with pushing him to Columbia last year at 18 years old, and he held his own, clearly, there. “Everybody who sees him raves about his ability, and it’s not just his talent, but it’s his makeup and instincts for the game.

"He just stands out, and that is why we feel comfortable pushing him, because he does have such a good feel for the game.” (Mike Puma - Baseball America - 2/23/2018)

Top rookie Statcast performers of 2020—Best defensive infielder: Andrés Giménez, 5 OAA.

Revered as one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball during his time in the Minors, Giménez lived up to his reputation. He tied with Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner for the most OAA among this year’s crop of rookie infielders. 

Andres is an excellent runner. He gets a 70 grade. He gets a quick first step. He reads pitchers well and uses his knowledge of game situations to steal bases. 

2017: Gimenez started off hot in with low Class A Columbia before a jammed thumb derailed his year.

June 3-15, 2019: Andres was on the IL.

Aug 25-28, 2020: Andres was on the IL.