The Rangers' system lacks many impact prospects past their big four of Josh Jung and Sam Huff on the offensive side and Hans Crouse and Cole Winn on the pitching side, but there is some depth here and a lot of potential hidden gems. On the offensive side, most of the system's depth comes at the corner infield spots, interestingly enough, as Jung, Davis Wendzel, Sherten Apostel, Jonathan Ornelas, and Curtis Terry all look like they could be future major league starters, though the system is thin elsewhere among position players after guys like Anderson Tejeda, Chris Seise, and Bubba Thompson had lost seasons due to injuries, poor performance, or both. On the mound, despite lacking a true standout (Crouse and Winn would like to claim that title but have serious question marks), there are actually a ton of guys that you could almost call sleepers. Joe Palumbo and Brock Burke have been prospects for long enough that they're pretty well known, and Tyler Phillips has started to creep onto prospect lists, but guys like Jason Bahr, Noah Bremer, Ronny Henriquez, Jake Latz, Ricky Vanasco, and others have been really flying under the radar. Unfortunately, as with the position players, injuries have been troublesome, as A.J. Alexy, Cole Ragans, and Owen White combined for just 19.1 innings this year, all thrown by Alexy.
Affiliates: AAA Nashville Sounds, AA Frisco RoughRiders, High A Down East Wood Ducks, Class A Hickory Crawdads, short season Spokane Indians, complex level AZL and DSL Rangers
Catcher
- Sam Huff (2020 Age: 22): Perhaps the best thing to happen to the Rangers system in 2019, Huff was a seventh round pick out of a Phoenix high school in 2016 then spent two unremarkable years playing complex ball in his home city before slashing a decent .241/.292/.439 with 18 home runs at Class A Hickory in 2018. Returning to the level as a 21 year old in 2019, he lasted just 30 games after slashing .333/.368/.796 with 15 home runs and a 37/6 strikeout to walk ratio, earning a promotion up to High A Down East and slashing .262/.326/.425 with 13 home runs and a 117/27 strikeout to walk ratio over 97 games there. Huff has huge raw power, perhaps up there with Joey Bart and Adley Rutschman as the most for any catcher in any system. His feel for the barrel improved remarkably in 2019, and he was able to get to it consistently enough to hit 28 home runs in pitcher-friendly leagues, but he remains far from a finished product. Huff is an extremely aggressive hitter who still has clear holes in his swing, and those were exploited a bit at times in High A this year. He's also improving with the glove and should be able to stick back there, but again, there's still work to do there. He's a classic Rangers prospect in that he has a high ceiling, one of a Gary Sanchez-type catcher, but also a lot of risk.
- Heriberto Hernandez (2020 Age: 20): It's unlikely that Hernandez sticks behind the plate, as Yohel Pozo and Randy Florentino are much better back there and much more likely to end up as backups to Sam Huff, but there's little question that Hernandez can hit. He generates a ton of torque from the right side of the plate and gets the barrel to the ball extremely quickly, and that's helped him put up monster numbers so far in his career. Combined in his two years of complex ball, he's slashed .320/.450/.635 with 23 home runs and a 101/82 strikeout to walk ratio in 113 games (.292/.464/.635 in DSL in 2018, .344/.463/.646 in AZL in 2019). Complex-level statistics can be funky because most of these guys are teenagers fresh off the island or fresh out of high school, but that kind of consistent performance over 113 games (he also went 3-8 in short season ball) combined with the simple eye test in batting practice certainly bode well for his future as a potential 20 homer, solid on-base guy. Now defensively, he could end up as a catcher, a first baseman, or a corner outfielder, and obviously his value decreases in the likely event he's not a catcher. We'll just have to see how he handles short season and perhaps Class A in his age-20 season.
- Keep an eye on: Alex Kowalczyk, Yohel Pozo, Matt Whatley, Randy Florentino
Corner Infield
- Josh Jung (2020 Age: 22): The eighth overall pick out of Texas Tech in 2019, Jung demolished complex level pitching for four games (10-17, 2B, 3B, HR) before evening out a bit at short season Spokane (.287/.363/.389, 1 HR, 29/16 K/BB in 40 games). A native Texan who grew up in San Antonio, Jung is an extremely advanced hitter who understands the strike zone, finds the barrel consistently, and can hit it hard and far. There's no question he'll be able to put up high on-base percentages in the majors, but so far, Jung hasn't translated all his hard hit balls into much over the fence power. He mostly hits line drives for now, and that helped him slash .348/.455/.576 with 32 home runs in 187 games at Texas Tech, but the Rangers are going to want him to figure out how to lift the ball and start driving it in the air. Defensively, he has a cannon arm but his range needs work if he'll want to stick at third base, and if he's moved to first, the pressure will really be on for him to develop that power. I'm not particularly worried about the power, though, and I think it will come and he'll eventually hit 20-30 home runs per season with high on-base percentages.
- Sherten Apostel (2020 Age: 21): Originally signed by the Pirates for $200,000 out of Curacao, Apostel was traded to the Rangers in the Keone Kela deal in 2018 and he's consistently gotten better and better as a hitter. In 2019, his first taste of full season ball, he slashed .251/.339/.440 with 19 home runs and a 120/51 strikeout to walk ratio over 121 games at Class A Hickory and High A Down East. He's an explosive player with a lot of power in his lanky 6'4" frame, and he managed to get to it much more consistently at Hickory this year (.258/.332/.470) when he finally started getting the ball off the ground and into the air. He was back to pounding the ball into the ground up at Down East (.237/.352/.378), but he doesn't turn 21 until spring training and he has plenty of time to figure it out. He's also still learning the nuances of the game at third base, where he has a cannon arm like Jung and more range but doesn't have as consistent a glove. He started to realize his big upside in 2019 and the hope is that he builds on his success in 2020, his age-21 season.
- Davis Wendzel (2020 Age: 22-23): After taking native Texan third baseman Josh Jung in the first round in 2019, the Rangers dipped back into the Texas college ranks and grabbed Baylor third baseman Davis Wendzel, though Wendzel is a native of Southern California. He's a bit older for a college junior draftee, as he'll turn 23 in May, but his bat is advanced enough that that shouldn't be too much of an issue. Over a brief, seven game debut between complex ball and Spokane, he slashed .316/.458/.526 with a home run, a pair of stolen bases, and six strikeouts to five walks, and he should move quickly through the minors with his good plate discipline and ability to find the barrel. He employed more of a line drive-heavy approach at Baylor, and adding some loft could make him be a 20 homer threat in the majors, and his ability to get on base will increase his offensive value as well. He's a better defender at third base than Jung, Apostel, or any other name on the corner infield list here, so if anyone's getting forced over to first base, it's probably not Wendzel. That's good, because his bat profiles much better at third.
- Curtis Terry (2020 Age: 23): Terry was a 13th round pick out of an Atlanta-area high school in 2015, and the Rangers have brought him along extremely slowly, finally giving him his first taste of full season ball this year. After slashing .337/.434/.606 with 15 home runs as a 21 year old in short season ball in 2018, he split 2019 between Class A Hickory and High A Down East and slashed .293/.362/.537 with 25 home runs and a 117/37 strikeout to walk ratio over 129 games. He's a hulking hitter at 6'3" and 265 pounds, but with that big frame comes an explosive swing and big power that he has gotten to more and more regularly – basically Sherten Apostel if he gained 60 pounds. He's an aggressive hitter that doesn't draw a lot of walks, but his hit tool is solidly decent and it should play up at least to the upper minors if not farther. As a first baseman in a Rangers system that's deep there, he'll have to keep his on-base percentages reasonably above .300 no matter what his power looks like, but the ceiling here is an impact bat that could make the Rangers look really smart with the way they've handled his development. He's a sleeper to watch, though he's got quite a few players ahead of him on the depth chart.
- Keep an eye on: Andy Ibanez, Ryan Dorow, Andretty Cordero, Tyreque Reed, Blaine Crim
Middle Infield
- Nick Solak (2020 Age: 25): A Yankees second round pick out of Louisville in 2016, Solak has already been traded twice, heading to Tampa in the three team Steven Souza/Brandon Drury deal in spring training 2018 and then on to the Rangers for Peter Fairbanks mid-season 2019. Between the two farm systems, Solak slashed .289/.362/.532 with 27 home runs and a 105/45 strikeout to walk ratio over 115 games at hitter-friendly AAA, then continued to hit in his call-up to the Rangers, slashing .293/.393/.491 with five home runs in 33 games. He's remarkably consistent at the plate, as his slash lines have looked nearly identical everywhere he's played, and with those still-consistent MLB numbers, he's really easy to project as a hitter with 15-20 homer pop and good on-base percentages. Defensively, he's more of a question mark, as he's improving but still shaky at second base and may be moved to the outfield. Expect him to play an important role on the 2020 Rangers, either as an offensive-minded backup or as a starter at some position or another.
- Eli White (2020 Age: 25-26): Another guy you can expect to see in the big leagues in 2020, White slashed .253/.337/.418 with 14 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and a 138/43 strikeout to walk ratio over 116 games at hitter-friendly AAA Nashville. He's unlikely to ever be a full-time starter, but his competency with both the bat and the glove point to a nice career as a utility or super-utility guy. He has modest but present power, a sound approach, some speed, and can handle shortstop, which makes him major league ready and exactly the kind of guy you want on your bench. There's really not much else to say about White, just expect to see the Clemson product in uniform at the Rangers' brand-new stadium at some point next year.
- Anderson Tejeda (2020 Age: 21-22): It was a lost season for Tejeda, who slashed .259/.331/.439 with 19 home runs at High A Down East in 2018 before hitting just .234/.315/.386 with four home runs and a 58/17 strikeout to walk ratio over 43 games at the same level this year. He's still young, as he doesn't turn 22 until May and he already has 279 games under his belt in full season ball, but he still has considerable work to do on his game. There's plenty of raw power despite his 5'11" stature and his great defense at shortstop buys his bat time, but he needs to improve his plate discipline and learn to recognize pitches. There's the upside of a 20-25 homer bat with average on-base percentages and great defense, though there's considerable risk as well.
- Jonathan Ornelas (2020 Age: 19-20): Ornelas, like Nick Solak, isn't for sure a middle infielder, as he's seen significant time at shortstop, second base, third base, and the outfield already. However, with some of the Rangers' best prospects manning the hot corner for now, he's more likely to end up at second or short despite his defensive skill set fitting best at third. Ornelas was a third round pick out of a Phoenix-area high school in 2018, and he had a reasonably successful first full season in 2019 by slashing .257/.333/.373 with six home runs, 13 stolen bases, and a 103/42 strikeout to walk ratio over 113 games at Class A Hickory. He's grown an inch in the Rangers' system and offers some real power potential, though he hasn't yet tapped it and has employed more of a line drive approach in pro ball. The good news is that he has shown the ability to handle mid-minors pitching at a young age, and he still won't turn 20 until May. The hope is that Ornelas can start to tap into that power and become a 15-20 homer bat if not more, and that should be something to focus on in 2020.
- Chris Seise (2020 Age: 21): Since Tejeda is safely ahead of Ornelas in the minors for now, Ornelas' primary competition to stick at the premium position is Chris Seise, a first round pick out of an Orlando-area high school in 2017. Unfortunately, shoulder injuries wiped out his 2018 season and ended his 2019 season just 21 games in, where he slashed .241/.272/.356 with a 33/3 strikeout to walk ratio at Hickory. After all the time off, it's hard to say exactly what kind of a player Seise is today, though we do know he's a supreme athlete with speed and very good defense at shortstop. That means that if both he and Ornelas hit enough, it will be Seise who remains a shortstop and Ornelas who will have to go elsewhere on the diamond. When healthy, Seise some power projection in his 6'2" frame and has shown the ability to make consistent contact, but he has a lot to prove after all the time off.
- Maximo Acosta (2020 Age: 17): Signed for $1.65 million out of Venezuela in July, Acosta is an excellent all-around player for his age. He has an advanced approach at the plate and an explosive, line drive swing from the right side, one that could give him above average power once he adds some loft. He's also a good defender at shortstop that should stick there, and he's fast enough to make an impact on the bases. Of course, Acosta has yet to even play in complex ball, so he's all projection at this point, but the Rangers have a lot of money invested in him and he'll be interesting to track as he begins his slow trek up through the minors.
- Keep an eye on: Charles Leblanc, Yonny Hernandez, Osleivis Basabe, Cody Freeman
Outfield
- Leody Taveras (2020 Age: 21): The top outfield prospect in a shallow system at that position, Taveras has tantalized with his tools while putting up solidly satisfactory numbers. In 2019, he slashed .279/.344/.376 with five home runs, 32 stolen bases, and a 122/54 strikeout to walk ratio over 131 games at High A Down East and AA Frisco, showing off his variety of ways to impact the game. He doesn't hit for a ton of power and probably never will, as he's instead content with just getting the barrel to the ball and going with the pitch. He keeps his strikeouts reasonably low, draws a few walks, and can use his plus speed to steal plenty of bases. That speed helps him in the outfield, where he's a plus defender who will stick in center field. If you're thinking of current center fielder Delino DeShields, that's a pretty solid comparison, though Taveras should have better pure hitting ability and he's a bit more wiry at 6'1" while DeShields is more compact at 5'9". He probably won't begin 2020 in the majors, but it's not out of the question that Taveras could get there at some point next season, at least for a short stint.
- Julio Pablo Martinez (2020 Age: 24): A Cuban defector who signed for $2.8 million before the 2018 season, Martinez has been a little more up and down than the Rangers would have liked. Overall in 2019, which he spent mostly at High A Down East, the 23 year old slashed .248/.317/.421 with 15 home runs, 32 stolen bases, and a 156/42 strikeout to walk ratio over 123 games. However, hidden in the stats is the big turnaround he had mid-season; as of June 7th, he was slashing .164/.223/.322 through his first 42 games in High A, but he turned it around to slash .298/.374/.475 over his final 71 games. Listed at 5'9" and 175 pounds, he's not the most imposing guy in the world, but he uses his elite bat speed and ability to find the barrel to hit for power and average when he's going right, though his aggressive approach limits his walks. He's also one of the faster players in the Rangers' system, which gives him a chance to be a 20-20 player in the majors. The often-complicated defection process from Cuba means that he'll turn 24 just before the 2020 season, so the coming season will be an important one for his development.
- Bubba Thompson (2020 Age: 21-22): A Rangers first round pick in 2017 out of a Mobile, Alabama high school, drafted three spots before Chris Seise, Thompson had a good run through Class A Hickory in 2018 (.289/.344/.446) before struggling to keep up with High A pitching in 2019, slashing .178/.261/.312 with five home runs, 12 stolen bases, and a 72/21 strikeout to walk ratio over 57 games at Down East. Hand and hamstring injuries have slowed his development so far, and while that didn't appear to affect his production in 2018, it may have in 2019. When healthy, he's a very good athlete with power and speed, the latter of which has played up more in games (44 stolen bases in 141 games the last two seasons) than his power (13 home runs in same span). However, with the lost season in 2019, I wouldn't be so quick to label him a future impact player, and while he certainly has the potential to be one if he can put it all together, there's a good chance he ends up more of a fourth outfielder. How he bounces back in 2020, and whether he can stay healthy, will be big in telling us that.
- Pedro Gonzalez (2020 Age: 22): Acquired from the Rockies for Jonathan Lucroy, Gonzalez has spent two years at Class A Hickory but he started to turn the corner in 2019, slashing .248/.317/.471 with 23 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and a 129/39 strikeout to walk ratio over 119 games there. He's a big guy at 6'5" with long arms and legs, and he got much better at leveraging that size to drive the ball over the fence in the South Atlantic League this year. He also has considerable speed for someone his size, and he's consistently improved his baserunning year by year, setting a career high in both stolen bases (14) and stolen base success rate (70%) in 2019. He's an aggressive hitter who still needs to tone down the swing and miss in his game, but his good defense and ability to be a well above average right fielder buys his bat some time. Overall, it's a platoon/bench bat projection.
- Bayron Lora (2020 Age: 17): The Rangers signed Lora, a Dominican outfielder who only turned 17 in September, for $3.9 million in August, and he's yet to play in professional games. However, Lora already puts on a show in batting practice with his ability to drive the ball out of any park, and his thick 6'3" frame helps him tap that power relatively easily. His hit tool is still unproven against professional pitching, and he'll have to prove he can keep his strikeouts down and find the barrel enough to get to his power, but the upside is enormous and if the Rangers get lucky, they could have a 30-40 home run bat in a future right fielder.
- Keep an eye on: Hunter Cole, Kellen Strahm, Alexander Ovalles
Starting Pitching
- Joe Palumbo (2020 Age: 25): It's been a long road to the majors for Palumbo, who spent five years in high school on Long Island, pitched for a mens league team his senior year, and signed for $30,000 in the 30th round in 2013 rather than attend San Jacinto College. He finally reached full season ball in 2016 but went down with Tommy John surgery in 2017, then returned for a strong 2018 season. This year, he posted a 3.01 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and a 108/35 strikeout to walk ratio over 80.2 innings between AA Frisco and AAA Nashville, then got knocked around with a 9.18 ERA and a 21/8 strikeout to walk ratio over 16.2 major league innings. He sits in the low 90's with his fastball from an extremely easy left handed delivery, and he adds a bat missing curveball that should continue to work for him well at the major league level. He also adds a changeup and profiles well as a #3 or #4 starter, and his easy delivery should theoretically help him stay healthy as he puts that Tommy John surgery farther in the rearview mirror.
- Brock Burke (2020 Age: 23-24): Another high school lefty who was drafted a long time ago, Burke was a third round pick by the Rays in 2014 out of the Denver area. He was since traded to Texas as part of the three team deal that sent Jurickson Profar to Oakland and Emilio Pagan to Tampa, and in a blister-interrupted 2019, he posted a 3.90 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and a 64/18 strikeout to walk ratio over 62.1 innings, mostly at AA Frisco. He also made six MLB starts and posted a 7.43 ERA and a 14/11 strikeout to walk ratio over 26.2 major league innings. He has a pretty straightforward profile as a 6'4" lefty who sits in the low to mid 90's, adds a solid slider and changeup, and who fills the zone with enough strikes to make his stuff play up. Nothing jumps off the page with him, but his combination of solid stuff and command makes him very useful as a starting pitcher and one who should get a chance to compete for a spot in the Rangers rotation in 2020.
- Tyler Phillips (2020 Age: 22): A 16th round pick out of a Philadelphia-area high school in 2015, Phillips took a few years to get his footing in the minors but took off once he finally did in 2018. He had a 2.64 ERA and a 127/16 strikeout to walk ratio in A ball in 2018, then in 2019, he posted a 3.71 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and a 102/26 strikeout to walk ratio over 131 innings at High A Down East and AA Frisco. The numbers were a lot better at Down East (1.19 ERA, 28/6 K/BB) than Frisco (4.73 ERA, 74/20 K/BB), but he was only 21 years old in the upper minors and he maintained his control of the strike zone. Phillips sits in the low 90's with his fastball, though his true out pitch is his fading changeup with serious arm side movement. He also adds a curveball with downer action but not a ton of bite, as well as a new slider that could be the last bump he needs to reach the majors. Of course, his best asset is his command, which ties everything together and makes everything play up. The 6'5" righty might not be as well known as Palumbo or Burke or the younger guys you'll read about next in Hans Crouse and Cole Winn, but he's a sleeper to watch.
- Jason Bahr (2020 Age: 25): Bahr's meteoric rise as a pitcher has been a fun one to follow, as he was actually cut from the UCF baseball team at one point simply because he wasn't that great of a pitcher. He managed to work his way back onto the team and was drafted in the fifth round by the Giants in 2017, then was sent to the Rangers in 2018 as the Giants packaged him with Austin Jackson and Cory Gearrin's salaries. After strong seasons in 2017 and 2018, he had a breakout 2019 in which he posted a 2.51 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and a 126/51 strikeout to walk ratio over 122 innings at High A Down East and AA Frisco. As a former senior sign, he's a bit older and will turn 25 before the 2020 season, and while his fastball only sits around 90, his secondaries have gotten sharper and his curveball and changeup should be usable major league pitches. His solid command and good feel for pitching help him keep the ball off the barrel, and he could rise up as a #4 or #5 starter in the near future.
- Hans Crouse (2020 Age: 21): Crouse has always been an exciting pitcher, and that led the Rangers to select the 6'4" righty in the second round out of a Southern California high school in 2017. He held a 1.93 ERA in limited action over his pro debut and first full pro season, then spent 2019 at Class A Hickory and had a 4.41 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and a 76/19 strikeout to walk ratio over 87.2 innings. He's a funky guy, both by his personality and by his pitching style, and he sits in the mid 90's with his plus fastball while adding a quickly improving slider, one which was slurvy in high school but which has tightened into a real weapon in pro ball. Because he has a lot of effort in his funky delivery, he will always face reliever questions as long as he's a prospect, but he throws a surprising amount of strikes given his profile and the development of that slider is a huge move in the right direction. While Crouse's statistics were unremarkable this year, and part of that may have been due to nagging bone spur problems that were corrected this offseason, the improvements he made to his game make him easily the most exciting pitching prospect in this system.
- Cole Winn (2020 Age: 20): Winn, a first round pick out of a Southern California high school in 2018 (though he grew up in Northern Colorado), had an unremarkable stat line in his first full season in the Rangers system, posting a 4.46 ERA, a 1.43 WHIP, and a 65/39 strikeout to walk ratio over 68.2 innings at Class A Hickory. However, it was a tale of two seasons for him after he started with a 9.35 ERA and a 19/14 strikeout to walk ratio over 17.1 innings in his first six starts, turning that around to post a 2.81 ERA and a 46/25 strikeout to walk ratio over 51.2 innings in his final 12 starts. In an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, he said that the difference was that he began to trust his stuff rather than nibble, and if he can stay in that mindset, he should be able to get back on track next year. When he's at his best, he has four pitches including a low to mid 90's fastball, two good breaking balls, and a changeup, and as an amateur he commanded all of his pitches well. His stock is down a tick just because of the uneven first full season, but he does have the upside of a #2 starter.
- Noah Bremer (2020 Age: 23-24): Here's a sleeper. Bremer was a sixth round pick out of Washington in 2017, and he spent most of 2019 at High A Down East, posting a 2.86 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and a 74/24 strikeout to walk ratio over 78.2 innings. He's 6'5" and has added a tick of velocity since college, now sitting in the low 90's while bringing in a good curveball and a decent changeup. It plays up both because he has good command and because he has a deceptive delivery where he rocks back before firing from a high arm slot afforded to him by his height, and he projects as either a #5 starter or a bullpen guy.
- Yerry Rodriguez (2020 Age: 22): Rodriguez dominated in his stateside debut in 2018, then carried it over to 2019 where he had a 2.08 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, and an 85/21 strikeout to walk ratio over 73.2 innings at Class A Hickory. He's continued to add velocity and now sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball, though his secondary stuff haven't quite come all the way along yet. His plus command makes everything play up for now, though it would be nice to see him sharpen that secondary stuff so that he can be more than the #5 starter he's otherwise projected as.
- Ryan Garcia (2020 Age: 22): After grabbing slugging Texas collegians Josh Jung and Davis Wendzel with their first two picks in 2019, the Rangers pivoted to take UCLA righty Ryan Garcia in the second round. Garcia absolutely dominated in a strong Pac-12 this year, then allowed two runs while striking out eight and walking two over five innings in his pro debut. He only sits in the low 90's with his fastball and adds a solid slider, a good changeup, and the occasional curveball, but he has great command and really knows how to pitch, making all his stuff play up significantly. Right now, he has the ceiling of a #3 or #4 starter, though he's a bit slight in stature and may eventually move to the bullpen. Either way, he should move fairly quickly through the minors.
- Ronny Henriquez (2020 Age: 19-20): Henriquez is only listed at 5'10" and 155 pounds, but he made the jump from complex ball in 2018 straight to full season ball in 2019, where he had a 4.50 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, and a 99/27 strikeout to walk ratio over 82 innings at Hickory. He has a lot of work to do in getting more consistent with his secondary stuff and proving his durability, but he handled Class A well as a teenager and showed good athleticism and command to go with his live arm and low to mid 90's fastball. There's significant relief risk here but he's interesting, I'd keep an eye on Henriquez as a sleeper.
- Keep an eye on: A.J. Alexy, Tim Brennan, Reid Anderson, Jake Latz, John King, Ricky Vanasco, Cole Ragans, Owen White
Relief Pitching
- Emmanuel Clase (2020 Age: 22): Clase sits in the upper 90's with his fastball, bumps triple digits regularly, and gets a ton of riding action on it that makes it nearly impossible to square up. What more do you need to know? In 2019, Clase had a 2.82 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, and a 50/9 strikeout to walk ratio over 44.2 innings at High A Down East and AA Frisco, then had a successful MLB debut in which he posted a 2.31 ERA and a 21/6 strikeout to walk ratio over 23.1 innings. His slider stands out more for its velocity, around 90 MPH, than its movement, but it's a good enough secondary pitch that it gets swings and misses from major league hitters regardless. He actually throws his share of strikes, which is far from a given when pitchers throw 100, and he should be able to settle in as a set-up man at the major league level in 2020.
- Jonathan Hernandez (2020 Age: 23-24): Hernandez spent most of his pro career as a starter, but he shifted to the bullpen late in 2019 and that's where he'll stay most likely. This year, he had a 5.16 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, and a 95/38 strikeout to walk ratio over 96 innings at AA Frisco, then put up a 4.32 ERA, a 1.62 WHIP, and a 19/13 strikeout to walk ratio in 16.2 major league innings. He's a 6'2" righty with a fastball that sits in the mid 90's and a slider that misses bats, and now that he's in the bullpen, he can focus on those two pitches while going to his more average curveball and changeup less often. He was indeed more effective once he switched to the bullpen, where he had a 1.80 ERA and a 12/6 strikeout to walk ratio in 15 innings before he was called up, and he should be a real asset starting in 2020.
- Keep an eye on: Cole Uvila
Showing posts with label Hans Crouse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hans Crouse. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Monday, December 10, 2018
Reviewing the Texas Rangers Farm System
The Rangers have a lot of interesting, high-upside guys, but nobody really stands out at this point. They have always been known to collect high-risk, high-reward players who could turn into stars or busts with little in between, but recently they have only had marginal success getting results out of that philosophy, with relatively recent call-ups Joey Gallo (2015), Keone Kela (2015), Nomar Mazara (2016), Ronald Guzman (2018), and Isaiah Kiner-Falefa (2018) looking like the most successful in that group. While Gallo and Kela are borderline "impact" players and Mazara has been a nice bat, but ultimately the influx of prospects has not been enough to keep the Rangers afloat in the AL West. While guys like Leody Taveras, Ariel Jurado, and Yohander Mendez are looking less and less like the future impact players the Rangers envisioned, they do have another wave of prospects coming and they're hoping some of them will stick. At this point, they are fairly deep in pitching and just by the law of averages, a few of them should turn out to be useful, but they are fairly shallow in terms of position players.
Affiliates: AAA Round Rock Express*, AA Frisco RoughRiders, High A Down East Wood Ducks, Class A Hickory Crawdads, Short Season Spokane Indians, complex level AZL and DSL Rangers
*AAA affiliate will move from Round Rock, TX to Nashville, TN in 2019
Young Arms: RHP Hans Crouse, RHP Tyler Phillips, RHP A.J. Alexy, LHP Cole Ragans, RHP Alex Speas, RHP Yerry Rodriguez, RHP Cole Winn, and RHP Owen White
I'm doing this Rangers list a little bit out of order because one of their most exciting groups of players is their set of young pitchers. Of the group, 20 year old Hans Crouse may be the most exciting. The Rangers have brought the 2017 second rounder (66th overall) along slowly, and in 13 starts between Short Season Spokane and Class A Hickory he posted a 2.47 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and a 62/19 strikeout to walk ratio over 54.2 innings. The 6'4" righty throws mid 90's with an improving slider that is now well above average, with the changeup and command still works in progress. With his high effort delivery, and two great pitches, he looks like a typical relief prospect, but he is athletic and durable so the Rangers hope to make him a starter, where he could be a #2 or #3 guy. 21 year old Tyler Phillips, a 6'5" right hander out of the Philadelphia area, had a breakout season with Hickory this year (plus one start with High A Down East), going 12-5 with a 2.64 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and a 127/16 strikeout to walk ratio over 133 innings. Despite his impressive height, he only throws in the low 90's and instead relies on excellent command and a knowledge of how to pitch in order to get outs. Class A hitters were not able to figure him out, and his one start with Down East was just as solid. He looks like a back-end starter at this point but he could end up being more of a mid-rotation guy if he keeps mixing and locating his pitches like he does. 20 year old A.J. Alexy, another tall (6'4") righty out of the Philadelphia area, had a solid season at Hickory with a 3.58 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and a 138/52 strikeout to walk ratio over 108 innings, showing more explosive stuff than Phillips but not commanding it as well, giving him more bust potential but a higher ceiling if he puts it all together. 21 year old Cole Ragans is yet another tall pitcher, standing 6'4" and throwing left handed. His stuff is as explosive or even better than Crouse's, having taken a step forward since high school, but his command hasn't developed as hoped (yet) and he missed the 2018 season with Tommy John surgery. When he comes back, he has a chance to make himself the top pitching prospect in the system if he pitches like he is capable of in A ball, showing true front of the rotation potential on the right days. It all depends how he bounces back from surgery. 20 year old Alex Speas is a 6'4" righty (the Rangers like them tall, don't they) who is strictly a relief prospect at this point, but he could be a really good one if he gets his command together. In 2018, he posted a 2.20 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and a 49/21 strikeout to walk ratio over 28.2 innings at Hickory, showing what could be the best fastball in the system that runs up to the upper 90's with movement. The hard curveball is great too, but even a few years into his pro career, it is still evident that he has no idea where his pitches are going with 53 walks in 70.2 innings so far. If he can tighten the command just a little bit, he could be an impact reliever at the major league level. 21 year old Yerry Rodriguez had a huge breakout season between complex ball and Spokane this year, posting a 2.86 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and an 82/8 strikeout to walk ratio over 63 innings. He uses his control to make his mostly average stuff play up, and he could be in the same position as Tyler Phillips a year from now. Lastly, 19 year olds Cole Winn and Owen White are yet to pitch in the minor leagues, having been drafted in the first round (15th overall) and second round (55th overall), respectively, out of high school in 2018. Winn is more cut more from the Phillips/Rodriguez cloth than the Crouse/Alexy/Ragans one, showing good command and an innate ability to mix his above average arsenal around. I really liked him on draft day and that hasn't changed, and he could end up having the best career out of any pitcher in the Rangers' system. Meanwhile, White has a deep arsenal of nasty stuff, which he actually commands fairly well, but he has struggled to maintain it through his starts and could use some pro conditioning and development. He has a lot of risk associated with him, but he has ace upside.
Advanced Arms: LHP Yohander Mendez, LHP Taylor Hearn, RHP Jonathan Hernandez, LHP Joe Palumbo, RHP Rollie Lacy, and LHP C.D. Pelham
As with the young pitchers, the advanced pitchers are also defined by high upside and high risk, with few safe bets anywhere. We'll start with 23 year old Yohander Mendez, a 6'5" lefty who has been on prospect lists for years but who has never really broken through. He had short stints with the Rangers in 2016, 2017, and 2018, combining for a 6.28 ERA, a 1.53 WHIP, and a 25/20 strikeout to walk ratio over those 43 major league innings. In the minors this year, he posted a 4.71 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and a 109/40 strikeout to walk ratio over 122.1 innings between High A Down East, AA Frisco, and AAA Round Rock, tantalizing with great stuff but still not getting the overall results the Rangers are looking for. He throws a low to mid 90's sinker and a great changeup, but his other secondaries lag behind and he doesn't have the command to make up for that. 2019 will probably be the year that determines whether he ends up a big league starter or just a reliever. 24 year old Taylor Hearn has been traded twice in his career, once from Washington to Pittsburgh in the Mark Melancon trade and then on to Texas in the Keone Kela deal. In 2018, he posted a 3.49 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, a 140/47 strikeout to walk ratio over 129 innings at AA, handling his first taste of the level successfully. The 6'5" lefty, himself a Dallas-area native, throws upper 90's with his long arms and spins a good changeup as well. His command is holding up, though he does need to improve his slider just a bit in order to be a major league starter. He has a good shot to crack the rotation at some point this year, but he could be hit hard and end up in the bullpen if he can't get that slider by hitters. 22 year old Jonathan Hernandez dominated in his second season at Down East (2.20 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 77/17 K/BB in 57.1 IP) before regressing a bit upon his promotion to Frisco (4.92 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 57/36 K/BB in 64 IP). His mid 90's fastball generates a ton of ground balls, and his slider and changeup are coming along to where he has a good shot at starting in the majors. The 6'2" righty won't be an ace, but could end up a #3 or #4 starter if his command holds up, having held his own at AA this year. 24 year old Joe Palumbo missed almost all of 2017 with Tommy John surgery and was limited to just eleven starts this year, but he was strong with a 2.78 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and a 59/10 strikeout to walk ratio over 45.1 innings. He doesn't throw all that hard but he gets outs by using deception and mixing his pitches, most notably his big curveball. He'll need to stay healthy, but his command is improving and he could be a back-end starter if everything holds up. 23 year old Rollie Lacy came over in the Cole Hamels trade, putting up a good season with a 2.97 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and a 121/37 strikeout to walk ratio over 109 innings between Class A and High A. He was better in Class A than in High A, and with decent command of marginal stuff, he'll have to continue to develop as a pitcher if he wants to crack the rotation down the road. Lastly, 23 year old C.D. Pelham is a relief prospect who put up a 3.66 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP, and a 53/26 strikeout to walk ratio over 46.2 innings between Down East and Frisco, then put up a 7.04 ERA and a 7/4 strikeout to walk ratio in 7.2 major league innings. The big lefty stands 6'6" and weighs 235 pounds, coming in with a mid to upper 90's fastball and a biting, hard cutter. His command isn't great, but if he can hone that command just a little bit, he could be an impact reliever in 2019.
Outfield Prospects: Leody Taveras, Bubba Thompson, Pedro Gonzalez, and Julio Pablo Martinez
The Rangers don't have as much depth here as they do on the mound, with just four outfielders looking like they could even possibly be impact players at the major league level, not including likely backup Scott Heineman after his big year at AA/AAA (12 HR, .306/.371/.445). We'll start with 20 year old Leody Taveras, a high-upside guy who has failed to put it all together at this point. Last year, as a 19 year old at High A Down East, he slashed .246/.312/.332 with five home runs, 19 stolen bases, and a 96/51 strikeout to walk ratio over 132 games. He's very fast and has a very advanced approach at the plate for his age, but so far he hasn't been able to put it together in games and he posted a third straight season of uninspiring numbers. He'll play all of 2019 at 20 years old and will likely do so at AA Frisco, giving him plenty of time to develop, but he is becoming more of an intriguing upside guy than an elite prospect. 20 year old Bubba Thompson was a first round pick (26th overall) out of high school in Mobile, Alabama in 2017, and he posted some pretty good numbers at Class A Hickory in 2018: 8 HR, .289/.344/.446 line, 32 SB, 104/23 K/BB. He's an exceptional athlete who had the opportunity to play quarterback in the SEC, and it translates to good defense, lots of stolen bases, and some budding power at the plate. He still needs to work on his plate discipline as his aggressive approach might hold him back at the higher levels, and his power still isn't fully developed, but he's just 20 years old and has time to work on that. Despite some of those shortcomings, he has a chance to be an impact player in Texas. 21 year old Pedro Gonzalez came over in the Jonathan Lucroy trade, then had a disappointing 2018 at Hickory by slashing .234/.296/.421 with 12 home runs, nine stolen bases, and a 110/28 strikeout to walk ratio over 92 games. At 6'5", it's easy to dream on his power, but his aggressive approach has held him back and he doesn't have Thompson's athleticism to make up for it. He could still pull it together and be the power hitting right fielder the Rangers want him to be, but it's far from a given. Lastly, 22 year old Julio Pablo Martinez just came over from Cuba after signing for $2.8 million, and he's already showing well. In his American pro debut in 2018, he slashed .266/.378/.457 with nine home runs, 13 stolen bases, and a 76/43 strikeout to walk ratio over 67 games between complex ball and Short Season Spokane, showing all around skills that can be developed. Just 5'9", there is some pop in his bat, and he uses his speed well to get extra bases. His patient approach will help him get on base in order to steal bases, but he does need to cut his strikeouts down as he gets used to American pitching. Starting in 2019, he has a chance to move fairly quickly.
Infielders: SS Anderson Tejeda, 3B Sherten Apostel, 3B Jonathan Ornelas, SS Chris Seise, and C Sam Huff
The Rangers might be even shallower in the infield than in the outfield, with no true impact prospects at all and very few who look to even have a chance of providing any value. 20 year old Anderson Tejeda looks like the best of the small group at this point, coming off a 2018 power breakout in which he slashed .259/.331/.439 with 19 home runs, 11 stolen bases, and a 142/49 strikeout to walk ratio over 121 games at High A Down East. Even at 5'11", he has some sock in the bat and won't be just a slap hitter, but his swing and miss tendencies are a bit troubling at this point. The fact that he plays pretty good infield defense and has a shot to stick at shortstop takes some pressure off his bat and gives him a chance to cut down on those strikeouts, as does the fact that he won't turn 21 until May. Consider his ceiling to be somewhat like that of Rougned Odor. 19 year old Sherten Apostel came over from Pittsburgh towards the end of the season in the Keone Kela trade, and he hit well in Short Season/rookie ball by slashing .278/.420/.460 with eight home runs and a 50/41 strikeout to walk ratio over 53 games. He shows advanced power and plate discipline at this point, and at 6'4", it's easy to see that power translating upwards as he progresses through the minors. He's less known than some other Rangers hitting prospects, but he has a chance to make himself known in full season ball next season. Apostel is a name I would keep an eye on. 18 year old Jonathan Ornelas was just drafted in the third round (91st overall) out of a Phoenix area high school and got off to a hot start in complex ball, slashing .302/.389/.459 with three home runs, 15 stolen bases, and a 41/25 strikeout to walk ratio over 48 games. His big swing gives him more power than you'd expect from his slight frame, though it also leads to some swing and miss issues that may catch up to him at higher levels. He should end up a solid fielding third baseman, which will take some pressure off his bat, and those solid debut numbers in the Arizona League are promising. We'll see what he does in 2019. 19 year old Chris Seise was a first rounder (29th overall) in 2017 out of an Orlando area high school, but he missed all of 2018 with shoulder surgery. He's a great fielder that has the best chance in this group to stick at shortstop, and he does have a pretty decent bat that can produce plenty of singles and doubles. Of course, we'll have to see how it plays in pro ball, as he was great in complex ball in 2017 (.336/.395/.509) but struggled with a promotion to Short Season Spokane (.222/.250/.273). Lastly, 20 year old Sam Huff is a catcher for now and slashed .241/.292/.439 with 18 home runs and a 140/23 strikeout to walk ratio over 118 games at Class A Hickory. He has some power, but if his defense doesn't hold up behind the plate and he has to move to first base, he doesn't get on base enough for the bat to play there. If he can stick behind the plate, he'll need to cut down on his strikeouts but he otherwise has a shot at being a big league catcher.
Affiliates: AAA Round Rock Express*, AA Frisco RoughRiders, High A Down East Wood Ducks, Class A Hickory Crawdads, Short Season Spokane Indians, complex level AZL and DSL Rangers
*AAA affiliate will move from Round Rock, TX to Nashville, TN in 2019
Young Arms: RHP Hans Crouse, RHP Tyler Phillips, RHP A.J. Alexy, LHP Cole Ragans, RHP Alex Speas, RHP Yerry Rodriguez, RHP Cole Winn, and RHP Owen White
I'm doing this Rangers list a little bit out of order because one of their most exciting groups of players is their set of young pitchers. Of the group, 20 year old Hans Crouse may be the most exciting. The Rangers have brought the 2017 second rounder (66th overall) along slowly, and in 13 starts between Short Season Spokane and Class A Hickory he posted a 2.47 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and a 62/19 strikeout to walk ratio over 54.2 innings. The 6'4" righty throws mid 90's with an improving slider that is now well above average, with the changeup and command still works in progress. With his high effort delivery, and two great pitches, he looks like a typical relief prospect, but he is athletic and durable so the Rangers hope to make him a starter, where he could be a #2 or #3 guy. 21 year old Tyler Phillips, a 6'5" right hander out of the Philadelphia area, had a breakout season with Hickory this year (plus one start with High A Down East), going 12-5 with a 2.64 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and a 127/16 strikeout to walk ratio over 133 innings. Despite his impressive height, he only throws in the low 90's and instead relies on excellent command and a knowledge of how to pitch in order to get outs. Class A hitters were not able to figure him out, and his one start with Down East was just as solid. He looks like a back-end starter at this point but he could end up being more of a mid-rotation guy if he keeps mixing and locating his pitches like he does. 20 year old A.J. Alexy, another tall (6'4") righty out of the Philadelphia area, had a solid season at Hickory with a 3.58 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and a 138/52 strikeout to walk ratio over 108 innings, showing more explosive stuff than Phillips but not commanding it as well, giving him more bust potential but a higher ceiling if he puts it all together. 21 year old Cole Ragans is yet another tall pitcher, standing 6'4" and throwing left handed. His stuff is as explosive or even better than Crouse's, having taken a step forward since high school, but his command hasn't developed as hoped (yet) and he missed the 2018 season with Tommy John surgery. When he comes back, he has a chance to make himself the top pitching prospect in the system if he pitches like he is capable of in A ball, showing true front of the rotation potential on the right days. It all depends how he bounces back from surgery. 20 year old Alex Speas is a 6'4" righty (the Rangers like them tall, don't they) who is strictly a relief prospect at this point, but he could be a really good one if he gets his command together. In 2018, he posted a 2.20 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and a 49/21 strikeout to walk ratio over 28.2 innings at Hickory, showing what could be the best fastball in the system that runs up to the upper 90's with movement. The hard curveball is great too, but even a few years into his pro career, it is still evident that he has no idea where his pitches are going with 53 walks in 70.2 innings so far. If he can tighten the command just a little bit, he could be an impact reliever at the major league level. 21 year old Yerry Rodriguez had a huge breakout season between complex ball and Spokane this year, posting a 2.86 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and an 82/8 strikeout to walk ratio over 63 innings. He uses his control to make his mostly average stuff play up, and he could be in the same position as Tyler Phillips a year from now. Lastly, 19 year olds Cole Winn and Owen White are yet to pitch in the minor leagues, having been drafted in the first round (15th overall) and second round (55th overall), respectively, out of high school in 2018. Winn is more cut more from the Phillips/Rodriguez cloth than the Crouse/Alexy/Ragans one, showing good command and an innate ability to mix his above average arsenal around. I really liked him on draft day and that hasn't changed, and he could end up having the best career out of any pitcher in the Rangers' system. Meanwhile, White has a deep arsenal of nasty stuff, which he actually commands fairly well, but he has struggled to maintain it through his starts and could use some pro conditioning and development. He has a lot of risk associated with him, but he has ace upside.
Advanced Arms: LHP Yohander Mendez, LHP Taylor Hearn, RHP Jonathan Hernandez, LHP Joe Palumbo, RHP Rollie Lacy, and LHP C.D. Pelham
As with the young pitchers, the advanced pitchers are also defined by high upside and high risk, with few safe bets anywhere. We'll start with 23 year old Yohander Mendez, a 6'5" lefty who has been on prospect lists for years but who has never really broken through. He had short stints with the Rangers in 2016, 2017, and 2018, combining for a 6.28 ERA, a 1.53 WHIP, and a 25/20 strikeout to walk ratio over those 43 major league innings. In the minors this year, he posted a 4.71 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and a 109/40 strikeout to walk ratio over 122.1 innings between High A Down East, AA Frisco, and AAA Round Rock, tantalizing with great stuff but still not getting the overall results the Rangers are looking for. He throws a low to mid 90's sinker and a great changeup, but his other secondaries lag behind and he doesn't have the command to make up for that. 2019 will probably be the year that determines whether he ends up a big league starter or just a reliever. 24 year old Taylor Hearn has been traded twice in his career, once from Washington to Pittsburgh in the Mark Melancon trade and then on to Texas in the Keone Kela deal. In 2018, he posted a 3.49 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, a 140/47 strikeout to walk ratio over 129 innings at AA, handling his first taste of the level successfully. The 6'5" lefty, himself a Dallas-area native, throws upper 90's with his long arms and spins a good changeup as well. His command is holding up, though he does need to improve his slider just a bit in order to be a major league starter. He has a good shot to crack the rotation at some point this year, but he could be hit hard and end up in the bullpen if he can't get that slider by hitters. 22 year old Jonathan Hernandez dominated in his second season at Down East (2.20 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 77/17 K/BB in 57.1 IP) before regressing a bit upon his promotion to Frisco (4.92 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 57/36 K/BB in 64 IP). His mid 90's fastball generates a ton of ground balls, and his slider and changeup are coming along to where he has a good shot at starting in the majors. The 6'2" righty won't be an ace, but could end up a #3 or #4 starter if his command holds up, having held his own at AA this year. 24 year old Joe Palumbo missed almost all of 2017 with Tommy John surgery and was limited to just eleven starts this year, but he was strong with a 2.78 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and a 59/10 strikeout to walk ratio over 45.1 innings. He doesn't throw all that hard but he gets outs by using deception and mixing his pitches, most notably his big curveball. He'll need to stay healthy, but his command is improving and he could be a back-end starter if everything holds up. 23 year old Rollie Lacy came over in the Cole Hamels trade, putting up a good season with a 2.97 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and a 121/37 strikeout to walk ratio over 109 innings between Class A and High A. He was better in Class A than in High A, and with decent command of marginal stuff, he'll have to continue to develop as a pitcher if he wants to crack the rotation down the road. Lastly, 23 year old C.D. Pelham is a relief prospect who put up a 3.66 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP, and a 53/26 strikeout to walk ratio over 46.2 innings between Down East and Frisco, then put up a 7.04 ERA and a 7/4 strikeout to walk ratio in 7.2 major league innings. The big lefty stands 6'6" and weighs 235 pounds, coming in with a mid to upper 90's fastball and a biting, hard cutter. His command isn't great, but if he can hone that command just a little bit, he could be an impact reliever in 2019.
Outfield Prospects: Leody Taveras, Bubba Thompson, Pedro Gonzalez, and Julio Pablo Martinez
The Rangers don't have as much depth here as they do on the mound, with just four outfielders looking like they could even possibly be impact players at the major league level, not including likely backup Scott Heineman after his big year at AA/AAA (12 HR, .306/.371/.445). We'll start with 20 year old Leody Taveras, a high-upside guy who has failed to put it all together at this point. Last year, as a 19 year old at High A Down East, he slashed .246/.312/.332 with five home runs, 19 stolen bases, and a 96/51 strikeout to walk ratio over 132 games. He's very fast and has a very advanced approach at the plate for his age, but so far he hasn't been able to put it together in games and he posted a third straight season of uninspiring numbers. He'll play all of 2019 at 20 years old and will likely do so at AA Frisco, giving him plenty of time to develop, but he is becoming more of an intriguing upside guy than an elite prospect. 20 year old Bubba Thompson was a first round pick (26th overall) out of high school in Mobile, Alabama in 2017, and he posted some pretty good numbers at Class A Hickory in 2018: 8 HR, .289/.344/.446 line, 32 SB, 104/23 K/BB. He's an exceptional athlete who had the opportunity to play quarterback in the SEC, and it translates to good defense, lots of stolen bases, and some budding power at the plate. He still needs to work on his plate discipline as his aggressive approach might hold him back at the higher levels, and his power still isn't fully developed, but he's just 20 years old and has time to work on that. Despite some of those shortcomings, he has a chance to be an impact player in Texas. 21 year old Pedro Gonzalez came over in the Jonathan Lucroy trade, then had a disappointing 2018 at Hickory by slashing .234/.296/.421 with 12 home runs, nine stolen bases, and a 110/28 strikeout to walk ratio over 92 games. At 6'5", it's easy to dream on his power, but his aggressive approach has held him back and he doesn't have Thompson's athleticism to make up for it. He could still pull it together and be the power hitting right fielder the Rangers want him to be, but it's far from a given. Lastly, 22 year old Julio Pablo Martinez just came over from Cuba after signing for $2.8 million, and he's already showing well. In his American pro debut in 2018, he slashed .266/.378/.457 with nine home runs, 13 stolen bases, and a 76/43 strikeout to walk ratio over 67 games between complex ball and Short Season Spokane, showing all around skills that can be developed. Just 5'9", there is some pop in his bat, and he uses his speed well to get extra bases. His patient approach will help him get on base in order to steal bases, but he does need to cut his strikeouts down as he gets used to American pitching. Starting in 2019, he has a chance to move fairly quickly.
Infielders: SS Anderson Tejeda, 3B Sherten Apostel, 3B Jonathan Ornelas, SS Chris Seise, and C Sam Huff
The Rangers might be even shallower in the infield than in the outfield, with no true impact prospects at all and very few who look to even have a chance of providing any value. 20 year old Anderson Tejeda looks like the best of the small group at this point, coming off a 2018 power breakout in which he slashed .259/.331/.439 with 19 home runs, 11 stolen bases, and a 142/49 strikeout to walk ratio over 121 games at High A Down East. Even at 5'11", he has some sock in the bat and won't be just a slap hitter, but his swing and miss tendencies are a bit troubling at this point. The fact that he plays pretty good infield defense and has a shot to stick at shortstop takes some pressure off his bat and gives him a chance to cut down on those strikeouts, as does the fact that he won't turn 21 until May. Consider his ceiling to be somewhat like that of Rougned Odor. 19 year old Sherten Apostel came over from Pittsburgh towards the end of the season in the Keone Kela trade, and he hit well in Short Season/rookie ball by slashing .278/.420/.460 with eight home runs and a 50/41 strikeout to walk ratio over 53 games. He shows advanced power and plate discipline at this point, and at 6'4", it's easy to see that power translating upwards as he progresses through the minors. He's less known than some other Rangers hitting prospects, but he has a chance to make himself known in full season ball next season. Apostel is a name I would keep an eye on. 18 year old Jonathan Ornelas was just drafted in the third round (91st overall) out of a Phoenix area high school and got off to a hot start in complex ball, slashing .302/.389/.459 with three home runs, 15 stolen bases, and a 41/25 strikeout to walk ratio over 48 games. His big swing gives him more power than you'd expect from his slight frame, though it also leads to some swing and miss issues that may catch up to him at higher levels. He should end up a solid fielding third baseman, which will take some pressure off his bat, and those solid debut numbers in the Arizona League are promising. We'll see what he does in 2019. 19 year old Chris Seise was a first rounder (29th overall) in 2017 out of an Orlando area high school, but he missed all of 2018 with shoulder surgery. He's a great fielder that has the best chance in this group to stick at shortstop, and he does have a pretty decent bat that can produce plenty of singles and doubles. Of course, we'll have to see how it plays in pro ball, as he was great in complex ball in 2017 (.336/.395/.509) but struggled with a promotion to Short Season Spokane (.222/.250/.273). Lastly, 20 year old Sam Huff is a catcher for now and slashed .241/.292/.439 with 18 home runs and a 140/23 strikeout to walk ratio over 118 games at Class A Hickory. He has some power, but if his defense doesn't hold up behind the plate and he has to move to first base, he doesn't get on base enough for the bat to play there. If he can stick behind the plate, he'll need to cut down on his strikeouts but he otherwise has a shot at being a big league catcher.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
2017 Draft Review: Texas Rangers
First 5 rounds: Bubba Thompson (1-26), Chris Seise (1-29), Hans Crouse (2-66), Matt Whatley (3-104), Ryan Dease (4-134), Jake Latz (5-164)
Also notable: Noah Bremer (6-194), Tanner Gardner (9-284), Blaine Knight (29-884), Jordan Anderson (40-1214)
Everybody knows the Rangers love upside and athleticism, and that's exactly what they got here. They went the high school route with their first three picks, and the three they picked fit the upside/risk bill well. Throughout the draft, they mixed high school and college, hitters and pitchers, not leaning in any particular direction.
1-26: OF Bubba Thompson (my rank: 24)
Thompson exactly matches the stereotypical Rangers pick. He's a high school centerfielder from Mobile, Alabama with a cannon arm and the projection to be an above average hitter, though he is raw after splitting his time between baseball and football. As a quarterback, he had scholarship offers from Tennessee and Ole Miss, so you can tell the kind of athleticism we're talking here with Thompson. He doesn't have the most powerful bat, but he should be able to produce 15-20 home runs per year while getting on base at a good clip and stealing more than a few bags. The five-tool upside is there, but as a high schooler, he carries some significant risk, even if the risk sin't as high as with a guy like Quentin Holmes or Jo Adell. Thompson signed for $2.1 million, which is $345,100 under slot.
1-29: SS Chris Seise (my rank: 56)
Seise is a player in a similar mold as Thompson. An athletic shortstop from a high school near Orlando, Seise made significant improvements with his offense this year and could be an average hitter in the big leagues. Seise is good enough defensively to play shortstop for now, but he'll have to work to remain there. He could be a similar player to current Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, with more power but less speed. Seise signed for $2 million, which is $238,900 under slot.
2-66: RHP Hans Crouse (my rank: 35)
Hans Crouse is basically the pitching version of Thompson and Seise. The 6'5" right hander is very skinny and has lots of room for more good weight, but he already throws in the mid 90's with a breaking ball that could be a plus pitch in time. On the flip side, he has below average command, and the breaking ball is somewhat stuck between a curveball and a slider. When he keeps it down in the zone, it has hard slider break and can miss bats, but when it's up, it's very hittable. Crouse also has a lower arm slot and short arm action, which makes me believe he may never have average command, and that it might be tough for him to cut it as a starter. I see him as a reliever, albeit one with high upside that could hit 100 MPH in the bullpen down the road. Crouse signed for $1.45 million, which is $523,500 above slot.
3-104: C Matt Whatley (my rank: 89)
Whatley, a college catcher from Oral Roberts University, is a very different prospect from the first three players. He's a high-floor catcher who projects as a back-up at the major league level, and he's good enough defensively to stick back there. After two big seasons as a freshman and as a sophomore at Oral Roberts (.359/.446/.545 combined), but had a tough summer on the Cape (.198/.271/.279) and slumped somewhat as a junior (.302/.446/.509). A solid defender, he has plus power potential but may struggle with contact at the next level because his head changes level with his swing. Whatley signed for an at-slot bonus of $517,100.
5-164: LHP Jake Latz (unranked)
Now here is an interesting pick. Latz missed his freshman year at LSU with elbow issues, then pitched just 8.1 innings during his sophomore year in 2016 before transferring to Kent State for his junior year. Because of NCAA transfer rules, he couldn't pitch this year, but in his bullpen sessions, he's shown the potential to be a starter going through the minor leagues with his full arsenal. He's a 6'2" lefty, and teams love left handed pitchers. Latz signed for $386,100, which is $97,600 above slot.
29-884: RHP Blaine Knight (my rank: 61)
Knight is a draft-eligible sophomore at Arkansas, who has really elevated his stock with two solid years for the Razorbacks, going 10-5 with a 3.17 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP, striking out 142 in 139 innings. Knight probably won't sign here, but he's a very skinny, 6'3" righty with a low 90's fastball and a full arsenal, though none of his secondaries grade out as plus. He has a chance to be a big league starter, but he'll have to add weight and prove his durability.
Others: 4th rounder Ryan Dease is a high school pitcher from Florida, one who throws his fastball around 90 but has the athleticism to add velocity. He's a high risk, high ceiling pick with his lack of secondaries, and he hasn't signed yet. 6th rounder Noah Bremer comes from the University of Washington, where he had a very successful three year career, going 16-11 with a 2.88 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP, striking out 205 in 284 innings. He's hard to peg going forward, coming in with a fastball around 90, but he brings a solid curveball and decent command. 9th rounder Tanner Gardner is another familiar name for college baseball fans, having been a big part of Texas Tech's run to the College World Series in 2016 (.379/.484/.549, 3 HR), but wasn't quite as great in 2017 (.305/.395/.485, 5 HR). He projects best as a fourth or fifth outfielder going forward. 40th rounder Jordan Anderson almost certainly won't sign and will instead attend Mississippi State, where he could blossom into a high pick in 2020. Anderson has all the tools, but he has struggled to put them together. His bat isn't in the zone for long and he may struggle to hit for contact even in college, but hopefully the higher level coaching can steer him right.
Also notable: Noah Bremer (6-194), Tanner Gardner (9-284), Blaine Knight (29-884), Jordan Anderson (40-1214)
Everybody knows the Rangers love upside and athleticism, and that's exactly what they got here. They went the high school route with their first three picks, and the three they picked fit the upside/risk bill well. Throughout the draft, they mixed high school and college, hitters and pitchers, not leaning in any particular direction.
1-26: OF Bubba Thompson (my rank: 24)
Thompson exactly matches the stereotypical Rangers pick. He's a high school centerfielder from Mobile, Alabama with a cannon arm and the projection to be an above average hitter, though he is raw after splitting his time between baseball and football. As a quarterback, he had scholarship offers from Tennessee and Ole Miss, so you can tell the kind of athleticism we're talking here with Thompson. He doesn't have the most powerful bat, but he should be able to produce 15-20 home runs per year while getting on base at a good clip and stealing more than a few bags. The five-tool upside is there, but as a high schooler, he carries some significant risk, even if the risk sin't as high as with a guy like Quentin Holmes or Jo Adell. Thompson signed for $2.1 million, which is $345,100 under slot.
1-29: SS Chris Seise (my rank: 56)
Seise is a player in a similar mold as Thompson. An athletic shortstop from a high school near Orlando, Seise made significant improvements with his offense this year and could be an average hitter in the big leagues. Seise is good enough defensively to play shortstop for now, but he'll have to work to remain there. He could be a similar player to current Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, with more power but less speed. Seise signed for $2 million, which is $238,900 under slot.
2-66: RHP Hans Crouse (my rank: 35)
Hans Crouse is basically the pitching version of Thompson and Seise. The 6'5" right hander is very skinny and has lots of room for more good weight, but he already throws in the mid 90's with a breaking ball that could be a plus pitch in time. On the flip side, he has below average command, and the breaking ball is somewhat stuck between a curveball and a slider. When he keeps it down in the zone, it has hard slider break and can miss bats, but when it's up, it's very hittable. Crouse also has a lower arm slot and short arm action, which makes me believe he may never have average command, and that it might be tough for him to cut it as a starter. I see him as a reliever, albeit one with high upside that could hit 100 MPH in the bullpen down the road. Crouse signed for $1.45 million, which is $523,500 above slot.
3-104: C Matt Whatley (my rank: 89)
Whatley, a college catcher from Oral Roberts University, is a very different prospect from the first three players. He's a high-floor catcher who projects as a back-up at the major league level, and he's good enough defensively to stick back there. After two big seasons as a freshman and as a sophomore at Oral Roberts (.359/.446/.545 combined), but had a tough summer on the Cape (.198/.271/.279) and slumped somewhat as a junior (.302/.446/.509). A solid defender, he has plus power potential but may struggle with contact at the next level because his head changes level with his swing. Whatley signed for an at-slot bonus of $517,100.
5-164: LHP Jake Latz (unranked)
Now here is an interesting pick. Latz missed his freshman year at LSU with elbow issues, then pitched just 8.1 innings during his sophomore year in 2016 before transferring to Kent State for his junior year. Because of NCAA transfer rules, he couldn't pitch this year, but in his bullpen sessions, he's shown the potential to be a starter going through the minor leagues with his full arsenal. He's a 6'2" lefty, and teams love left handed pitchers. Latz signed for $386,100, which is $97,600 above slot.
29-884: RHP Blaine Knight (my rank: 61)
Knight is a draft-eligible sophomore at Arkansas, who has really elevated his stock with two solid years for the Razorbacks, going 10-5 with a 3.17 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP, striking out 142 in 139 innings. Knight probably won't sign here, but he's a very skinny, 6'3" righty with a low 90's fastball and a full arsenal, though none of his secondaries grade out as plus. He has a chance to be a big league starter, but he'll have to add weight and prove his durability.
Others: 4th rounder Ryan Dease is a high school pitcher from Florida, one who throws his fastball around 90 but has the athleticism to add velocity. He's a high risk, high ceiling pick with his lack of secondaries, and he hasn't signed yet. 6th rounder Noah Bremer comes from the University of Washington, where he had a very successful three year career, going 16-11 with a 2.88 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP, striking out 205 in 284 innings. He's hard to peg going forward, coming in with a fastball around 90, but he brings a solid curveball and decent command. 9th rounder Tanner Gardner is another familiar name for college baseball fans, having been a big part of Texas Tech's run to the College World Series in 2016 (.379/.484/.549, 3 HR), but wasn't quite as great in 2017 (.305/.395/.485, 5 HR). He projects best as a fourth or fifth outfielder going forward. 40th rounder Jordan Anderson almost certainly won't sign and will instead attend Mississippi State, where he could blossom into a high pick in 2020. Anderson has all the tools, but he has struggled to put them together. His bat isn't in the zone for long and he may struggle to hit for contact even in college, but hopefully the higher level coaching can steer him right.
Friday, June 9, 2017
2017 Draft Demographic Preview: High Ceiling HS Pitchers
First Tier: Hunter Greene, MacKenzie Gore, Shane Baz
Second Tier: DL Hall, Sam Carlson, Trevor Rogers, Blayne Enlow, Matt Sauer, Hans Crouse
Third Tier: Alex Scherff, Joe Perez, Jake Eder, Landon Leach, James Marinan, Caden Lemons, Bryce Bonnin
Others: C.J. Van Eyk, Gavin Williams, Jackson Rutledge, Nick Storz, Daniel Ritcheson, Cade Cavalli
Sticking with the high ceiling theme, let's look at the one thing more risky than a toolsy high school hitter: a raw high school pitcher. Now, not all of these guys are raw, especially in the first and second tiers, but some of those guys in the "others" section basically just throw fastballs at this point. This list encompasses most high school pitchers, but I'm focusing on ceiling here so I left out the Hagen Danners and Tanner Burns's to focus on those who could legitimately be top of the rotation forces. Of course, most of these guys won't ever be impact arms on an MLB staff, but then again, some may win Cy Young Awards.
Tier I (Greene, Gore, Baz)
We all agree that Hunter Greene is the top talent in this class. He has the best chance on this list to be an ace, coming in with easy upper 90's velocity and some secondaries that flash plus. No other high schoolers in this draft can match his velocity, and unlike the guys further down the list that come close, he has solid pitchability. MacKenzie Gore and Shane Baz aren't the same pitcher, but the deeper you look, the more similarities you find with them. Both began the season on the fringes of the first round conversation, but have positioned themselves to easily go in the top half of the first round. Scouts love both of their competitive spirits, and both are armed with low to mid 90's fastballs that they can bump up to 97. With full arsenals, they easily project as starters, though Gore commands his pitches better and has the advantage of being left handed. Gore also has a higher ceiling due to his more raw mechanics, and will likely go about five or so picks ahead of Baz, but you can't go wrong with either of these guys.
Tier II (Hall, Carlson, Rogers, Enlow, Sauer, Crouse)
Standing at 6'1", DL Hall is the second shortest guy on this list ahead of only the 6' Bryce Bonnin, but with his small frame, he fits into the "undersized lefty" demographic, which doesn't typically have a high ceiling. However, Hall can absolutely bring it, coming in in the low to mid 90's with arguably the best curveball in the class. As a long-established prospect, he's very different from the other high ceiling arm that sits right next to him on overall big board, Sam Carlson. A Minnesota product, Carlson surprised everybody by adding 5 MPH to his fastball this spring, now sitting in the mid 90's, with a power slider and a surprisingly good changeup for a cold weather high schooler. He commands it all from a 6'4" frame, giving him a higher floor than most prep arms. Trevor Rogers and Blayne Enlow share a lot of similarities despite different handedness. The 6'6" Rogers will likely go a little before the 6'4" Enlow because he is left handed, though both saw their draft stock dip a bit this spring with decreased velocity. Rogers throws a little harder, in the low 90's, while Enlow sits around 90, but Enlow's excellent curveball, which rivals that of Hall, is more advanced than Rogers' decent slider. Both are projection plays, as it's easy to envision both getting into the mid 90's when they fill out their projectable frames and clean up their mechanics, with Rogers having more work to do than Enlow. The 6'4" Matt Sauer and the 6'5" Hans Crouse both look like relievers at this point, with tall frames and high effort deliveries. Both throw very hard and project to be drafted in the same range, 25-35ish, so teams considering one are bound to be considering the other at the same time. Crouse's skinnier frame is a little bit more projectable, and he sits in the mid 90's a little bit more consistently than Sauer. That said, Sauer's slider is a little better than Crouse's curveball. If they both end up relievers, I think Crouse will be the better pitcher, but I am more optimistic about Sauer's ability to stick in a starting rotation. He has a thicker build and a very different pitching motion from Crouse. While Crouse generates his velocity by leaning back and then short-arming his delivery, Sauer does so by the sheer strength of his arm and by extending his long arms (it's important to note that Crouse has similar arm strength and long arms). I think Sauer's delivery is inefficient, and cleaning it up/getting him more on line to the plate can pay huge dividends. In contrast, I don't see much a team can do to tinker with Crouse's delivery without changing his entire profile as a pitcher, so he's probably best being left as he is with some minor adjustments. Because of all of this, I rank Sauer a few spots higher than Crouse, but it wouldn't be unjustifiable to take Crouse first.
Tier III (Scherff, Perez, Eder, Leach, Marinan, Lemons, Bonnin)
Alex Scherff is an interesting pitcher. He's a full year older than the typical high school senior, and he has transferred high schools three times, pitching at three different schools in his first three years of high school before transferring back to the original one for his senior year. It all adds up to a very weird profile before he even steps on the mound, but the stuff is premium. A shorter righty at 6'2", he can run his riding fastball into the mid 90's deep into starts, and his full arsenal is highlighted by an excellent changeup, possibly the best in this high school draft class. His slider and curveball need work, but the slider does have some late bite, and he could be a mid rotation starter if it all comes together. I'm going to skip around and compare Joe Perez to James Marinan, both of whom are projectable right handers who pitch in south Florida. They also both popped onto scouts radars this season, quite literally as Marinan found a mid 90's fastball and Perez touched the upper 90's. They both have a lot of work to do on their offspeeds, though Marinan's curveball is coming along well and he has a better chance of sticking in a starting rotation. Perez is more of a projection play because he only started pitching recently, and he is also the second youngest player in the entire list of potential top 100 picks, trailing only fellow south Floridan Mark Vientos by three days. Perez's ceiling easily fits in with Tier II, but the distance he has to get there keeps him in Tier III. Jake Eder and Caden Lemons can be compared to each other as tall, projectable picks with terrible mechanics. The 6'4" Eder and the 6'6" Lemons can both sit in the low 90's easily. Both will need complete overhauls of their mechanics, but being able to do what they do as it is is pretty incredible. Eder's mechanics are simply all over the place, while Lemons looks like he's just walking up to the mound and throwing the ball. 6'4" Canadian Landon Leach has similar stuff to Eder, though he is right handed and has a cleaner delivery. He's a safer bet, but also probably has a lower ceiling. Lastly, Bryce Bonnin has a devastating fastball/slider combo, sitting in the low to mid 90's depending on when you see him and throwing hitters off with that nasty slider. He may profile best as a reliever down the road due to his shorter stature (he's 6') and inconsistencies with being able to maintain his command. If he does end up in the bullpen, he has the kind of stuff that can play up there and be very valuable.
Second Tier: DL Hall, Sam Carlson, Trevor Rogers, Blayne Enlow, Matt Sauer, Hans Crouse
Third Tier: Alex Scherff, Joe Perez, Jake Eder, Landon Leach, James Marinan, Caden Lemons, Bryce Bonnin
Others: C.J. Van Eyk, Gavin Williams, Jackson Rutledge, Nick Storz, Daniel Ritcheson, Cade Cavalli
Sticking with the high ceiling theme, let's look at the one thing more risky than a toolsy high school hitter: a raw high school pitcher. Now, not all of these guys are raw, especially in the first and second tiers, but some of those guys in the "others" section basically just throw fastballs at this point. This list encompasses most high school pitchers, but I'm focusing on ceiling here so I left out the Hagen Danners and Tanner Burns's to focus on those who could legitimately be top of the rotation forces. Of course, most of these guys won't ever be impact arms on an MLB staff, but then again, some may win Cy Young Awards.
Tier I (Greene, Gore, Baz)
We all agree that Hunter Greene is the top talent in this class. He has the best chance on this list to be an ace, coming in with easy upper 90's velocity and some secondaries that flash plus. No other high schoolers in this draft can match his velocity, and unlike the guys further down the list that come close, he has solid pitchability. MacKenzie Gore and Shane Baz aren't the same pitcher, but the deeper you look, the more similarities you find with them. Both began the season on the fringes of the first round conversation, but have positioned themselves to easily go in the top half of the first round. Scouts love both of their competitive spirits, and both are armed with low to mid 90's fastballs that they can bump up to 97. With full arsenals, they easily project as starters, though Gore commands his pitches better and has the advantage of being left handed. Gore also has a higher ceiling due to his more raw mechanics, and will likely go about five or so picks ahead of Baz, but you can't go wrong with either of these guys.
Tier II (Hall, Carlson, Rogers, Enlow, Sauer, Crouse)
Standing at 6'1", DL Hall is the second shortest guy on this list ahead of only the 6' Bryce Bonnin, but with his small frame, he fits into the "undersized lefty" demographic, which doesn't typically have a high ceiling. However, Hall can absolutely bring it, coming in in the low to mid 90's with arguably the best curveball in the class. As a long-established prospect, he's very different from the other high ceiling arm that sits right next to him on overall big board, Sam Carlson. A Minnesota product, Carlson surprised everybody by adding 5 MPH to his fastball this spring, now sitting in the mid 90's, with a power slider and a surprisingly good changeup for a cold weather high schooler. He commands it all from a 6'4" frame, giving him a higher floor than most prep arms. Trevor Rogers and Blayne Enlow share a lot of similarities despite different handedness. The 6'6" Rogers will likely go a little before the 6'4" Enlow because he is left handed, though both saw their draft stock dip a bit this spring with decreased velocity. Rogers throws a little harder, in the low 90's, while Enlow sits around 90, but Enlow's excellent curveball, which rivals that of Hall, is more advanced than Rogers' decent slider. Both are projection plays, as it's easy to envision both getting into the mid 90's when they fill out their projectable frames and clean up their mechanics, with Rogers having more work to do than Enlow. The 6'4" Matt Sauer and the 6'5" Hans Crouse both look like relievers at this point, with tall frames and high effort deliveries. Both throw very hard and project to be drafted in the same range, 25-35ish, so teams considering one are bound to be considering the other at the same time. Crouse's skinnier frame is a little bit more projectable, and he sits in the mid 90's a little bit more consistently than Sauer. That said, Sauer's slider is a little better than Crouse's curveball. If they both end up relievers, I think Crouse will be the better pitcher, but I am more optimistic about Sauer's ability to stick in a starting rotation. He has a thicker build and a very different pitching motion from Crouse. While Crouse generates his velocity by leaning back and then short-arming his delivery, Sauer does so by the sheer strength of his arm and by extending his long arms (it's important to note that Crouse has similar arm strength and long arms). I think Sauer's delivery is inefficient, and cleaning it up/getting him more on line to the plate can pay huge dividends. In contrast, I don't see much a team can do to tinker with Crouse's delivery without changing his entire profile as a pitcher, so he's probably best being left as he is with some minor adjustments. Because of all of this, I rank Sauer a few spots higher than Crouse, but it wouldn't be unjustifiable to take Crouse first.
Tier III (Scherff, Perez, Eder, Leach, Marinan, Lemons, Bonnin)
Alex Scherff is an interesting pitcher. He's a full year older than the typical high school senior, and he has transferred high schools three times, pitching at three different schools in his first three years of high school before transferring back to the original one for his senior year. It all adds up to a very weird profile before he even steps on the mound, but the stuff is premium. A shorter righty at 6'2", he can run his riding fastball into the mid 90's deep into starts, and his full arsenal is highlighted by an excellent changeup, possibly the best in this high school draft class. His slider and curveball need work, but the slider does have some late bite, and he could be a mid rotation starter if it all comes together. I'm going to skip around and compare Joe Perez to James Marinan, both of whom are projectable right handers who pitch in south Florida. They also both popped onto scouts radars this season, quite literally as Marinan found a mid 90's fastball and Perez touched the upper 90's. They both have a lot of work to do on their offspeeds, though Marinan's curveball is coming along well and he has a better chance of sticking in a starting rotation. Perez is more of a projection play because he only started pitching recently, and he is also the second youngest player in the entire list of potential top 100 picks, trailing only fellow south Floridan Mark Vientos by three days. Perez's ceiling easily fits in with Tier II, but the distance he has to get there keeps him in Tier III. Jake Eder and Caden Lemons can be compared to each other as tall, projectable picks with terrible mechanics. The 6'4" Eder and the 6'6" Lemons can both sit in the low 90's easily. Both will need complete overhauls of their mechanics, but being able to do what they do as it is is pretty incredible. Eder's mechanics are simply all over the place, while Lemons looks like he's just walking up to the mound and throwing the ball. 6'4" Canadian Landon Leach has similar stuff to Eder, though he is right handed and has a cleaner delivery. He's a safer bet, but also probably has a lower ceiling. Lastly, Bryce Bonnin has a devastating fastball/slider combo, sitting in the low to mid 90's depending on when you see him and throwing hitters off with that nasty slider. He may profile best as a reliever down the road due to his shorter stature (he's 6') and inconsistencies with being able to maintain his command. If he does end up in the bullpen, he has the kind of stuff that can play up there and be very valuable.
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