Post by Larry - Mets on Jan 20, 2020 20:37:08 GMT
1. Brendan Rodgers St. Louis Cardinals Brendan was the 3rd overall choice in the 2015 draft and has steadily progressed through the Colorado Rockies system. He has always been a SS but some guy named Trevor Story is there in Colorado. Made his MLB debut batting 224 in 74 AB's. Missed time in the minors this year due to injury but batted 350 with 9 home runs in 143 AB's in AAA. The Cardinals 2B position is currently manned by Ozzie Albies and Brendan is joined in the minors by the injury plagued Nick Senzel and Jordan Adell.
2. Nick Madrigal Detroit Tigers The 4th overall selection in the 2018 draft, struck out an unbelievable 3% of the time in his first full season in the minors, starting at High A, advancing to AA and finishing in AAA. Batted a combined 311 with an OBP of 377. Kolton Wong is the current 2B in Detroit and is on the last year of his contract (team holds a $12. M option for 2021 so he might have to wait a year for a full time BRHLO gig). He joins Tyler Freeman as positional prospects in a minor league system dominated by pitchers.
3. Vidal Brujan Washington Nationals Another day another National prospect on these lists. I am willing to bet a National SS (Nolan Gorman) makes it tomorrow. Anyway, Vidal signed for $15 K in 2014 and didn't make his full season debut until 2018. He advanced to High A this year and made the Florida State League All Star team before being promoted to AA. As a 21 year old he batted 290 in High A and 266 in AA. Since Isaac Paredes has the worst body I have ever seen in a minor league middle infielder I expect Vidal to push him to a corner spot.
4. Xavier Edwards Chicago Cubs Xavier was selected 38th overall in the 2018 draft and batted a combined 346 in rookie leagues last year. He advanced to A ball this year playing at both A levels and combined for a 322 AVG and 34 SB's. Combines with Jeremy Eierman as middle infield prospects for the Cubbies.
5. Nick Solak New York Yankees Nick barely makes this list as he had 116 MLB AB's last year with a 293 AVG, 393 OBP and 5 HR's. If you ask him what position he plays the answer should be "hitter". His bat almost guarantees he will get lots of playing time in Texas , just not sure where. Played a passable 2B but has also played 3B and OF. He joins Nick Welker and Josh Naylor as position players in the Yankees system.
6. Michael Busch available He was drafted 31st in the 29019 MLB draft by the Dodgers. He played 1B and LF in college but he Dodgers are trying to convert him to 2B where his offensive potential would make him a top tier 2B. Only played 10 minor league games before a hand injury ended his season.
7. Aaron Bracho New York Yankees A second New York Yankee 2B makes the list but this one has the defensive ability to stay at 2B. Signed as an international free agent for $1.5 M in 2017, he missed most of the 2018 season with a broken arm. He batted 296 with an OBP of 416 in the Arizona League before being promoted to a short season team for the last week of the season.
8. Chase Strump available Chase was drafted 64th overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 2019 draft. In high school he was the SS while Royce Lewis played 2B. Coming from UCLA, he played most of the year in the Northwest League before playing for a week in the Midwest League. He is pretty much limited to 2B.
9. Ji Hwan-Bae Milwaukee Brewers He was signed as an international free agent in March of 2018 for 1.2 M by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He advanced to the South Atlantic League as a 19 year old and won the batting title with a 323 average. Missed 30 games of the season for a suspension for assaulting an ex-girlfriend. Joins Bo Bichette and Dylan Carlson as top hitting prospects in the Milwaukee system.
10. Andy Young New York Yankees A third Yankee prospect on the list but like Nick Solak has defensive limitations. Since he is the third prospect on this list he gets forfeited to this writer. A 37th round draft choice in the 2016 draft he signed for $3,000 but has done nothing but hit and be hit. He was hit 31 times last year. A modest athlete he has played 2B, SS and 3B and might carve out a career as an offensive utility type. Split last year between AA and AAA and combined for 29 home runs while batting 271. His 121 strike outs could be a problem.
2. Nick Madrigal Detroit Tigers The 4th overall selection in the 2018 draft, struck out an unbelievable 3% of the time in his first full season in the minors, starting at High A, advancing to AA and finishing in AAA. Batted a combined 311 with an OBP of 377. Kolton Wong is the current 2B in Detroit and is on the last year of his contract (team holds a $12. M option for 2021 so he might have to wait a year for a full time BRHLO gig). He joins Tyler Freeman as positional prospects in a minor league system dominated by pitchers.
3. Vidal Brujan Washington Nationals Another day another National prospect on these lists. I am willing to bet a National SS (Nolan Gorman) makes it tomorrow. Anyway, Vidal signed for $15 K in 2014 and didn't make his full season debut until 2018. He advanced to High A this year and made the Florida State League All Star team before being promoted to AA. As a 21 year old he batted 290 in High A and 266 in AA. Since Isaac Paredes has the worst body I have ever seen in a minor league middle infielder I expect Vidal to push him to a corner spot.
4. Xavier Edwards Chicago Cubs Xavier was selected 38th overall in the 2018 draft and batted a combined 346 in rookie leagues last year. He advanced to A ball this year playing at both A levels and combined for a 322 AVG and 34 SB's. Combines with Jeremy Eierman as middle infield prospects for the Cubbies.
5. Nick Solak New York Yankees Nick barely makes this list as he had 116 MLB AB's last year with a 293 AVG, 393 OBP and 5 HR's. If you ask him what position he plays the answer should be "hitter". His bat almost guarantees he will get lots of playing time in Texas , just not sure where. Played a passable 2B but has also played 3B and OF. He joins Nick Welker and Josh Naylor as position players in the Yankees system.
6. Michael Busch available He was drafted 31st in the 29019 MLB draft by the Dodgers. He played 1B and LF in college but he Dodgers are trying to convert him to 2B where his offensive potential would make him a top tier 2B. Only played 10 minor league games before a hand injury ended his season.
7. Aaron Bracho New York Yankees A second New York Yankee 2B makes the list but this one has the defensive ability to stay at 2B. Signed as an international free agent for $1.5 M in 2017, he missed most of the 2018 season with a broken arm. He batted 296 with an OBP of 416 in the Arizona League before being promoted to a short season team for the last week of the season.
8. Chase Strump available Chase was drafted 64th overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 2019 draft. In high school he was the SS while Royce Lewis played 2B. Coming from UCLA, he played most of the year in the Northwest League before playing for a week in the Midwest League. He is pretty much limited to 2B.
9. Ji Hwan-Bae Milwaukee Brewers He was signed as an international free agent in March of 2018 for 1.2 M by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He advanced to the South Atlantic League as a 19 year old and won the batting title with a 323 average. Missed 30 games of the season for a suspension for assaulting an ex-girlfriend. Joins Bo Bichette and Dylan Carlson as top hitting prospects in the Milwaukee system.
10. Andy Young New York Yankees A third Yankee prospect on the list but like Nick Solak has defensive limitations. Since he is the third prospect on this list he gets forfeited to this writer. A 37th round draft choice in the 2016 draft he signed for $3,000 but has done nothing but hit and be hit. He was hit 31 times last year. A modest athlete he has played 2B, SS and 3B and might carve out a career as an offensive utility type. Split last year between AA and AAA and combined for 29 home runs while batting 271. His 121 strike outs could be a problem.