Once completely barren, the Diamondbacks farm system has undergone a very impressive makeover, and there are a couple factors to credit. One was improved results from their international development, with guys like Geraldo Perdomo, Kristian Robinson, Wilderd Patino, and Luis Frias looking like potential impact players and Jazz Chisholm helping to net Zac Gallen from Miami. Another was the Zack Greinke deal, which brought some big names in Seth Beer, J.B. Bukauskas, Corbin Martin, and Josh Rojas, helping to fill out the top of the system while guys like Pavin Smith, Drew Ellis, and Andy Yerzy saw their bats stagnate a little bit. And lastly, they had eight of the first 93 picks in the 2019 draft class, with which they grabbed one of the best pure hitters in the high school class, a pair of high upside high school arms, a pair of power college arms, and a trio of safer bet college players. It's a fairly spread out system that's led by a few impact bats in Beer, Robinson, Alek Thomas, and Daulton Varsho, as well as a deep array of pitching that includes no sure things but a lot of kids with one or two things they need to smooth out before reaching their high upside.
Affiliates: AAA Reno Aces, AA Jackson Generals, High A Visalia Rawhide, Class A Kane County, short season Hillsboro Hops, rookie level Missoula Osprey, complex level AZL and DSL Diamondbacks
Catcher
- Daulton Varsho (2020 Age: 23-24): Varsho, who was drafted in the second competitive balance round out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2017, is an interesting prospect. In 2019, he slashed .301/.378/.520 with 18 home runs, 21 stolen bases, and a 63/42 strikeout to walk ratio over 108 games at AA Jackson, which is a very interesting stat line for a catcher. Varsho is a great all-around hitter, one who possesses an excellent understanding of the strike zone and who makes hard contact consistently. He also has some power despite standing 5'10", which helped him hit those 18 home runs in 2019 to go along with 25 doubles and four triples. Unlike most catchers, he's actually an above average runner who has stolen 40 bases over the last two seasons, and he actually runs well enough to handle center field or potentially second base. That's important, because he's not a great defender behind the plate – he's good enough for now, but his fringy arm strength isn't ideal for the majors. Not many catchers can impact the game offensively like he can, though fortunately he won't be pushed to first base if he can't stick back there, so he'll still have defensive value. The fact that Carson Kelly probably has the catcher's role locked down for the long term doesn't help his chances of remaining a catcher. I like Varsho as a prospect and he profiles for 15-20 home runs annually with high on-base percentages.
- Keep an eye on: Dominic Miroglio, Jose Herrera
Corner Infield
- Seth Beer (2020 Age: 23): Beer was one of the top hitters in the country at Clemson, where he slashed .321/.489/.648 with 56 home runs over three years, but questions about how his bat would play against pro pitching as well as his lack of defensive value knocked him to the Astros at the end of the first round in 2018. He answered those questions with a strong pro debut in 2018 (.304/.389/.496) and was hitting well again this year when he got shipped to Arizona in the Zack Greinke deal. Between the two organizations, he slashed .289/.388/.516 with 26 home runs and a 113/46 strikeout to walk ratio over 122 games at High A and AA, and it's safe to say those questions about his bat are behind him. Beer is a very competent hitter with both power and the ability to get to it, and while he's not walking at twice the rate he's striking out anymore, he's still controlling the zone well and limiting his strikeouts. The flip side is that he's a defensive liability, as he has played left field for most of his career but as the slowest guy on the field, he wasn't catching much. He's been playing more first base recently and that's probably his spot going forward, but he's far from a stud there either. Fortunately, his bat will play anywhere, as he has the potential for 25-30 home runs annually with high on-base percentages if he can make enough contact.
- Kevin Cron (2020 Age: 27): How do you crack a prospect list as a soon-to-be 27 year old without much defensive value? By taking just 84 games to lead the entire minor leagues with 39 home runs, all the while slashing .329/.446/.777 with a 79/61 strikeout to walk ratio, mostly at AAA Reno. Cron also added six more home runs in the majors to get up to 45 total on the season, slashing .211/.269/.521 with a 28/4 strikeout to walk ratio in 39 games along the way. Cron's a big dude at 6'5" and a listed 250 pounds, and it's no secret what makes the former TCU Horned Frog a valuable player. He has big time power that he has gotten to consistently for years, now with 151 career minor league home runs and a .529 slugging percentage, and the ability to get to that power consistently against high level pitching. Now there is some swing and miss in his game, and it was exposed in his brief time in the majors, and as a first base/third base type with a fringy glove, he has to hit to provide value. He does hit both lefties and righties well, so he's not strictly a platoon bat, and he'll likely be a more of a pinch hitter/bench bat than a full time starter.
- Pavin Smith (2020 Age: 24): Smith's advanced bat made him the seventh overall pick out of UVA in 2017, but he hit for less impact than expected at first and slashed just .255/.343/.392 in High A in his first full season in 2018. He slumped at the beginning of 2019 as well, but he got hot over the last two months of the season to finish at .291/.370/.466 with 12 home runs and a 61/59 strikeout to walk ratio over 123 games at AA Jackson. The biggest thing that he had going for him in college was exceptional plate discipline, which he has retained in pro ball and it makes him nearly impossible to strike out, but so far the big power surge he had as a junior has not fully translated. He did hit more balls in the air in 2019, and I'd wager that most of those came in the second half when he got hot. If that is indeed the case, then Smith may have turned the corner for real and he might be well on his way to becoming a starting first baseman capable of 15-25 home runs per season and high on-base percentages. MLB.com might have given up on him because he's outside their top 30 Diamondbacks prospects, but I'm far from doing so.
- Drew Ellis (2020 Age: 24): Ellis, like Smith, is a 2017 draftee (second round out of Louisville) who has lost a bit of his prospect sheen. He's been an average hitter throughout his time in the minors, and in 2019 he slashed .235/.344/.406 with 14 home runs and a 109/63 strikeout to walk ratio over 118 games at AA Jackson. He's maintained great plate discipline, albeit not on Smith's level, but the overall impact he's generating at the plate isn't quite what was hoped for. He's unlikely to be a full time starter, though he has hit just enough to keep his hopes alive of becoming a bench or platoon bat – he hits lefties well and slashed .271/.353/.504 against them in 2019.
- Tristin English (2020 Age: 22-23): The Diamondbacks picked up English in the third round out of Georgia Tech in 2019, and they signed the senior under slot to save some money for earlier picks. He had a successful pro debut where he slashed .290/.356/.482 with seven home runs and a 24/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 50 games at short season Hillsboro, though he was already 22. English has power as well as a track record of hitting well against advanced pitching, and the fact that he limits his strikeouts so well means he can get to his power consistently. He doesn't draw a ton of walks, as he likes to make contact early in the count, but he doesn't necessarily need to in order to provide value at the plate. As a first baseman, even with his strong arm that could have gotten him drafted as a reliever, he won't be providing too much value on defense, so his bat will have to carry him. He's likely a guy who hits 15-20 home runs per season with decent on-base percentages, which might be just a bit light for a starting first baseman.
- Keep an eye on: Buddy Kennedy, Yoel Yanqui, Spencer Brickhouse, Endy Estrada
Middle Infield
- Domingo Leyba (2020 Age: 24): Leyba was originally a Tigers prospect who came over in the three team, Didi Gregorius/Robbie Ray deal of 2014, and in 2019 he slashed .300/.351/.519 with 19 home runs and a 78/32 strikeout to walk ratio over 112 games at AAA Reno, as well as .280/.367/.440 with a 9/4 strikeout to walk ratio over 21 major league games. Leyba's power surge was probably a bit of a Pacific Coast League mirage, but his high contact rates bode well for his major league future. The Diamondbacks have a pretty crowded infield scene, and Leyba's bat is a bit too light to justify a full time starting role, but he has a good shot at being a utility infielder who could make some spot starts at second base. There's not a ton of upside, but he's ready now.
- Andy Young (2020 Age: 25-26): Hoping to become the first North Dakota native in the majors since Travis Hafner, Young came over in the Paul Goldschmidt trade and slashed .271/.368/.535 with 29 home runs and a 121/42 strikeout to walk ratio over 133 games at AA Jackson and AAA Reno in 2019. Like Leyba, his power surge in Reno was a bit of a PCL mirage, but he does have more power than Leyba and could hit 10-20 home runs in the majors with decent on-base percentages. He's fairly average all around, with no standout tools and no true weaknesses, and he'll be battling Leyba for a utility infield spot in 2020. Leyba has the better hit tool, Young a bit more power, and Leyba is a bit better on defense.
- Geraldo Perdomo (2020 Age: 20): It's been really interesting to watch the trajectory of Geraldo Perdomo, who signed for just $70,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2016 then hit a fascinating .238/.410/.285 in the Dominican Summer League. There was virtually no impact in his bat, but at 17 years old he could control the zone like nobody else in his league. He found some of that impact in 2018 by slashing .322/.438/.460 in the low minors, then in 2019 he hit .275/.397/.364 with three home runs, 26 stolen bases, and a 67/70 strikeout to walk ratio over 116 games at Class A Kane County and High A Visalia. Despite coming off his age-19 season, Perdomo has the best plate discipline in the system with the patience to draw tons of walks as well as the bat control skills to make contact at any point in the count. He's a switch hitter with a quick, direct to the ball swing from both sides of the plate, and he's so good at finding that barrel that might be able to tap some power in his 6'3" frame if he chooses to do so. Set to play all of 2020 at just 20 years old and having already shown the ability to handle High A pitching, he's a really interesting guy to follow and I'll be watching closely to see if he can tap some power next year. Of course, we haven't even talked about his defense, which is great and makes him an asset at shortstop, and he's not the fastest guy on the field but his instincts have enabled him to steal 66 bases in his minor league career.
- Liover Peguero (2020 Age: 19): Perdomo isn't the only teenage Dominican shortstop making waves in this system. Peguero, signed for $475,000 in 2017, had an unremarkable .259/.311/.340 run through complex ball in 2018 before breaking out to slash .326/.382/.485 with five home runs, eleven stolen bases, and a 51/20 strikeout to walk ratio over 60 games at rookie level Missoula and short season Hillsboro in 2019. Despite playing the entire season at 18 years old and with just 19 stateside games under his belt, Peguero went straight to rookie ball and raked, showing wiry strength that generated good gap and over the fence power while making consistent hard contact. He's in a pretty similar place to where Perdomo was a year ago, albeit with a bit more power and with less plate discipline, and he should hit full season ball as a 19 year old in 2020. Like Perdomo, he has a strong glove and should stick at shortstop, adding to his value.
- Keep an eye on: L.T. Tolbert, Luis Alejandro Basabe, Blaze Alexander, Jose Curpa, Glenallen Hill Jr.
Outfield
- Alek Thomas (2020 Age: 20): Thomas was a second round pick out of a Chicago high school in 2018, noted more for his feel for the game than for any loud tools at the time. However, he's just hit and hit since then, and in 2019 he slashed .300/.379/.450 with ten home runs, 15 stolen bases, and a 105/52 strikeout to walk ratio over 114 games at Class A Kane County and High A Visalia. He's shown a great understanding of the strike zone for his age and has had no trouble putting the barrel on advanced pitching, and he's even begun to tap some power that he hadn't really shown in high school. He's also a great runner that can make his speed play on both sides of the ball, though at this point his below average arm makes him more of an average center fielder. Overall, he has a lot of great building blocks for a kid who won't turn 20 until April, and with his contact-oriented approach, he could be a leadoff man at the major league level by the time he's 21.
- Jake McCarthy (2020 Age: 22-23): McCarthy was a competitive balance pick out of UVA in 2018, a year after the Diamondbacks drafted his teammate Pavin Smith, though the injury problems that bugged him in college have continued into pro ball. In 2019, he slashed .277/.341/.405 with two home runs, 18 stolen bases, and a 52/17 strikeout to walk ratio over 53 games at High A Visalia, though his season ended on July 7th when he left the game with an undisclosed injury. McCarthy has always had an explosive swing that should be conducive to power, and I liked him on draft day because I thought he could start to generate some, but he continues to be more of a line drive/ground ball hitter rather than one who tries to loft the ball, and I think he could hit for some actual if he did so. The continued injuries don't help him, but hopefully a healthy 2020 can see him drive the ball more in the air and hit 15-20 home runs – he already does hit a lot of extra base hits with 30 doubles and seven triples in 111 career minor league games. McCarthy is also a great runner who has stolen 39 bases in those 111 games, and it helps him play good defense in the outfield, though he might be more of a left fielder than a center fielder in deference to Alek Thomas. I still like McCarthy, but the power has to come at some point if he wants to be more than a fourth outfielder.
- Kristian Robinson (2020 Age: 19): The Diamondbacks picked up Robinson for $2.5 million out of the Bahamas in 2017, and so far, he's been worth every penny. He followed up a strong first season in 2018 with a breakout 2019 where he slashed .282/.368/.514 with 14 home runs, 17 stolen bases, and a 77/31 strikeout to walk ratio over 69 games at short season Hillsboro and Class A Kane County. He has a lot of wiry strength at 6'3", and it helps him generate a lot of raw power that he's beginning to tap in games. He has an all fields, line drive oriented approach, and learning to add loft to his swing could help him hit 25-30 home runs annually. There is some swing and miss in his game, but he has been playing consistently with older competition, as he reached Class A at just 18 years old in 2019. Robinson has the highest ceiling in the entire system, and he just needs time to figure things out. Defensively, he's great in the outfield and could stick in center, giving him the opportunity to impact the game on both sides of the ball.
- Corbin Carroll (2020 Age: 19): The Diamondbacks had seven picks on day one of the 2019 draft and eight of the first 93 overall selections, and their first one, at pick #15, was Corbin Carroll out of high school in Seattle. He was as-advertised in his pro debut, slashing .299/.409/.487 with two home runs, 18 stolen bases, and a 41/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 42 games between the complex level Arizona League and short season Hillsboro. A smaller guy at a skinny 5'10", he was drafted on the basis of his plus speed as well as his exceptional feel for hitting. He doesn't have much raw power, but he maximizes what he does have because he finds the barrel very consistently and can handle advanced pitching. His defense is a work in progress but is trending up, and he should be an asset in center field down the line. In a few years, he and Alek Thomas could be a dynamic 1-2 punch leading off the Arizona lineup.
- Dominic Fletcher (2020 Age: 22): Fletcher, drafted in the second competitive balance round out of Arkansas in 2019, is kind of a case where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Standing 5'9", he lacks standout tools in any area but he makes consistent line drive contact from the left side and was able to hit .318/.389/.463 with five home runs and a 50/22 strikeout to walk ratio over 55 games at Class A Kane County in his pro debut. He's got some pop, but not a ton, and he makes good contact. An aggressive hitter at Arkansas, he was more selective in his pro debut and that paid big dividends for his production. He's also a fringy runner, but his instincts in the outfield enable him to play a solid center field or an above average left field. Fletcher will likely work his way up in a fourth outfield role, but if he keeps hitting for as much impact as he did in his pro debut, he could conceivably start and hit 10-15 home runs annually with solid on-base percentages.
- Wilderd Patino (2020 Age: 18-19): Patino drew a lot of walks in his first pro season in the Dominican Summer League in 2018 but didn't do much else, then broke out to slash .319/.378/.447 with a home run, 14 stolen bases, and a 46/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 40 games in the complex level Arizona League and at rookie level Missoula in 2019. Patino was just 17 years old when he started out in the AZL this year and hit .349/.403/.472 there, though he was a bit exposed as a barely-18 year old in the Pioneer League after the promotion. He doesn't hit for a ton of power at present, but his short, explosive right handed swing could easily generate above average or even plus power down the road, and his advanced approach at the plate has allowed him to hit against much older competition. He's also a good runner, giving him a well-rounded game, and he has some of the better upside in this system. There's still a long way to go but the early returns are great.
- Keep an eye on: Ben DeLuzio, Eduardo Diaz, Jorge Barrosa, Dominic Canzone, Jeferson Espinal, Alvin Guzman
Starting Pitching
- Jon Duplantier (2020 Age: 25-26): Duplantier went in the third round out of Rice in 2016, then went 17-4 with a 1.79 ERA over his first two-plus pro seasons. He bounced between the majors and the minors in 2019, posting a 5.44 ERA, a 1.60 WHIP, and a 50/31 strikeout to walk ratio over 43 innings between AAA Reno and some lower level rehab, as well as a 4.42 ERA, a 1.55 WHIP, and a 34/18 strikeout to walk ratio over 36.2 major league innings. A healthy Duplantier is absolutely a major league starter, as he can sit in the low to mid 90's with his fastball and add a curve, a slider, and a changeup while commanding everything pretty well when he's on the mound consistently. Unfortunately, nagging arm problems have limited him since college, and 2017 was really his only truly healthy season when he threw 136 innings. It's hard to have much faith that Duplantier, now 25, can throw 150+ innings in a season at the major league level, but if he can, they'd be dominant innings and he could be a #3 starter. The Diamondbacks have a bit of a crowded rotation picture, and while it's certainly not impenetrable, he's probably going to have to prove himself in the bullpen first before getting another crack at starting.
- J.B Bukauskas (2020 Age: 23): Bukauskas, who grew up in the same hometown of Ashburn, Virginia as current D-Backs starter Taylor Clarke, was a first round pick out of UNC by the Astros in 2017 then came over to Arizona in the Zack Greinke deal. After an injury-interrupted but strong 2018 (2.14 ERA, 71/24 K/BB), he was more inconsistent in 2019 and posted a 5.44 ERA, a 1.62 WHIP, and a 109/59 strikeout to walk ratio over 92.2 innings at the two AA affiliates. There's no question about the stuff, at all, as Bukauskas sits in the mid 90's with his fastball and adds a devastating slider that has never failed to miss bats consistently, while his changeup has improved since college and he's added a harder cutter. The problem lies with his command, which is well below average and which causes his stuff to play down. Additionally, it's hard to project the 6' right hander to significantly improve his command, one because he hasn't yet and just turned 23 in October and two because he throws with a lot of effort in a jerky delivery. The Astros were unable to smooth him out, and maybe the Diamondbacks will, but it's a big question mark. If he can't get close to average command, his fastball/slider combination can and will make him an impact reliever, one who could potentially even close games, but if he can figure it out somewhat, he could be a mid rotation starter.
- Corbin Martin (2020 Age: 24): Martin grew up in the Houston area and attended Texas A&M, then got drafted in the second round by his hometown Astros one round after Bukauskas and was shipped together with him and others in the Zack Greinke trade. Martin was successful in AAA in 2019 with a 3.13 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and a 45/18 strikeout to walk ratio over 37.1 innings, and he also posted a 5.59 ERA, a 1.81 WHIP, and a 19/12 strikeout to walk ratio over 19.1 major league innings. However, something wasn't quite right with his arm and he went down with Tommy John surgery in July, shortly before the trade. That puts his 2020 season in jeopardy, because at best he'll be available in a limited role for the stretch run in September. For 2021 and beyond, though, Martin is one to look forward to. He sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball and complements it with a big breaking curveball and a harder slider, as well as a changeup, and his command has improved since college. It's a classic #3 or #4 starter profile, and once he gets healthy, he'll be given every chance to claim a spot in the rotation. We'll just have to see how he handles returning from injury and whether the Diamondbacks end up pushing him to the bullpen, where he was successful in college.
- Josh Green (2020 Age: 24): Green was a very under the radar 14th round senior sign out of Southeastern Louisiana in 2018, but he was a known commodity by the end of his pro debut, in which he had a 1.09 ERA and a 25/9 strikeout to walk ratio in short season ball. Green then took a massive leap forward in 2019, posting a 2.71 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and a 101/21 strikeout to walk ratio over 126.1 innings at High A Visalia and AA Jackson, then went and dominated in two Southern League playoff starts. If there is one way to describe Green's stuff, it's "heavy." He generates a ton of ground balls with all of his pitches, throwing a low to mid 90's sinker while adding a downer curveball and more of a diving slider, as well as a changeup, and he did a great job of hitting his spots and keeping everything low in the zone in 2019. Everything comes from a closed off delivery that makes him difficult to pick up, and he's proven durable enough to handle a starter's workload, something the names above him on this list very much have not yet. Green's still a bit of a sleeper but he has legitimate rotation aspirations and could stick in the rotation longer than any of those names above him on this list as more of a #4 innings eating guy.
- Levi Kelly (2020 Age: 20-21): I can't currently think of any active major leaguers from western West Virginia, though Charleston-area native Levi Kelly would like to change that (though his high school did produce 1957 World Series MVP Lew Burdette). Kelly, an eighth round in 2018 after transferring to the IMG Academy, had a huge breakout in 2019 with a 2.15 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and a 126/39 strikeout to walk ratio over 100.1 innings, often outshining his teammate and the more highly regarded Matt Tabor in that Class A Kane County rotation. He sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball and has focused on his slider in pro ball, turning it into a real weapon. Those two pitches, combined with a changeup that has improved in pro ball, were too much for Class A hitters, and it will be interesting to see how he fares against most advanced competition. Kelly's command has come along nicely in pro ball, but there is still more work to do on that front if he wants to become a mid-rotation starter.
- Matt Tabor (2020 Age: 21-22): Tabor was a third round pick out of a Boston-area high school in 2017, and while the Diamondbacks have brought him along slowly, he's been effective every step of the way. In 2019, Tabor posted a 2.93 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, and a 101/16 strikeout to walk ratio over 95.1 innings at Class A Kane County, where he joined Kelly and Jackson Goddard in one of the better Class A rotations around. A raw talent coming out of high school, he's basically a more refined version of what he was in 2017. He still sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball and adds a good changeup, and his slider still needs work, but he's ironed out his mechanics and is throwing a lot more strikes than he used to. He's a bit more refined than Kelly now, but he's also a year older, and while Tabor has the better changeup, Kelly easily has him beat with the breaking ball. Tabor will need to continue to refine his offspeed stuff, but otherwise, he understands pitching and shouldn't have any trouble working his way up towards the majors, with a #3/#4 starter projection a reasonable ceiling.
- Shumpei Yoshikawa (2020 Age: 25): Yoshikawa grew up in Japan, but he jumped directly from Japan's Industrial League, which is more or less what it sounds like, to the Diamondbacks system and completely bypassed the NPB, Japan's major league. He then posted a 3.75 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and a 123/22 strikeout to walk ratio over 103.1 innings at High A Visalia, which certainly isn't half bad in your first taste of a foreign country. Yoshikawa doesn't throw overly hard, sitting around 90 with his fastball, but he gets most of his strikeouts with an excellent changeup that he can deploy against both lefties and righties. His breaking balls need to get more consistent, but fortunately he does fill up the strike zone and taking that step forward could help him become a back-end starter.
- Luis Frias (2020 Age: 21-22): A converted infielder, Frias has made a lot of progress over the last few years and is well on his way towards ditching the "raw power arm" label for good. In 2019, he posted a 2.83 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and a 101/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 76.1 innings at short season Hillsboro and Class A Kane County, refining multiple parts of his game along the way. He can sit in the mid to upper 90's with his power fastball, and he adds a big, downer curveball that just keeps on going as well as a harder changeup. While he's no control artist, he's made significant strides with his command and it's approaching average, though it still needs continued refinement. He's still somewhat raw, as he could probably use to sharpen his curveball just a touch and get more consistent with his changeup, but the building blocks are in place and he's shooting up prospect lists. If the rotation doesn't work out, his fastball/curveball combination could make him lethal in relief.
- Drey Jameson (2020 Age: 22): Jameson was a compensation pick out of Ball State in 2019, though he struggled to throw strikes in his debut and posted a 6.17 ERA, a 1.97 WHIP, and a 12/9 strikeout to walk ratio over 11.2 innings at short season Hillsboro. He's a little guy at a listed 6' and 165 pounds, but he throws really hard with a mid 90's fastball and a pair of distinct power breaking balls and he can maintain that stuff deep into games. However, there is significant reliever risk for a multitude of reasons, including his size, the effort in his delivery, and his inconsistent command. In order to stay in the rotation, Jameson will a) need to prove his durability and either b) develop his changeup or c) get more consistent with his command, but given the stamina in his right arm, he'll be able to fight hard to remain a starter. If he does move to the bullpen, the fastball and breaking balls could make him an impact reliever. It's a high risk pick for the compensation round, given that he'll turn 23 at the end of the season, but it could be a high reward one.
- Brennan Malone (2020 Age: 19): Malone went one pick before Jameson out of the IMG Academy, though he grew up in the Charlotte area before transferring for his senior year. The move paid off and in his pro debut he posted a 4.50 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and an 8/5 strikeout to walk ratio across eight innings in the complex level Arizona League and at short season Hillsboro. Malone is very athletic, standing 6'4" and throwing four good pitches. He sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball and adds a great slider, which he developed at IMG, a curveball which is inconsistent but which can flash plus, and a solid changeup. His command is coming along nicely, though he does have more work to do on that front. He's a very well-balanced arm for someone who will play the whole coming season at 19 years old, and he has a shot to become a #3 starter down the road.
- Tommy Henry (2020 Age: 22-23): Henry had an extremely up and down junior year at Michigan, then went in the second competitive balance round in 2019 before allowing three runs (two earned) over three innings at short season Hillsboro in his pro debut, striking out four and walking none. He dominated early in the season, got knocked around a lot in the middle, and got hot in the NCAA Tournament against good lineups, so really, it's hard to say what he'll become. He can sit in the low 90's and add a sharp slider and a good changeup when he's on, though his stuff tends to flatten out at times and you never really know which Tommy Henry you're going to get. His command fluctuates as well, as he can really lock down the strike zone at times but at others, that command plays closer to average. That's better than fluctuating on the other side of the average line, and in all, the lefty has real upside as a #3 starter. There's a lot of risk, though, as he doesn't quite have that power relief profile should he wind up in the bullpen and he'll turn 23 in July, making him somewhat old for a college junior draftee.
- Blake Walston (2020 Age: 18-19): Walston, selected seven picks before Malone in the back half of the first round, has a higher ceiling but more work to do to get there. Coming out of a Wilmington, North Carolina high school, he posted a 2.45 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, and a 17/2 strikeout to walk ratio over 11 innings between the Arizona League and Hillsboro, though he did get knocked around in the Northwest League playoffs. Walston is a 6'5" left hander, words which can make scouts drool, and he's exceptionally projectable. He currently sits anywhere from the high 80's to the low 90's depending on how fresh he is, and his best secondary is a curveball that can look like a true plus pitch when it's at its best. Walston also adds a slider and a changeup, but in all, he has a long way to go to reach his tremendous ceiling. First off, he needs to hit the weight room and add the stamina to pitch deep into games, and then he needs to get more consistent with his whole arsenal. He won't even turn 19 until June, so he's very young and has a ton of time, so you'd expect that the D-Backs will take it slow with him, but the end product could be a true ace three to five years down the line if this lottery ticket works out.
- Keep an eye on: Jeremy Beasley, Jeff Bain, Kenny Hernandez, Jackson Goddard, Tyler Holton, Michel Gelabert, Avery Short
Relief Pitching
- Taylor Widener (2020 Age: 25): Originally a Yankees' 12th rounder out of South Carolina in 2016, Widener came over in the three team Steven Souza/Brandon Drury deal of 2018 and had a great first season in the organization (2.75 ERA, 176/43 K/BB), but he struggled intensely in 2019 and finished with an 8.10 ERA, a 1.74 WHIP, and a 109/41 strikeout to walk ratio over 100 innings at AAA Reno. Reno is one of the most hitter friendly contexts in minor league baseball, so an 8.10 ERA there might be a 6.10 ERA elsewhere, but it's still not what you want to see and he allowed 23 home runs in 23 starts. He sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball and adds a slider and a changeup, though neither stand out as plus and he more relies on deception and good arm side fade on the fastball and changeup to miss bats. The stuff might be a little light to work in the rotation, especially with the depth the Diamondbacks have there, but it could play up in the bullpen, where he does have experience dating back to his time at South Carolina. As a reliever, he could be ready out of spring training.
- Ryne Nelson (2020 Age: 22): Nelson was a second round pick out of Oregon in 2019, though as a native of Henderson, Nevada, he's a semi-hometown guy for the D-Backs. In his pro debut, he posted a 2.89 ERA, a 1.34 WHIP, and a 26/10 strikeout to walk ratio over 18.2 innings at short season Hillsboro, then added six dominant innings over a pair of Northwest League playoff appearances. Arizona may try him as a starter, as he was in the Ducks rotation for a time, but his future most likely lies in the bullpen unless they can clean him up considerably. He can sit in the mid to upper 90's with his fastball out of the bullpen, and his hard slider plays better in short stints. However, his command is well below average, and he'd have to make significant strides with it in order to remain a starter. He'll still need to get a bit sharper with his command even as a reliever, because while his slider is tough to square up, it's not a true out pitch at this point. If he can locate his pitches a bit better in the future, he does have the upside of an impact relief arm who could hit 100 down the road.
- Keep an eye on: West Tunnell, Breckin Williams, Mack Lemieux, Matt Mercer, Blake Workman, Conor Grammes
Showing posts with label Daulton Varsho. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daulton Varsho. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Monday, November 26, 2018
Reviewing the Arizona Diamondbacks Farm System
The Diamondbacks' farm system is vastly improved from where it was a few years ago, but it's still not deep. Headlined by the live armed Jon Duplantier, this system is built around a strong group of hitters that played at High A Visalia in 2018, though after a solid top ten or so the system drops off and is mostly comprised of fringe talent. They have placed an emphasis on bats in the draft recently, and that has replenished the lower end of the system. In terms of pitching, most of the talent is closer to the major leagues and aside from Jon Duplantier, there are no true high-ceiling pitching prospects.
Affiliates: AAA Reno Aces, AA Jackson Generals, High A Visalia Rawhide, Class A Kane County Cougars, Short Season Hillsboro Hops, Rookie level Missoula Osprey, complex level AZL and DSL Diamondbacks
The Headliner: RHP Jon Duplantier
24 year old Jon Duplantier was a third round pick (89th overall) out of Rice in 2016, and though he had shoulder concerns in college, he has been mostly healthy in the minors. The result so far is a 17-4 record, a 1.79 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, and a 245/74 strikeout to walk ratio over 211 innings since he was drafted, and in 2018 he was 5-1 with a 2.55 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and a 77/30 strikeout to walk ratio over 74 innings, mostly at AA Jackson. He has shown the ability to shut down AA hitting with great stuff and good enough command to make it all work, and really his only question is health. Though he managed 136 innings in 2017, he missed some more time in 2018 and was shut down after 74 innings and he might end up as a right handed James Paxton type who struggles to stay on the mound. When healthy though, he looks like a future #2 starter who could be up in the majors by late 2019.
Visalia Bats: 2B Jazz Chisholm, 1B Pavin Smith, C Daulton Varsho, 3B Drew Ellis, and OF Marcus Wilson
It just so happened to work out that most of the top impact bats in the Arizona system all spent the bulk of their 2018 season at High A Visalia, which must have made for a fun lineup to watch out in California. Keep in mind that Visalia is a hitter-friendly venue when reading statistics in this section. 20 year old Jazz Chisholm, a Bahamas native, has the highest ceiling in this group. Chisholm spent 76 games down at Class A Kane County before being called up to Visalia for 36 games, combining for 25 home runs, a .272/.329/.513 slash line, 17 stolen bases, and a 149/39 strikeout to walk ratio over 112 games. He's an explosive player with speed and power from a 5'11" frame, but he has to improve his plate discipline. That isn't a huge issue due to his age, so if he can shore up that strike zone a little bit, he could be a Rougned Odor-type second baseman in the majors. 22 year old Pavin Smith was probably the most notable hitter to appear for the Rawhide, though his season was somewhat disappointing as he finished with eleven home runs, a .255/.343/.392 line, and a 65/57 strikeout to walk ratio over 120 games, all at Visalia. The seventh overall pick out of the University of Virginia in 2017, Smith showed the excellent plate discipline he was known for in college, but the power he was projected to have has not yet materialized. At 6'2" with long arms, evaluators still think there is power to tap into, but he risks becoming just a bench bat if he doesn't get to it, even with his excellent plate discipline. He looked like he could be a Joey Votto out of college, but now it looks more like Jake Bauers. 22 year old Daulton Varsho was drafted 61 picks after Smith, 68th overall, in 2017 out of college in Wisconsin. Over 83 games between Visalia and some rehab work in complex ball, Varsho slashed .294/.367/.475 with 12 home runs, 19 stolen bases, and a 72/30 strikeout to walk ratio. He has power and speed, and with the ability to catch, he might be the most interesting prospect in the system. Catching isn't a given for Varsho, as his arm is mediocre, but if he can stick behind the plate he could be a J.T. Realmuto-type catcher with all around abilities as a hitter. Keep an eye on him. 22 year old Drew Ellis, yet another 2017 draft pick out of college, was a second rounder (44th overall) out of Louisville who has been more of a Smith-like disappointment than a Varsho-like surprise. This year, Ellis slashed .246/.331/.429 with 15 home runs and a 98/52 strikeout to walk ratio over 120 games at Visalia, putting up some solid numbers on the surface that look a little less impressive considering the hitter-friendly context of the California League. I liked Ellis on draft day (as I did with Varsho) because of his high-torque swing where he keeps his hands close to his body, kind of like Mike Trout, but he just didn't drive the ball enough in 2018 to set himself apart. I still like him and he could be a strong third baseman with power and on-base ability, but like Smith, he has to start hitting with more authority. Yet another 22 year old, outfielder Marcus Wilson, spent the year at Visalia and slashed .235/.309/.369 with ten home runs, 16 stolen bases, and a 141/44 strikeout to walk ratio over 111 games. He was much better at Class A Kane County in 2017 (.295/.383/.446, 9 HR, 15 SB), so his lack of offensive sock this year was a disappointment. His best tool is his speed, but with an average bat, he probably ends up a fourth outfielder at the major league level.
Other Bats: 2B Domingo Leyba, 1B Kevin Cron, OF Jake McCarthy, OF Alek Thomas, OF Kristian Robinson, C Andy Yerzy, SS Blaze Alexander, and SS Geraldo Perdomo
While the bulk of Arizona's relevant bats were down at High A, they had quite a few that were a little farther back and two that were just ahead. 23 year old Domingo Leyba and 25 year old Kevin Cron are the two most advanced bats in the Diamondbacks' system, though they're two very different prospects. Leyba played 2018 at AA Jacksonville and slashed .269/.344/.381 with five home runs and a 46/35 strikeout to walk ratio over 83 games, showing good plate discipline and bat to ball skills but not showing much power. With some respectable defense, he looks like he could be a serviceable utility man who can get on base at a reasonable rate. Cron, meanwhile, is a big power hitter out of TCU who slashed .309/.368/.554 with 22 home runs and a 100/36 strikeout to walk ratio over 104 games at AAA Reno, though it's important to keep in mind that Reno is a hitter-friendly environment. The 6'5", 245 pound first baseman is blocked by Paul Goldschmidt in Arizona, but with 112 home runs over five minor league seasons, he could be a valuable pinch-hitter in the near term. However, in order for him to start in the majors, he'll need to walk more so that he is not just a one-dimensional player. 21 year old Jake McCarthy, the D-Backs' competitive balance pick (39th overall) out of the University of Virginia in 2018, was a nice get and I think he could out-play his draft position. McCarthy slashed .288/.375/.443 with three home runs, 21 stolen bases, and a 41/23 strikeout to walk ratio over 58 games, mostly with Short Season Hillsboro, after signing. He's really a complete player with speed, defense, on-base ability, and some power, and I think he'll develop more power in the minors. He hasn't yet played in full season ball, but he could move quickly through the minors and while he looks more like a good fourth outfielder at this point, I think he has a good shot to be a starting center fielder and valuable leadoff man. Meanwhile, 18 year old Alek Thomas was taken 24 picks later at 63rd overall out of high school in Chicago, and he adjusted quickly to pro ball by slashing .333/.395/.463 with two home runs, 12 stolen bases, and a 37/24 strikeout to walk ratio over 56 games evenly split between complex ball and rookie level Missoula. He was known pre-draft as an advanced hitter for his age and it certainly showed, though I question his ceiling and see him more as a fourth outfielder than as a starter. He has great plate discipline, speed, and defense, but he doesn't hit for much power and his value will be tied to his on-base percentage if he can't add more. If he can maintain those high on-base percentages, though, he could be a leadoff hitter down the road. His teammate for much of the season, 17 year old Kristian Robinson, is another Bahamian who got off to a hot start for his pro career by slashing .279/.363/.428 with seven home runs, 12 stolen bases, and a 67/27 strikeout to walk ratio over 57 games between complex ball and Missoula. He's extremely young, turning 18 in December, and while he's a long, long way off, he could end up with a similar offensive toolset to Jazz Chisholm. Players like Robinson flame out all the time, but they're also the type that can yield tons of value down the road if they don't flame out. 20 year old catcher Andy Yerzy has been brought along slowly, hitting well along the way and slashing .297/.382/.452 with eight home runs and a 67/28 strikeout to walk ratio over 63 games at Hillsboro. The bat is potent, especially for a catcher, but he has to continue to work on his defense if he wants to stay behind the plate. He's a good enough hitter that he could still be valuable as a first baseman or an outfielder, but he could be a starting catcher if he can improve his defense. Obviously, we'll still need to see the bat at higher levels before considering him a true impact prospect. 19 year olds Blaze Alexander and Geraldo Perdomo are a couple of young shortstop prospects who will be competing as they move up through the minors. Alexander got off to a hot start to his pro career in 2018, slashing .329/.417/.538 with five home runs, ten stolen bases, and a 52/31 strikeout to walk ratio over 55 games between complex ball and Missoula, while Perdomo hit .322/.438/.460 with four home runs, 24 stolen bases, an a 44/39 strikeout to walk ratio over 57 games between complex ball, Missoula, and Hillsboro. Both are good defenders, with Perdomo more likely to stick at short and Alexander more likely to move to third base, and while Perdomo also appears to have a little more sock in his bat, they're about even offensively and the transition to full season ball will be telling.
The Pitchers: Taylor Widener, Taylor Clarke, Emilio Vargas, Matt Tabor, Matt Mercer, Yoan Lopez, and Alex Young
The Diamondbacks aren't very deep with pitching after Jon Duplantier, so I decided to lump the rest of the pitchers into one section. Of the rest, 24 year old Taylor Widener is clearly the best, showing pretty decent command of mid-rotation stuff and using it to hold down minor league hitters very effectively to this point. In 2018, the 6' righty put up a 2.75 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and a 176/43 strikeout to walk ratio over 137.1 innings at AA Jackson, missing bats with his mid-90's heater and his sharp slider. Right now, he looks good enough to at least cut it as a back-end starter with the upside of a mid-rotation starter, and how effectively he can deploy his decent changeup will be an important factor in his ultimate performance. There's a good chance he makes it to the majors in 2019. His main competition among prospects, aside from Duplantier, will be another Taylor, 25 year old Taylor Clarke. Clarke is a veteran of the upper minors who posted a 4.03 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and a 125/44 strikeout to walk ratio over 152 innings at AAA Reno in 2018, a hitter-friendly context. While his stuff is generally average, Clarke commands his pitches well and can get outs by hitting his spots consistently. He will be tested in the majors, but he could be a #4 or #5 starter in 2019. 22 year old Emilio Vargas is slightly behind the two of them, but the 6'3" righty should not be overlooked. Over 26 games (25 starts) at High A Visalia and Jackson in 2018, Vargas posted a 2.88 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and a 170/49 strikeout to walk ratio over 143.2 innings. His stuff ticked up this year and he started missing more bats while throwing more strikes, and the result was a dominant run through the hitter-friendly California League followed by a successful AA debut. He still looks like a back-end starter, but 2018 gives hope that he could be more. Farther down on the farm, a couple of Matts have some high upside. 20 year old Matt Tabor posted a 3.26 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and a 46/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 60.2 innings at Short season Hillsboro, mainly living off his mid 90's fastball and good control, but he's young enough to continue developing those offspeed pitches and could look like Taylor Widener in a couple of years. 22 year old Matt Mercer, meanwhile, was just drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 draft out of Oregon and posted a 3.10 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP, and a 38/7 strikeout to walk ratio over 29 innings, mostly as Tabor's teammate at Hillsboro. It's a small sample size, but Mercer's low walk rate was a very welcome site after be battled command troubles in college, but he'll still need to refine his secondary pitches if he doesn't want to end up in the bullpen. I get a good feeling that pro coaching could make him a useable back-end starter, but the bullpen is a real possibility and he could be very good back there. Lastly, the Diamondbacks have a pair of notable relief-only prospects in 25 year olds Yoan Lopez and Alex Young. Lopez has had a very roundabout career, originally signing for a huge $8 million bonus in 2015 but struggling as a starter and briefly stepping away from the game in late 2016. He returned as a reliever in 2017 and has been lights out ever since, posting a 2.92 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and an 87/26 strikeout to walk ratio over 61.2 innings with Jackson in 2018 before reaching the majors with success in a small sample size (3.00 ERA, 11/1 K/BB in 9 IP). He throws an MLB-ready fastball/slider combination, and while his control keeps him from being a closer, he could be a valuable reliever starting this season. Young has also spent his minor league career as a starter and there is still some chance he starts in the majors, but I see him more as a relief prospect after a mediocre 2018 (5.17 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 109/39 K/BB in 130.2 IP at Jackson and Reno). His stuff is fringy and could play up in the bullpen, and as a lefty he could be deployed strategically. Look for him as a potential long reliever.
Affiliates: AAA Reno Aces, AA Jackson Generals, High A Visalia Rawhide, Class A Kane County Cougars, Short Season Hillsboro Hops, Rookie level Missoula Osprey, complex level AZL and DSL Diamondbacks
The Headliner: RHP Jon Duplantier
24 year old Jon Duplantier was a third round pick (89th overall) out of Rice in 2016, and though he had shoulder concerns in college, he has been mostly healthy in the minors. The result so far is a 17-4 record, a 1.79 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, and a 245/74 strikeout to walk ratio over 211 innings since he was drafted, and in 2018 he was 5-1 with a 2.55 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and a 77/30 strikeout to walk ratio over 74 innings, mostly at AA Jackson. He has shown the ability to shut down AA hitting with great stuff and good enough command to make it all work, and really his only question is health. Though he managed 136 innings in 2017, he missed some more time in 2018 and was shut down after 74 innings and he might end up as a right handed James Paxton type who struggles to stay on the mound. When healthy though, he looks like a future #2 starter who could be up in the majors by late 2019.
Visalia Bats: 2B Jazz Chisholm, 1B Pavin Smith, C Daulton Varsho, 3B Drew Ellis, and OF Marcus Wilson
It just so happened to work out that most of the top impact bats in the Arizona system all spent the bulk of their 2018 season at High A Visalia, which must have made for a fun lineup to watch out in California. Keep in mind that Visalia is a hitter-friendly venue when reading statistics in this section. 20 year old Jazz Chisholm, a Bahamas native, has the highest ceiling in this group. Chisholm spent 76 games down at Class A Kane County before being called up to Visalia for 36 games, combining for 25 home runs, a .272/.329/.513 slash line, 17 stolen bases, and a 149/39 strikeout to walk ratio over 112 games. He's an explosive player with speed and power from a 5'11" frame, but he has to improve his plate discipline. That isn't a huge issue due to his age, so if he can shore up that strike zone a little bit, he could be a Rougned Odor-type second baseman in the majors. 22 year old Pavin Smith was probably the most notable hitter to appear for the Rawhide, though his season was somewhat disappointing as he finished with eleven home runs, a .255/.343/.392 line, and a 65/57 strikeout to walk ratio over 120 games, all at Visalia. The seventh overall pick out of the University of Virginia in 2017, Smith showed the excellent plate discipline he was known for in college, but the power he was projected to have has not yet materialized. At 6'2" with long arms, evaluators still think there is power to tap into, but he risks becoming just a bench bat if he doesn't get to it, even with his excellent plate discipline. He looked like he could be a Joey Votto out of college, but now it looks more like Jake Bauers. 22 year old Daulton Varsho was drafted 61 picks after Smith, 68th overall, in 2017 out of college in Wisconsin. Over 83 games between Visalia and some rehab work in complex ball, Varsho slashed .294/.367/.475 with 12 home runs, 19 stolen bases, and a 72/30 strikeout to walk ratio. He has power and speed, and with the ability to catch, he might be the most interesting prospect in the system. Catching isn't a given for Varsho, as his arm is mediocre, but if he can stick behind the plate he could be a J.T. Realmuto-type catcher with all around abilities as a hitter. Keep an eye on him. 22 year old Drew Ellis, yet another 2017 draft pick out of college, was a second rounder (44th overall) out of Louisville who has been more of a Smith-like disappointment than a Varsho-like surprise. This year, Ellis slashed .246/.331/.429 with 15 home runs and a 98/52 strikeout to walk ratio over 120 games at Visalia, putting up some solid numbers on the surface that look a little less impressive considering the hitter-friendly context of the California League. I liked Ellis on draft day (as I did with Varsho) because of his high-torque swing where he keeps his hands close to his body, kind of like Mike Trout, but he just didn't drive the ball enough in 2018 to set himself apart. I still like him and he could be a strong third baseman with power and on-base ability, but like Smith, he has to start hitting with more authority. Yet another 22 year old, outfielder Marcus Wilson, spent the year at Visalia and slashed .235/.309/.369 with ten home runs, 16 stolen bases, and a 141/44 strikeout to walk ratio over 111 games. He was much better at Class A Kane County in 2017 (.295/.383/.446, 9 HR, 15 SB), so his lack of offensive sock this year was a disappointment. His best tool is his speed, but with an average bat, he probably ends up a fourth outfielder at the major league level.
Other Bats: 2B Domingo Leyba, 1B Kevin Cron, OF Jake McCarthy, OF Alek Thomas, OF Kristian Robinson, C Andy Yerzy, SS Blaze Alexander, and SS Geraldo Perdomo
While the bulk of Arizona's relevant bats were down at High A, they had quite a few that were a little farther back and two that were just ahead. 23 year old Domingo Leyba and 25 year old Kevin Cron are the two most advanced bats in the Diamondbacks' system, though they're two very different prospects. Leyba played 2018 at AA Jacksonville and slashed .269/.344/.381 with five home runs and a 46/35 strikeout to walk ratio over 83 games, showing good plate discipline and bat to ball skills but not showing much power. With some respectable defense, he looks like he could be a serviceable utility man who can get on base at a reasonable rate. Cron, meanwhile, is a big power hitter out of TCU who slashed .309/.368/.554 with 22 home runs and a 100/36 strikeout to walk ratio over 104 games at AAA Reno, though it's important to keep in mind that Reno is a hitter-friendly environment. The 6'5", 245 pound first baseman is blocked by Paul Goldschmidt in Arizona, but with 112 home runs over five minor league seasons, he could be a valuable pinch-hitter in the near term. However, in order for him to start in the majors, he'll need to walk more so that he is not just a one-dimensional player. 21 year old Jake McCarthy, the D-Backs' competitive balance pick (39th overall) out of the University of Virginia in 2018, was a nice get and I think he could out-play his draft position. McCarthy slashed .288/.375/.443 with three home runs, 21 stolen bases, and a 41/23 strikeout to walk ratio over 58 games, mostly with Short Season Hillsboro, after signing. He's really a complete player with speed, defense, on-base ability, and some power, and I think he'll develop more power in the minors. He hasn't yet played in full season ball, but he could move quickly through the minors and while he looks more like a good fourth outfielder at this point, I think he has a good shot to be a starting center fielder and valuable leadoff man. Meanwhile, 18 year old Alek Thomas was taken 24 picks later at 63rd overall out of high school in Chicago, and he adjusted quickly to pro ball by slashing .333/.395/.463 with two home runs, 12 stolen bases, and a 37/24 strikeout to walk ratio over 56 games evenly split between complex ball and rookie level Missoula. He was known pre-draft as an advanced hitter for his age and it certainly showed, though I question his ceiling and see him more as a fourth outfielder than as a starter. He has great plate discipline, speed, and defense, but he doesn't hit for much power and his value will be tied to his on-base percentage if he can't add more. If he can maintain those high on-base percentages, though, he could be a leadoff hitter down the road. His teammate for much of the season, 17 year old Kristian Robinson, is another Bahamian who got off to a hot start for his pro career by slashing .279/.363/.428 with seven home runs, 12 stolen bases, and a 67/27 strikeout to walk ratio over 57 games between complex ball and Missoula. He's extremely young, turning 18 in December, and while he's a long, long way off, he could end up with a similar offensive toolset to Jazz Chisholm. Players like Robinson flame out all the time, but they're also the type that can yield tons of value down the road if they don't flame out. 20 year old catcher Andy Yerzy has been brought along slowly, hitting well along the way and slashing .297/.382/.452 with eight home runs and a 67/28 strikeout to walk ratio over 63 games at Hillsboro. The bat is potent, especially for a catcher, but he has to continue to work on his defense if he wants to stay behind the plate. He's a good enough hitter that he could still be valuable as a first baseman or an outfielder, but he could be a starting catcher if he can improve his defense. Obviously, we'll still need to see the bat at higher levels before considering him a true impact prospect. 19 year olds Blaze Alexander and Geraldo Perdomo are a couple of young shortstop prospects who will be competing as they move up through the minors. Alexander got off to a hot start to his pro career in 2018, slashing .329/.417/.538 with five home runs, ten stolen bases, and a 52/31 strikeout to walk ratio over 55 games between complex ball and Missoula, while Perdomo hit .322/.438/.460 with four home runs, 24 stolen bases, an a 44/39 strikeout to walk ratio over 57 games between complex ball, Missoula, and Hillsboro. Both are good defenders, with Perdomo more likely to stick at short and Alexander more likely to move to third base, and while Perdomo also appears to have a little more sock in his bat, they're about even offensively and the transition to full season ball will be telling.
The Pitchers: Taylor Widener, Taylor Clarke, Emilio Vargas, Matt Tabor, Matt Mercer, Yoan Lopez, and Alex Young
The Diamondbacks aren't very deep with pitching after Jon Duplantier, so I decided to lump the rest of the pitchers into one section. Of the rest, 24 year old Taylor Widener is clearly the best, showing pretty decent command of mid-rotation stuff and using it to hold down minor league hitters very effectively to this point. In 2018, the 6' righty put up a 2.75 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and a 176/43 strikeout to walk ratio over 137.1 innings at AA Jackson, missing bats with his mid-90's heater and his sharp slider. Right now, he looks good enough to at least cut it as a back-end starter with the upside of a mid-rotation starter, and how effectively he can deploy his decent changeup will be an important factor in his ultimate performance. There's a good chance he makes it to the majors in 2019. His main competition among prospects, aside from Duplantier, will be another Taylor, 25 year old Taylor Clarke. Clarke is a veteran of the upper minors who posted a 4.03 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and a 125/44 strikeout to walk ratio over 152 innings at AAA Reno in 2018, a hitter-friendly context. While his stuff is generally average, Clarke commands his pitches well and can get outs by hitting his spots consistently. He will be tested in the majors, but he could be a #4 or #5 starter in 2019. 22 year old Emilio Vargas is slightly behind the two of them, but the 6'3" righty should not be overlooked. Over 26 games (25 starts) at High A Visalia and Jackson in 2018, Vargas posted a 2.88 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and a 170/49 strikeout to walk ratio over 143.2 innings. His stuff ticked up this year and he started missing more bats while throwing more strikes, and the result was a dominant run through the hitter-friendly California League followed by a successful AA debut. He still looks like a back-end starter, but 2018 gives hope that he could be more. Farther down on the farm, a couple of Matts have some high upside. 20 year old Matt Tabor posted a 3.26 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and a 46/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 60.2 innings at Short season Hillsboro, mainly living off his mid 90's fastball and good control, but he's young enough to continue developing those offspeed pitches and could look like Taylor Widener in a couple of years. 22 year old Matt Mercer, meanwhile, was just drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 draft out of Oregon and posted a 3.10 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP, and a 38/7 strikeout to walk ratio over 29 innings, mostly as Tabor's teammate at Hillsboro. It's a small sample size, but Mercer's low walk rate was a very welcome site after be battled command troubles in college, but he'll still need to refine his secondary pitches if he doesn't want to end up in the bullpen. I get a good feeling that pro coaching could make him a useable back-end starter, but the bullpen is a real possibility and he could be very good back there. Lastly, the Diamondbacks have a pair of notable relief-only prospects in 25 year olds Yoan Lopez and Alex Young. Lopez has had a very roundabout career, originally signing for a huge $8 million bonus in 2015 but struggling as a starter and briefly stepping away from the game in late 2016. He returned as a reliever in 2017 and has been lights out ever since, posting a 2.92 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and an 87/26 strikeout to walk ratio over 61.2 innings with Jackson in 2018 before reaching the majors with success in a small sample size (3.00 ERA, 11/1 K/BB in 9 IP). He throws an MLB-ready fastball/slider combination, and while his control keeps him from being a closer, he could be a valuable reliever starting this season. Young has also spent his minor league career as a starter and there is still some chance he starts in the majors, but I see him more as a relief prospect after a mediocre 2018 (5.17 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 109/39 K/BB in 130.2 IP at Jackson and Reno). His stuff is fringy and could play up in the bullpen, and as a lefty he could be deployed strategically. Look for him as a potential long reliever.
Monday, July 10, 2017
2017 Draft Review: Arizona Diamondbacks
First 5 rounds: Pavin Smith (1-7), Drew Ellis (2-44), Daulton Varsho (CBB-68), Matt Tabor (3-82), Harrison Francis (4-112), Buddy Kennedy (5-142)
Also notable: Brian Shaffer (6-172), Tarik Skubal (29-862), Boyd Vander Kooi (36-1072)
The Diamondbacks are one of three teams, along with the Marlins and Angels, in the bottom tier of farm systems. There is no impact talent heading towards Arizona, so they knew they needed to nail this draft. I wouldn't say they "nailed" it, but I do like a few of the players they picked up and the system is in a much better place now than it was before the draft. They didn't really play the over/under slot game, staying close to slot value with most of their picks.
1-7: 1B Pavin Smith (my rank: 10)
The Diamondbacks went with the we-can't-mess-this-pick-up pick, grabbing an advanced, powerful college bat from the University of Virginia. Smith was great as a sophomore (.329/.410/.513, 8 HR), but teams wanted him to step forward with his power if he wanted to maintain his draft stock, as he showed a flat, line drive oriented swing. He did exactly that in 2017, slashing .342/.427/.570 with 13 home runs, bumping up his isolated power from .184 to .228 while simultaneously slashing his strikeout rate from a low 8.4% to a minuscule 4.4% this year. He showed a willingness to turn on the ball and added loft while dropping his swing and miss percentage at the same time, which all bodes well to his full offensive skillset playing up. I did watch him play four games (three in Charlottesville against Duke, one in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech), and I never saw him go the other way, so the next step in his development will probably be maintaining the added loft and ability to turn on pitches while also using the whole field. Smith is limited to first base defensively, though I did see him rob a home run while playing left field in Blacksburg. He signed for just over $5 million, right at slot for the seventh pick.
2-44: 3B Drew Ellis (my rank: 53)
Ellis is another college performer as well as a late riser, slashing .355/.448/.701 with 20 home runs, actually out-hitting teammate Brendan McKay in the Cardinals lineup. Adding a 14% walk rate, he could put up Anthony Rendon-type numbers at the major league level, though he's not as slick a fielder. Ellis has an interesting swing, keeping his hands very close to his body in a fashion that actually reminds me of Mike Trout. He swings with a bit more of an uppercut and not the same elite bat speed (though his is very good), so don't expect a perennial MVP like Trout, but I like Ellis and I think he has a chance to be one of those guys that just hits and hits and hits all the way to the major leagues. Ellis signed for just over $1.5 million, at slot for the 44th pick.
CBB-68: C Daulton Varsho (my rank: 94)
I like Varsho, and at #94, I ranked him higher than MLB.com (#110) and Baseball America (#104), but the D-Backs apparently like him even more than I do. Varsho is a power hitting catcher who put up huge numbers (.362/.490/.643, 11 HR) for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, albeit against weaker competition in the Horizon League. He has a short swing that still manages to produce above average power, and with a selective eye at the plate (19.2% walk rate against weak competition), I think his offensive game will translate up. Defensively, he is agile behind the plate, but he has a weak throwing arm that may be an issue. Overall, I see him as an average MLB caliber backstop, one who could hit 15-20 home runs per season while maintaining an on-base percentage close to .350, a la Russell Martin in his prime but downgraded defensively. Varsho signed for $880,100, at slot for the 68th pick.
3-82: RHP Matt Tabor (my rank: 79)
The first high schooler as well as the first arm drafted by Arizona this year, Tabor is a Massachusetts product who would theoretically have fewer miles on his arm. He throws in the low to mid 90's but can keep that fastball above 90 deep into his starts, and his average slider and above average changeup give him every chance to reach the majors as a starting pitcher. He has some mechanical inconsistencies to iron out, but he could be a #3 starter. Tabor signed for exactly $1 million, which is $312,800 above slot.
4-112: RHP Harrison Francis (unranked)
A prep pitcher out of Tallahassee, Francis is an extremely high risk pick who could emerge in a few years as one of the more electric arms in the system. Francis can hit the upper 90's with his running fastball, and he also shows the makings of a decent changeup and a below average curveball, but he has a very high-effort delivery and his command needs lots of work. He's a project, but if developed right, he could be one of the more exciting pitching prospects in baseball. Francis signed for $477,800, at slot for the 112th pick.
Others: 5th rounder Buddy Kennedy earned some pre-draft publicity because of his offseason workout partner, some guy named Mike Trout. Kennedy attends Trout's alma mater, Millville Senior High in New Jersey, showing a solid hitter's profile if without a high ceiling. He has that similar hands-in swing to Trout and Drew Ellis, showing solid bat speed and the ability to drive the ball. 6th rounder Brian Shaffer has served as Maryland's most consistent starter the past two seasons, combining to go 15-7 with a 2.63 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP, showing a good combination of present stuff and command from a 6'5" frame. He sits in the low 90's with a full arsenal and only walked 31 batters over the past two seasons, totaling 212 innings. 29th rounder and Arizona native Tarik Skubal hasn't pitched in a game since mid 2016, having gone down with Tommy John surgery, but the 6'2" lefty was downright dominant for the University of Seattle when he was on the mound (13-5, 2.86 ERA, 1.15 WHIP). He shows a low 90's fastball but needs to work on his offspeed pitches, and he hasn't signed yet and appears unlikely to do so in the 29th round. 36th rounder and fellow Arizona native Boyd Vander Kooi challenges Skubal in the exotic name category, and while he comes up a bit short there, he stands 6'5" and throws anywhere from 85 to 93 MPH. He probably won't sign in the 36th round, and he'll be a two-way player at Arizona State. If he can put it together and refine his average breaking ball in Tempe, he could emerge as a better prospect for the 2020 draft.
Also notable: Brian Shaffer (6-172), Tarik Skubal (29-862), Boyd Vander Kooi (36-1072)
The Diamondbacks are one of three teams, along with the Marlins and Angels, in the bottom tier of farm systems. There is no impact talent heading towards Arizona, so they knew they needed to nail this draft. I wouldn't say they "nailed" it, but I do like a few of the players they picked up and the system is in a much better place now than it was before the draft. They didn't really play the over/under slot game, staying close to slot value with most of their picks.
1-7: 1B Pavin Smith (my rank: 10)
The Diamondbacks went with the we-can't-mess-this-pick-up pick, grabbing an advanced, powerful college bat from the University of Virginia. Smith was great as a sophomore (.329/.410/.513, 8 HR), but teams wanted him to step forward with his power if he wanted to maintain his draft stock, as he showed a flat, line drive oriented swing. He did exactly that in 2017, slashing .342/.427/.570 with 13 home runs, bumping up his isolated power from .184 to .228 while simultaneously slashing his strikeout rate from a low 8.4% to a minuscule 4.4% this year. He showed a willingness to turn on the ball and added loft while dropping his swing and miss percentage at the same time, which all bodes well to his full offensive skillset playing up. I did watch him play four games (three in Charlottesville against Duke, one in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech), and I never saw him go the other way, so the next step in his development will probably be maintaining the added loft and ability to turn on pitches while also using the whole field. Smith is limited to first base defensively, though I did see him rob a home run while playing left field in Blacksburg. He signed for just over $5 million, right at slot for the seventh pick.
2-44: 3B Drew Ellis (my rank: 53)
Ellis is another college performer as well as a late riser, slashing .355/.448/.701 with 20 home runs, actually out-hitting teammate Brendan McKay in the Cardinals lineup. Adding a 14% walk rate, he could put up Anthony Rendon-type numbers at the major league level, though he's not as slick a fielder. Ellis has an interesting swing, keeping his hands very close to his body in a fashion that actually reminds me of Mike Trout. He swings with a bit more of an uppercut and not the same elite bat speed (though his is very good), so don't expect a perennial MVP like Trout, but I like Ellis and I think he has a chance to be one of those guys that just hits and hits and hits all the way to the major leagues. Ellis signed for just over $1.5 million, at slot for the 44th pick.
CBB-68: C Daulton Varsho (my rank: 94)
I like Varsho, and at #94, I ranked him higher than MLB.com (#110) and Baseball America (#104), but the D-Backs apparently like him even more than I do. Varsho is a power hitting catcher who put up huge numbers (.362/.490/.643, 11 HR) for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, albeit against weaker competition in the Horizon League. He has a short swing that still manages to produce above average power, and with a selective eye at the plate (19.2% walk rate against weak competition), I think his offensive game will translate up. Defensively, he is agile behind the plate, but he has a weak throwing arm that may be an issue. Overall, I see him as an average MLB caliber backstop, one who could hit 15-20 home runs per season while maintaining an on-base percentage close to .350, a la Russell Martin in his prime but downgraded defensively. Varsho signed for $880,100, at slot for the 68th pick.
3-82: RHP Matt Tabor (my rank: 79)
The first high schooler as well as the first arm drafted by Arizona this year, Tabor is a Massachusetts product who would theoretically have fewer miles on his arm. He throws in the low to mid 90's but can keep that fastball above 90 deep into his starts, and his average slider and above average changeup give him every chance to reach the majors as a starting pitcher. He has some mechanical inconsistencies to iron out, but he could be a #3 starter. Tabor signed for exactly $1 million, which is $312,800 above slot.
4-112: RHP Harrison Francis (unranked)
A prep pitcher out of Tallahassee, Francis is an extremely high risk pick who could emerge in a few years as one of the more electric arms in the system. Francis can hit the upper 90's with his running fastball, and he also shows the makings of a decent changeup and a below average curveball, but he has a very high-effort delivery and his command needs lots of work. He's a project, but if developed right, he could be one of the more exciting pitching prospects in baseball. Francis signed for $477,800, at slot for the 112th pick.
Others: 5th rounder Buddy Kennedy earned some pre-draft publicity because of his offseason workout partner, some guy named Mike Trout. Kennedy attends Trout's alma mater, Millville Senior High in New Jersey, showing a solid hitter's profile if without a high ceiling. He has that similar hands-in swing to Trout and Drew Ellis, showing solid bat speed and the ability to drive the ball. 6th rounder Brian Shaffer has served as Maryland's most consistent starter the past two seasons, combining to go 15-7 with a 2.63 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP, showing a good combination of present stuff and command from a 6'5" frame. He sits in the low 90's with a full arsenal and only walked 31 batters over the past two seasons, totaling 212 innings. 29th rounder and Arizona native Tarik Skubal hasn't pitched in a game since mid 2016, having gone down with Tommy John surgery, but the 6'2" lefty was downright dominant for the University of Seattle when he was on the mound (13-5, 2.86 ERA, 1.15 WHIP). He shows a low 90's fastball but needs to work on his offspeed pitches, and he hasn't signed yet and appears unlikely to do so in the 29th round. 36th rounder and fellow Arizona native Boyd Vander Kooi challenges Skubal in the exotic name category, and while he comes up a bit short there, he stands 6'5" and throws anywhere from 85 to 93 MPH. He probably won't sign in the 36th round, and he'll be a two-way player at Arizona State. If he can put it together and refine his average breaking ball in Tempe, he could emerge as a better prospect for the 2020 draft.
Sunday, June 11, 2017
2017 Draft Demographics: Catchers
First Tier: Nobody
Second Tier: Luis Campusano, M.J. Melendez, Riley Adams, Evan Skoug
Third Tier: Connor Wong, Matt Whatley, Daulton Varsho, Blake Hunt, Joey Morgan
Others: Sam McMillan, Zach Jackson, Chris Williams
Catching is typically difficult to come by at the college level. This year in particular, there's almost none of it. None likely even have a chance of going in the first round, unless they sign an underslot, and it might be the biggest weakness of the draft class. That said, here are the best of what we have. Some of them have been profiled in other demographics, and will be profiled again.
Tier I
As I said, there are no top tier catchers. Each one comes with their own significant risks.
Tier II (Campusano, Melendez, Adams, Skoug)
Two high schoolers, Luis Campusano and M.J. Melendez, lead the pack. Both are solid defenders with their own issues, both have a lot of power projection, and both have a lot of swing and miss in their games. Their outlooks and potential risk/rewards are actually so similar that I have them ranked right next to each other in my top 100. That said, they are in fact different players, with different swings and different defensive holes in their game. Campusano, who got himself into excellent shape this season, generates power through his strength and a clean swing that he is constantly tweaking, and I along with others believe there is more to come. Meanwhile, Melendez gets his power from a rotation swing in which he whips his energy from his lower half up through his torso and arms, thereby whipping the bat through the zone with great speed and force. Campusano has a much thicker build, but Melendez is more agile and can use what he has more efficiently, giving them roughly equal outlooks on power. Both have question marks about future contact, Campusano more because of a simple lack of being acclimated to high-level arms, and Melendez because of the significant bat wrap he has before his swing, as well as the length and nature of the swing itself. Again, though they have different reasons for their swing and miss, the net sum is about equal. On defense, Melendez gets the slight edge because he is better at blocking balls and moving around behind the plate. That said, Campusano isn't bad at that either, and they both have excellent arm strength. If you like the upside of a Joe Mauer type catcher, Melendez is your guy, while if you like the more traditionally stocky and durable Russell Martin mold, go with Campusano. At the college level, Riley Adams and Evan Skoug are so different that they aren't worth comparing. Adams, out of the University of San Diego, gets frequent comparisons to fellow former Torero Kris Bryant, though more because of his mechanics than because of his offensive outlook. He lacks a standout tool, but he can barrel baseballs up and can be a serviceable defender. Overall, it looks like a backup catcher profile, but it's a safer bet than Campusano or Melendez due to his career .305/.411/.504 line in San Diego's conference, the WCC. Evan Skoug, as profiled in the power bats demographic, has the best present pop of any player on this list, but his huge strikeout issues make him a risky pick, even for a college player. Another negative is that he has a decent chance of being forced to move to first base, as he is not on the defensive caliber of Adams, but a positive would be his strong work ethic and leadership skills. He is reportedly working extremely hard to hone his defensive skills and remain a catcher. Basically, nothing about him his neutral; scouts love his power and work ethic, but hate his strikeouts and aren't satisfied with his defense.
Tier III (Wong, Whatley, Varsho, Hunt, Morgan)
Connor Wong, as I stated in the last post, is only a catcher because he ended up behind a plate and realized he was pretty good. He's an above average runner, not just for a catcher but for any type of player, giving him a very unique profile. As a speedster with all around decent hitting abilities, he could end up in the Austin Barnes mold in which he splits time behind the plate and in the infield. Two players in less competitive conferences, Oral Roberts' Matt Whatley and UW-Milwaukee's Daulton Varsho, have played each other about even this season. Whatley slashed .302/.446/.509 with 11 home runs in the Summit League despite playing better in his sophomore season, while Varsho finished at .362/.490/.643 in the Horizon League. Both have thunder in their bats, generating plus power, but Varsho's overall better contact ability make him the better hitter, in my opinion. However, Whatley is the best defensive college catcher with a chance to go in the top 100 picks. Varsho, meanwhile, is nearly as good with the glove, but lags behind not only Whatley but most of the class with his below average arm. Both project to go somewhere in the third or fourth round, and who goes first is anybody's call. Blake Hunt is the only high school catcher in this tier (though Sam McMillan narrowly missed), with upside as high as Campusano or Melendez but more risk. He has a lot of mechanical issues in his swing, but they shouldn't be too difficult to fix and he could be an above average hitter. His calling card is his defense, which is the best among high school catchers. Overall, he's a less advanced Matt Whatley. Lastly, Joey Morgan joined Wong in the last post, as he projects as pretty average across the board. He should be able to stick behind home plate, and he should hit enough to be a backup, but nothing really jumps off the page with him. He's a breakout guy this year, so those that value trajectory would be inclined to take him before Whatley, who slumped this year.
Second Tier: Luis Campusano, M.J. Melendez, Riley Adams, Evan Skoug
Third Tier: Connor Wong, Matt Whatley, Daulton Varsho, Blake Hunt, Joey Morgan
Others: Sam McMillan, Zach Jackson, Chris Williams
Catching is typically difficult to come by at the college level. This year in particular, there's almost none of it. None likely even have a chance of going in the first round, unless they sign an underslot, and it might be the biggest weakness of the draft class. That said, here are the best of what we have. Some of them have been profiled in other demographics, and will be profiled again.
Tier I
As I said, there are no top tier catchers. Each one comes with their own significant risks.
Tier II (Campusano, Melendez, Adams, Skoug)
Two high schoolers, Luis Campusano and M.J. Melendez, lead the pack. Both are solid defenders with their own issues, both have a lot of power projection, and both have a lot of swing and miss in their games. Their outlooks and potential risk/rewards are actually so similar that I have them ranked right next to each other in my top 100. That said, they are in fact different players, with different swings and different defensive holes in their game. Campusano, who got himself into excellent shape this season, generates power through his strength and a clean swing that he is constantly tweaking, and I along with others believe there is more to come. Meanwhile, Melendez gets his power from a rotation swing in which he whips his energy from his lower half up through his torso and arms, thereby whipping the bat through the zone with great speed and force. Campusano has a much thicker build, but Melendez is more agile and can use what he has more efficiently, giving them roughly equal outlooks on power. Both have question marks about future contact, Campusano more because of a simple lack of being acclimated to high-level arms, and Melendez because of the significant bat wrap he has before his swing, as well as the length and nature of the swing itself. Again, though they have different reasons for their swing and miss, the net sum is about equal. On defense, Melendez gets the slight edge because he is better at blocking balls and moving around behind the plate. That said, Campusano isn't bad at that either, and they both have excellent arm strength. If you like the upside of a Joe Mauer type catcher, Melendez is your guy, while if you like the more traditionally stocky and durable Russell Martin mold, go with Campusano. At the college level, Riley Adams and Evan Skoug are so different that they aren't worth comparing. Adams, out of the University of San Diego, gets frequent comparisons to fellow former Torero Kris Bryant, though more because of his mechanics than because of his offensive outlook. He lacks a standout tool, but he can barrel baseballs up and can be a serviceable defender. Overall, it looks like a backup catcher profile, but it's a safer bet than Campusano or Melendez due to his career .305/.411/.504 line in San Diego's conference, the WCC. Evan Skoug, as profiled in the power bats demographic, has the best present pop of any player on this list, but his huge strikeout issues make him a risky pick, even for a college player. Another negative is that he has a decent chance of being forced to move to first base, as he is not on the defensive caliber of Adams, but a positive would be his strong work ethic and leadership skills. He is reportedly working extremely hard to hone his defensive skills and remain a catcher. Basically, nothing about him his neutral; scouts love his power and work ethic, but hate his strikeouts and aren't satisfied with his defense.
Tier III (Wong, Whatley, Varsho, Hunt, Morgan)
Connor Wong, as I stated in the last post, is only a catcher because he ended up behind a plate and realized he was pretty good. He's an above average runner, not just for a catcher but for any type of player, giving him a very unique profile. As a speedster with all around decent hitting abilities, he could end up in the Austin Barnes mold in which he splits time behind the plate and in the infield. Two players in less competitive conferences, Oral Roberts' Matt Whatley and UW-Milwaukee's Daulton Varsho, have played each other about even this season. Whatley slashed .302/.446/.509 with 11 home runs in the Summit League despite playing better in his sophomore season, while Varsho finished at .362/.490/.643 in the Horizon League. Both have thunder in their bats, generating plus power, but Varsho's overall better contact ability make him the better hitter, in my opinion. However, Whatley is the best defensive college catcher with a chance to go in the top 100 picks. Varsho, meanwhile, is nearly as good with the glove, but lags behind not only Whatley but most of the class with his below average arm. Both project to go somewhere in the third or fourth round, and who goes first is anybody's call. Blake Hunt is the only high school catcher in this tier (though Sam McMillan narrowly missed), with upside as high as Campusano or Melendez but more risk. He has a lot of mechanical issues in his swing, but they shouldn't be too difficult to fix and he could be an above average hitter. His calling card is his defense, which is the best among high school catchers. Overall, he's a less advanced Matt Whatley. Lastly, Joey Morgan joined Wong in the last post, as he projects as pretty average across the board. He should be able to stick behind home plate, and he should hit enough to be a backup, but nothing really jumps off the page with him. He's a breakout guy this year, so those that value trajectory would be inclined to take him before Whatley, who slumped this year.
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