Yasmani Tomas Capturing MLB Imaginations as Next Great Cuban Slugger

He is out there now, cloaked in mystery, the next great Cuban hope. Yasmani Tomas.

Maybe you've vaguely heard his name. Soon, his name will not be so vague. Soon this winter, he will be in the news, the dollars will fly and some fortunate—and rich—MLB team will hope he can provide the instant offense of Jose Abreu, the snap, crackle and pop of Yasiel Puig.

The pipeline of rich Cuban talent into the majors continues to flow. Yoenis Cespedes. Alexei Ramirez. Abreu. Puig. Rusney Castillo, whom the Boston Red Sox introduced in their outfield in September. Jorge Soler, a sparkling piece in the Cubs' collection of young gems.

And now, Tomas.

How much will this latest arrival draw?

"I think everybody expects this guy to get more than Castillo did," one National League executive told Bleacher Report, referring to Castillo's seven-year, $72.5 million deal with the Red Sox. "They're talking $100 million."

Yes. Several clubs, according to sources, have scouted Tomas in person at both a public showcase in the Dominican Republic in September and at private workouts since, including the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres.

Koji Sasahara/Associated Press

He is 6'1", 240 pounds and projected as a corner outfielder in MLB. He has raw power that is described by some as potential similar to Abreu. That, and the fact that he turned 24 earlier this month, is what makes him so attractive.

At a time when pitching is dominant, power hitters and run-producers have become scarce. Runs per game last summer (4.07) came at the lowest rate over a full 162-game season since 1976 (3.99). Hits per game (8.56) were at their lowest since 1972 (8.19).

It's true: It is more difficult both to get a hit and score a run right now than it has been at any time in more than three decades.

Meanwhile, as draft rules have been tightened both domestically and internationally, one American League executive points out that Cuban refugees currently provide the one loophole whereby big league clubs can write big checks and get a player quickly without having to follow draft rules and risk losing compensatory picks. Current top free agents such as Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, who have declined qualifying offers from their 2014 clubs, will cost their new teams a draft choice when they sign.

Cuban players who are at least 23 years old with five years of baseball experience in their home country are not subject to bonus pools and other draft rules.

Where Tomas is concerned, because he is so young, there is pause within the industry over whether he can make an immediate impact for whichever team signs him.

"He's a big, strong guy with more power than [contact]," one MLB executive who has scouted Tomas in person told Bleacher Report. "Power is his forte. Everybody sees his power. He's swung and missed quite a bit, but he's still a power guy. He's strong as a bull.

"He runs OK. He's probably a left fielder. Some guys have worked him out at third base recently. It's hard for me to imagine him playing third base. You're buying the bat. How good the bat is is going to be up for question.

"He's not Abreu for me. That's what Abreu was, too: You were buying the bat. That was a very refined bat. This guy, I'm not sure he can start in the major leagues. He might have to start in the minor leagues.

"That's the question, whether he can start at the major league level."

The Chicago White Sox signed Abreu, 27, last October for $68 million over six years. The deal was an instant hit: Abreu was the unanimous American League Rookie of the Year in 2014 after hitting .317 with 36 home runs and 107 RBI. He posted a .383 on-base percentage and a .581 slugging percentage. He finished fourth in AL MVP voting.

"Obviously, you're hoping for an Abreu-type guy," one American League scout says. "When you're a corner outfielder, it's all about the bat. You can't have a guy hitting .290 with 10 home runs.

"His bat has got to work."

Tomas played in Cuba's Serie Nacional during the past five seasons, and he played on the Cuban national team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. He started as a fourth outfielder on the Cuban WBC team, but steadily picked up playing time as the tournament went on. During the 2013 Serie Nacional regular season, he hit .289/.364/.538 with 15 homers, 34 walks (10 intentional) and 52 strikeouts in 324 plate appearances over 81 games.

"From what I've seen, the power is real, but I think there are some holes and [plate] discipline issues as well," says one AL scout who has studied Tomas on video. "I would have some questions with his ability to handle a good fastball in on his hands. Does this force him to cheat? If so, does that lead to more chasing?"

So much is unknown about Cuban players because they cannot be scouted in their homeland. They are seen in international tournaments, like the WBC, in fleeting glimpses. And then if they defect, the scouting and research begins in earnest.

"I think he has a lot of natural talent, but he's not in the same category as an Abreu or a Puig, or probably even a Rusney Castillo," says Cuban baseball expert and author Peter Bjarkman. "I know a lot of money is going to be thrown at him. His agent [Jay Alou] is claiming he's the next Abreu. Everybody is going to claim that.

"He's got a lot of raw power. He's got speed. He's a very undisciplined hitter at this point. In Cuba, he was frequently injured. A number of his seasons were cut short. If you look at his Cuba seasons, his power numbers weren't all that great largely due to the fact that he didn't play that many games and also doesn't have very good plate discipline.

"He has a lot of power when he connects. He has a lot of potential. He's probably a guy who has to start in Double-A or Triple-A and play awhile. He's not a guy I'd throw $90 million at, but some club will do that. You're not going to see another Abreu right away. Puig, either."

But in a game that suddenly has become starved for power hitters, that word "potential" goes a long way.

Scott Miller covers Major League Baseball as a national columnist for Bleacher Report. He has over two decades of experience covering MLB, including 14 years as a national baseball columnist at CBSSports.com.

Follow Scott on Twitter and talk baseball @ScottMillerBbl.