Yazy Arbelo

Yasamberty Eusebio Arbelo

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 220 lb.

• School Keystone College, Cumberland University, Seminole Community College
• High School John Carroll Catholic High School

• Born April 7, 1988 in Fort Pierce, FL USA

Biographical Information

Yazy Arbelo won minor league RBI and home run titles and for the Puerto Rican national team.

The Philadelphia Phillies took him in the 43rd round of the 2006 amateur draft out of high school; he did not sign. He was first-team Mid-Florida Conference in 2008 and second-team Colonial States Athletic Conference in 2010. The Arizona Diamondbacks chose him in the 26th round of the 2010 amateur draft, one pick after Ben Lively; the scout was Shawn Barton.

He had an excellent pro debut with the Yakima Bears, hitting .285/.377/.521 with 14 homers and 55 RBI in 68 games. He tied A.J. Kirby-Jones for second in the Northwest League in dingers, one behind Kevin Mailloux. He edged Mailloux by three for the RBI title, was 6th in walks (36), ranked 4th in slugging (between Jared Hoying and Chandler Laurent) and was 4th in OPS (between Hoying and Kirby-Jones). He led the league's first basemen in putouts (607) and double plays (12) while tying Kirby-Jones for the most miscues there (12). He was named the All-Star first baseman.

Moving up to the South Bend Silver Hawks in 2011, he again posted big numbers with power: .247/.361/.516, 31 2B, 31 HR, 95 RBI. He had 161 whiffs but drew 73 walks. He was among the Midwest League leaders in doubles (tied for 10th), homers (1st, 7 ahead of Richard Jones), RBI (2nd, 3 behind Jones), walks (6th), K (1st by 3) and total bases (238, 3rd, behind Jones and Derek Dietrich). Jesús Aguilar beat him out for All-Star honors in the MWL at first but Baseball America rated him the best power prospect in the circuit. He was 4th in the D'backs chain in doubles (between David Nick and Ryan Wheeler), led in homers (one more than Paul Goldschmidt), was second to Matt Davidson in RBI and was third in walks (after Goldschmidt and Cole Gillespie). He tied Tyler Moore for 9th in homers in all of minor league baseball.

Arbelo was 1 for 3 for the Gigantes de Carolina in the Puerto Rican League in 2012-2013. In '12, he played for the Mobile BayBears (.208/.295/.350 in 64 G) and Visalia Rawhide (.261/.329/.614, 21 HR, 50 RBI in 55 G). He was one homer behind Jon Griffin for the most in the Arizona system and 10th in RBI. He batted .209/.306/.372 for the Atenienses de Manati in Puerto Rico that winter. Returning to Visalia in 2013, he slipped to .211/.325/.347 in 26 games and was released. He was picked up by the independent New Jersey Jackals, for whom he hit .208/.263/.321 in 30 games.

He still had opportunities after that rough year, as the big slugger signed with the Traverse City Beach Bums. He rebounded somewhat to .249/.324/.446 with 17 homers and 61 RBI in 93 contests. He tied Chris Burke for fifth in home runs. In his last pro season, he hit .237/.275/.389 for the Beach Bums. He had batted .244/.326/.457 for his pro career with 107 homers and 356 RBI in 578 games.

Yazy then represented Puerto Rico in the 2015 Premier 12. Backing up Jorge Jiménez at first base, he was 0 for 5 and handled eight chances error-free.