The 2017 MLB Random Thoughts Thread

[Knights89]

nice six out save by Alex Wilson

had to walk two tho

 

[DeuceCypherUno]

@TrillaMonsoon told me before the season he was looking like the real deal.

he says that after every Buxton at-bat that doesn't end in a K

 

[Skooby]

@Skooby can you hook this article up?

Prospect rankings update: Who is the new No. 1?

Prospect rankings update: Who is the new No. 1?

Now that all full-season leagues are underway, here’s an update to my rankings of the top 50 prospects in baseball, my first one since the full offseason top 100 ran in January.

For in-season updates, I rank only the prospects who are currently in the minor leagues, which took out seven players on major league rosters, including three -- Andrew Benintendi, Dansby Swanson, and Josh Bell -- who have also exceeded the 130 at-bat cutoff and will no longer be on any of my prospect rankings.

This is an update rather than a re-ranking. The order of players has barely changed beyond moving players up to fill in for the ineligible names, so for each player I’ve given a quick synopsis of anything that has happened since January, where the player is right now and what I think the rest of the season might look like.

Editor's note: Ages below are as of July 1, 2017. 1. Amed Rosario, SS, New York Mets
Age: 21 (11/20/95) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 170
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: 42 | 2017 (Jan. ranking): 3

Rosario impressed the Mets enough in March that they promoted him to Triple-A Las Vegas despite his youth and the fact he played only 56 games in Double-A in his career. Vegas is a great hitters’ environment, and I expect him to put up huge numbers there that won’t tell us much either way about his development, but the promotion also implies to me the Mets want to see Rosario in the majors sooner rather than later.

2. Gleyber Torres, SS, New York Yankees
Age: 20 (12/13/96) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175
Top level: Double-A | 2016: 15 | 2017: 4

Torres was similarly impressive in spring training, spurring talk he might fill in for the injured Didi Gregorius despite never playing a game above A-ball. But common sense prevailed, and he started the season with the Double-A Trenton Thunder. At 20, he’s already one of the youngest players at the level and could see the big leagues in September.

3. Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Age: 21 (7/13/95) | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 210
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: 92 | 2017: 5

Bellinger is already in Triple-A at age 21, and he’s ready defensively to play first base in the majors, although the Dodgers currently have Adrian Gonzalez playing that spot. Bellinger could fill in for a corner outfielder at some point, or if Gonzalez gets hurt, but I think his opportunity is going to come this summer.

4. J.P. Crawford, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
Age: 22 (1/11/95) | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: 4 | 2017: 6

My ranking here hasn’t been swayed by his 2-for-19 start in Triple-A, but it would have been nice to see Crawford, a gifted shortstop who’s repeating that level at age 22, get off to a good start, because 2016 was a year of unfulfilled potential for him. To put it another way, I think he’d already be in the majors if he’d performed at Lehigh Valley last year.

5. Michael Kopech, RHP, Chicago White Sox
Age: 21 (4/30/96) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 205
Top level: Double-A | 2016: NR | 2017: 7

Kopech still has the best upside of any starter in the high minors, with the potential for three plus pitches, a No. 1 starter’s build and a delivery that works, although his command and his secondary pitches aren’t major league-ready yet. He struck out 10 of 18 batters in his first outing for Double-A Birmingham on April 8.

6. Victor Robles, OF, Washington Nationals
Age: 20 (5/19/97) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185
Top level: High-A | 2016: 49 | 2017: 8

Already in high-A at age 20, Robles stands out as the Nationals’ top prospect by a fair margin after all their offseason trades. He’s a center fielder with the potential to hit for power and do damage on the bases -- a centerpiece player who could see the majors late in 2018 if the Nats continue to move him aggressively.

7. Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox
Age: 20 (10/24/96) | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195
Top level: Double-A | 2016: 7 | 2017: 11

Devers joins Torres among Double-A’s youngest everyday players. A giant third baseman, he is the one major prospect on the Portland SeaDogs’ roster and homered in his first game at that level.

8. Austin Meadows, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
Age: 22 (5/3/95) | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 200
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: 16 | 2017: 9

Meadows struggled in his 37 games in Triple-A last year and struck out in eight of his first 16 plate appearances this year. While he’s on the cusp of the majors by level, I don’t think we’ll see him in Pittsburgh until the end of this year at the earliest. He’s the heir apparent to Andrew McCutchen’s outfield spot, but his No. 1 priority this year is playing a full season, something he has done just once in his three full years in pro ball.

9. Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago Cubs
Age: 20 (11/27/96) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205
Top level: High-A | 2016: NR | 2017: 12

Jimenez is currently out of action with a bruised shoulder, which he suffered in a major league spring training game about three weeks ago. He's likely to report to high-A Myrtle Beach when he has recovered.

10. Nick Senzel, 3B, Cincinnati Reds
Age: 22 (6/29/95) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205
Top level: High-A | 2016: NE | 2017: 15

Senzel started his first full year in pro ball in high-A Daytona, although given the track record of comparable players from recent drafts -- Kyle Schwarber, Michael Conforto, Andrew Benintendi -- he could be in the majors by the end of this season. That would mean a mid-year promotion to Double-A at the least, assuming he does to high-A pitching what those other prospects did in their first pro seasons.

11. Lucas Giolito, RHP, Chicago White Sox
Age: 22 (7/14/94) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 255
Top level: MLB | 2016: 3 | 2017: 13

Giolito had an up-and-down showing in spring training, working on restoring his old delivery and using his low-90s two-seamer more and his mid-90s four-seamer less. That transition might mean more time in Triple-A for Giolito, who had an uncharacteristic three HBP in his first outing for Charlotte.

12. Mitch Keller, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Age: 21 (4/4/96) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195
Top level: High-A | 2016: NR | 2017: 16

Last year’s biggest breakout prospect had a rough introduction to high-A over the weekend, giving up five runs in the third inning, more than he allowed in any start in the 2016 season. His stuff remains top-of-the-rotation caliber, however, and one bad seven-batter stretch doesn’t change his outlook.

13. Yoan Moncada, 2B, Chicago White Sox
Age: 22 (5/27/95) | B/T: B/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 205
Top level: MLB | 2016: 17 | 2017: 17

The White Sox bumped Moncada up to Triple-A even though he came into the year with just 53 career games above A-ball (45 in Double-A, eight in the majors), and he’s doing what he usually does, making hard contact when he makes contact and striking out more than you’d like. He’s also playing second base full time again after dabbling at third in the Arizona Fall League, before Boston included him in the trade for Chris Sale.

14. Francisco Mejia, C, Cleveland Indians
Age: 21 (10/27/95) | B/T: B/R
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 175
Top level: Double-A | 2016: NR | 2017: 18

Mejia made his Double-A debut in early April and should end up in Triple-A at the very least. A call up to the majors will depend in part on whether Cleveland has 40-man space and wants to use him at all in the postseason. I’m not concerned about whether he’ll hit at higher levels, but he will probably need to show the front office a lot of progress on defense to get that recall.

15. Jason Groome, LHP, Boston Red Sox
Age: 18 (8/23/98) | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 220
Top level: Low-A | 2016: NE | 2017: 20

The Red Sox’s first-round pick in 2016 boasted one of the best high school curveballs I’ve ever seen, and I expect him to miss plenty of bats in low-A, but he has to work on command and on developing a viable changeup before he can start to progress up the ladder. His debut for Greenville couldn’t have gone any worse: nine runs allowed in 1S innings, 14 batters faced, three walks and one strikeout, and he left the game with an injury to one of his lat muscles.
Law's 2017 Prospect Rankings

 

[Skooby]

16. Blake Rutherford, OF, New York Yankees
Age: 20 (5/2/97) | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195
Top level: Low-A | 2016: NE | 2017: 22

Rutherford’s age was a concern for a number of clubs in last year’s draft -- he was unusually old for a high school position player -- but he’s now in low-A, a level appropriate for his age, and was 8 for his first 16 with three walks and four strikeouts. He could easily end the year in high-A if he continues to rake, as I think he will.

17. Brendan Rodgers, SS, Colorado Rockies
Age: 20 (8/9/96) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180
Top level: High-A | 2016: 11 | 2017: 19

Rodgers is on the disabled list for high-A Lancaster with an undisclosed hand injury, which could be just about anything – a minor annoyance or a season-long issue. The Rockies are in a tough spot with Rodgers, who had a great year overall in 2016 but had the home/road splits typical of hitters playing in the offense-friendly environment of low-A Asheville. He won’t play in a neutral home park until he reaches Double-A.

18. Cal Quantrill, RHP, San Diego Padres
Age: 22 (2/10/95) | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 165
Top level: High-A | 2016: NE | 2017: 23

The eighth pick in last year’s draft, despite missing his entire junior year after Tommy John surgery, Quantrill started 2017 in high-A and went a career-best five innings/19 batters faced in his debut. He’ll probably be on a low innings cap this year, with just 37 innings pitched last summer, but has shown stuff and control so far that might make him the best pitcher in the 2016 draft class.

19. Anderson Espinoza, RHP, San Diego Padres
Age: 19 (3/9/98) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 160
Top level: High-A | 2016: 38 | 2017: 21

Espinoza looked good in March but ended spring training with “forearm tightness” (dun, dun, dunnnnnn!) and began the year on the DL for high-A Lake Elsinore. He’s still just 19 years old, and even if he misses a decent portion of the season, he’s still on track to see the majors before he’s 22 -- unless he suffers a major injury.

20. Clint Frazier, OF, New York Yankees
Age: 22 (9/6/94) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 190
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: 72 | 2017: 27

Frazier was sandbagged early in April by a fabricated controversy over uniform numbers, which unfortunately took the focus away from his bat, although I think that will end up doing all of the talking for him in the future. Frazier’s now in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, playing both outfield corners, and I think he’s just an injury or trade away from becoming the Yanks’ everyday left fielder.

21. Ozhaino Albies, SS/2B, Atlanta Braves
Age: 20 (1/7/97) | B/T: B/R
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 160
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: 20 | 2017: 26

Albies is a natural shortstop who has moved full time to second base to accommodate Dansby Swanson, his eventual double-play partner in Atlanta. He’ll be fine on defense, given enough reps at the position, and at age 20 he is the youngest regular in the Triple-A International League by more than a year.

22. Dominic Smith, 1B, New York Mets
Age: 22 (6/15/95) | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 250
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: 29 | 2017: 29

Smith has long had raw power that has only intermittently appeared in games. He's in Las Vegas now with Rosario, so look for some big offensive numbers thanks to the home park and perhaps a superficial power increase that won’t tell us whether Smith has taken that last step to becoming a high-OBP and high power bat. The best news on Smith is that he came into camp with the best conditioning he has shown since high school.

23. Alex Verdugo, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Age: 21 (5/15/96) | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 205
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: 51 | 2017: 31

The youngest regular in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, Verdugo isn’t as advanced at the plate as teammate Cody Bellinger, who is the fourth-youngest regular in the PCL. But Verdugo isn’t that far off from being able to help the big club either, especially if the Dodgers have an outfield opening and decide they don’t want to have Bellinger play a less familiar position in his debut. My best guess is that both make their debuts this year, but not until the second half, maybe not September if the Dodgers’ regulars stay healthy.

24. Mickey Moniak, OF, Philadelphia Phillies
Age: 19 (5/13/98) | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185
Top level: Low-A | 2016: NE | 2017: 30

The No. 1 overall pick from last June got off to a great start for low-A Lakewood, a prospect-laden roster that features three 19-year-olds in its regular lineup. Given his youth and the Phils’ rebuilding state, I don’t think they’ll be too aggressive with Moniak this year unless he obliterates Sally League pitching, which is entirely possible.

25. Kolby Allard, LHP, Atlanta Braves
Age: 19 (8/13/97) | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Top level: Double-A | 2016: 43 | 2017: 32

Atlanta had so many pitching prospects, they didn’t know what to do, so they jumped Allard and Mike Soroka from low-A up to Double-A this year so that every potential starter in the system had a rotation spot. Allard’s breaking ball is good enough that I can easily justify the move. Double-A hitters will force him to work on other parts of his game, such as fastball command, rather than allowing him to get by on the curveball alone.

26. Kevin Newman, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates
Age: 23 (8/4/93) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Top level: Double-A | 2016: 23 | 2017: 33

Newman returns to Double-A Altoona after a solid half-season there last year, so I’d expect a promotion to Triple-A around June if he continues to put the ball in play as he has so far in pro ball. The Pirates don’t have a true shortstop on the major league roster, so there’s a potential opportunity for Newman if he hits and perhaps shows a little more extra-base power this spring and summer.

27. Corey Ray, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Age: 22 (9/22/94) | B/T: L/L
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 185
Top level: High-A | 2016: NE | 2017: 34

Ray tore the meniscus in his left knee last fall and is currently in extended spring training rehabbing from the surgery. He’s likely to head to the high-A Carolina Mudcats when he returns.

28. Ronald Acuna, OF, Atlanta Braves
Age: 19 (12/18/97) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180
Top level: High-A | 2016: NR | 2017: 36

Acuna made his debut in 2015 but still has just over 100 minor league games played because of a hand injury he suffered last year that limited him to 179 plate appearances. He showed so well in spring training this year that Atlanta bumped him up to the high-A Florida Fire Frogs in the Florida State League, even though he won’t turn 20 until December. Goal No. 1 has to be a full, healthy season, but I think he’s a good enough hitter right now that he’ll see Double-A before the season ends.

29. Leody Taveras, OF, Texas Rangers
Age: 18 (9/8/98) | B/T: B/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 170
Top level: Low-A | 2016: NR | 2017: 35

Younger than several top high school prospects in this year’s draft, Taveras spent all of last year in short-season ball between the AZL and the Northwest League but made it into a few big league spring training games. He is now playing center for the low-A Hickory Crawdads, where he had already tripled his career home run total by early April (from one before this year to … well, you can do the math). He’ll probably spend the whole year there, but he’s so advanced for his age that he’s probably going to make up his own timetable.

 

[Skooby]

30. Francis Martes, RHP, Houston Astros
Age: 21 (11/24/95) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 225
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: 40 | 2017: 37

Stop trying to trade Martes to Chicago for Jose Quintana, people. Maybe it’ll happen eventually, but I think the Astros are inclined to hang on to Martes, who’s already in Triple-A and will probably help their big league club in some capacity this year. The PCL is no joke for pitchers, of course, and it’ll force him to work on fastball command and getting his front side closed more consistently. He made his debut April 10 with five scoreless innings, walking three and striking out three.

31. Lewis Brinson, CF, Milwaukee Brewers
Age: 23 (5/8/94) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: 32 | 2017: 38

Brinson was one of the main pieces in the Jonathan Lucroy deal, and when Milwaukee acquired him they promoted him right to Triple-A … which means Colorado Springs, elevation 6,035 feet, a place where breaking balls don’t. Thus, Brinson, who is extremely tooled up but has had issues with contact rate, might not get the challenge he needs. But I still love the upside here of a 30-homer bat in center, even if playing in a poor developmental park changes his timetable.

32. Walker Buehler, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Age: 22 (7/28/94) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 175
Top level: High-A | 2016: NR | 2017: 40

With Yadier Alvarez showing up to Glendale out of shape and failing to make an Opening Day roster, that makes Buehler their clear No. 1 pitching prospect. I reported on Buehler’s live BP outing before he appeared in any minor league spring training games, where he was throwing 95-98 mph with the best raw stuff I’d ever seen from him. He’s coming back from 2015 Tommy John surgery and will probably see his innings capped, which is probably why his season debut April 10 was just three innings long. He struck out four and allowed just one baserunner.

33. Isan Diaz, 2B/SS, Milwaukee Brewers
Age: 21 (5/27/96) | B/T: L/R
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 185
Top level: High-A | 2016: NR | 2017: 41

Diaz has played his first three games for high-A Carolina at shortstop, a little bit of a surprise, because he played about one-third of his games last year at second base, and nobody thinks he’s going to stay at short in the long term. He can hit, though, and at 21, he might mash his way up to Double-A Biloxi this season.

34. Braxton Garrett, LHP, Miami Marlins
Age: 19 (8/5/97) | B/T: B/L
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190
Top level: Rookie | 2016: NE | 2017: 42

The Marlins’ top prospect still hasn’t pitched in a professional game and will start out in extended spring training before an assignment, probably in May or early June, to a full-season club.

35. Willy Adames, SS, Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 21 (9/2/95) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: NR | 2017: 43

Adames is just 21 and now in Triple-A, continuing a trend where he has been young for every level. He has always outplayed his age but hasn’t had a chance to dominate anywhere. With the Rays lacking a real shortstop in St. Petersburg, however, I would bet Adames has a low bar to clear to come up and take the major league job.

36. Jorge Alfaro, C, Philadelphia Phillies
Age: 24 (6/11/93) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 225
Top level: MLB | 2016: 82 | 2017: 45

Alfaro should end the year as the Phillies’ everyday catcher, although I believe the club would like to see him work more on his receiving and game-calling, and on drawing the occasional walk, before he gets the call. He’ll turn 24 in June, old enough that it’s reasonable for the team to set a high bar for his promotion.

37. Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, San Diego Padres
Age: 18 (1/2/99) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 185
Top level: Low-A | 2016: NR | 2017: 47

Tatis, acquired in the James Shields trade last spring, had just 12 games out of the complex league coming into this season. He’s so advanced for his age that the Padres promoted him to Fort Wayne, where he’s the Midwest League’s third-youngest regular, and he has already homered. Given his youth, almost anything he does on offense this year is a bonus.

38. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B, Toronto Blue Jays
Age: 18 (3/16/99) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 200
Top level: Low-A | 2016: 40 | 2017: 48

Baby Vlad is the youngest regular in the Midwest League, and he hit the ground running with a homer, five walks and just one strikeout in his first four games. As with Tatis, anything he does this year is a positive, although he faces a larger question in the long term about his position and defensive value.

39. Alex Reyes, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Age: 22 (8/29/94) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 185
Top level: MLB | 2016: 8 | 2017: 10

I admit to not knowing quite what to do with prospects who’ve just had Tommy John surgery, because at this point we don’t really know how successful the surgery was. Reyes was a top-10 prospect before the injury, but his delivery raised concerns that I thought might lead to some sort of arm problem. And I worry that those will still be present even if his velocity returns completely when he’s back on the mound next spring or summer.

 

[Skooby]

40. Jesse Winker, OF, Cincinnati Reds
Age: 23 (8/17/93) | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 215
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: 41 | 2017: 49

Winker is supposed to be completely recovered from the hand injury that hindered him last season, limiting him to an ISO in Triple-A of just .081, and he’d probably provide an immediate offensive upgrade over incumbent leftfielder Adam Duvall, whose .297 OBP last year ate up much of the value of those 33 homers, and a huge one over bench option Patrick Kivlehan.

41. Max Fried, LHP, Atlanta Braves
Age: 23 (1/18/94) | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 185
Top level: Double-A | 2016: 96 | 2017: 50

Fried joined Allard in Soroka in making a two-level jump from low-A to Double-A. At 23, he’s the right age for his new level, and his stuff has now fully returned after 2014 Tommy John surgery and some inconsistency in his first year back. He struggled in his 2017 debut and might end up spending the whole year in Mississippi if his command, which is often the last thing to come back after TJ, is wobbly all year.

42. Carson Kelly, C, St. Louis Cardinals
Age: 22 (7/14/94) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 220
Top level: MLB | 2016: NR | 2017: 51

Kelly will probably log some time in St. Louis this year as an intern under Yadier Molina, but for now he’s in Triple-A at age 22, just his fourth season as a catcher after converting from third base. While I’m sure the Cards are most interested in his defensive development, I’d like to see some of the raw power he has shown in the past start to appear in games; he has never had 30 extra-base hits in any pro season.

43. Ian Anderson, RHP, Atlanta Braves
Age: 19 (5/2/98) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 170
Top level: Low-A | 2016: NE | 2017: 52

The No. 3 overall pick last year struck out eight of 19 batters in his 2017 debut for low-A Rome, a prospect-laden rotation that includes sandwich-round pick Joey Wentz and fourth-rounder Bryse Wilson. All three are teenagers and will probably pitch for Rome all year or until they hit their innings limits, especially Anderson, who pitched the least of all three in his senior year of high school.

44. Nick Gordon, SS, Minnesota Twins
Age: 21 (10/24/95) | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 160
Top level: Double-A | 2016: 98 | 2017: 53

Gordon continues his steady progress this year in Double-A Chattanooga at age 21, still a bit young for the level but also advanced enough at the plate that he could finish the year in Triple-A. I think he’ll have to wait until 2018 for his debut, though, because he’s not on the 40-man roster. Fun fact: Through April 11, Gordon had hit as many homers in 2017 as he did in all of 2015 in low-A (that’s one -- one home run.)

45. Anthony Alford, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
Age: 22 (7/20/94) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 215
Top level: Double-A | 2016: 52 | 2017: 55

I don’t read anything into early-season stats, I swear, but through four games for Double-A New Hampshire, Alford was hitting .750/.800/.750. That’s just hilarious. I think his season line will be somewhat below that, and maybe he could mix a double in there somewhere.

46. Ian Happ, 2B, Chicago Cubs
Age: 22 (8/12/94) | B/T: B/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 205
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: 47 | 2017: 63

Happ impressed the team enough in spring training that the Cubs chose to bump him up to Triple-A after just 65 not-great games at Double-A last year, although I think he’s ready for it. He wasn’t that far behind Andrew Benintendi or Dansby Swanson coming out of college and would probably be in the majors quickly for just about any club but the Cubs. He got off to a fast start with three homers in his first four games for Iowa.

47. Tyler Beede, RHP, San Francisco Giants
Age: 24 (5/23/93) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 210
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: NR | 2017: 62

Beede’s stuff came all the way back last year. He ditched the sinker, and he started striking more guys out, so at this point he’s really just in refinement mode, working on fastball command and re-establishing his changeup. The Giants’ current fifth starter is Matt Cain, who has a 5.77 ERA since the start of 2015 in 154 innings, and whose fastball averaged under 89 mph in his first start this year. Beede should be in that spot, maybe after just a few more starts for Triple-A Sacramento.

48. Franklin Barreto, SS, Oakland Athletics
Age: 21 (2/27/96) | B/T: R/R
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 190
Top level: Triple-A | 2016: 22 | 2017: 56

The A’s are hoping for a Barreto-efficient outcome somewhere in the middle infield for them, and he has already played both shortstop and second base for Triple-A Nashville. Acquired in the Josh Donaldson trade, which is looking a little better these days with Barreto on the cusp of the majors and Kendall Graveman suddenly gaining velocity at age 26, Barreto needs to show some defensive consistency at either spot and make better swing decisions at the plate before I’d recall him.

49. Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros
Age: 20 (1/17/97) | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 190
Top level: High-A | 2016: 67 | 2017: 57

Tucker will play the entire year at age 20, and he started out at high-A Buies Creek, one of the new clubs in the Carolina League. I know many clubs differ on whether he or Martes is the Astros’ top prospect. I see more ceiling with Martes, but I also see a very high probability Tucker becomes a regular and can understand the other perspective.

50. Mitch White, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Age: 22 (7/28/94) | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 207
Top level: High-A | 2016: NE | 2017: NR

Why not? He was the talk of Arizona this spring, and if he stays healthy, this 2016 second-rounder might shoot up the system, with two plus pitches right now and the size and delivery to be a No. 2 or better starter.

 

[Regular_P]

No Tigers...again. :kobewhatever:

 

[Ron Mexico]

Blue Jays 1-7

 

[FreedS[ohh]lave]

Can't wait till the Japanese Babe Ruth comes next year

 

[Regular_P]

It's time to DFA Anibal. It's BEEN time. :fukkit:

Zimmermann

Why didn't they just pay Max?

 

[TrillaMonsoon]

Buxton bunting then stealing. Looks all the same in that box score

There's just too much talent there for him not to figure it out

 

[TrillaMonsoon]

Pitch to Sano, brehs

 

[Regular_P]

Pitch to Sano, brehs

Pitch to Sano with Anibal Sanchez, brehs.

 

[The War Report]

I'd would love to see Otani pitch and DH at the same time.

 

[Tanahashi Coates]

The White Sox have lowkey been entertaining this entire season. I'm on board for the rebuild