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The haul David Stearns got for Tyler Thornburg is in the running for most impressive during his short run as general manager, and that was before the player to be named later to close out the deal was announced.
The Brewers and Red Sox announced this morning that shortstop Yeison Coca is that player, joining Travis Shaw, Mauricio Dubon and Josh Pennington in the Milwaukee organization.
INF Yeison Coca (Yay-son) has been acquired from Boston to complete the December 2016 trade involving 3B Travis Shaw & RHP Tyler Thornburg.
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 5, 2017
The 18-year-old Coca entered this season ranked 25th in the Red Sox system according to Baseball America, signing as an international free agent for $250,000 out of the Dominican Republic in July 2015. He hit .308/.372/.408 in 63 games in the Dominican Summer League last year, his lone professional season to date.
According to Sox Prospects, Coca is currently a small (5'10", 155 pounds) switch-hitter with quick hands and solid bat control, considering his slight frame. They say he has soft hands in the field and has plus speed, with a chance to be average in all of the tools except for power.
Fangraphs also mentioned Coca in their preseason Red Sox prospects writeup, even though he fell outside of their Top 15:
Yeison Coca, SS – I’m not sure there’s an adult-sized jersey that will fit Coca, who was drowning in his instructional-league garb last fall. It’s a good baseball body, though, and there’s some bat speed, but Coca’s swings from both sides of the plate need polish that could come with increased physicality. He has good defensive footwork and actions, is twitchy and athletic, and should fit at shortstop provided he grows into a little bit more arm strength.
Fangraphs also has a YouTube video of Coca at the plate:
Since he's only 18, it will probably be a few years before we know for sure what the Brewers have in Coca, but Stearns likes his middle infielders and adds another one to close out what's been an incredible haul.
Shaw enters today hitting .292/.339/.530 with 10 home runs, 16 doubles and 40 RBI. His .869 OPS makes him an All-Star candidate to this point, and he's under team control until 2022. Dubon is hitting .294/.346/.383 as a 22-year-old in Double-A Biloxi. Pennington has yet to pitch this season.
Meanwhile, Thornburg has not thrown an official pitch as a member of the Red Sox and is on the 60-day disabled list due to shoulder troubles.
Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference