BP Experts Prospect Mock Draft: Rounds 8-10

In all of our responsibilities, we make decisions and come up with ideas that are not our finest moments. It’s human nature. It’s what drives us to do better. When I came up with the idea to create a mock prospect draft for dynasty leagues years ago, it was one that frankly I wasn’t sure would be super helpful or entertaining—but it has turned into one of my favorite exercises of the off-season. And it’s only become more fun as the participants have gotten stronger. This year we added names from CBS, BaseballHQ and Rotoworld—along with many of our household-name-in-the-fantasy-community participants form last year.

Just like we did last year (and the year before that), we first must examine the parameters. There are always parameters. These were the instructions for the participants of this draft, straight from the email I sent out prior to kickoff:

“The premise is very simple, we're drafting a minor league roster for a brand new dynasty league team (no one has a major league roster yet). The "league" is a standard 15-team 5×5 rotisserie where you keep all players indefinitely with no contracts/salaries involved. The first rule is that any player you select must currently still have their prospect status in tact. The second rule is that there are no other rules. You don't have to fill any position requirements, it's just about building the type of farm system you would want to start from scratch with. And yes, both Rusney Castillo and Yasmany Tomas are eligible.”

Just 15 guys drafting 10 minor leaguers apiece to start a dynasty league roster with. And the most fun part about this exercise is that with all of the picks, I asked each “owner” to write a quick comment on why they were taking the player—so you’re going to be reading analysis directly from the person who made the pick in the draft. The result of this is not a precise prospect list by any means, but a great representation of how minor league players are valued for fantasy across the industry.

And as an added bonus, I’m going to add in a few noteworthy picks from last year’s corresponding rounds—since many of the participants returned to test their meddle once again. Here are a few picks that jumped out as particularly prescient (and no, I’m not excluding my own picks, as there are a few that I’m proud of—and the ones I’m not, you’ll have to dig through the archives to find yourself):

• At Pick 9.120, our own Ben Carsley took Trevor Bauer—who returned from the dead in 2014 to put himself back on the road to fantasy relevance.
• At Pick 9.124, Jim Callis took Marcus Semien, who improved his stock enough to be the centerpiece of a major trade this off-season. He’s staring at a lot of playing time in Oakland and though he has more floor than ceiling, certainly has value.
• At Pick 9.126, Sandwich Prospectus Editor-In-Chief Craig Goldstein snagged Ryan McMahon, who is on his way to becoming that next hot power prospect in Colorado. A trip to the Cal League will only help that in 2015.

With those pleasantries out of the way, here are the final three rounds of the 2015 Baseball Prospectus Experts Mock Prospect Draft:

Round Eight

8.106) Rio Ruiz, 3B, Atlanta Braves (Ray Guilfoyle, Fake Teams)

“Ruiz was one of the main pieces in the trade that sent Evan Gattis to the Astros. Ruiz is now the Braves third baseman of the future, and should be big-league ready once the Braves move into their new stadium in 2017. He hasn't shown the power that was once projected to come, but he owns excellent plate discipline. Reports indicate he has good power to the opposite field, so the power may begin to show itself in the year ahead.”

8.107) Brandon Finnegan, LHP, Kansas City Royals (Craig Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus)

“I know pitching is everywhere, but I'm still a bit surprised Finnegan has lasted this long. He's already pitched in the majors, albeit in a relief capacity, showcasing an electric fastball and slider combination. He even displayed a nice changeup in his debut, when he whiffed Jacoby Ellsbury. There is some valid concerns about how both he and the stuff will hold up over the course of a full major-league season, and if it will be as electric when he's not airing it out in short stints. Those are fair concerns, but the upside is a mid-rotation starter with good strikeout numbers. He's got an involved delivery, but he repeats it well thanks to his athleticism, and he'll be pitching in a park that benefits pitchers. I love the solid-if-not-dynamic upside, as well as his immediacy at this point in the game.”

8.108) Mike Foltynewicz, RHP, Atlanta Braves (D.J. Short, Rotoworld)

“Recently swapped to the Braves in the Evan Gattis deal, Foltynewicz is dripping with potential. It's just a matter of him putting it all together. Armed with a fastball that touches the triple digits and a nasty curve, he still has issues to iron out with his secondary pitches and his command. If things break right, he could become a frontline-type starter. If not, he could become a dominant late-inning reliever. It might work in my favor either way from a fantasy perspective. I'll take my chances.”

8.109) Forrest Wall, 2B, Colorado Rockies (Mike Rosenbaum, Bleacher Report)

“I considered taking Wall with my previous pick, but felt pretty confidently that he’d still be on the board for me in the eighth round. That turned out to be the case, and by selecting second basemen with back-to-back picks, I was able to take a chunk out of the middle-infield market. Wall, 19, has the potential to hit .300 with 12-15 home runs and 20-plus steals in the majors, and that’s without taking into account the perks of playing half of his games at Coors Field. He’ll likely open 2015 at Low-A Asheville, where he could conceivably put up monster numbers at a home field that favors left-handed batters.”

8.110) Kyle Zimmer, RHP, Kansas City Royals (Ben Carsley, Baseball Prospectus)

“Look, shoulder injuries for pitchers are terrifying; there's no getting around that. But at this point in the draft, I'm seeing guys like Brandon Finnegan, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Mike Foltynewicz fly off the board, and I believe Zimmer is the superior fantasy talent. When he's healthy, Zimmer has two plus pitches and a usable smattering of additional offerings, can reach the mid-90s and is built to log innings. His health is anything but a given at this point, but I can roll the dice on a potential mid-rotation fantasy arm who might arrive in the majors soon this late in the draft.”

8.111) Francelis Montas, RHP, Chicago White Sox (Eno Sarris, FanGraphs)

“The reason Montas fell this far is his delivery. By leaning far to first base, he creates an extreme over-the-top release point which helps his velocity and the bite on his slider—all while hurting his posture and leading to injury. The two knee injuries he's already had say this is a risky pick. On the other hand, Montas has made some strides since that second knee injury that suggest he could be passable even as a starter. He led the AFL in fastball velocity among starters, his slider is great, and his change is super slow. His command has come and gone but flashes at least average. There's enough here to take a chance on him starting for a pitching-starved major league White Sox team as soon as this year.”

8.112) Colin Moran, 3B, Houston Astros (Chris Crawford, Draft to the Show/ESPN)

“There weren't many guys with plus hit-tools left on my board, so I couldn't let Moran slide past me this round. He didn't have a fantastic first professional year, but he certainly showed enough flashes to make me believe he's going to hit for average with power numbers that won't remind you of Troy Glaus but won't make you think of Chone Figgins, either. Assuming he can stick at third base—and I think he can—Moran has a chance to be an above-average offensive contributor at the hot corner, with a non-zero chance it happens before 2016.”

8.113) Brandon Drury, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks (Bret Sayre, Baseball Prospectus)

“Since struggling as a 19-year old in the South Atlantic League, Drury has quietly been a very consistent performer at the minor league level. Sure, the environment of the California League aided him in 2014, but he didn’t stop hitting when he got to Double-A either. With the specter of the Diamondbacks trying him at second base, the potential fantasy value only gets more and more interesting, given his 20-25 homer ability and potential to match that with help in the batting average category. There’s not much speed to speak of, but now we’re just nitpicking, seeing as though there have been more than 100 players off the board already. Don’t be shocked if Drury saw the majors as soon as late 2015, though a mid-2016 ETA is more realistic.”

8.114) Greg Bird, 1B, New York Yankees (James Anderson, Rotowire)

“Last year Bird hit 14 home runs with a .271/.376/.472 slash line in 441 plate appearances across stops at High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton. While his power numbers took a hit at Tampa in the Florida State League, Bird’s pop came back in a big way after getting promoted to Double-A. In just 27 games at Trenton, he hit seven of his 14 home runs on the season as a 21-year-old, while posting walk and K rates of 15.5 percent and 23.3 percent, respectively. There isn’t anyone currently on the Yankees’ roster who will block Bird from getting at least a share of the at-bats at first base when he’s ready. In the end, I think we could be looking at a poor man’s Joey Votto.”

8.115) Alex Reyes, RHP, St Louis Cardinals (Brent Hershey, BaseballHQ)

“Tons of arms out there, but was still a bit surprised to find Reyes available with pick #115 overall. With two plus pitches already, and a change-up most see as becoming at least average, and a tons of Ks on his resume (137 in 109 Low-A innings in 2014), the arsenal is there. Still just 20 years old, he's physically mature, and there's tons of upside. And St. Louis has proven that they know how to develop it.”

8.116) Monte Harrison, OF, Milwaukee Brewers (John Sickels, Minor League Ball)

“Missouri high school outfielder Monte Harrison was probably the top overall athlete in the 2014 draft although he was considered raw enough that he fell to the second round. However, he ended up showing better skills than expected in the Arizona Rookie League, leading the circuit in both walks and stolen bases. The physical tools are outstanding and while he hasn't tapped his power yet, he has an Andrew McCutchen-like upside. There's a lot of risk of course. He is years away and his career is just getting started, but in a dynasty format with a long time horizon, he is too talented to pass up this late in the draft.”

8.117) C.J. Edwards, RHP, Chicago Cubs (Craig Glaser, BSports)

“There were a number of pitchers I was considering here and while comparing their statistics I became really fascinated by the numbers C.J. Edwards has put up in his professional career to date. C.J. might be a slight guy (currently listed at 6-foot-2, 155 pounds) but he has shown some big skills during his career so far. He has thrown 237 innings, reaching as high as Double-A with a 1.86 ERA and over 11 K/9. The walks aren't bad either at 3.5 BB/9 for his career so far. All of that put him in the discussion to be taken here, but what made him my pick is his ability to limit extra-base hits. C.J. has allowed a whopping total of two homers (and 32 total XBH) in those 237 innings. His ISO against sits at a ridiculous .047. I don't know how predictive this skill is, but it is definitely fascinating.”

8.118) Giovanny Urshela, 3B, Cleveland Indians (Al Melchior, CBS)

“Urshela doesn't make many top prospect lists, but he could make an impact in the majors much sooner than most of the prospects taken in this draft. The Indians desperately need defensive upgrades, and Urshela would be just that as compared to incumbent third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall. Urshela's bat just might be useful for Fantasy purposes; he took his power game up a notch last season, hitting 18 home runs and 36 doubles between Double-A and Triple-A, and he didn't sacrifice his ability to make contact in the process.”

8.119) Christian Walker, 1B, Baltimore Orioles (Nick Shlain, Baseball Prospectus)

Walker is hardly a special prospect, but at this point in the draft I thought it was a good idea to get someone ready to produce at the major league level this year. While the Travis Snider trade doesn’t help Walker’s bid for major league playing time, he could use a little more seasoning at Triple-A to start the season. He’ll be hitting dingers in the majors by season’s end.”

8.120) Steven Moya, OF, Detroit Tigers (Jim Callis, MLB.com)

“I'm not sold on his bat because his plate discipline leaves a lot to be desired, but I'll gamble on the upside here with a guy who has huge raw power and broke out with 35 homers during a Double-A Eastern League MVP season in 2014. He might be no more than a .240 hitter at the big league level, but that might be enough for him to deliver 20-plus homers, double-digit steals, and a decent amount of runs and RBIs.”

Round Nine

9.121) Eddie Butler, RHP, Colorado Rockies (Jim Callis, MLB.com)

“I took him in last year's Mock Prospect Draft too, though I had to take him 81 picks higher then. Yes, he had a rough year and his stuff regressed when he tried to overthrow and came down with shoulder and back problems. Yes, he still has to pitch his home games at Coors Field. But in 2013, he hit 99 mph with his lively fastball and backed it up with a nasty slider, and a solid curveball and changeup. If he can turn back into that guy, this is a steal.”

9.122) Lewis Thorpe, LHP, Minnesota Twins (Nick Shlain, Baseball Prospectus)

“This could be the last time Thorpe goes this late in the draft as he’s primed for his first full professional season this year. In just a half season of pitching in the Midwest League last year, Thorpe showed the potential for three plus pitches and pitched to a 3.52 ERA with a K:BB of 80-to-36 in 71 2/3 innings. At 19, he’s still raw and his MLB debut is years away, but a breakout season sending him up prospect lists is on its way.”

9.123) Jorge Polanco, 2B, Minnesota Twins (Al Melchior, CBS)

“Though I had already nabbed a shortstop in Round 1 by selecting Carlos Correa, I couldn't pass up Polanco, who progressed nicely in 2014. He was particularly impressive in the Florida State League, posting a .291/.364/.415 slash line, which he accomplished mostly as a 20-year-old. His plate discipline withered upon promotion to the Eastern League, but he should get a more extended chance to adjust to the higher level of competition this season.”

9.124) Nick Kingham, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (Craig Glaser, BSports)

“Kingham may not have the same kind of upside as the other pitchers I've taken so far, but there is still a lot to like here. Only 23, Kingham already has some quality Triple-A innings under his belt. He doesn't strike out the world but exhibits good control, which will hopefully get even better. He is also close to pitching in Pittsburgh which is an enviable position for a pitching prospect.”

9.125) Brett Phillips, OF, Houston Astros (John Sickels, Minor League Ball)

“A player who contributes in multiple categories is the gold standard in fantasy, of course. Finding one in the later rounds isn't always easy, but Brett Phillips of the Astros fits nicely on my team. He hit .302/.362/.521 in 384 at-bats for Low-A Quad Cities last year, then .339/.421/.560 in 109 at-bats after being promoted to Lancaster. Yes, Lancaster is in the Cal League, but the Midwest League stats were just as impressive in context. He's only 20 years old, he combined for 14 triples, 17 homers, and 23 steals at the two levels, and he has the scouting reports on impressive athleticism to back up the stats, My prospect outfield of Kyle Schwarber, Monte Harrison, and Phillips would provide a good mixture of power, speed, and general offensive upside.”

9.126) Mallex Smith, OF, Atlanta Braves (Brent Hershey, BaseballHQ)

“Still searching for loud tools, and Smith has one of them: speed. Smith, traded to Atlanta this offseason as part of the package for Justin Upton, racked up 88 stolen bases in 2014 across two A-ball levels. At 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, he's not going to hit for power, but has shown double-digit walk rates the past two seasons and enough contact that he's not yet been a batting average drain. High minors will be the test, but so far Smith has shown the on-base ability and hit tool necessary to let his speed play. Which is all I'm looking for here in round nine.”

9.127) Miguel Almonte, RHP, Kansas City Royals (James Anderson, Rotowire)

“This was tough because I really wanted to take a position player – Jorge Mateo was first on my board among hitters – but there was a massive gap between where I had Almonte ranked and the next available player, so my hands were tied. Almonte tends to catch a bit too much of the plate at times, but I still think he safely projects as a no. 3 starter in the big leagues. I don’t see him ever being able to rack up 180-200 strikeouts in a season, but I’m a sucker for a good changeup, and the 21-year-old righty has one of the best in the minors. He should offer a strong WHIP, thanks to his above average control, along with a mid-to-low 3.00s ERA. With Yordano Ventura, Danny Duffy, Sean Manaea, Brandon Finnegan, and Almonte, the Royals’ rotation in 2016 could be electric.”

9.128) Derek Fisher, OF, Houston Astros (Bret Sayre, Baseball Prospectus)

“One of my favorite names from the 2014 draft, Fisher is going to have to carry the Astros class after they failed to sign Brady Aiken. Fortunately, he has that kind of toolkit. Fisher is a potential five-category contributor who was held back last spring partially due to a hamate bone injury that sapped some of his above-average power. He’s a relatively toolsy and raw college player, so while he may move a little slower than a bat from a top-tier college program (University of Virginia) often would; his payoff is also a little bit greater. If things break right for Fisher, there could be 20-20 potential in his future.”

9.129) Sean Newcomb, LHP, Los Angeles Angels (Chris Crawford, Draft to the Show/ESPN)

“There was exactly one player left from my top 50, and while I don't think Newcomb is going to be a fantasy star, I certainly think he's worth snagging this late. There's three above-average to plus pitches in his left arm, and the command is certainly good enough to start. A future ace he is not, but a solid mid-rotation starter who isn't allergic to missing bats and won't hurt you with walk totals isn't such a bad thing, is it?”

9.130) Travis Demeritte, 2B/3B, Texas Rangers (Eno Sarris, FanGraphs)

“It's time to take a totally different approach near the end of the draft and take a high-upside guy that's not really near the show at all. With my style of prospect ownership, Demeritte would never play for my real-life fantasy team. I'd hope the 20-year-old would continue to knock the snot out of the ball this year in High A and beyond, and I'd flip him for a major-league piece so I wouldn't have to worry about his contact rate, or ability to recognize off-speed pitches, or his future position. Okay, maybe if all those questions are leaning towards positive answers, I'll be tempted to keep him. Either way, power derived from premium bat speed and nice use of leverage is something I'll sign up for here.”

9.131) Lucas Sims, RHP, Atlanta Braves (Ben Carsley, Baseball Prospectus)

“This is probably my least-favorite pick from my draft, but Sims is still an intriguing arm to get in the penultimate round. The first half of his season in High-A didn't go as planned, but Sims progressed nicely as the year went on, showcasing a well-balanced mix of three above average pitches. He's probably a better real life prospect than a fantasy asset, but he's still a top-150 guy for me, and he could press for playing time in late 2016.”

9.132) Max Fried, LHP, Atlanta Braves (Mike Rosenbaum, Bleacher Report)

“After grabbing Jeff Hoffman in the seventh round, I’m going with another Tommy John guy and former first rounder, Max Fried, to complete my rotation. The left-hander will miss all of 2015 recovering from elbow surgery, and when he does return in 2016, Fried will be 22 years old and likely have to spend the season building up arm strength between High-A and Double-A. That said, he still has one of the higher ceilings among all left-handed pitching prospects, with the potential to pile up strikeouts and eat innings as no. 2-3 starter. Plus, I’m much more confident that he’ll make a full recovery now that he’s in the Braves system.”

9.133) Michael Gettys, OF, San Diego Padres (D.J. Short, Rotoworld)

“I was hoping that Monte Harrison would come back around to me, as he was one of my favorite names from last year's draft, but Gettys comes close. Sure, there are big questions about his ability to make contact on a consistent basis and recognize breaking pitches, but it's hard to pass over his obvious tools at this stage of the draft. If something clicks, Gettys will be a fantasy stud. He's just 19 and was only in rookie ball last year, so I'll have to be patient and prepare myself for the bust potential. There are a wide range of potential outcomes, but he's a fun one to dream on.”

9.134) Marcos Molina, RHP, New York Mets (Craig Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus)

“Destined to my Alberto Tirado/Edwin Diaz of 2015, the guy I covet who has yet to reach full-season ball who then implodes, Molina is one of my favorite short-season players out there. We can take short-season numbers with a pillar of salt, but MOlina whiffed 30.7 percent in the New York-Penn League, which is generally a destination for college hitters. He has the stuff to back up the numbers too, boasting a lower 90s fastball that can tough 97 MPH, and compliments it with two secondaries (changeup, slider) that both flash above average. He's inconsistent, which is to be expected at this age, and while the word polish is probably an overstatement, he has a feel for his craft. He'll get his first taste of full-season baseball in a power-suppressing Savannah park, which should only help those who watch the stat line inflate his value. As much as I love Molina, stashing him now and selling him after a park-enhanced season could be a nice play.”

9.135) Alex Verdugo, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (Ray Guilfoyle, Fake Teams)

“The Dodgers drafted Verdugo as an outfielder even though scouts say he had three plus pitches coming out of high school. Verdugo didn't disappoint in Rookie ball, hitting for a high average, getting on base, and stealing eight bags. He will start his first full season in Low A and should show us all the skills which pushed him off the mound in 2015.”

Round 10

10.136) Erick Fedde, RHP, Washington Nationals (Ray Guilfoyle, Fake Teams)

“The Nationals drafted Fedde in the first round even though he was coming off Tommy John surgery. Fedde owns a fastball that sits in the 92-95 range with a plus slider and an average change up, and has the ceiling of a no. 2 starter. The team will take it slow with their young hurler so we might not see him in full season ball till 2016.”

10.137) Jorge Mateo, SS, New York Yankees (Craig Goldstein, Baseball Prospectus)

“I waffled repeatedly on who take with my final pick, with my other options being Francisco Mejia and Chance Sisco. As much as I've declared my love for catching prospects and for Mejia in particular, I decided to use the opportunity to write about someone else, who isn't talked about as much (yet, anyway). Mateo has top of the scale speed and pairs it with a strong approach at the plate given his age. He's a huge risk in that he hasn't played outside of rookie ball, and that was a concern for me, but I like his chances of holding down the position and the lure of impact speed this deep in the draft drew me in. He's never going to be a true power threat and the reality is he might be a risk to hurt me in that department, but my feeling is the speed will balance that out and there's a chance he becomes at least palatable. It's a long shot to be sure, but I think the juice is worth the squeeze when it's all said and done.”

10.138) Joe Ross, RHP, Washington Nationals (D.J. Short, Rotoworld)

“For my final pick, I'll go with Ross, who was recently dealt to the Nationals in the three-team, 11-player Wil Myers trade. The younger brother of Padres pitcher Tyson Ross, Joe might not have the obvious trappings of an ace, but his command has improved and he has a chance for three average-or-above pitches. He induces plenty of groundballs and should strike out enough batters to at least be fantasy relevant. I'd be happy with getting a reliable mid-rotation starter this late.”

10.139) Courtney Hawkins, OF, Chicago White Sox (Mike Rosenbaum, Bleacher Report)

“Hawkins had disastrous 2013 season at High-A Winston-Salem, but the 21-year- fared better last season in his second tour of the level, batting .249/.331/.450 with 48 extra-base hits and a vastly improved walk rate. Hawkins’ explosive bat speed and plus raw are undeniable, and I see his power frequency improving as he continues to gain experience against quality arms. Unfortunately, his poor pitch recognition and swing-and-miss issues against even average stuff are also undeniable and will likely prevent him from hitting for average during his career. Aggressive assignments have made it an uphill battle for Hawkins since day one of his pro career, and I think he’s eventually going to catch up, settle in and tap into some of that potential. The question is, how much? I’m willing to take a flier on him in the final round to find out.”

10.140) Tyrone Taylor, OF, Milwaukee Brewers (Ben Carsley, Baseball Prospectus)

“Taylor is a high-variance prospect, but his 15-homer, 30-steal upside makes him worth the gamble this late. I'm worried about the hit tool, of course, and there's a good chance this looks like a waste in a few years. There's also a chance Taylor is playing every day in a hitter-friendly park, though, and rather gamble on someone with his timeline than on a prospect who's probably three or four years away.”

10.141) Ketel Marte, 2B, Seattle Mariners (Eno Sarris, FanGraphs)

“I'm thrilled to get Marte here. Dude was 20 last year and hit over .300 at Double-A and Triple-A combined. He's going to stick in the middle infield as I see it, and he's got wheels. The opportunity is not quite obvious right now, but Seattle's in flux at shortstop, and they might just find a way to use his speed if he proves he can get on base regularly. Even without much power, there's enough here to be both major-league and fantasy-relevant. Oh, and I like that KATOH, a young player projection system debuted by Chris Mitchell on The Hardball Times this year, also has him as a future 50-value guy that can put up over eight wins above replacement before he turns 28. With my last pick? Giddyap.”

10.142) Francisco Mejia, C, Cleveland Indians (Chris Crawford, Draft to the Show/ESPN)

“I nearly went with Mejia's teammate Bradley Zimmer with this pick, but I went with the positional upside instead. There's plus raw power in his bat—though it's going to take some time before it shows up in games—and his feel for hitting for someone who won't turn 19 until July is impressive. Add in the likelihood that he sticks behind the plate, and you get a prospect that I believe could be one of the better fantasy catchers at the end of the decade.”

10.143) Dominic Smith, 1B, New York Mets (Bret Sayre, Baseball Prospectus)

“Like there was ever a chance this was not going to happen. We all know what happens to left-handed power in Savannah, yet when Smith has a power outage, it means he’s a bad version of James Loney. I call BS on this one. Honestly, I would have taken Smith in the eighth round, but I knew I wouldn’t have to grab him before now. He has the raw pop to hit 20 homers in time, and the batting average will always be his strength.”

10.144) Keury Mella, RHP, San Francisco Giants (James Anderson, Rotowire)

“If the 15 participants in this mock voted on the best arm in the Giants’ system, I’m guessing no player would garner more than five votes. Well, Mella would certainly get my vote. He has a mid-90s fastball that will miss bats and generate weak contact in the zone against the best hitters in the world thanks to serious late life, and his curveball and changeup should be good enough to allow him to stick as a starter. As a 20-year-old, he put up a 2.79 FIP with a 63-to-13 K:BB ratio in 66.1 innings at Low-A Augusta before getting shut down with a shoulder strain. If he enters camp fully healthy, Mella should shoot up prospect rankings in 2015. A no. 3-4 starter on the Giants is typically valuable in most formats thanks to Buster Posey, the ballpark, and the organization’s track record of developing young pitching, but if everything clicks, Mella has the upside to be a no. 2.”

10.145) Kyle Crick, RHP, San Francisco Giants (Brent Hershey, BaseballHQ)

“Two words: Dellin Betances. Okay, so that's probably not fair, as there are plenty of differences between the two players. And yeah, there are eons more examples of hard-throwing, no-idea-where-it's-going starters that can't make the adjustment to the bullpen than there are success stories like the Yankees' right-hander. But in the last round of a prospect draft, we're looking for raw skills, and Crick has them. Read any scouting report on him and you're likely to encounter the word "explosive." When you have a fastball with velocity and movement like Crick's, there are several potential paths to success. He still could figure it out as a starter. He might be able to harness it as a reliever. If either of those situations come to pass, he holds fantasy value.”

10.146) Tyler Beede, RHP, San Francisco Giants (John Sickels, Minor League Ball)

“We will continue the run of Giants pitching prospects with 2014 first-rounder Tyler Beede. The Vanderbilt right-hander had an erratic college career but there are few arms of this quality still available, with low/mid-90s heat. Both his curveball and change-up flash plus, but both are inconsistent and his overall command needs work. If Beede puts everything together he will have three plus pitches. If the command is there he can become a number two starter and that's terrific upside at this point in the draft.”

10.147) Philip Ervin, OF, Cincinnati Reds (Craig Glaser, BSports)

“Ervin had a bit of a down year in 2014, posting a wRC+ of only 94 in A-ball. That being said, there were a few things I liked about his season. He hit 34 doubles and seven triples. He stole 30 bases and was only caught five times. His BABIP was quite low (.284), which gives me hope for a quick overall bounceback this year.”

10.148) Zach Davies, RHP, Baltimore Orioles (Al Melchior, CBS)

“Though Davies doesn't throw especially hard, he has delivered respectable strikeout rates the last couple of season, and he actually struck out 109 batters in 110 innings at Double-A Bowie while inducing whiffs on 12 percent of his pitches (per StatCorner). Davies has also exhibited good control and decent ground-ball tendencies, which should help him at Camden Yards, and if he doesn't get there this season, there's a good chance he could be in the majors in 2016.”

10.149) Robert Refsnyder, 2B, New York Yankees (Nick Shlain, Baseball Prospectus)

“While Refsnyder doesn’t offer much upside, he can hit a little bit and the bat is close to ready, if not yet there. He should be up in the majors by the end of the year, but could be called up earlier if the Yankees need him.”

10.150) Roman Quinn, OF, Philadelphia Phillies (Jim Callis, MLB.com)

“I'll go for some more stolen-base upside with the final pick of the draft. Quinn has legitimate top-of-the-scale speed and looked good when I saw him in the Arizona Fall League, which he led with 14 steals in 24 games. His plate discipline looked improved there as well, and I think his bat might start to take off now that he's playing center field (where he belongs) rather than trying to figure out shortstop. He'll need to make a lot more contact and stay healthier than he has in the lower minors, but he could be a future big league stolen-base leader, too.”