Every year, after finishing my Top 100 post, I have a player or two I immediately regret not ranking higher. This year those prospects were Zack Collins, and Kyle Tucker. The funny thing is, Tucker wasn’t ranked that low at 32. Granted my prospecting brother from another mother Halp ranked him 21st, and based on last night it looks like Halp’s right. What happened last night? Welp, Tucker: Man and My Dreams, went 4 for 5 with a homer, 2 doubles, and 7 RBIs. He’s now hitting .343 in the Carolina League, can you imagine what he would have done with a full season in Lancaster? BTW Lancaster is one of the most homer and hitter friendly environments in minors, and was the class A advanced affiliate of the Astros up until this season. As for Tucker, he’s a 5×5 player’s dream, with hit tool, speed, developing power, and massive upside. Seems only appropriate that I would open this week’s Minor League Update with a native son of Tampa, while I’m on vacation here. How meta.
- One of my favorite pitching prospects in the minors, Walker Buehler, put on some what of a show last night for Rancho Cucamonga. At one point he struck out 8 straight batters, on his way to a final line of 3 IP, 2 h, 0 ER, 8 K’s. I’d love to tell you that he’ll be in the majors this year, but he’s coming off TJ, and the Dodgers handle all of their prospects with kid gloves. Trust me he’s a beast with a bevy of plus offerings.
- The Blue Jays first round draft pick T.J. Zeuch was on full display last night in Dunedin, their Florida State League affiliate. He pitched 4 scoreless innings sitting down 7 via the strikeout, while only allowing 3 baserunners (2 Bb, 1 H). His debut didn’t go so hot last week, but that’s in the rear view.
- Chance Sisco, one of the top catching prospects in the minors, was raking last night. Going 3 for 3 with 3 R, 2B, RBI, and BB, as he bats .276 for the Norfolk Tides of the AAA International League. It’s only a matter of time before Sisco starts to siphon some playing time from Wellington Castillo. He’s more of a hit tool over flash guy, with the ability to be an everyday catcher. Some say you should never doubt a hit tool.
- The Giants first pick in the 2016 draft, Bryan Reynolds, continues to do things the night I write these updates, therefore staying top of mind. He had his 3rd, 3 hit game of the season last night, as he bats .333. EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND THE NUMBER 3! The most encouraging development in Reynolds game is his improved walk rate in 2017. After walking at a sub 6% rate in his pro debut last year, he had a 13.5% walk rate entering last night’s game. Adding an advance approach to an already good hit tool, with above average power, will make me come around on a player. That’s what’s happening with Reynolds. Hey, this ain’t no poker game.
- The Mississippi Braves might have the most exciting rotation in baseball at the moment. Yesterday we saw strong showings from both Mike Soroka (6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 7 K’s, no Bb), and Max Fried (6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 K’s, 2 Bb) in a doubleheader against the Cubs AA affiliate the Tennessee Smokies. This came on the heals of a nice start from Kolby Allard on Thursday, where he went 5 scoreless innings, striking out 3, while allowing 5 baserunners. The Braves are deep with pitching, man. How deep?
- So deep, that they have a stud like Ian Anderson, last year’s #3 overall pick, going 5 scoreless, while striking out double the amount of baserunners he allowed for Class A Rome. BTW he struck out 8, you do the rest of the math.
- One of the worst parts of having this job, and being a Red Sox fan is watching prospects that Dumbrowski traded away flourish. This time it’s Mauricio Dubon, who stole 4 bases last night for AA Biloxi. BTW in case you were doubting the catcher he was running on, it was Devin Mesoraco. Who while pretty awful at throwing runners out, he’s still a MLB vet.
- I’m going out on a limb here an saying Anthony Alford will be a top 50 prospect every where by mid-season, and Top 25 heading into 2018. He hit his first AA homer last night and is hitting the seams off the ball slashing .464/.571/.607.
- It’s been a really rough beginning to the season for Ramon Laureano, but last night he got off the schnide a little hitting his first homer of the season. This is a less than ideal beginning for one of 2016’s true breakouts, and one of the buzziest performers in the Arizona Fall League.
- Maybe you can add Alex Verdugo to the list of prospects I ranked lower than I should have. He ranked 47th in my pre-season list after slotting in at 31 in my mid-season Top 100 last season. So far this year he’s hitting .394 with AAA Oklahoma City, and is 13 for 29 over his last 7 games. He’s a plus hitter, with above average power, and is just 20 years old. Between Cody Bellinger (2 for 4, 2 RBIs, 2 SB, and a double, hitting .371), Willie Calhoun ( 0 for 4), Verdugo, and Julio Urias (4.2 IP, 4 h, 2 Bb, 1 ER, and 4 K’s ERA is 3.24), this might be the most stacked team in minors.
- Is Ti’Quan Forbes the hottest hitter in the game? He connected for his 4th homer of the season last night, and is slashing a redonk .436/.500/.769 in 11 games.
- Then again, Cedric Mullins has something to say about my bold proclamation that Forbes is the hottest hitter in the minors. The 22 year old switch hitter is slashing .455/.489/.818 with 3 homers and 3 steals. Are you happy now Orioles Sean? See Razz30 managers get extra attention in my posts because we’re an unstoppable street gang of dynasty nerds. I even got my own army of trolls like the Bey-Hive. I just went up ten points in my sister’s eyes. I’m the Beyonce of prospect writers. Does that make Halp, Jay-z?
- On Friday night Padres righty Enyel De Los Santos, went 6 perfect innings striking out 7 in the process. So far the 21 year old righty is 1-0 through 2 AA starts, with an ERA of 0.75. De Los Santos was acquired from the Mariners in the Joaquin Benoit trade, and possesses a plus fastball, with developing secondaries in his curve, and change. He rarely struggles to throw strikes, but the development of his offspeed pitches will determine his ultimate ceiling. Worth a flier in deep dynasty leagues. Big shouts to Make Prospects Great Again.
- Speaking of no hit efforts, Brewers prospect, and Bartolo Colon training partner Luis Ortiz, went 5 scoreless innings yesterday afternoon striking out 5, and walking 4. The lack of control from Ortiz is a little surprising, as he’s a known strike thrower. Wow, that sort of makes strike thrower sound like a fetish.
- Anyone else have no idea who Jose Medina is? Well let me introduce you! He’s a 22 year old in A ball that went 4 for 5 last night with 3 homers, as he bats .304. No much to see here.
- On the other side of the field, Blue Jays super prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued to impress as he went 1 for 3, with a walk, and two runs scored. He’s slashing .290/.450/.516 with a couple of homers.
- Speaking of young stud prospects in A ball with boat loads of upside, 2016 GCL MVP Juan Soto is absolutely killing the Sally League thus far (.439/.477/.634 with 2 homers). He’s also struck out twice since it was noted by Halp on the prospect podcast that he was yet to strikeout. Nice going dude, way to mess up a good thing!
- No batting gloves, no problem. Sam Travis, Red Sox First base prospect hit his first homer of the season yesterday for AAA Pawtucket. If there are any injuries to Hanley or Mitch Moreland expect Travis to be up in short order. In a lot of ways he reminds me of Moreland, not a massive power hitter, but someone who knows how to hit, and enough pop to get to 20 bombs.
- So far Scott Kingery is enjoying the Royal Cozens treatment with the Reading Fightin’ Phils. After a homer yesterday he’s up to 4 in 5 games, as he slashes .313/.439/.781, with the aforementioned 4 homers, and 3 steals.
- Don’t call it comeback! Ryan McMahon is back to mashing, maybe all he needed was a comfy home park, as the Hartford Yard Goats (maybe my favorite name in baseball) finally moved into their new digs. After waiting until May to connect from his second homer last season McMahon hit his second on Friday, as he slashes .359/.409/.667. The buy low window is more than likely over, but ask you never know who’s asleep at the wheel.
- One of the most boner inducing performances of the young season, was Royals top prospect (according to me) Josh Staumont going 6 scoreless innings, of 1 hit ball, walking 2, and striking out 12 in the process. His stuff is dirt mcgirt.
- Lewis Brinson, returned from injury and homered in his first at bat. The news that the Dodgers are still sniffing around Ryan Braun, means his ETA could be very soon.
- Because I didn’t mention Easter once in this post I’ll give you an Easter joke. How do you know the Easter Bunny is smart?……HE’S AN EGGHEAD!!!! Thank you, I’ll be here all week.
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