192. Shervyen Newton, INF, New York Mets
Age: 19 Height: 6-4 Weight: 180 Bats: B Throws: R
Scouting Grades
ARM: 55 FLD: 50 HIT: 45 PWR: 55 RUN: 50
Stats (Rookie)
Slash: .280/.408/.449 2B: 16 HR: 5 RBI: 41 SB: 4
Newton is an athletic switch-hitting infielder with lightning bat speed, quick hands and legitimate power. He already knows how to work a count and draw walks as shown by his impressive .408 on-base percentage.
181. Jhoan Duran, RHP, Minnesota Twins
Age: 21 Height: 6-5 Weight: 175 Bats: R Throws: R
Scouting Grades
FB: 60 SLI: 45 CH: 50 CTL: 45 CMND: 40
Stats (A)
W-L: 7-5 ERA: 3.75 IP: 100.2 H: 88 BB: 38 SO: 115
Who doesn’t love a power arm? Duran throws a fastball in the high 90s with great riding life on the four-seamer, and a two-seamer that he throws almost as a split-finger: hard (at 89-91 mph) and with great sinking action. His slider needs work, however, and his changeup needs better arm speed.
174. Luis Rengifo, INF, Los Angeles Angels
Age: 21 Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Bats: B Throws: R
Scouting Grades
ARM: 50 FLD: 50 HIT: 55 PWR: 40 RUN: 55
Stats (A/AA/AAA)
Slash: .299/.399/.452 2B: 30 HR: 7 RBI: 64 SB: 41
The Angels rave about the breakout year Rengifo had last season, when he got on base at a .399 clip and stole 41 bases. He’s a strong athlete, and the Halos are impressed with his hard contact rate and his ability as a switch-hitter to own both gaps on both sides of the plate. His best position will probably be second base when it’s all said and done.
170. Jordan Balazovic, RHP, Minnesota Twins
Age: 20 Height: 6-4 Weight: 176 Bats: R Throws: R
Scouting Grades
FB: 50 CH: 55 CB: 50 CTL: 50 CMND: 45
Stats (A)
W-L: 7-3 ERA: 3.94 IP: 61.2 H: 54 BB: 18 SO: 78
Balazovic punched out over 11 batters per 9 innings last year thanks to his moving fastball and elite changeup. His curveball is average, giving him three solid pitches. He is a head-snapper, which causes some interesting deception, and he continues to trend in the right direction.
167. Luiz Gohara, LHP, Atlanta Braves
Age: 22 Height: 6-3 Weight: 266 Bats: L Throws: L
Scouting Grades
FB: 55 SLI: 60 CH: 45 CTL: 45 CMND: 45
Stats (AA/AAA)
W-L: 3-5 ERA: 4.81 IP: 58 H: 59 BB: 18 SO: 59
Gohara has yet to live up to his raw stuff and potential, mainly because of nagging injuries. He’s had shoulder, ankle and elbow problems in the past. However, when healthy and at his best, there’s no doubt he could come out of nowhere and become a big story — his stuff can be that good.
166. Everson Pereira, OF, New York Yankees
Age: 17 Height: 6-0 Weight: 192 Bats: R Throws: R
Scouting Grades
ARM: 50 FLD: 50 HIT: 50 PWR: 50 RUN: 55
Stats (Rookie)
Slash: .263/.322/.389 2B: 8 HR: 3 RBI: 26 SB: 3
The Yankees’ newly thinned-out farm system has reason to get excited about Pereira, who was their biggest international expenditure last summer. While he doesn’t have any tools that blow you away, he looks like a pure center fielder who’s going to hit, with both speed and power in his game.
158. Taylor Widener, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Age: 24 Height: 6-0 Weight: 195 Bats: L Throws: R
Scouting Grades
FB: 55 SLI: 50 CH: 50 CTL: 45 CMND: 45
Stats (AA)
W-L: 5-8 ERA: 2.75 IP: 137.1 H: 99 BB: 43 SO: 176
The Diamondbacks love his competitiveness on the mound. His fastball is mostly 92-93 with good life, and both his slider and change-up are effective offerings. He doesn’t have a high ceiling, but he should be a serviceable big leaguer.
141. Lucius Fox, SS, Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 21 Height: 6-1 Weight: 180 Bats: B Throws: R
Scouting Grades
ARM: 55 FLD: 50 HIT: 45 PWR: 40 RUN: 65
Stats (A/AA)
Slash: .268/.351/.341 2B: 20 HR: 3 RBI: 39 SB: 29
Fox has tremendous athleticism and quick-twitch muscles. He has a level line-drive stroke with gap power and blazing speed, which is usable on the basepaths, making him a top-of-the-order disruptor. Defensively Fox is average at this point, but with good range and soft hands, he should get better.
135. Darwinzon Hernandez, LHP, Boston Red Sox
Age: 22 Height: 6-2 Weight: 245 Bats: L Throws: L
Scouting Grades
FB: 70 CB: 45 SLI: 45 CH: 45 CTL: 35 CMND: 45
Stats (A/AA)
W-L: 9-5 ERA: 3.53 IP: 107 H: 86 BB: 66 SO: 134
Hernandez has a big arm but an inconsistent delivery, which affects the consistency of his breaking balls and leads to well-below-average command and control. He’s working on a changeup, and because he’s left-handed, they’ll keep him a starter as long as they can before moving him to the bullpen.
127. Franklin Perez, RHP, Detroit Tigers
Age: 21 Height: 6-2 Weight: 200 Bats: R Throws: R
Scouting Grades
FB: 60 CB: 55 SLI: 45 CH: 50 CTL: 50 CMND: 55
Stats (A/AA)
W-L: 0-2 ERA: 6.52 IP: 19.1 H: 18 BB: 8 SO: 14
The headliner in the trade that sent Justin Verlander to the Astros in August of 2017, Perez has four pitches: a mid-90s fastball, an above-average curveball, an improving slider and an average change, which at times has good fade.
122. Ronny Mauricio, SS, New York Mets
Age: 17 Height: 6-2 Weight: 169 Bats: B Throws: R
Scouting Grades
ARM: 60 FLD: 50 HIT: 40 PWR: 40 RUN: 50
Stats (Rookie)
Slash: .273/.304/.410 2B: 16 HR: 3 RBI: 35 SB: 2
Mauricio is a formidable athlete whose best tool is his strong arm, which he’ll show off from the hole. He lacks range at shortstop but makes up for it with first-step quickness and efficient angles. He has plus bat speed and raw power, making him a special and projectable prospect to keep your eyes on.
110. Brandon Marsh, OF, Los Angeles Angels
Age: 21 Height: 6-4 Weight: 211 Bats: L Throws: R
Scouting Grades
ARM: 65 FLD: 55 HIT: 45 PWR: 55 RUN: 55
Stats (A/A)
Slash: .266/.359/.408 2B: 27 HR: 10 RBI: 70 SB: 14
Marsh is a tremendous athlete and an above-average defensive center fielder with a strong work ethic and a high baseball IQ. He has a plus-plus arm that stops runners from taking an extra base. But he needs a lot of work on his swing to become successful.
99. Miguel Amaya, C, Chicago Cubs
Age: 19 Height: 6-1 Weight: 184 Bats: R Throws: R
Scouting Grades
ARM: 55 FLD: 50 HIT: 50 PWR: 55 RUN: 40
Stats (A)
Slash: .256/.349/.403 2B: 21 HR: 12 RBI: 52 SB: 1
A solid defensive catching prospect with an above-average arm, Amaya can hit a fastball and demonstrates above-average power. Like so many teenagers, he struggles against good breaking balls. His framing is above average for his age, but has some work to do with his feet and calling a game.
83. Drew Waters, OF, Atlanta Braves
Age: 20 Height: 6-2 Weight: 183 Bats: B Throws: R
Scouting Grades
ARM: 60 FLD: 50 HIT: 55 PWR: 55 RUN: 55
Stats (A)
Slash: .293/.343/.476 2B: 39 HR: 9 RBI: 39 SB: 23
I love Waters’ bat. He’s got great hands, wrists and forearms and has tremendous snap on contact. He’s playing center field for now, but if Ronald Acuña had to move to a corner, then Waters will, too. He’s not going to be a fast-tracked prospect to the majors, but it will be worth the wait when he gets there.
57. Sean Murphy, C, Oakland Athletics
Age: 24 Height: 6-3 Weight: 215 Bats: R Throws: R
Scouting Grades
ARM: 70 FLD: 60 HIT: 50 PWR: 55 RUN: 40
Stats (R/AA/AAA)
Slash: .285/.361/.489 2B: 27 HR: 8 RBI: 43 SB: 3
Murphy is one of the best all-around catching prospects in baseball and the Athletics’ front office has made it clear that he is their long-term solution at the position. His calling card starts with his above-average defense and foot quickness behind the plate. He also has an extremely strong arm that can shut down the running game. Offensively, he continues to develop at a rapid pace and could end up slugging 15-18 home runs eventually while getting on base at a 34 or 35 percent clip when fully developed.
53. Luis Garcia, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
Age: 18 Height: 5-11 Weight: 170 Bats: B Throws: R
Scouting Grades
ARM: 60 FLD: 60 HIT: 55 PWR: 40 RUN: 50
Stats (R)
Slash: .369/.433/.488 2B: 11 HR: 1 RBI: 32 SB: 12
Garcia was one of the top prospects in the 2017 class of International prospects and this year was considered, by several teams, as the best prospect to play in the Gulf Coast League, where he dominated with a .433 on-base percentage. He’s a well-above-average defensive shortstop with range to both sides, soft hands, quick feet, fluid rhythm and an accurate strong arm from the hole. He’ll make the highlight film play and the routine one. He’s mechanically sound at the plate, resulting in a quick-to-the-ball smooth swing.
33. Keibert Ruiz, C, Los Angeles Dodgers
Age: 20 Height: 6-0 Weight: 200 Bats: B Throws: R
Scouting Grades
ARM: 55 FLD: 55 HIT: 55 PWR: 45 RUN: 40
Stats (AA)
Slash: .268/.328/.401 2B: 14 HR: 12 RBI: 47
I have Ruiz as the best prospect in the Dodgers organization, over Verdugo. Ruiz is an above-average defensive catcher with an average arm that is enhanced by his quick release. He has soft hands, quick feet and plays with energy and enthusiasm. At the plate, he’s a switch hitter with line-drive gap power and he makes contact and puts the ball in play. There is no doubt he’s the Dodgers’ future catcher. The only question left is, will it happen this September or sometime next year?
5. Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 17 Height: 5-10 Weight: 190 Bats: B Throws: R
Scouting Grades
ARM: 55 FLD: 55 HIT: 65 PWR: 65 RUN: 50
Stats (Rookie)
Slash: .351/.419/.587 2B: 10 HR: 11 RBI: 57 SB: 4
Franco is the best switch-hitting prospect in baseball with a special hit tool that could potentially earn him a batting championship in time. He has tremendous depth perception, which allows him to recognize pitches early, and has impressive plate discipline for a 17-year-old. At shortstop, he has soft hands, solid range to both sides and plays with high energy and enthusiasm. He has surprising raw power for his frame, thanks to quick and strong hands, wrists and forearms. He should eventually end up with 20 home run game power. A special talent who could land at the top of this list in the next year or two.
