St. Louis Cardinals Top 40 Prospects - August 2018
Jun 26, 2018 15:41:07 GMT -5
New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, and 2 more like this
Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2018 15:41:07 GMT -5
Not included on this list:
Brandon Woodruff, RHP, MIL (66 IP at MLB level)
Lourdes Gurriel Jr, 2B, TOR (over 23 years old from a foreign league)
Mark Zagunis, OF, CHC (pre-arb)
Tanner Scott, LHP, BAL (pre-arb)
Franmil Reyes, OF, SD (pre-arb)
Matt Koch, RHP, ARI (pre-arb)
Nick Kingham, RHP, PIT (service time)
Sources:
MLB.com Top 100 and Top 30 Team Prospects Midseason Update, July 26
Baseball America Midseason Top 100 Update, June 29
RotoWire Top 400 Prospects, June 27
Dynasty Guru Top 240 Fantasy Prospects, June 15
FanGraphs Updated Top 131 Prospects, June 11
All stats as of July 24, 2018, unless otherwise noted.
#1 Justus Sheffield, LHP, NYY
Age: 22 DOB: 05/13/1996 / Height: 6' 0" Weight: 200 lb. / Drafted: 2014, 1st (31) - CLE / 2018: AA, AAA
MLB.com #28, NYY #1, LHP #3; Baseball America #22; RotoWire #115; Dynasty Guru #38; FanGraphs #30
Despite standing just 6 feet, Sheffield packs lightning in his left arm. His fastball can sit in the mid-90s, and he has touched as high as 98 MPH. Sheffield's fastball generates plenty of swings and misses thanks to intense riding life and a deceptive delivery. He couples the pitch with a slider and changeup that both project as above-average to plus. His slider, which sits in the mid-80s, ranks slightly ahead of his changeup, which sits in the high 80s. His slider in particular is plus, and he sequences and locates it well. Sheffield missed the final two months of 2017 with a strained oblique, so the Yankees sent him to the Arizona Fall League to make up innings, where he was one of the best pitchers. After starting 2018 in Double A with 39 K in 28 IP with a 2.25 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, the Yankees promoted him to Triple A on May 3. As of July 24, he has 60 K in 62.2 IP with a 2.44 ERA and 1.16 WHIP for Triple A Scranton. Even as trade rumors swirl around the Yankees this year, Sheffield is one prospect that fans are clamoring should remain untouchable.
#2 Jonathan Loaisiga, RHP, NYY
Age: 23 DOB: 11/02/1994 / Height: 5' 11" Weight: 165 lb. / Signed: Sept. 13, 2012 - SF / 2018: A+, AA, AAA, MLB
MLB.com #77 NYY #3; Baseball America #69; RotoWire #89; Dynasty Guru #167
Signed by the Giants out of Nicaragua in 2012, Loaisiga made a promising pro debut in 2013 before missing the next two years with injuries and getting released in May 2015. The Yankees signed him in February 2016 after he threw 95 MPH during a tryout, but he made just one start in low Class A that May before injuring his elbow and requiring Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2017 and showed enough during 11 brief regular-season starts and instructional league to claim a spot on New York's 40 man roster in November. Loaisiga sits 94-96, touching 98 MPH along with an easy plus curveball and changeup that flashes average. He has a clean delivery that he repeats well, allowing him to work the bottom of the strike zone and issue just three walks in 32.2 innings last season. However, it's unlikely that many predicted the meteoric rise of "Johnny Lasagna" in 2018. He made 4 starts for High A Tampa and 6 starts for Double A Trenton, totaling 58 K in 45 IP with a 3.00 ERA and 1.13 WHIP (an astonishing four walks), and then was catapulted directly to the majors on June 15 to fill in for Masahiro Tanaka. Loaisiga was phenomenal in his first three starts in the Majors: 18 K in 14 IP with a 1.93 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. His start on June 25 at Philadelphia was the best: 8 K (15 swinging strikes) over 5.1 IP with 0 runs. When Tanaka returned on July 3, the Yankees optioned Loaisiga to Triple A Scranton.
#3 Luis Garcia, 2B, WAS
Age: 18 DOB: 05/16/2000 / Height: 6' 0" Weight: 190 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2016 - WAS / 2018: A, A+
MLB.com #97 WAS #3 SS #10; RotoWire #129; Dynasty Guru #196
A product of the Dominican Republic, Garcia ranked No. 9 on MLB Pipeline's list of the Top 30 international prospects for the 2016-17 signing period before signing with Washington for $1.3 million. He lived up to expectations during his impressive pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, as evaluators raved about the teenager's combination of hitting ability, speed, and defense. Garcia has a knack for making good contact across the entire field using a quick swing from the left side of the plate. A plus athlete who is a near plus-plus runner, Garcia proved an adept baserunner during his pro debut and should continue to pile up stolen bases during his ascent of the minor leagues. Garcia is also a sure-handed shortstop with quick feet and clean actions, with enough range to make all the routine plays, and plus arm strength that's a fit anywhere on the infield. He'll only get better as he gains experience, and there's little doubt among evaluators regarding his ability to stick at either middle infield position. Garcia hit .364 (32-for-88) over his last 23 games with Class A Hagerstown, including 12 multi-hit performances; however, the most exciting development for Garcia might be the emergence of some power to go along with his speed and contact skills - five of his last 12 hits were doubles, and he had a .159 ISO over that 23 game stretch, well above last season's .085 mark in rookie ball. After this torrid stretch, Garcia was promoted to High A Potomac on July 4, becoming the first player born in the year 2000 to make it to the Class A Advanced level. As of July 24, his season slash line sits at .296/.333/.393 with 3 HR and 9 SB.
#4 Miguel Amaya, C, CHC
Age: 19 DOB: 03/09/1999 / Height: 6' 1" Weight: 185 lb. / Signed: July 17, 2015 - CHC / 2018: A
MLB.com #97 CHC #1 C #7; RotoWire #168; Dynasty Guru #228
The Cubs handed out $1 million to land Amaya out of Panama during the 2015-16 signing period. They were attracted to his work behind the plate, his projectable 6-foot-1 frame with terrific athleticism for a catcher, and his intangibles, traits that led them to promote him to the Class A Short Season Northwest League for his U.S. debut last summer. He was the league's best defensive catcher as an 18 year old and showed offensive promise. With his agility and soft hands, Amaya is an advanced receiver for a teenager, framing and blocking pitches well, and he erased 41 percent of basestealers in the Northwest League with quick and accurate throws. His arm strength has improved further since he has signed and he could be a plus thrower once he's fully developed. Amaya caught for Yu Darvish in late June during one of Darvish's rehab starts, framing the movement of Darvish's pitches without issue. Offensively, Amaya's approach to hitting is geared for contact. He has promising hand-eye coordination and bat control. He often finds a way to get the bat on the ball, making sub-optimal contact rather than no contact at all. He has the physical tools to hit, and his frame suggests there will be some power. If he hits for a decent average with 12-15 homers like Chicago believes he can, he'll easily profile as a big league starter. He's proving them right so far in 2018, with 12 HR and a .272/.344/.459 line in 316 AB for Class A South Bend as of July 24.
#5 Ryan Helsley, RHP, STL
Age: 24 DOB: 07/18/1994 / Height: 6' 1" Weight: 195 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 5th (161) - STL / 2018: AA, AAA
MLB.com STL #5; RotoWire #189; Dynasty Guru HM
Helsley, taken in the fifth round of the 2015 Draft, is poised to be the first player from Northeastern State in Oklahoma to make it to the majors after a second full season that saw him pitch across three levels of the Cardinals' system. Even though he's a bit undersized, Helsley has proven to be strong and durable, a right-hander who is all about power. He relies largely on his fastball-curve combination, recording high spin rates. He's added a cutter recently that's a usable weapon and he does show some feel for his changeup. He'll touch as high as 98 MPH with his fastball, sitting comfortably around 94-95 MPH. The curve is a true power breaking ball, one that misses bats. His curve and cutter are both particularly effective against left-handed hitters when thrown down and to his glove side. There has been concern about Helsley's command, but he stays around the strike zone and gets high marks for his attention to things like fielding his position and holding runners. He's started 12 games across Double A and Triple A in 2018, striking out 78 over 67.2 innings as of July 24.
#6 Alex Lange, RHP, CHC
Age: 22 DOB: 10/02/1995 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 197 lb. / Drafted: 2017, 1st (30) - CHC / 2018: A+
MLB.com CHC #3; RotoWire #340
Lange became an immediate star at Louisiana State, going 30-9 with 403 strikeouts (second most in school history) while leading the Tigers to pair of College World Series berths in three seasons. His velocity plateaued as his college career continued and, as a junior, his fastball sat in the 89-93 range. Lange's overhand curveball was perhaps the 2017 draft's best pitch. It's already plus, arcing in with depth and power. He throws it with violence and conviction whether he's burying it in the dirt for swinging strikes or attempting to locate it in the zone, and he regularly accomplishes both. Amateur evaluators had some concerns about Lange's ability to pitch in a big league rotation, requiring better fastball command and a yet-to-develop third pitch to project him as a starter. Lange used his curveball as a crutch at LSU and never developed feel for his changeup, though a source who saw him in the Class A Short Season Northwest League, where Lange used his change more often, thought it had promising movement. And while Lange's fastball command is fringey and his delivery's violence precludes scouts from projecting upon it, pitchers like Lance McCullers have set a precedent for a curveball-heavy approach to pitching as a starter, so Lange has several clear paths to a career as a mid-rotation starter. In 2018, Lange has continued to make large strides in improving his changeup to reach his potential as a viable starter. As of July 24, through 17 starts with High A Myrtle Beach, Lange is 6-7 with a 3.61 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 78 K in 89.2 IP.
#7 Luis Oviedo, RHP, CLE
Age: 19 DOB: 5/15/1999 / Height: 6' 4" Weight: 170 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2015 - CLE / 2018: A-
MLB.com CLE #12; RotoWire #384
Signed for $375,000 out of Venezuela at the outset of the 2015-16 international period, Oviedo made his professional debut the next year in the Dominican Summer League. He made the jump stateside to the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2017 and put himself firmly on the map with his bat-missing ability, as Oviedo ranked among circuit leaders with 12.2 K/9 (first), a 28 percent strikeout rate (first) and 70 K (second) in 51.2 IP in the Rookie-level Arizona League, running his fastball up to 94 MPH and flashing an above-average 73-78 MPH 11-5 curveball and 77-78 MPH 10-4 slider. He's been incredible so far in 2018 for the Class A Short Season Mahoning Valley Scrappers, going 3-1 in 7 starts with a 0.92 ERA and 0.82 WHIP through July 24. Oviedo's 50 strikeouts through 39 innings lead the New York-Penn League, and he leads the league in ERA and WHIP as well. In his start on June 28, Oviedo set a club record with 12 strikeouts in 6 innings, giving up one run (zero earned) on two hits and walking one. He earned the league's Pitcher of the Week award in each of the first three weeks after league started for the season for his excellent performances.
#8 Tyler Phillips, RHP, TEX
Age: 20 DOB: 10/27/1997 / Height: 6' 5" Weight: 200 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 16th (468) - TEX / 2018: A
MLB.com TEX #13
Phillips' fastball jumped from the high 80s to the low 90s during his senior season as a New Jersey high schooler in 2015, spurring the Rangers to lure him away from a college commitment with a $160,000 bonus in the 16th round. He graduated to full-season ball at the start of the 2017 season, playing in the Class A Short Season Northwest League, where he finished second in strikeouts (78 in 73 innings) and WHIP (1.22). Phillips sits 90-93 and will touch 95 with heavy sink, making him one of the more projectable starting pitching prospects in the system. His changeup flashes plus surprisingly often, and his curveball is projected to be above average. He's a potential mid-rotation arm if the control/command progress further and has enough stuff to project him as a No. 4/5 or multi-inning relief piece if it doesn't. 2018 has been a big step in the right direction, going 8-5 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, and 91 K in 99 IP. Most important, Phillips has only issued 11 walks, an improvement in command which has gotten him noticed in positive ways.
#9 Richie Martin, SS, OAK
Age: 23 DOB: 12/22/1994 / Height: 5' 11" Weight: 190 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 1st (20) - OAK / 2018: AA
MLB.com OAK #12; RotoWire #355
Many evaluators tabbed Martin as the top defensive shortstop in the 2015 Draft class before the A's made him the No. 20 overall pick. While he's lived up to that reputation in the pro ranks, Martin's bat remains a work in progress, producing uneven results in his first three seasons, starting in the High A California League followed by a promotion to Double A Midland based on his defensive merits. Martin's impressive range at shortstop is a product of his athleticism, above-average speed, and first-step quickness. His arm is a clean fit at the position and enables him to make highlight-reel plays, but he's also capable of getting rid of the ball quickly while on the move, without sacrificing any accuracy. There's still some hope for Martin's bat, he shows good bat-to-ball skills, doesn't strike out much and reaches base at a solid clip. Martin began 2018 in extended spring training to recover from his second offseason knee surgery in the past three years to repair a torn meniscus, but made it back to the field quickly. He's been showing hope in 2018, hitting .285/.350/.408 with 2 HR and 14 SB in 316 AB as of July 5.
#10 Austin Dean, OF, MIA
Age: 24 DOB: 10/14/1993 / Height: 6' 1" Weight: 190 lb. / Drafted: 2012, 4th (137) - MIA / 2018: AA, AAA
MLB.com MIA #28; RotoWire #148
Dean is a disciplined hitter with a very quick swing and a knack for putting the barrel on the ball. Though he's physically strong and shows good raw power during batting practice, his flat, line drive-producing swing and line-to-line approach produce more doubles than home runs during games. Dean gets out of the box well for a right-handed hitter and shows average speed when he gets going, such as when he raced around the bases on an inside the park home run during the 2015 Arizona Fall League All-Star Game. Drafted as an infielder, Dean moved to the outfield upon turning pro and profiles best in left field, where both his range and arm strength are clean fits. In 2018, Dean had one of the more impressive months of April in recent memory, starting the season with an 11 game hitting streak during which he went 22-for-40 (.550), hitting .500/.549/.766 as far as April 24 and winning the MiLB April Player of the Month for the Double A Southern League. For the month, he led the Southern League in average (.420), hits (34), total bases (53), slugging percentage (.654) and OPS (1.120), and finished third in on-base percentage (.466) and extra-base hits (12). Dean was promoted to Triple A New Orleans on April 29. He has 8 HR across two levels, and a season slash line of .332/.397/.476 as of July 24. Slashing .357/.416/.530 in his last 325 plate appearances, Dean has gained confidence in all aspects of his game by seeing his game translate to the Pacific Coast League. With Lewis Brinson currently on the DL and a lack of true outfielders on the Marlins roster, Dean could see a promotion to the majors soon.
#11 Desmond Lindsay, OF, NYM
Age: 21 DOB: 01/15/1997 / Height: 6' 0" Weight: 200 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 2nd (53) - NYM / 2018: A+
MLB.com NYM #10
Drafted in the 2nd round in 2015, Lindsay shows solid tools at the plate. He can drive the ball to all fields and will draw walks. He runs well, and while he was hesitant because of some leg injuries early in his career, he can cover a lot of ground and play a solid center field. Lindsay is still seeing defensive reps in center field exclusively and has rare raw power for a prospect who might stay in center. His ball/strike recognition is excellent, and he could be a three true outcome center fielder as long as his lack of bat control isn't a fatal flaw in his offensive game. Trouble seeing the ball led to a rough start during his first taste of full-season ball for Class A Columbia in 2017, but after that was addressed with a new prescription, he started to hit for average and power, and his strikeout rate improved. Unfortunately, his season ended in July with ulnar nerve surgery. The first order of business in 2018 is for Lindsay to get a full season of reps in on both sides of the ball so he can continue refining his approach at the plate, his reads and routes in the outfield, and getting the green light more moving forward on the basepaths. The Mets felt good enough for an aggressive promotion to a new level, starting Lindsay this year at High A St. Lucie, where he has 2 HR, 21 RBI, and 6 SB so far in 236 AB as of July 24.
#12 Abraham Toro, 3B, HOU
Age: 21 DOB: 12/20/1996 / Height: 6' 1" Weight: 190 lb. / Drafted: 2016, 5th (157) - HOU / 2018: A+, AA
MLB.com HOU #24; RotoWire #348
The Astros drafted Toro from Seminole State in 2016, when he batted .439/.545/.849 with more homers (20) than strikeouts (18) for the Trojans. He started incorporating his legs more into his swing and went deep 15 times in 2017. Starting in the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League, Toro had 6 HR and a phenomenal 19 BB/21 K in 32 games, good for a 185 wRC+ and .952 OPS before being promoted to the Class A Midwest League, where his plate discipline continued to show, walking 13.3% of the time. His potential remains evident, and he also may be more versatile than expected, serving as a third baseman but also getting some exposure to catcher, and then serving as Quad Cities' regular second baseman during the Midwest League playoffs. A switch-hitter, Toro has a better swing from the left side but has improved his right-handed stroke. He has made consistent contact in his pro career and shown some aptitude for working walks. He was listed as a breakout candidate for 2018, and has proven that prognostication right - after accruing a slash line of .257/.361/.473 with 14 HR and 56 RBI in 296 AB for High A Buies Creek, on pace to easily break his previous high, he was promoted to Double A Corpus Christi on July 6.
#13 Roansy Contreras, RHP, NYY
Age: 18 DOB: 11/7/1999 / Height: 6' 0" Weight: 175 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2016 - NYY / 2018: A-, A
MLB.com NYY #19
The 18 year old Contreras shone in his debut for Class A Short Season Staten Island, with 32 K in 28.2 IP, 9 BB, and only 4 ER (1.26 ERA) in his first five starts of 2018. In his second start on June 24, Contreras went 6 innings allowing no runs and only 3 baserunners to 10 strikeouts. The Yankees decided they have seen plenty, promoting him to Class A Charleston on July 21. Contreras' fastball velocity has increased from 89-93 mph when he turned pro to 93-97 mph this season. He has good feel for spinning a curveball that has power and depth and shows flashes of becoming a plus pitch. His changeup featues some fade and is coming along nicely as well. The best weapon in his arsenal currently is a slider that flashes plus, noticed by Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs. Contreras' pitchability is as impressive as his stuff - he has a sound delivery and repeats it well, boding well for his future health and command. Though he's not tall, he's strong and athletic, which should help him hold up as a starter. The young fireballer has displayed nothing but dominance so far and has been comped to fellow Yankee Luis Severino. This is a pretty bold ranking, over other more established players, but he seems to be something special.
#14 Patrick Sandoval, LHP, LAA
Age: 21 DOB: 10/18/1996 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 190 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 11th (319) - HOU / 2018: A, A+
MLB.com LAA #21; RotoWire #247
Houston selected Sandoval in the 11th round of the 2015 draft and thought so highly of the tall, muscular lefty that they signed him to an over-slot deal worth $900,000, and his massive ceiling was quickly apparent. He's maintained a K/9 close to 10 in every stop of the minor leagues, but has really taken it to another level in 2018. Sandoval has found success commanding his low 90s fastball, and his secondary offerings, especially his curveball, are making significant strides from even a year ago. He dominated Class A Midwest League hitters to the tune of a 2.49 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 71 K in 65 IP, and then made the start for the West division in the Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star team. He was then promoted to High A Buies Creek on June 27, where he has continued his mastery. Through his first three appearances (2 starts) with Buies Creek, Sandoval allowed no earned runs, giving up just 4 hits over 16 IP with 20 K, continuing a streak of going without being charged with an earned run that started on May 23, a total span of 41 innings. His season line as of July 24 is up to 9-1 with 97 K over 88 IP with a 2.56 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. He was traded to the Angels as part of the Martin Maldonado deal on July 26.
#15 Emmanuel Rivera, SS, KC
Age: 22 DOB: 06/29/1996 / Height: 6' 2" Weight: 195 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 19th (579) - KC / 2018: A+
MLB.com KC #16
Rivera opened eyes in the Puerto Rican Winter League in 2016-17, leading the circuit in on-base percentage (.393) while ranking second in hitting (.330) and OPS (.806). That proved to be a prelude to a breakout last season, when he topped the Class A South Atlantic League in batting (.310) and hits (144). Rivera's hand-eye coordination and penchant for making hard contact suggest that his hitting ability is very real. He began to tap into his solid raw power more often in 2017, and he could do so even more if he adds some loft to his right-handed stroke because he hits a lot of ground balls. He also walks infrequently because he puts the ball in play so easily. One of the best all-around players in the Royals system, Rivera also offers quality defense at third base. He's agile, has sure hands and a strong arm, though he needs to cut down on his errors. He has fringy speed but runs the bases aggressively. Rivera won the 2017 Kansas City organization All-Star award for third base, and then won Rookie of the Year in the 2017-18 Puerto Rican Winter League. Rivera has taken the next developmental step up in 2018, assigned to High A Wilmington. He's dealt with some minor injuries, but has a .252 AVG, 13 doubles, 5 HR, and 42 RBI in 236 AB through July 24.
#16 Jean Carmona, SS, MIL
Age: 18 DOB: 10/31/1999 / Height: 6' 1" Weight: 183 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2016 - MIL / 2018: R+
MLB.com MIL #16
Carmona began his professional career by slashing .302/.406/.447 in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League before finishing the season in the Rookie-level Arizona League at age 17. The teenager impressed in all facets of the game, showing a blend of advanced skills to go along with loud physical tools. Carmona is a switch hitter who has shown a consistent approach and displayed power from both sides of the plate. Scouts like his strong athletic body and project him to fill out even more as he matures. What's more, he's viewed as an above-average runner and has the potential to be a basestealer with proper instruction. Carmona has the arm strength to stay in the middle of the infield and has been praised for his athleticism, instincts and overall defensive tools, although his remaining physical projection does raise some concern that he might ultimately outgrow shortstop. Set to play all of 2018 at age 18, Carmona has all the components needed to become an impactful player at the highest level. He's opened the year at the Rookie Advanced-level Pioneer League, slashing a solid .276/.321/.487 in 76 AB with 4 HR, 2 doubles, and 1 SB through July 5.
#17 Jonathan Davis, OF, TOR
Age: 26 DOB: 05/12/1992 / Height: 5' 8" Weight: 190 lb. / Drafted: 2013, 15th (445) - TOR / 2018: AA, AAA
MLB.com TOR #19
A 15th-round Draft pick in 2013 out of Central Arkansas, Davis wasn't considered much of a prospect during his first three pro seasons. He changed that perception in 2016 with a breakout performance at age 24 in the Florida State League, and then he held his own the following year over a full season in the Double A Eastern League before a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. Though he stands a diminutive 5-foot-8, Davis has excellent strength for his size and creates above-average bat speed from the right side. The result is sneaky power to all fields, though he does most of his damage to the pull side. He finished third in walks in both the High A Florida State League and Double A Eastern League in back to back years, highlighting his ability to control the strike zone and work deep counts. Davis' on-base skills also help him contribute on the basepaths, where his plus speed makes him a threat to steal 15-plus bases annually. Davis spent much of his time between the outfield corners before shifting to center field in 2017. Though he took quickly to the position and made overall strides as a defender in the process, he's likely to be a better long-term fit in left field on account of his below-average arm. He was leading or close to leading the Double A Eastern League in several categories (doubles, hits, stolen bases) through the first few months, neck and neck with fellow Fisher Cat and elite prospect Bo Bichette, and also hit for the first cycle in the club's history on June 26, before receiving a deserved promotion to Triple A Buffalo on July 12. He's gotten off to a hot start there, slashing .353/.405/.441 with 4 SB through July 24.
#18 Roberto Ramos, 1B, COL
Age: 23 DOB: 12/28/1994 / Height: 6' 5" Weight: 220 lb. / Drafted: 2014, 16th (473) - COL / 2018: A+, AA
MLB.com COL #24
Ramos is a tall, full-bodied slugger. Ramos has prodigious raw power and will have to rely on it to carry him to the big leagues. He can drive the ball out of the park to all fields, though he'll have to prove that he can make consistent contact against upper-level pitching. His left-handed swing can get long and he can get pull-happy, but he has made some improvements with his stroke and approach in 2018. Hard work has turned Ramos into a respectable first baseman with soft hands and average arm strength. He can't play anywhere else, however, because his well below-average speed would make him a liability in left field. The Rockies have a logjam of first-base prospects in their system, so he'll have to keep mashing to stand out. He added more muscle in the offseason, and it's paying dividends in 2018. Ramos destroyed High A pitching to start this year, hitting .304/.411/.640 with 17 HR in 214 AB, and winning the California League All-Star Game's Home Run Derby. He was then promoted to Double A Hartford on June 21, where he has continued his barrage, hitting 4 more HR in his first two games there. As of July 24, his season slash line sits at .286/.397/.626, giving him an outstanding 1.023 OPS, and his 25 HR put him second in all of the minor leagues.
#19 Jared Oliva, OF, PIT
Age: 22 DOB: 11/27/1995 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 187 lb. / Drafted: 2017, 7th (208) - PIT / 2018: A+
MLB.com PIT #25; RotoWire #210
Oliva has a premium athlete's build, runs well enough to have a chance to stay in center field, and has above-average raw power. He's willing to draw walks, his speed has worked for him well on the basepaths, and he continues to work on the consistency of his reads and routes in the outfield. Oliva skipped rookie ball completely, getting assigned right to the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League out of the 2017 draft. He has spent 2018 with High A Bradenton, a major vote of confidence by the Pirates. Oliva was particularly hot in May, with a slash line of .342/.412/.632. He's tapped into his power much more this season to go along with his considerable speed, with 9 HR and 28 SB in 325 AB as of July 24. Oliva is slashing .283/.367/.455, leading the Florida State League in steals, third in doubles (21), 7th in hits (92) and tied for 5th in total bases (148). A promotion to Double A is expected soon, another step forward in his speedy development.
#20 Sterling Sharp, RHP, WAS
Age: 23 DOB: 05/30/1995 / Height: 6' 4" Weight: 170 lb. / Drafted: 2016, 22nd (664) - WAS / 2018: A+, AA
MLB.com WAS #14
Sharp stands out on the mound for his blend of athleticism, stuff and remaining projection. The 6 foot 4 right-hander pitches with a low 90s fastball that features exceptional sink and nets him a plethora of weak, ground-ball outs. Sharp pairs his heater with a quality changeup, giving him two above-average offerings, and the Nationals have been pleased with his development of a slider. Sharp possesses average control and command because he repeats his delivery and arm action well. That feel for pounding the zone allows for Sharp's three pitch mix to play up, and he's proved adept at keeping the ball in the park. While he remains a work in progress overall, Sharp's impressive development and remaining projection has led some evaluators to peg him as a future back-end starter at the highest level. In 2017, Sharp had a 15.6% line drive rate, 2.08 GB/FB, and a 5.0% walk rate, sharpness that earned him "Best Control" in the Nationals system by Baseball America that year. His 14.9% swinging strike rate was the ninth best in the minors last season among starters with at least 100 innings pitched. If he can learn to pitch around the zone more often then he could be a true strikeout threat, but this could lead to a higher walk rate. If he can continue to miss bats and show good command, then he could be a genuine diamond in the rough. After pitching well in the High A Carolina League to begin 2018, Sharp was promoted to Double A Harrisburg on June 24.
#21 Logan Webb, RHP, SF
Age: 21 DOB: 11/18/1996 / Height: 6' 2" Weight: 220 lb. / Drafted: 2014, 4th (118) - SF / 2018: A+
MLB.com SF #12
The Giants paid Webb an above slot $600,000 bonus in the fourth round of 2014 to divert him from a college commitment, only to see him succumb to Tommy John surgery shortly after reaching full-season ball in '16. The Giants have been careful bringing Webb back from Tommy John surgery, and he’s rewarded them with big stuff, starter's repertoire, and great performance for High A San Jose in 2018. Regaining the fastball velocity he had before having his elbow reconstructed, Webb works at 92-95 mph and can reach 97 mph. His breaking ball is somewhat slurvy, more notable for its low 80s velocity than its break. His changeup is still a work in progress and can get too firm at times. San Francisco will continue to develop him as a starter to get him some much-needed innings.
#22 Bruce Zimmermann, LHP, ATL
Age: 23 DOB: 2/9/1995 / Height: 6' 2" Weight: 215 lb. / Drafted: 2017, 5th (140) - ATL / 2018: A, AA
MLB.com ATL NR
Zimmermann was a value signing by the Braves in the 5th round of 2017, a senior with no leverage to go back to school. However, he's pitching like a player who deserved to be taken far higher, in the midst of a breakout in 2018. Zimmermann's fastball runs into the low 90s, with a curve and changeup in his repertoire as well; however, his best pitch is a heavy sinker. He was leading all of the minor leagues in strikeouts until well into June, and has five starts with 9 Ks or more. May was particularly filthy for the lefty, with 53 K in 36.2 IP over six starts. Pitching in a talented rotation for Class A Rome, he's distinguishing himself instead of getting lost amongst the ranks of the Braves' endless pitching prospects. Zimmermann had 99 K in 84.2 IP, equaling a K/9 of over 10, with a crisp 2.76 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, before getting promoted to Double A Mississippi on June 28. His Double A debut on June 29 couldn't have gone much better: 6.1 IP while giving up just one run on four hits and three walks, and striking out 10. Zimmermann is proving that he's a name to keep an eye on, eighth in all the minor leagues with 123 K as of July 24, and a strong 10.4 K/9.
#23 Elvin Rodriguez, RHP, DET
Age: 20 DOB: 3/31/1998 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 160 lb. / Signed: 2014 - LAA / 2018: A
MLB.com DET NR; RotoWire #193
Signed out of the Dominican Republic as a 16 year old in 2014, Rodriguez earned 2017 Rookie Advanced-level Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year by going 5-1 with a 2.50 ERA in 11 starts. He finished the year at Class A Burlington, ending with a 5-3 record and 2.91 ERA to go with 61 strikeouts over 68 innings. He was traded to Tigers in September 2017 as part of the Justin Upton deal. Rodriguez has a wiry, projectable frame and should improve his already above-average stuff as he fills out and refines his feel for release. He's more likely to remain a starter than a lot of the other pitching prospects in Detroit's system, and there's a non-zero chance he grows into mid-rotation stuff. He has a 4.10 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 79 K in 79 IP in 2018 for Class A West Michigan as of July 24.
#24 Luis Pena, RHP, LAA
Age: 22 DOB: 08/24/1995 / Height: 5' 11" Weight: 190 lb. / Signed: Oct. 2, 2013 - LAA / 2018: AA, AAA
MLB.com LAA #20
While Pena's Angels career began inauspiciously with a 50-game PED suspension, he's been able to make that a distant memory by making steady progress up the organizational ladder. He spent his first two summers pitching solely in relief, but when he was given the chance to start in 2016, he settled in and made it to Double A in 2017. The 5'11" right hander missed a ton of bats, leading the organization in strikeouts across the two levels he pitched in and finishing with a K/9 over 10 for the second year in a row. His low 90s fastball plays up because of its sink and run and he backs it up with a nasty slider that flashes plus and serves as a true out pitch. He has some feel for his changeup, but it has been inconsistent. Pena will continue to get the opportunity to start so he can keep working on his changeup and his command. If they improve, he has the chance to start in the big leagues. If not, that fastball-slider combination would surely work well back in the bullpen. In 2018, he's progressed further - after showing his typical high K rate in Double A, Pena was promoted to Triple A Salt Lake on June 16.
#25 Jimmy Lambert, RHP, CWS
Age: 23 DOB: 11/18/1994 / Height: 6' 2" Weight: 170 lb. / Drafted: 2016, 5th (146) - CWS / 2018: A+, AA
MLB.com CWS #20
The Mountain West Conference co-pitcher of the year as a college junior in 2016, he signed with the White Sox as a fifth-rounder that June. Lambert doesn't have a plus pitch but keeps batters off balance by mixing four offerings. His two best pitches are a low 90s fastball that can reach 96 mph and a solid curveball. His changeup helps him hold his own against left-handers and he also throws a decent slider. Lambert avoids beating himself by limiting walks and home runs. After struggling when he first got to High A midway through his first full pro season, he fared much better in his return to that level in 2018, and was promoted further to Double A Birmingham on June 27. His line for the season between two levels is a 3.67 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 18 starts, totaling 110 K over 95.2 innings.
#26 David Parkinson, LHP, PHI
Age: 22 DOB: 12/14/1995 / Height: 6' 2" Weight: 210 lb. / Drafted: 2017, 12th (353) - PHI / 2018: A
MLB.com PHI #21
Parkinson was Mississippi's ace in his junior year and garnered enough attention for the Phillies to take him in the 12th round of the 2017 Draft and go above pick value to sign him for $250,000. He's rewarded the organization's faith in him by having a very strong first full season in pro ball. Parkinson's stuff is average across the board, but he really knows how to use his weapons well. He has a good feel to pitch to both sides of the plate, using a 90-93 mph fastball effectively. He complements it with an average curveball and a changeup that flashes a tick above average. He pitches against the count frequently and effectively and is very good at sticking with his gameplan. The Phillies have been pleased with how polished Parkinson has been and how he has a true sense of who he is on the mound. He's the type of pitchability lefty whose whole is greater than the sum of his parts. He's gone 8-1 for Class A Lakewood in 2018, with a 1.51 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, and an impressive 108 K over 89.1 innings.
#27 Randy Cesar, 3B, HOU
Age: 23 DOB: 1/11/1995 / Height: 6' 1" Weight: 180 lb. / Signed: July 15, 2011 - HOU / 2018: AA
MLB.com HOU #30; RotoWire #358
Cesar is an athletic third baseman with a plus arm, above-average raw power, and a pretty simple, pull-heavy swing that lets him torch mistakes up in the zone. Cesar began 2016 with Class A Short Season, where he led the league in average and had a nine game on base streak going when he was promoted to Class A Quad Cities in July. In 2017, he hit .297/.350/.403 between Class A and High A, again receiving a promotion midseason. In 2018, Cesar was assigned straight to the Double A Texas League, and has taken another real step forward. He's been an on base machine for Double A Corpus Christi, with an incredible 42 game hitting streak from May through June. This broke a 49-year-old league record held by Bobby Trevino, who had a 37 game streak with El Paso in 1969. He has strong makeup and picked up English quickly after turning pro. His season slash line sits at an impressive .321/.368/.481 in his first full season at the Double A level as of July 24.
#28 Luis Santana, 2B, NYM
Age: 19 DOB: 07/20/1999 / Height: 5' 8" Weight: 175 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2016 - NYM / 2018: R+
MLB.com NYM #27
Two things stand out for Santana: his knack for contact and his high-energy play. His career has been brief, but he's always hit, with a quick swing and very few strikeouts. He might never be a huge power guy, but he is capable of driving the ball with more strength than you'd expect, and he already is showing a very advanced approach at the plate and a willingness to draw walks. He's an average runner who should be capable enough at second defensively. Santana loves to compete and his makeup, when combined with his hit tool, gave the Mets confidence to jump him over the Gulf Coast League up to the Rookie Advanced-level Appalachian League in 2018, where he is having a huge debut as one of the league's best hitters. That ability to swing the bat should carry him up the ladder, and if he can maintain that approach, a future as an everyday offensive-minded second baseman awaits. He's slashing .364/.469/.471 with 2 HR and 3 SB in 121 AB, impressive numbers for the young undersized dynamo.
#29 Jhonathan Diaz, LHP, BOS
Age: 21 DOB: 09/13/1996 / Height: 6' 0" Weight: 170 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2013 - BOS / 2018: A
MLB.com BOS #24
As an amateur in Venezuela, Diaz intrigued scouts with his ability to throw with nearly the same velocity right-handed as left-handed. The Red Sox made him a full-time southpaw after signing him for $600,000 in 2013, and he has shown impressive polish for his age ever since. Diaz's fastball has jumped from 85-89 mph when he signed to 89-93 with room for more projection, and it's notable for its sinking movement. He logged a 1.8 groundout/flyout ratio in his first three pro seasons, missing 2015 after blowing out his right knee during a fielding drill. He does a good job of maintaining his arm speed when he throws his solid changeup and also shows some feel for spinning an average curveball. Diaz is athletic and repeats his effortless delivery. He fills the strike zone but will need to find a way to miss more bats as he faces more advanced hitters. While he doesn't have a huge ceiling, he has a high floor with a reasonable chance to become a back of the rotation starter. In 2018, he's opened with Class A Greenville, striking out 100 over 102.1 innings, and even received a cup of coffee with High A Salem in June.
#30 Jordan Balazovic, RHP, MIN
Age: 19 DOB: 09/17/1998 / Height: 6' 4" Weight: 175 lb. / Drafted: 2016, 5th (153) - MIN / 2018: A
MLB.com MIN #26
The Twins thought enough of Balazovic to take him in the fifth round of the 2016 Draft and go over pick value to sign him for $515,000. Balazovic has filled out considerably since he signed, now weighing 194 pounds with his 6'4" frame. That has allowed him to add more consistent velocity on his fastball, which he now throws in the 90-96 mph range, averaging 93 mph. While he had more of a curveball as an amateur, he rarely uses it, instead going to a harder slider he learned in extended spring ball that he throws 81-84 mph with good two-plane action. His changeup is still a little firm but it has good action at times and it could give him a third average pitch in time. Patience will continue to be key for the right hander, who will still be just 19 years old for all of the 2018 season. He's been outstanding for Class A Cedar Rapids in 2018, going 5-1 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, with 53 K over 39.2 IP. His best performance came on June 11, when he struck out 11 over 7 innings, allowing just one run and no walks. Based on the progress Balazovic has shown to date, the Twins feel they have a future starter on their hands, and one who is aggressive on the mound with excellent presence.
#31 Delvin Perez, SS, STL
Age: 19 DOB: 11/24/1998 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 175 lb. / Drafted: 2016, 1st (23) - STL / 2018: A-
MLB.com STL #26
Perez's story is well known: Thought to be a potential top 10 pick in the 2016 Draft, his stock was hurt after a positive test for a PED. The Cardinals took a chance and drafted him closer to the end of that first round, but while he did show some tools during his pro debut that summer, he struggled in 2017 and his summer ended with a broken hand in early August. However, he had a productive offseason once his hand healed, playing for Team Puerto Rico in the Pan American U-23 Baseball Championship to earn a spot in next fall's World Cup. In addition to getting him more playing time, the Cardinals wanted to make sure he worked on getting more physical. Perez has solid bat-to-ball skills and drew some walks, even when struggling. Some evaluators worry he won't be able to add the strength necessary to hit, but the Cardinals see strength in his hands and forearms and think his build will allow him to add good weight. There's no question about Perez's defense. He has plus speed and outstanding range, to go along with above average hands and a plus arm when he needs to. Perez is opening 2018 in the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League, with 26 hits, 17 walks, and 4 SB in 27 games so far as of July 24. Still just 19, there's time yet, and Cardinals fanblogs see promise in his plate discipline and stolen base ability so far in pro ball.
#32 Quentin Holmes, OF, CLE
Age: 19 DOB: 07/07/1999 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 175 lb. / Drafted: 2016, 2nd (55) - CLE / 2018: R
MLB.com CLE #30
The Indians went for pure upside with their first pick in 2016, selecting Holmes, arguably the class' fastest player. The 2016-17 Gatorade Player of the Year for New York, he made his pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he showed impressive tools. Holmes is a true top-of-the-scale runner, possessing elite, 80-grade speed. Holmes will show bat speed, feel for the barrel and even some raw power to his pull side. Scouts believe he will impact the baseball more consistently once he's added strength to his lean frame. Holmes' speed makes him a basestealing threat and gives him range in center field, where he could develop into a plus defender. Whether Holmes reaches his lofty ceiling will depend on the development of his hit tool in the coming years. If it comes along enough, he could be the kind of dynamic leadoff hitter teams covet. Holmes has reported back to the Arizona League for 2018 to continue refining his skills.
#33 Nick Margevicius, LHP, SD
Age: 22 DOB: 6/18/1996 / Height: 6' 5" Weight: 220 lb. / Drafted: 2017, 7th (198) - SD / 2018: A, A+
MLB.com SD NR
Margevicius has a workhorse's body, at 6'5" and 220 lb. The left hander was taken by the Padres in the 7th round of the 2017 draft. He spent three seasons at Rider University, putting up a 3.18 ERA over 229.1 IP, striking out 196 batters and walked 62, good for a 3.2 K/BB ratio. He never walked more than 22 batters in a single season at Rider, showing good command. Margevicius utilizes a low 90s fastball, changeup, and curveball. He made it out of rookie ball in his first season, ending the year at Class A Short Season Tri-City. He posted a sparkling 1.31 ERA over 10 starts, walking just 8 batters, leading to an amazing 11.6 K/9 and a 7.75 K/BB. In 2018, his success has continued - through the end of May, he was striking out more than 30% of hitters while walking only 4.2%, cementing himself as one of the breakout prospects of the Padres system. On July 5, he was promoted to High A Lake Elsinore to continue his development. As of July 24, his season line is 7-6 and a 3.18 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, with 100 K in 93.1 IP.
#34 Ibandel Isabel, OF, CIN
Age: 23 DOB: 6/20/1995 / Height: 6' 4" Weight: 225 lb. / Signed: April 5, 2013 - LAD / 2018: A+
MLB.com CIN NR
Isabel was a signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, and has advanced and improved each year in pro ball. Pegged as a rising star before 2017, he exploded with 28 HR that year in the Dodgers system for High A Rancho Cucamonga, winning both Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star nods for the California League. He was traded to the Reds in April 2018, shortly after the season started, and assigned to High A Daytona. Isabel has hit .251/.330/.536 with 22 HR and 50 RBI so far for Daytona in 2018 as of July 24. He hit an impressive 12 HR in his first 33 games, and at one point hitting seven homers in seven games in a June stretch. His 23 total HR ties him for fifth among all minor leaguers in 2018.
#35 Josh Rogers, LHP, BAL
Age: 24 DOB: 7/10/1994 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 220 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 11th (333) - NYY / 2018: AAA
MLB.com BAL NR
Rogers was an 11th round draft pick by the Yankees in the 2015 draft out of Louisville. Since then, he has steadily worked his way up to Triple A Scranton. Rogers' rise has been impressive - over 4 seasons in the minors, he has an ERA of 2.94 and a 1.13 WHIP. He can pitch deep into games, averaging just under 6 innings per start in 2018, and threw a complete game shutout on May 11. The southpaw prospect is a control pitcher with four pitches. His fastball peaks in the low 90s, while his curve sits around 78 MPH and a change-up in the middle at 84 MPH. Last year he developed a wipe-out slider at 88 MPH that he uses to put hitters away. He's valued more for his floor than his ceiling, but he's made his way up through the minors and is now knocking on the door of the big leagues. He was traded to Baltimore on July 24 as part of the Zach Britton deal.
#36 Trent Thornton, RHP, HOU
Age: 24 DOB: 09/30/1993 / Height: 6' 0" Weight: 175 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 5th (139) - HOU
MLB.com HOU #28
#37 Rony Garcia, RHP, NYY
Age: 20 DOB: 12/19/1997 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 200 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2015 - NYY / 2018: A, A+
MLB.com NYY NR; RotoWire #339
#38 Pablo Olivares, OF, NYY
Age: 20 DOB: 1/27/1998 / Height: 6' 0" Weight: 160 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2014 - NYY / 2018: A, A+
MLB.com NYY NR; RotoWire #346
#39 Ezequiel Duran, 2B, NYY
Age: 19 DOB: 5/22/1999 / Height: 5' 11" Weight: 185 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2017 - NYY / 2018: R+
MLB.com NYY NR
#40 Zach Rutherford, SS, TB
Age: 22 DOB: 3/13/1996 / Height: 6' 2" Weight: 180 lb. / Drafted: 2017, 6th (169) - TB / 2018: A
MLB.com TB NR; RotoWire #375
Brandon Woodruff, RHP, MIL (66 IP at MLB level)
Lourdes Gurriel Jr, 2B, TOR (over 23 years old from a foreign league)
Mark Zagunis, OF, CHC (pre-arb)
Tanner Scott, LHP, BAL (pre-arb)
Franmil Reyes, OF, SD (pre-arb)
Matt Koch, RHP, ARI (pre-arb)
Nick Kingham, RHP, PIT (service time)
Sources:
MLB.com Top 100 and Top 30 Team Prospects Midseason Update, July 26
Baseball America Midseason Top 100 Update, June 29
RotoWire Top 400 Prospects, June 27
Dynasty Guru Top 240 Fantasy Prospects, June 15
FanGraphs Updated Top 131 Prospects, June 11
All stats as of July 24, 2018, unless otherwise noted.
#1 Justus Sheffield, LHP, NYY
Age: 22 DOB: 05/13/1996 / Height: 6' 0" Weight: 200 lb. / Drafted: 2014, 1st (31) - CLE / 2018: AA, AAA
MLB.com #28, NYY #1, LHP #3; Baseball America #22; RotoWire #115; Dynasty Guru #38; FanGraphs #30
Despite standing just 6 feet, Sheffield packs lightning in his left arm. His fastball can sit in the mid-90s, and he has touched as high as 98 MPH. Sheffield's fastball generates plenty of swings and misses thanks to intense riding life and a deceptive delivery. He couples the pitch with a slider and changeup that both project as above-average to plus. His slider, which sits in the mid-80s, ranks slightly ahead of his changeup, which sits in the high 80s. His slider in particular is plus, and he sequences and locates it well. Sheffield missed the final two months of 2017 with a strained oblique, so the Yankees sent him to the Arizona Fall League to make up innings, where he was one of the best pitchers. After starting 2018 in Double A with 39 K in 28 IP with a 2.25 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, the Yankees promoted him to Triple A on May 3. As of July 24, he has 60 K in 62.2 IP with a 2.44 ERA and 1.16 WHIP for Triple A Scranton. Even as trade rumors swirl around the Yankees this year, Sheffield is one prospect that fans are clamoring should remain untouchable.
- 2015 Class A Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star
- 2015 MiLB Organization All-Star (CLE)
- 2016 High A Carolina League Mid-Season All-Star
- 5/28/2017 Double A Eastern League Pitcher of the Week
- 6/18/2017 Double A Eastern League Pitcher of the Week
- 2017 Double A Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star
- 2017 Arizona Fall League All-Prospect Team
- 2017 Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Team
- 2018 Futures Game (U.S.)
#2 Jonathan Loaisiga, RHP, NYY
Age: 23 DOB: 11/02/1994 / Height: 5' 11" Weight: 165 lb. / Signed: Sept. 13, 2012 - SF / 2018: A+, AA, AAA, MLB
MLB.com #77 NYY #3; Baseball America #69; RotoWire #89; Dynasty Guru #167
Signed by the Giants out of Nicaragua in 2012, Loaisiga made a promising pro debut in 2013 before missing the next two years with injuries and getting released in May 2015. The Yankees signed him in February 2016 after he threw 95 MPH during a tryout, but he made just one start in low Class A that May before injuring his elbow and requiring Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2017 and showed enough during 11 brief regular-season starts and instructional league to claim a spot on New York's 40 man roster in November. Loaisiga sits 94-96, touching 98 MPH along with an easy plus curveball and changeup that flashes average. He has a clean delivery that he repeats well, allowing him to work the bottom of the strike zone and issue just three walks in 32.2 innings last season. However, it's unlikely that many predicted the meteoric rise of "Johnny Lasagna" in 2018. He made 4 starts for High A Tampa and 6 starts for Double A Trenton, totaling 58 K in 45 IP with a 3.00 ERA and 1.13 WHIP (an astonishing four walks), and then was catapulted directly to the majors on June 15 to fill in for Masahiro Tanaka. Loaisiga was phenomenal in his first three starts in the Majors: 18 K in 14 IP with a 1.93 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. His start on June 25 at Philadelphia was the best: 8 K (15 swinging strikes) over 5.1 IP with 0 runs. When Tanaka returned on July 3, the Yankees optioned Loaisiga to Triple A Scranton.
- 4/15/2018 High A Florida State League Pitcher of the Week
#3 Luis Garcia, 2B, WAS
Age: 18 DOB: 05/16/2000 / Height: 6' 0" Weight: 190 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2016 - WAS / 2018: A, A+
MLB.com #97 WAS #3 SS #10; RotoWire #129; Dynasty Guru #196
A product of the Dominican Republic, Garcia ranked No. 9 on MLB Pipeline's list of the Top 30 international prospects for the 2016-17 signing period before signing with Washington for $1.3 million. He lived up to expectations during his impressive pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, as evaluators raved about the teenager's combination of hitting ability, speed, and defense. Garcia has a knack for making good contact across the entire field using a quick swing from the left side of the plate. A plus athlete who is a near plus-plus runner, Garcia proved an adept baserunner during his pro debut and should continue to pile up stolen bases during his ascent of the minor leagues. Garcia is also a sure-handed shortstop with quick feet and clean actions, with enough range to make all the routine plays, and plus arm strength that's a fit anywhere on the infield. He'll only get better as he gains experience, and there's little doubt among evaluators regarding his ability to stick at either middle infield position. Garcia hit .364 (32-for-88) over his last 23 games with Class A Hagerstown, including 12 multi-hit performances; however, the most exciting development for Garcia might be the emergence of some power to go along with his speed and contact skills - five of his last 12 hits were doubles, and he had a .159 ISO over that 23 game stretch, well above last season's .085 mark in rookie ball. After this torrid stretch, Garcia was promoted to High A Potomac on July 4, becoming the first player born in the year 2000 to make it to the Class A Advanced level. As of July 24, his season slash line sits at .296/.333/.393 with 3 HR and 9 SB.
- 2018 Futures Game (World)
#4 Miguel Amaya, C, CHC
Age: 19 DOB: 03/09/1999 / Height: 6' 1" Weight: 185 lb. / Signed: July 17, 2015 - CHC / 2018: A
MLB.com #97 CHC #1 C #7; RotoWire #168; Dynasty Guru #228
The Cubs handed out $1 million to land Amaya out of Panama during the 2015-16 signing period. They were attracted to his work behind the plate, his projectable 6-foot-1 frame with terrific athleticism for a catcher, and his intangibles, traits that led them to promote him to the Class A Short Season Northwest League for his U.S. debut last summer. He was the league's best defensive catcher as an 18 year old and showed offensive promise. With his agility and soft hands, Amaya is an advanced receiver for a teenager, framing and blocking pitches well, and he erased 41 percent of basestealers in the Northwest League with quick and accurate throws. His arm strength has improved further since he has signed and he could be a plus thrower once he's fully developed. Amaya caught for Yu Darvish in late June during one of Darvish's rehab starts, framing the movement of Darvish's pitches without issue. Offensively, Amaya's approach to hitting is geared for contact. He has promising hand-eye coordination and bat control. He often finds a way to get the bat on the ball, making sub-optimal contact rather than no contact at all. He has the physical tools to hit, and his frame suggests there will be some power. If he hits for a decent average with 12-15 homers like Chicago believes he can, he'll easily profile as a big league starter. He's proving them right so far in 2018, with 12 HR and a .272/.344/.459 line in 316 AB for Class A South Bend as of July 24.
- 2018 Class A Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star
- 2018 Futures Game (World)
#5 Ryan Helsley, RHP, STL
Age: 24 DOB: 07/18/1994 / Height: 6' 1" Weight: 195 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 5th (161) - STL / 2018: AA, AAA
MLB.com STL #5; RotoWire #189; Dynasty Guru HM
Helsley, taken in the fifth round of the 2015 Draft, is poised to be the first player from Northeastern State in Oklahoma to make it to the majors after a second full season that saw him pitch across three levels of the Cardinals' system. Even though he's a bit undersized, Helsley has proven to be strong and durable, a right-hander who is all about power. He relies largely on his fastball-curve combination, recording high spin rates. He's added a cutter recently that's a usable weapon and he does show some feel for his changeup. He'll touch as high as 98 MPH with his fastball, sitting comfortably around 94-95 MPH. The curve is a true power breaking ball, one that misses bats. His curve and cutter are both particularly effective against left-handed hitters when thrown down and to his glove side. There has been concern about Helsley's command, but he stays around the strike zone and gets high marks for his attention to things like fielding his position and holding runners. He's started 12 games across Double A and Triple A in 2018, striking out 78 over 67.2 innings as of July 24.
- 2015 Rookie Advanced-level Appalachian League Baseball America All-Star
- 4/24/2016 Class A Midwest League Pitcher of the Week
- 2016 Class A Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star
- 9/4/2016 Class A Midwest League Pitcher of the Week
- 2016 Class A Midwest League Baseball America All-Star
- 2017 High A Florida State League Post-Season All-Star
- 2017 High A Florida State League Pitcher of the Year
#6 Alex Lange, RHP, CHC
Age: 22 DOB: 10/02/1995 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 197 lb. / Drafted: 2017, 1st (30) - CHC / 2018: A+
MLB.com CHC #3; RotoWire #340
Lange became an immediate star at Louisiana State, going 30-9 with 403 strikeouts (second most in school history) while leading the Tigers to pair of College World Series berths in three seasons. His velocity plateaued as his college career continued and, as a junior, his fastball sat in the 89-93 range. Lange's overhand curveball was perhaps the 2017 draft's best pitch. It's already plus, arcing in with depth and power. He throws it with violence and conviction whether he's burying it in the dirt for swinging strikes or attempting to locate it in the zone, and he regularly accomplishes both. Amateur evaluators had some concerns about Lange's ability to pitch in a big league rotation, requiring better fastball command and a yet-to-develop third pitch to project him as a starter. Lange used his curveball as a crutch at LSU and never developed feel for his changeup, though a source who saw him in the Class A Short Season Northwest League, where Lange used his change more often, thought it had promising movement. And while Lange's fastball command is fringey and his delivery's violence precludes scouts from projecting upon it, pitchers like Lance McCullers have set a precedent for a curveball-heavy approach to pitching as a starter, so Lange has several clear paths to a career as a mid-rotation starter. In 2018, Lange has continued to make large strides in improving his changeup to reach his potential as a viable starter. As of July 24, through 17 starts with High A Myrtle Beach, Lange is 6-7 with a 3.61 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 78 K in 89.2 IP.
#7 Luis Oviedo, RHP, CLE
Age: 19 DOB: 5/15/1999 / Height: 6' 4" Weight: 170 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2015 - CLE / 2018: A-
MLB.com CLE #12; RotoWire #384
Signed for $375,000 out of Venezuela at the outset of the 2015-16 international period, Oviedo made his professional debut the next year in the Dominican Summer League. He made the jump stateside to the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2017 and put himself firmly on the map with his bat-missing ability, as Oviedo ranked among circuit leaders with 12.2 K/9 (first), a 28 percent strikeout rate (first) and 70 K (second) in 51.2 IP in the Rookie-level Arizona League, running his fastball up to 94 MPH and flashing an above-average 73-78 MPH 11-5 curveball and 77-78 MPH 10-4 slider. He's been incredible so far in 2018 for the Class A Short Season Mahoning Valley Scrappers, going 3-1 in 7 starts with a 0.92 ERA and 0.82 WHIP through July 24. Oviedo's 50 strikeouts through 39 innings lead the New York-Penn League, and he leads the league in ERA and WHIP as well. In his start on June 28, Oviedo set a club record with 12 strikeouts in 6 innings, giving up one run (zero earned) on two hits and walking one. He earned the league's Pitcher of the Week award in each of the first three weeks after league started for the season for his excellent performances.
- 6/24/2018 Class A Short Season New York-Penn League Pitcher of the Week
- 7/1/2018 Class A Short Season New York-Penn League Pitcher of the Week
- 7/8/2018 Class A Short Season New York-Penn League Pitcher of the Week
#8 Tyler Phillips, RHP, TEX
Age: 20 DOB: 10/27/1997 / Height: 6' 5" Weight: 200 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 16th (468) - TEX / 2018: A
MLB.com TEX #13
Phillips' fastball jumped from the high 80s to the low 90s during his senior season as a New Jersey high schooler in 2015, spurring the Rangers to lure him away from a college commitment with a $160,000 bonus in the 16th round. He graduated to full-season ball at the start of the 2017 season, playing in the Class A Short Season Northwest League, where he finished second in strikeouts (78 in 73 innings) and WHIP (1.22). Phillips sits 90-93 and will touch 95 with heavy sink, making him one of the more projectable starting pitching prospects in the system. His changeup flashes plus surprisingly often, and his curveball is projected to be above average. He's a potential mid-rotation arm if the control/command progress further and has enough stuff to project him as a No. 4/5 or multi-inning relief piece if it doesn't. 2018 has been a big step in the right direction, going 8-5 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, and 91 K in 99 IP. Most important, Phillips has only issued 11 walks, an improvement in command which has gotten him noticed in positive ways.
- 2018 Class A South Atlantic League Mid-Season All-Star
#9 Richie Martin, SS, OAK
Age: 23 DOB: 12/22/1994 / Height: 5' 11" Weight: 190 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 1st (20) - OAK / 2018: AA
MLB.com OAK #12; RotoWire #355
Many evaluators tabbed Martin as the top defensive shortstop in the 2015 Draft class before the A's made him the No. 20 overall pick. While he's lived up to that reputation in the pro ranks, Martin's bat remains a work in progress, producing uneven results in his first three seasons, starting in the High A California League followed by a promotion to Double A Midland based on his defensive merits. Martin's impressive range at shortstop is a product of his athleticism, above-average speed, and first-step quickness. His arm is a clean fit at the position and enables him to make highlight-reel plays, but he's also capable of getting rid of the ball quickly while on the move, without sacrificing any accuracy. There's still some hope for Martin's bat, he shows good bat-to-ball skills, doesn't strike out much and reaches base at a solid clip. Martin began 2018 in extended spring training to recover from his second offseason knee surgery in the past three years to repair a torn meniscus, but made it back to the field quickly. He's been showing hope in 2018, hitting .285/.350/.408 with 2 HR and 14 SB in 316 AB as of July 5.
- 2018 Double A Texas League Mid-Season All-Star
#10 Austin Dean, OF, MIA
Age: 24 DOB: 10/14/1993 / Height: 6' 1" Weight: 190 lb. / Drafted: 2012, 4th (137) - MIA / 2018: AA, AAA
MLB.com MIA #28; RotoWire #148
Dean is a disciplined hitter with a very quick swing and a knack for putting the barrel on the ball. Though he's physically strong and shows good raw power during batting practice, his flat, line drive-producing swing and line-to-line approach produce more doubles than home runs during games. Dean gets out of the box well for a right-handed hitter and shows average speed when he gets going, such as when he raced around the bases on an inside the park home run during the 2015 Arizona Fall League All-Star Game. Drafted as an infielder, Dean moved to the outfield upon turning pro and profiles best in left field, where both his range and arm strength are clean fits. In 2018, Dean had one of the more impressive months of April in recent memory, starting the season with an 11 game hitting streak during which he went 22-for-40 (.550), hitting .500/.549/.766 as far as April 24 and winning the MiLB April Player of the Month for the Double A Southern League. For the month, he led the Southern League in average (.420), hits (34), total bases (53), slugging percentage (.654) and OPS (1.120), and finished third in on-base percentage (.466) and extra-base hits (12). Dean was promoted to Triple A New Orleans on April 29. He has 8 HR across two levels, and a season slash line of .332/.397/.476 as of July 24. Slashing .357/.416/.530 in his last 325 plate appearances, Dean has gained confidence in all aspects of his game by seeing his game translate to the Pacific Coast League. With Lewis Brinson currently on the DL and a lack of true outfielders on the Marlins roster, Dean could see a promotion to the majors soon.
- 2014 Class A South Atlantic League Mid-Season All-Star
- 5/11/2015 High A Florida State League Player of the Week
- 2015 High A Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star
- 2015 Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Team
- 2016 Double A Southern League Mid-Season All-Star
- 2016 MiLB Organization All-Star (MIA)
- 4/22/2018 Double A Southern League Player of the Week
- April 2018 Double A Southern League Player of the Month
#11 Desmond Lindsay, OF, NYM
Age: 21 DOB: 01/15/1997 / Height: 6' 0" Weight: 200 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 2nd (53) - NYM / 2018: A+
MLB.com NYM #10
Drafted in the 2nd round in 2015, Lindsay shows solid tools at the plate. He can drive the ball to all fields and will draw walks. He runs well, and while he was hesitant because of some leg injuries early in his career, he can cover a lot of ground and play a solid center field. Lindsay is still seeing defensive reps in center field exclusively and has rare raw power for a prospect who might stay in center. His ball/strike recognition is excellent, and he could be a three true outcome center fielder as long as his lack of bat control isn't a fatal flaw in his offensive game. Trouble seeing the ball led to a rough start during his first taste of full-season ball for Class A Columbia in 2017, but after that was addressed with a new prescription, he started to hit for average and power, and his strikeout rate improved. Unfortunately, his season ended in July with ulnar nerve surgery. The first order of business in 2018 is for Lindsay to get a full season of reps in on both sides of the ball so he can continue refining his approach at the plate, his reads and routes in the outfield, and getting the green light more moving forward on the basepaths. The Mets felt good enough for an aggressive promotion to a new level, starting Lindsay this year at High A St. Lucie, where he has 2 HR, 21 RBI, and 6 SB so far in 236 AB as of July 24.
#12 Abraham Toro, 3B, HOU
Age: 21 DOB: 12/20/1996 / Height: 6' 1" Weight: 190 lb. / Drafted: 2016, 5th (157) - HOU / 2018: A+, AA
MLB.com HOU #24; RotoWire #348
The Astros drafted Toro from Seminole State in 2016, when he batted .439/.545/.849 with more homers (20) than strikeouts (18) for the Trojans. He started incorporating his legs more into his swing and went deep 15 times in 2017. Starting in the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League, Toro had 6 HR and a phenomenal 19 BB/21 K in 32 games, good for a 185 wRC+ and .952 OPS before being promoted to the Class A Midwest League, where his plate discipline continued to show, walking 13.3% of the time. His potential remains evident, and he also may be more versatile than expected, serving as a third baseman but also getting some exposure to catcher, and then serving as Quad Cities' regular second baseman during the Midwest League playoffs. A switch-hitter, Toro has a better swing from the left side but has improved his right-handed stroke. He has made consistent contact in his pro career and shown some aptitude for working walks. He was listed as a breakout candidate for 2018, and has proven that prognostication right - after accruing a slash line of .257/.361/.473 with 14 HR and 56 RBI in 296 AB for High A Buies Creek, on pace to easily break his previous high, he was promoted to Double A Corpus Christi on July 6.
- 2018 High A Carolina League Mid-Season All-Star
- 6/24/2018 High A Carolina League Player of the Week
#13 Roansy Contreras, RHP, NYY
Age: 18 DOB: 11/7/1999 / Height: 6' 0" Weight: 175 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2016 - NYY / 2018: A-, A
MLB.com NYY #19
The 18 year old Contreras shone in his debut for Class A Short Season Staten Island, with 32 K in 28.2 IP, 9 BB, and only 4 ER (1.26 ERA) in his first five starts of 2018. In his second start on June 24, Contreras went 6 innings allowing no runs and only 3 baserunners to 10 strikeouts. The Yankees decided they have seen plenty, promoting him to Class A Charleston on July 21. Contreras' fastball velocity has increased from 89-93 mph when he turned pro to 93-97 mph this season. He has good feel for spinning a curveball that has power and depth and shows flashes of becoming a plus pitch. His changeup featues some fade and is coming along nicely as well. The best weapon in his arsenal currently is a slider that flashes plus, noticed by Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs. Contreras' pitchability is as impressive as his stuff - he has a sound delivery and repeats it well, boding well for his future health and command. Though he's not tall, he's strong and athletic, which should help him hold up as a starter. The young fireballer has displayed nothing but dominance so far and has been comped to fellow Yankee Luis Severino. This is a pretty bold ranking, over other more established players, but he seems to be something special.
#14 Patrick Sandoval, LHP, LAA
Age: 21 DOB: 10/18/1996 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 190 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 11th (319) - HOU / 2018: A, A+
MLB.com LAA #21; RotoWire #247
Houston selected Sandoval in the 11th round of the 2015 draft and thought so highly of the tall, muscular lefty that they signed him to an over-slot deal worth $900,000, and his massive ceiling was quickly apparent. He's maintained a K/9 close to 10 in every stop of the minor leagues, but has really taken it to another level in 2018. Sandoval has found success commanding his low 90s fastball, and his secondary offerings, especially his curveball, are making significant strides from even a year ago. He dominated Class A Midwest League hitters to the tune of a 2.49 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 71 K in 65 IP, and then made the start for the West division in the Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star team. He was then promoted to High A Buies Creek on June 27, where he has continued his mastery. Through his first three appearances (2 starts) with Buies Creek, Sandoval allowed no earned runs, giving up just 4 hits over 16 IP with 20 K, continuing a streak of going without being charged with an earned run that started on May 23, a total span of 41 innings. His season line as of July 24 is up to 9-1 with 97 K over 88 IP with a 2.56 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. He was traded to the Angels as part of the Martin Maldonado deal on July 26.
- 5/6/2018 Class A Midwest League Pitcher of the Week
- 2018 Class A Midwest League Mid-Season All Star
- 6/24/2018 Class A Midwest League Pitcher of the Week
- 7/15/2018 High A Carolina League Pitcher of the Week
#15 Emmanuel Rivera, SS, KC
Age: 22 DOB: 06/29/1996 / Height: 6' 2" Weight: 195 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 19th (579) - KC / 2018: A+
MLB.com KC #16
Rivera opened eyes in the Puerto Rican Winter League in 2016-17, leading the circuit in on-base percentage (.393) while ranking second in hitting (.330) and OPS (.806). That proved to be a prelude to a breakout last season, when he topped the Class A South Atlantic League in batting (.310) and hits (144). Rivera's hand-eye coordination and penchant for making hard contact suggest that his hitting ability is very real. He began to tap into his solid raw power more often in 2017, and he could do so even more if he adds some loft to his right-handed stroke because he hits a lot of ground balls. He also walks infrequently because he puts the ball in play so easily. One of the best all-around players in the Royals system, Rivera also offers quality defense at third base. He's agile, has sure hands and a strong arm, though he needs to cut down on his errors. He has fringy speed but runs the bases aggressively. Rivera won the 2017 Kansas City organization All-Star award for third base, and then won Rookie of the Year in the 2017-18 Puerto Rican Winter League. Rivera has taken the next developmental step up in 2018, assigned to High A Wilmington. He's dealt with some minor injuries, but has a .252 AVG, 13 doubles, 5 HR, and 42 RBI in 236 AB through July 24.
- 2017 Class A South Atlantic League Post-Season All-Star
- 2017-18 Puerto Rican Winter League All-Star
- 2017-18 Puerto Rican Winter League Rookie of the Year
- 2017 MiLB Organization All-Star (KC)
#16 Jean Carmona, SS, MIL
Age: 18 DOB: 10/31/1999 / Height: 6' 1" Weight: 183 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2016 - MIL / 2018: R+
MLB.com MIL #16
Carmona began his professional career by slashing .302/.406/.447 in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League before finishing the season in the Rookie-level Arizona League at age 17. The teenager impressed in all facets of the game, showing a blend of advanced skills to go along with loud physical tools. Carmona is a switch hitter who has shown a consistent approach and displayed power from both sides of the plate. Scouts like his strong athletic body and project him to fill out even more as he matures. What's more, he's viewed as an above-average runner and has the potential to be a basestealer with proper instruction. Carmona has the arm strength to stay in the middle of the infield and has been praised for his athleticism, instincts and overall defensive tools, although his remaining physical projection does raise some concern that he might ultimately outgrow shortstop. Set to play all of 2018 at age 18, Carmona has all the components needed to become an impactful player at the highest level. He's opened the year at the Rookie Advanced-level Pioneer League, slashing a solid .276/.321/.487 in 76 AB with 4 HR, 2 doubles, and 1 SB through July 5.
- 2017 Rookie-level Dominican Summer League Baseball America All-Star
#17 Jonathan Davis, OF, TOR
Age: 26 DOB: 05/12/1992 / Height: 5' 8" Weight: 190 lb. / Drafted: 2013, 15th (445) - TOR / 2018: AA, AAA
MLB.com TOR #19
A 15th-round Draft pick in 2013 out of Central Arkansas, Davis wasn't considered much of a prospect during his first three pro seasons. He changed that perception in 2016 with a breakout performance at age 24 in the Florida State League, and then he held his own the following year over a full season in the Double A Eastern League before a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. Though he stands a diminutive 5-foot-8, Davis has excellent strength for his size and creates above-average bat speed from the right side. The result is sneaky power to all fields, though he does most of his damage to the pull side. He finished third in walks in both the High A Florida State League and Double A Eastern League in back to back years, highlighting his ability to control the strike zone and work deep counts. Davis' on-base skills also help him contribute on the basepaths, where his plus speed makes him a threat to steal 15-plus bases annually. Davis spent much of his time between the outfield corners before shifting to center field in 2017. Though he took quickly to the position and made overall strides as a defender in the process, he's likely to be a better long-term fit in left field on account of his below-average arm. He was leading or close to leading the Double A Eastern League in several categories (doubles, hits, stolen bases) through the first few months, neck and neck with fellow Fisher Cat and elite prospect Bo Bichette, and also hit for the first cycle in the club's history on June 26, before receiving a deserved promotion to Triple A Buffalo on July 12. He's gotten off to a hot start there, slashing .353/.405/.441 with 4 SB through July 24.
- 2016 MiLB Organization All-Star (TOR)
- 2018 Double A Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star
#18 Roberto Ramos, 1B, COL
Age: 23 DOB: 12/28/1994 / Height: 6' 5" Weight: 220 lb. / Drafted: 2014, 16th (473) - COL / 2018: A+, AA
MLB.com COL #24
Ramos is a tall, full-bodied slugger. Ramos has prodigious raw power and will have to rely on it to carry him to the big leagues. He can drive the ball out of the park to all fields, though he'll have to prove that he can make consistent contact against upper-level pitching. His left-handed swing can get long and he can get pull-happy, but he has made some improvements with his stroke and approach in 2018. Hard work has turned Ramos into a respectable first baseman with soft hands and average arm strength. He can't play anywhere else, however, because his well below-average speed would make him a liability in left field. The Rockies have a logjam of first-base prospects in their system, so he'll have to keep mashing to stand out. He added more muscle in the offseason, and it's paying dividends in 2018. Ramos destroyed High A pitching to start this year, hitting .304/.411/.640 with 17 HR in 214 AB, and winning the California League All-Star Game's Home Run Derby. He was then promoted to Double A Hartford on June 21, where he has continued his barrage, hitting 4 more HR in his first two games there. As of July 24, his season slash line sits at .286/.397/.626, giving him an outstanding 1.023 OPS, and his 25 HR put him second in all of the minor leagues.
- 8/31/2015 Class A South Atlantic League Player of the Week
- 5/6/2018 High A Carolina League Player of the Week
- May 2018 High A Carolina League Player of the Month
- 2018 High A California League Mid-Season All-Star
#19 Jared Oliva, OF, PIT
Age: 22 DOB: 11/27/1995 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 187 lb. / Drafted: 2017, 7th (208) - PIT / 2018: A+
MLB.com PIT #25; RotoWire #210
Oliva has a premium athlete's build, runs well enough to have a chance to stay in center field, and has above-average raw power. He's willing to draw walks, his speed has worked for him well on the basepaths, and he continues to work on the consistency of his reads and routes in the outfield. Oliva skipped rookie ball completely, getting assigned right to the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League out of the 2017 draft. He has spent 2018 with High A Bradenton, a major vote of confidence by the Pirates. Oliva was particularly hot in May, with a slash line of .342/.412/.632. He's tapped into his power much more this season to go along with his considerable speed, with 9 HR and 28 SB in 325 AB as of July 24. Oliva is slashing .283/.367/.455, leading the Florida State League in steals, third in doubles (21), 7th in hits (92) and tied for 5th in total bases (148). A promotion to Double A is expected soon, another step forward in his speedy development.
#20 Sterling Sharp, RHP, WAS
Age: 23 DOB: 05/30/1995 / Height: 6' 4" Weight: 170 lb. / Drafted: 2016, 22nd (664) - WAS / 2018: A+, AA
MLB.com WAS #14
Sharp stands out on the mound for his blend of athleticism, stuff and remaining projection. The 6 foot 4 right-hander pitches with a low 90s fastball that features exceptional sink and nets him a plethora of weak, ground-ball outs. Sharp pairs his heater with a quality changeup, giving him two above-average offerings, and the Nationals have been pleased with his development of a slider. Sharp possesses average control and command because he repeats his delivery and arm action well. That feel for pounding the zone allows for Sharp's three pitch mix to play up, and he's proved adept at keeping the ball in the park. While he remains a work in progress overall, Sharp's impressive development and remaining projection has led some evaluators to peg him as a future back-end starter at the highest level. In 2017, Sharp had a 15.6% line drive rate, 2.08 GB/FB, and a 5.0% walk rate, sharpness that earned him "Best Control" in the Nationals system by Baseball America that year. His 14.9% swinging strike rate was the ninth best in the minors last season among starters with at least 100 innings pitched. If he can learn to pitch around the zone more often then he could be a true strikeout threat, but this could lead to a higher walk rate. If he can continue to miss bats and show good command, then he could be a genuine diamond in the rough. After pitching well in the High A Carolina League to begin 2018, Sharp was promoted to Double A Harrisburg on June 24.
- 2018 High A Carolina League Mid-Season All-Star
#21 Logan Webb, RHP, SF
Age: 21 DOB: 11/18/1996 / Height: 6' 2" Weight: 220 lb. / Drafted: 2014, 4th (118) - SF / 2018: A+
MLB.com SF #12
The Giants paid Webb an above slot $600,000 bonus in the fourth round of 2014 to divert him from a college commitment, only to see him succumb to Tommy John surgery shortly after reaching full-season ball in '16. The Giants have been careful bringing Webb back from Tommy John surgery, and he’s rewarded them with big stuff, starter's repertoire, and great performance for High A San Jose in 2018. Regaining the fastball velocity he had before having his elbow reconstructed, Webb works at 92-95 mph and can reach 97 mph. His breaking ball is somewhat slurvy, more notable for its low 80s velocity than its break. His changeup is still a work in progress and can get too firm at times. San Francisco will continue to develop him as a starter to get him some much-needed innings.
- 2018 High A California League Mid-Season All-Star
#22 Bruce Zimmermann, LHP, ATL
Age: 23 DOB: 2/9/1995 / Height: 6' 2" Weight: 215 lb. / Drafted: 2017, 5th (140) - ATL / 2018: A, AA
MLB.com ATL NR
Zimmermann was a value signing by the Braves in the 5th round of 2017, a senior with no leverage to go back to school. However, he's pitching like a player who deserved to be taken far higher, in the midst of a breakout in 2018. Zimmermann's fastball runs into the low 90s, with a curve and changeup in his repertoire as well; however, his best pitch is a heavy sinker. He was leading all of the minor leagues in strikeouts until well into June, and has five starts with 9 Ks or more. May was particularly filthy for the lefty, with 53 K in 36.2 IP over six starts. Pitching in a talented rotation for Class A Rome, he's distinguishing himself instead of getting lost amongst the ranks of the Braves' endless pitching prospects. Zimmermann had 99 K in 84.2 IP, equaling a K/9 of over 10, with a crisp 2.76 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, before getting promoted to Double A Mississippi on June 28. His Double A debut on June 29 couldn't have gone much better: 6.1 IP while giving up just one run on four hits and three walks, and striking out 10. Zimmermann is proving that he's a name to keep an eye on, eighth in all the minor leagues with 123 K as of July 24, and a strong 10.4 K/9.
- 5/20/2018 Class A South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week
- 2018 Class A South Atlantic League Mid-Season All-Star
#23 Elvin Rodriguez, RHP, DET
Age: 20 DOB: 3/31/1998 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 160 lb. / Signed: 2014 - LAA / 2018: A
MLB.com DET NR; RotoWire #193
Signed out of the Dominican Republic as a 16 year old in 2014, Rodriguez earned 2017 Rookie Advanced-level Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year by going 5-1 with a 2.50 ERA in 11 starts. He finished the year at Class A Burlington, ending with a 5-3 record and 2.91 ERA to go with 61 strikeouts over 68 innings. He was traded to Tigers in September 2017 as part of the Justin Upton deal. Rodriguez has a wiry, projectable frame and should improve his already above-average stuff as he fills out and refines his feel for release. He's more likely to remain a starter than a lot of the other pitching prospects in Detroit's system, and there's a non-zero chance he grows into mid-rotation stuff. He has a 4.10 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 79 K in 79 IP in 2018 for Class A West Michigan as of July 24.
- 2017 Rookie Advanced-level Pioneer League Mid-Season All-Star
- 2017 Rookie Advanced-level Pioneer League Post-Season All-Star
- 2017 Rookie Advanced-level Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year
#24 Luis Pena, RHP, LAA
Age: 22 DOB: 08/24/1995 / Height: 5' 11" Weight: 190 lb. / Signed: Oct. 2, 2013 - LAA / 2018: AA, AAA
MLB.com LAA #20
While Pena's Angels career began inauspiciously with a 50-game PED suspension, he's been able to make that a distant memory by making steady progress up the organizational ladder. He spent his first two summers pitching solely in relief, but when he was given the chance to start in 2016, he settled in and made it to Double A in 2017. The 5'11" right hander missed a ton of bats, leading the organization in strikeouts across the two levels he pitched in and finishing with a K/9 over 10 for the second year in a row. His low 90s fastball plays up because of its sink and run and he backs it up with a nasty slider that flashes plus and serves as a true out pitch. He has some feel for his changeup, but it has been inconsistent. Pena will continue to get the opportunity to start so he can keep working on his changeup and his command. If they improve, he has the chance to start in the big leagues. If not, that fastball-slider combination would surely work well back in the bullpen. In 2018, he's progressed further - after showing his typical high K rate in Double A, Pena was promoted to Triple A Salt Lake on June 16.
#25 Jimmy Lambert, RHP, CWS
Age: 23 DOB: 11/18/1994 / Height: 6' 2" Weight: 170 lb. / Drafted: 2016, 5th (146) - CWS / 2018: A+, AA
MLB.com CWS #20
The Mountain West Conference co-pitcher of the year as a college junior in 2016, he signed with the White Sox as a fifth-rounder that June. Lambert doesn't have a plus pitch but keeps batters off balance by mixing four offerings. His two best pitches are a low 90s fastball that can reach 96 mph and a solid curveball. His changeup helps him hold his own against left-handers and he also throws a decent slider. Lambert avoids beating himself by limiting walks and home runs. After struggling when he first got to High A midway through his first full pro season, he fared much better in his return to that level in 2018, and was promoted further to Double A Birmingham on June 27. His line for the season between two levels is a 3.67 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 18 starts, totaling 110 K over 95.2 innings.
- 2017 Class A South Atlantic League Mid-Season All-Star
- 4/29/2018 High A Carolina League Pitcher of the Week
- 7/15/2018 Double A Southern League Pitcher of the Week
#26 David Parkinson, LHP, PHI
Age: 22 DOB: 12/14/1995 / Height: 6' 2" Weight: 210 lb. / Drafted: 2017, 12th (353) - PHI / 2018: A
MLB.com PHI #21
Parkinson was Mississippi's ace in his junior year and garnered enough attention for the Phillies to take him in the 12th round of the 2017 Draft and go above pick value to sign him for $250,000. He's rewarded the organization's faith in him by having a very strong first full season in pro ball. Parkinson's stuff is average across the board, but he really knows how to use his weapons well. He has a good feel to pitch to both sides of the plate, using a 90-93 mph fastball effectively. He complements it with an average curveball and a changeup that flashes a tick above average. He pitches against the count frequently and effectively and is very good at sticking with his gameplan. The Phillies have been pleased with how polished Parkinson has been and how he has a true sense of who he is on the mound. He's the type of pitchability lefty whose whole is greater than the sum of his parts. He's gone 8-1 for Class A Lakewood in 2018, with a 1.51 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, and an impressive 108 K over 89.1 innings.
- 5/27/2018 Class A South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week
- 6/17/2018 Class A South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week
#27 Randy Cesar, 3B, HOU
Age: 23 DOB: 1/11/1995 / Height: 6' 1" Weight: 180 lb. / Signed: July 15, 2011 - HOU / 2018: AA
MLB.com HOU #30; RotoWire #358
Cesar is an athletic third baseman with a plus arm, above-average raw power, and a pretty simple, pull-heavy swing that lets him torch mistakes up in the zone. Cesar began 2016 with Class A Short Season, where he led the league in average and had a nine game on base streak going when he was promoted to Class A Quad Cities in July. In 2017, he hit .297/.350/.403 between Class A and High A, again receiving a promotion midseason. In 2018, Cesar was assigned straight to the Double A Texas League, and has taken another real step forward. He's been an on base machine for Double A Corpus Christi, with an incredible 42 game hitting streak from May through June. This broke a 49-year-old league record held by Bobby Trevino, who had a 37 game streak with El Paso in 1969. He has strong makeup and picked up English quickly after turning pro. His season slash line sits at an impressive .321/.368/.481 in his first full season at the Double A level as of July 24.
- 7/17/2016 Class A Short Season New York-Penn League Player of the Week
- 5/20/2018 Double A Texas League Player of the Week
- 2018 Double A Texas League Mid-Season All-Star
- 6/24/2018 Double A Texas League Player of the Week
#28 Luis Santana, 2B, NYM
Age: 19 DOB: 07/20/1999 / Height: 5' 8" Weight: 175 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2016 - NYM / 2018: R+
MLB.com NYM #27
Two things stand out for Santana: his knack for contact and his high-energy play. His career has been brief, but he's always hit, with a quick swing and very few strikeouts. He might never be a huge power guy, but he is capable of driving the ball with more strength than you'd expect, and he already is showing a very advanced approach at the plate and a willingness to draw walks. He's an average runner who should be capable enough at second defensively. Santana loves to compete and his makeup, when combined with his hit tool, gave the Mets confidence to jump him over the Gulf Coast League up to the Rookie Advanced-level Appalachian League in 2018, where he is having a huge debut as one of the league's best hitters. That ability to swing the bat should carry him up the ladder, and if he can maintain that approach, a future as an everyday offensive-minded second baseman awaits. He's slashing .364/.469/.471 with 2 HR and 3 SB in 121 AB, impressive numbers for the young undersized dynamo.
#29 Jhonathan Diaz, LHP, BOS
Age: 21 DOB: 09/13/1996 / Height: 6' 0" Weight: 170 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2013 - BOS / 2018: A
MLB.com BOS #24
As an amateur in Venezuela, Diaz intrigued scouts with his ability to throw with nearly the same velocity right-handed as left-handed. The Red Sox made him a full-time southpaw after signing him for $600,000 in 2013, and he has shown impressive polish for his age ever since. Diaz's fastball has jumped from 85-89 mph when he signed to 89-93 with room for more projection, and it's notable for its sinking movement. He logged a 1.8 groundout/flyout ratio in his first three pro seasons, missing 2015 after blowing out his right knee during a fielding drill. He does a good job of maintaining his arm speed when he throws his solid changeup and also shows some feel for spinning an average curveball. Diaz is athletic and repeats his effortless delivery. He fills the strike zone but will need to find a way to miss more bats as he faces more advanced hitters. While he doesn't have a huge ceiling, he has a high floor with a reasonable chance to become a back of the rotation starter. In 2018, he's opened with Class A Greenville, striking out 100 over 102.1 innings, and even received a cup of coffee with High A Salem in June.
#30 Jordan Balazovic, RHP, MIN
Age: 19 DOB: 09/17/1998 / Height: 6' 4" Weight: 175 lb. / Drafted: 2016, 5th (153) - MIN / 2018: A
MLB.com MIN #26
The Twins thought enough of Balazovic to take him in the fifth round of the 2016 Draft and go over pick value to sign him for $515,000. Balazovic has filled out considerably since he signed, now weighing 194 pounds with his 6'4" frame. That has allowed him to add more consistent velocity on his fastball, which he now throws in the 90-96 mph range, averaging 93 mph. While he had more of a curveball as an amateur, he rarely uses it, instead going to a harder slider he learned in extended spring ball that he throws 81-84 mph with good two-plane action. His changeup is still a little firm but it has good action at times and it could give him a third average pitch in time. Patience will continue to be key for the right hander, who will still be just 19 years old for all of the 2018 season. He's been outstanding for Class A Cedar Rapids in 2018, going 5-1 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, with 53 K over 39.2 IP. His best performance came on June 11, when he struck out 11 over 7 innings, allowing just one run and no walks. Based on the progress Balazovic has shown to date, the Twins feel they have a future starter on their hands, and one who is aggressive on the mound with excellent presence.
- 7/1/2018 Class A Midwest League Pitcher of the Week
#31 Delvin Perez, SS, STL
Age: 19 DOB: 11/24/1998 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 175 lb. / Drafted: 2016, 1st (23) - STL / 2018: A-
MLB.com STL #26
Perez's story is well known: Thought to be a potential top 10 pick in the 2016 Draft, his stock was hurt after a positive test for a PED. The Cardinals took a chance and drafted him closer to the end of that first round, but while he did show some tools during his pro debut that summer, he struggled in 2017 and his summer ended with a broken hand in early August. However, he had a productive offseason once his hand healed, playing for Team Puerto Rico in the Pan American U-23 Baseball Championship to earn a spot in next fall's World Cup. In addition to getting him more playing time, the Cardinals wanted to make sure he worked on getting more physical. Perez has solid bat-to-ball skills and drew some walks, even when struggling. Some evaluators worry he won't be able to add the strength necessary to hit, but the Cardinals see strength in his hands and forearms and think his build will allow him to add good weight. There's no question about Perez's defense. He has plus speed and outstanding range, to go along with above average hands and a plus arm when he needs to. Perez is opening 2018 in the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League, with 26 hits, 17 walks, and 4 SB in 27 games so far as of July 24. Still just 19, there's time yet, and Cardinals fanblogs see promise in his plate discipline and stolen base ability so far in pro ball.
#32 Quentin Holmes, OF, CLE
Age: 19 DOB: 07/07/1999 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 175 lb. / Drafted: 2016, 2nd (55) - CLE / 2018: R
MLB.com CLE #30
The Indians went for pure upside with their first pick in 2016, selecting Holmes, arguably the class' fastest player. The 2016-17 Gatorade Player of the Year for New York, he made his pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he showed impressive tools. Holmes is a true top-of-the-scale runner, possessing elite, 80-grade speed. Holmes will show bat speed, feel for the barrel and even some raw power to his pull side. Scouts believe he will impact the baseball more consistently once he's added strength to his lean frame. Holmes' speed makes him a basestealing threat and gives him range in center field, where he could develop into a plus defender. Whether Holmes reaches his lofty ceiling will depend on the development of his hit tool in the coming years. If it comes along enough, he could be the kind of dynamic leadoff hitter teams covet. Holmes has reported back to the Arizona League for 2018 to continue refining his skills.
#33 Nick Margevicius, LHP, SD
Age: 22 DOB: 6/18/1996 / Height: 6' 5" Weight: 220 lb. / Drafted: 2017, 7th (198) - SD / 2018: A, A+
MLB.com SD NR
Margevicius has a workhorse's body, at 6'5" and 220 lb. The left hander was taken by the Padres in the 7th round of the 2017 draft. He spent three seasons at Rider University, putting up a 3.18 ERA over 229.1 IP, striking out 196 batters and walked 62, good for a 3.2 K/BB ratio. He never walked more than 22 batters in a single season at Rider, showing good command. Margevicius utilizes a low 90s fastball, changeup, and curveball. He made it out of rookie ball in his first season, ending the year at Class A Short Season Tri-City. He posted a sparkling 1.31 ERA over 10 starts, walking just 8 batters, leading to an amazing 11.6 K/9 and a 7.75 K/BB. In 2018, his success has continued - through the end of May, he was striking out more than 30% of hitters while walking only 4.2%, cementing himself as one of the breakout prospects of the Padres system. On July 5, he was promoted to High A Lake Elsinore to continue his development. As of July 24, his season line is 7-6 and a 3.18 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, with 100 K in 93.1 IP.
- 2018 Class A Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star
#34 Ibandel Isabel, OF, CIN
Age: 23 DOB: 6/20/1995 / Height: 6' 4" Weight: 225 lb. / Signed: April 5, 2013 - LAD / 2018: A+
MLB.com CIN NR
Isabel was a signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, and has advanced and improved each year in pro ball. Pegged as a rising star before 2017, he exploded with 28 HR that year in the Dodgers system for High A Rancho Cucamonga, winning both Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star nods for the California League. He was traded to the Reds in April 2018, shortly after the season started, and assigned to High A Daytona. Isabel has hit .251/.330/.536 with 22 HR and 50 RBI so far for Daytona in 2018 as of July 24. He hit an impressive 12 HR in his first 33 games, and at one point hitting seven homers in seven games in a June stretch. His 23 total HR ties him for fifth among all minor leaguers in 2018.
- 2016 Rookie Advanced-level Pioneer League Mid-Season All-Star
- 2017 High A California League Mid-Season All-Star
- 2017 High A California League Post-Season All-Star
- 6/3/2018 High A Florida State League Player of the Week
#35 Josh Rogers, LHP, BAL
Age: 24 DOB: 7/10/1994 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 220 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 11th (333) - NYY / 2018: AAA
MLB.com BAL NR
Rogers was an 11th round draft pick by the Yankees in the 2015 draft out of Louisville. Since then, he has steadily worked his way up to Triple A Scranton. Rogers' rise has been impressive - over 4 seasons in the minors, he has an ERA of 2.94 and a 1.13 WHIP. He can pitch deep into games, averaging just under 6 innings per start in 2018, and threw a complete game shutout on May 11. The southpaw prospect is a control pitcher with four pitches. His fastball peaks in the low 90s, while his curve sits around 78 MPH and a change-up in the middle at 84 MPH. Last year he developed a wipe-out slider at 88 MPH that he uses to put hitters away. He's valued more for his floor than his ceiling, but he's made his way up through the minors and is now knocking on the door of the big leagues. He was traded to Baltimore on July 24 as part of the Zach Britton deal.
- 8/7/2016 High A Florida State League Pitcher of the Week
- 4/30/2017 High A Florida State League Pitcher of the Week
- 2017 High A Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star
#36 Trent Thornton, RHP, HOU
Age: 24 DOB: 09/30/1993 / Height: 6' 0" Weight: 175 lb. / Drafted: 2015, 5th (139) - HOU
MLB.com HOU #28
#37 Rony Garcia, RHP, NYY
Age: 20 DOB: 12/19/1997 / Height: 6' 3" Weight: 200 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2015 - NYY / 2018: A, A+
MLB.com NYY NR; RotoWire #339
#38 Pablo Olivares, OF, NYY
Age: 20 DOB: 1/27/1998 / Height: 6' 0" Weight: 160 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2014 - NYY / 2018: A, A+
MLB.com NYY NR; RotoWire #346
#39 Ezequiel Duran, 2B, NYY
Age: 19 DOB: 5/22/1999 / Height: 5' 11" Weight: 185 lb. / Signed: July 2, 2017 - NYY / 2018: R+
MLB.com NYY NR
#40 Zach Rutherford, SS, TB
Age: 22 DOB: 3/13/1996 / Height: 6' 2" Weight: 180 lb. / Drafted: 2017, 6th (169) - TB / 2018: A
MLB.com TB NR; RotoWire #375