- Carson Fulmer
- Garrett Cleavinger
- Reggie Lawson
- Bo Bichette
- Drew Ward
- Ryan Mountcastle
- Kyle Holder
- Cavan Biggio
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| Born: 12/13/1993 (Age: 23) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 0" | Weight: 195 |
| Mechanics |
| Sturdy build, above-average arm speed, jerky mechanics; high leg kick, high three-quarter arm slot; strong leg drive, occasional inconsistency at release, sometimes over-throws; athletic coming off the mound, fields his position well |
| Evaluator | Jeff Long |
| Report Date | 07/11/2017 |
| Affiliate | Charlotte Knights (AAA, White Sox) |
| Dates Seen | 7/7/2017 |
| OFP/Risk | 50/Moderate |
| Realistic | 45: No. 5 Starter/Swingman |
| MLB ETA | 2017 |
| Video | No |
| Pitch Type | Present Grade | Future Grade | Sitting Velocity | Peak Velocity | Report |
| FB | 50 | 50 | 90-93 | 94 | Primary offering, modest arm-side run, late life; can work to both sides of plate, struggles to command north-south, below-average overall command, limited projection on account of mechanics; most comfortable working arm-side, will lose it high & arm-side, stronger boring action at lower velocity |
| CU | 40 | 50 | 81-83 | 83 | Big breaker, significant depth, 11-5 shape; can take it out of the zone, effective as a chase pitch, occasionally hangs it when working arm side of plate; will flash plus, command inconsistencies hold it back well below that |
| FC | 40 | 45 | 86-89 | 90 | Effective working off fastball, average movement, average control; not much tilt, can be effective as a strike pitch in zone, flashes above average |
| CH | 30 | 40 | 81-83 | 83 | Show-me offering for left-handers, below-average fade, shows it with slowed arm speed; below-average command and control |
| Overall |
|
Fulmer is a fighter on the mound, using an array of pitches and variations thereof to keep opposing hitters on their toes. His mechanics remain unorthodox, but he repeats them reasonably well despite the complexity. An athletic pitcher, his movements are fluid and he comes off the mound well, while also showing a very good pick-off move to both first and second. Fulmer likely profiles as a good reliever, possibly even a solid late-inning option when pairing back his repertoire and working in shorter stints. There's a chance he can develop into a serviceable starter, but there's a lot of volatility in his command profile, and it's unclear if he can successfully turn over a major-league lineup multiple times. |
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| Born: 04/23/1994 (Age: 23) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Left |
| Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 210 |
| Mechanics |
| Physical: Stockier build without much definition, little athleticism in his movements.
Mechanics: Three-quarter delivery, deep arm action, average arm speed; high leg kick, moderate effort, little funk creates some deception, mild head whack; balanced despite unorthodox mechanics Control:45/50 |
| Evaluator | Greg Goldstein |
| Report Date | 06/07/2017 |
| Affiliate | Bowie Baysox (AA, Orioles) |
| Dates Seen | 6/2/2017 |
| OFP/Risk | 45/Moderate |
| Realistic | 40: Middle reliever |
| MLB ETA | 2018 |
| Video | No |
| Pitch Type | Present Grade | Future Grade | Sitting Velocity | Peak Velocity | Report |
| FB | 50 | 55 | 91-92 | 94 | Straight pitch, flashed average control to both sides, though moderate effort can negatively effect the fine command; overthrew at times, tough pick-up, deception helps it play up, difficult pitch to find and barrel |
| CB | 45 | 50 | 76-78 | 1/6 movement; fringe-average bite, average depth; feel to locate to arm-side corner and steal strikes; consistent arm slot, arm speed slowed at times, can get trackable, but feel to locate for strikes consistently | |
| CH | 30 | 40 | 80-81 | Limited usage, pitch lacks movement, poor present feel and control; velo separation and deception could lead to occasional swing-and-miss in limited deployment, potential to develop as a “show me” pitch |
| Overall |
|
Funky lefty with a solid fastball that plays a bit above the raw material and a competent secondary. The movement in his delivery creates deception and difficult timing for hitters. It requires moderate effort, though he maintains his balance and repeats well, indicating potential for enough command and control to potentially play at higher levels. His pure stuff isn’t exceptional, but there's enough deception that there's potential for him to develop into a capable piece in a major league bullpen, with ability to get both LH and RH hitters out from the left side. |
| Born: 08/02/1997 (Age: 19) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 205 |
| Mechanics |
| Athletic, classic starter's build, projection left for upper-body muscle and mass; semi-windup, easy motion, limited effort; high three-quarters arm slot, above-average arm speed, clean action, repeatable delivery; calm demeanor, does not get rattled |
| Evaluator | Nathan Graham |
| Report Date | 06/30/2017 |
| Affiliate | Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low A, Padres) |
| Dates Seen | 6/11, 6/26/17 |
| OFP/Risk | 60/High |
| Realistic | 50: No. 4 Starter |
| MLB ETA | 2020 |
| Video | Yes |
| Pitch Type | Present Grade | Future Grade | Sitting Velocity | Peak Velocity | Report |
| FB | 60 | 70 | 92-93 | 95 | Four-seam fastball, currently sits 92-93 and touches 95, projected increase in velocity as body develops; straight and heavy, gets good downward plane, holds velocity; potential plus command, along with velo increase can play pitch up to plus-plus at peak |
| CB | 50 | 60 | 74-76 | 76 | 11-5 shape, late break, mainly ball-to-strike at present, keeps it in the zone, consistent arm speed replication |
| Overall |
|
Signed over-slot as a competitive balance pick in 2016, Lawson already has the look of a starting pitcher. Tall, athletic, and still growing, he is an imposing figure on the mound. He already touches 95 with a heavy four-seam fastball, there is potential for an uptick in velocity as the body continues to add muscle. The curve has good 11-5 shape with late break. It looks to become a plus offering as he learns to bury it out of the zone. He did not show a third pitch in either start. It's an easy, repeatable delivery that teases plus command potential. There's a baseline to develop into an innings-eating No. 3 starter if he can add a third pitch, with projection as a back-end starter or valuable reliever with a big fastball if he fails to develop the arsenal. |
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|
| Born: 03/05/1998 (Age: 19) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 0" | Weight: 200 |
| Primary Position: SS | |
| Secondary Position: 2B | |
| Physical/Health |
| Lean, athletic build; room for added strength and bulk |
| Evaluator | Nathan Graham |
| Report Date | 06/12/2017 |
| Dates Seen | 3x May-June 2017 |
| Affiliate | Lansing Lugnuts (Low A, Blue Jays) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| 2020 | High | 60 | 50: Major-League Regular | Yes |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 60 | Wide, balanced stance, hands start at back shoulder, slight backwards drift to start load; moderate load and high leg kick when in a favorable count, will widen stance, lessen load, and eliminate leg kick with two strikes; above-average bat speed, mild leverage; advanced approach, good command of strike zone, recognizes secondary offerings, stays balanced |
| Power | 50 | Ability to barrel baseball consistently, quality bat speed, pull-side power, projects to play to major-league average as body develops |
| Baserunning/Speed | 60 | High base-running IQ, will slow a grade as mass is added |
| Glove | 50 | Solid yet unspectacular, alert fielder, average range, gets consistent reads, soft hands, quick transfer; possible move to second base as growth occurs |
| Arm | 50 | Average arm for shortstop, solid-average for second base; accurate throws, hold their line |
| Overall |
|
Bichette has plus zone command and bat-to-ball skills, and profiles to be a high-average, moderate-power hitter at the highest level. The defense and arm, while not spectacular, are sufficient for shortstop. There is a fair amount of risk, as he is young and far from the majors, but the tools are there to carry to a regular role with plus potential if everything maxes out |
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|
| Born: 11/25/1994 (Age: 22) | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 215 |
| Primary Position: 3B | |
| Secondary Position: 1B | |
| Physical/Health |
| Muscular and lean; Body is fully filled out at a young age; Looks older than he is.
|
| Evaluator | Greg Goldstein |
| Report Date | 06/21/2017 |
| Dates Seen | 5/31/17 (DH), 6/1/17 |
| Affiliate | Harrisburg Senators (AA, Nationals) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| 2018 | High | 45 | 40; Reserve infielder | No |
| Makeup |
|
Did show frustration on strikeouts at times, but was a steady presence on the field more than often. |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 40 | High leverage; average bat speed, bat wrap makes him late on average velo, loose mechanics, leverage makes him strikeout prone, bat speed can create hard contact middle/pull-side, struggles picking up pitches out of hand, swung through offspeed often, shifts weight forward, commits to swinging too soon, power approach limits contact, flashed average bat control oppo field; shows patient approach; projects below-average utility. |
| Power | 50 | Large frame yields plus raw power, needs to tighten mechanics to transfer raw pop to the game, frequently hits pop ups on drivable pitches, flashes power to all fields; produces high loft with minimal effort; Projects enough contact to allow plus raw pop to play average. |
| Baserunning/Speed | 30 | Timed 4.42; Below-average runner, not a bad athlete for his size, limited because of his heavy feet. |
| Glove | 45 | Makes the routine play, Shows good enough glove skills to be a regular, has trouble moving laterally, didn’t flash quality twitchiness, gets eaten up on some balls to his right, manages third base without making a ton of mistakes, may profile better across the diamond. |
| Arm | 60 | Shows plus arm strength; flashed quality velo/carry on routine throws, enough arm to make plays on the move, accurate for the most part. |
| Overall |
|
Ward’s big league future stems from his ability to tap into the plus raw power that he has in his frame. He will draw walks, but he’ll also rack up the swings and misses because of his mechanics. Despite his power potential, his bat speed is not plus and he needs to tighten up his swing if he hopes to translate more of the that raw power at the next level. His bat will have to get him to the majors because his defensive profile is rather uncertain at the moment given his stiffness at third base. |
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|
| Born: 02/18/1997 (Age: 20) | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 195 |
| Primary Position: SS | |
| Secondary Position: | |
| Physical/Health |
| On the skinnier side, projectable body that can add strength |
| Evaluator | Greg Goldstein |
| Report Date | 06/22/2017 |
| Dates Seen | 5 games, April-June 2017 |
| Affiliate | Frederick Keys (High A, Orioles) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| 2019 | Moderate | 55 | 50: Major League regular | No |
| Makeup |
|
Will show some immaturity at times, generally already a steady player for the most part, keeps his focus |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 55 | Moderate hitch during load; moderate leverage, above-average bat speed, easy swing; natural hitter, quality hand speed, shows above-average bat control; approach still developing, struggles to stay back on off-speed, expect approach to improve with experience, will throw hands at the ball, finish can get imbalanced; athleticism and feel for the barrel to project improvement to above-average utility |
| Power | 55 | Projects to plus raw at maturity, leveraged swing, power plays to all fields, approach limits utility at present, potential for above-average utility at maturity |
| Baserunning/Speed | 50 | 4.21 clock, average runner, station-to-station type, not a risk-taker on the bases |
| Glove | 45 | Poor lateral agility, lacks natural feel and instincts for shortstop, timid and stiff in movements, lacks arm strength for left side; enough athleticism to develop fringe-average utility at second |
| Arm | 40 | Below-average arm strength, low arm slot, lacks velocity and carry on throws from short, needs to load up considerably to get throws across the diamond, below-average accuracy |
| Overall |
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Mountcastle is an above-average hitter who brings both power potential and an above-average all-around hit tool to the table. He produces power without selling out, making hard contact to all fields. He’ll have to move off of shortstop because of obvious deficiencies with his arm and glove. While his defensive questions make him a risk to reach his overall potential, it's a bat to believe in, and he projects as a bat-first regular with above-average potential at his peak. |
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| Born: 05/25/1994 (Age: 23) | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 185 |
| Primary Position: SS | |
| Secondary Position: 3B | |
| Physical/Health |
| Medium frame and build, lacks remaining physical projection, quite muscular |
| Evaluator | Steve Givarz |
| Report Date | 06/28/2017 |
| Dates Seen | 6/21-6/23/2017 |
| Affiliate | Tampa Yankees (High A, Yankees) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| 2020 | High | 40 | 30: Org depth | No |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 30 | Hits from an even, upright stance, average bat speed, flat, contact-oriented swing, line-drive stroke, will look to bunt early; swing lacks strength, lots of weak contact in looks, struggles to recognize off-speed; will work counts, falls behind often, pitchers attack aggressively, well below-average hitter |
| Power | 30 | Well-below average raw, lacks bat speed and loft, can turn on one, but will more likely play in form of extra-base hits |
| Baserunning/Speed | 50 | Average runner down the line, 4.23 H-1B |
| Glove | 55 | Average to above-average fielder, arm allows him to make plays on left side, quick hands that allow for a quality transfer, tools to play at any infield spot |
| Arm | 60 | Plus arm, real weapon in the field, throws have quality line and carry, very accurate |
| Overall |
|
Upper-level utility player with defensive chops to play anywhere on the dirt, could see some emergency time on account of quality defense. Interesting ORG piece. |
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|
| Born: 04/11/1995 (Age: 22) | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 203 |
| Primary Position: 2B | |
| Secondary Position: | |
| Physical/Health |
| Large frame with an even, muscular build, lacks remaining projection, already quite physical, could lose a step if he were to continue to grow. |
| Evaluator | Steve Givarz |
| Report Date | 06/30/2017 |
| Dates Seen | 4x June 2017 |
| Affiliate | Dunedin Blue Jays (High A, Blue Jays) |
| MLB ETA | Risk Factor | OFP | Realistic Role | Video |
| 2020 | High | 45 | 40; Up-and-down organizational depth | No |
| Tool | Future Grade | Report |
| Hit | 45 | Hits from a tall, upright stance, bat twirl as rhythm, doesn't seem to hinder timing; average bat speed with a linear stroke through the zone, primarily a pull-side hitter, moderate plate discipline, aggressive on fastballs, can get fooled by early off-speed; fringe-average hitter |
| Power | 40 | Average raw power, can go gap-to-gap, home run power is all pull-side; game utility plays down due to approach |
| Baserunning/Speed | 45 | Fringe-average runner, 4.27 best time H-1B |
| Glove | 50 | Lacks for range, soft hands, makes the necessary plays, shows sound footwork, average projection at second |
| Arm | 45 | Fringe-average arm, can make the routine plays at 2B, stretched beyond that; arm won't be a weapon, struggles with plays in the hole, doesn't profile elsewhere |
| Overall |
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Potential to develop into a second-division starter, lack of arm strength and range limits potential for utility role. May be a platoon option. |
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