2018 White Sox Prospect Notes

Jim Berger's blog - a White Sox fan living in Red Sox nation

Moderator: Padres

Post Reply
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

2018 White Sox Prospect Notes

Post by Padres »

19. McGregory Contreras, OF, Bluefield (Blue Jays)

Age: 19
B-T: R-R
Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 170
Signed: Venezuela, 2015

Contreras was just another $10,000 signing like hundreds of other players in the 2015 international class. In spite of minimal expectations, he has emerged as a legitimate prospect for the Blue Jays with potential to be a contributor across the board.

Contreras has what many coaches in baseball would call "sneaky power". It doesn't stand out in games just yet and you wouldn't be able to tell just by looking at him, but he lets it fly during batting practice. His lean, athletic body and swift bat speed entail future average power. He has strong wrists that work well to catch up to inside fastballs. Contreras' bat-to-ball ability is hindered right now by pitch recognition issues, but that should grow to be average as well.

Contreras saw work at all three outfield positions this summer because teammate Chavez Young laid claim to center field. Contreras projects to stick in center thanks to above-average speed, solid footwork and an average arm.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/ ... byMfcwt.99
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

3. Bobby Bradley, 1B

BORN: May 29, 1996.
B-T: L-R| HT: 6-1 | WT: 225.
DRAFTED: HS--Gulfport, Miss., 2014 (3rd round)
SIGNED BY: Mike Bradford.
MINORS: .251/.331/.465 | 23 HR | 3 SB | 467 AB

Track Record: Bradley has been one of the most productive players in the Indians' farm system since they drafted him. He won the Rookie-level Arizona League triple crown in 2014 by hitting .361 with eight home runs and 50 RBIs. He led the Midwest League with 27 home runs in 2015 and the Carolina League with 29 home runs in 2016. He fell short of making it four straight home run crowns, however, when he ranked sixth in the Eastern League with 23 homers at Double-A Akron in 2017.

Scouting Report: Bradley's raw power is the best in the system, and he has shown he is adept at getting to it in games. He has a strong, physical frame and creates excellent bat speed that allows him to drive the ball out to all fields. That power comes with a lot of swing and miss, but he cut his strikeout rate in 2017 from 29 percent to a much more manageable 22 percent. Bradley is a well below-average runner with an average arm, limiting him to first base.

The Future: Bradley will advance to Triple-A Columbus in 2018, where he could take advantage of Huntington Park's hitter-friendly dimensions. He has the potential to become a middle-of-the-order hitter.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/ ... iXQ8kwq.99

a.j. (dallas): Is Bobby Bradley a 1B or a dh? Seemed like he was a cheap candidate to replace Santana instead of Alonso

Teddy Cahill: Bradley isn't an elite defender, but he can stay at first base. But I don't think he's ready this year to be an Opening Day starter on a team that's contending for the World Series. I think he gets to the big leagues very soon, quite possibly this year, but I do think the Indians needed a bridge from Santana to Bradley. Alonso fits that bill just fine, in my opinion.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/ ... q1OyPUm.97
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

5. Dane Dunning, RHP

BORN: Dec. 20, 1994
B-T: R-R. | HT: 6-4 | WT: 200
DRAFTED: Florida, 2016 (1st round).
SIGNED BY: Buddy Hernandez (Nationals).
MINORS (2 teams): 8-8, 2.94 ERA | 168 SO | 15 BB | 144 IP

Track Record: The White Sox targeted Dunning in the 2016 draft, but the Nationals took him at the end of the first round before Chicago had a chance to grab him. Six months later, the White Sox acquired Dunning from the Nationals along with Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito for Adam Eaton.

Scouting Report: Dunning operates primarily with a sinker and a slider, but he has a changeup as well. He sits in the low to mid-90s, peaking at 96 mph. When his delivery is clicking, Dunning features heavy sink and will coax hitters into beating the ball into the ground. He struggled at times to get out over his front side, which had a flattening effect on his stuff and resulted in an elevated--and out-of-character--home run rate of 1.1 per nine innings at high Class A Winston-Salem. Dunning's slider and changeup, both thrown in the low to mid-80s, have at least above-average potential. To maintain consistency and crispness on his pitches, he needs to stay tall through his delivery.

The Future: Dunning will likely join Alec Hansen atop a talented rotation at Double-A Birmingham in 2018. With three quality pitches and a clean, repeatable delivery, Dunning has mid-rotation potential.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/ ... 9Y7A3Lf.99
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

5. Cedric Mullins, OF

DOB: 10/1/1994
Height/Weight: 5’8”, 175 lbs.
Bats/Throws: S/L
Drafted/Acquired: Drafted in the 13th round of the 2015 draft from Campbell University (Buies Creek, NC); signed for $100,000.
Previous Ranking(s): N/A
2017 Stats: .265/.319/.460, 13 HR, 9 SB in 76 games at Double-A Bowie

The Good: Mullins was a buzzy player coming out of camp, and got a surprise aggressive assignment to Double-A to open the season. As you’d expect for his size, he’s a plus-plus runner home-to-first. As you might not expect, the offensive profile is somewhat driven by average to slightly-above power, especially from the left side of the plate. He’s a fine defender capable of playing all three outfield positions, and does possess a lot of the skills you typically associate with smaller players, like good bunting skills and sharp instincts on the field. Toss in a sweet-looking lefty swing with above-average bat speed, and this starts sounding like a player.

The Bad: He’s been consistently impotent with the bat from the right side while crushing it from the left side, and multiple looks in our database over his career have noted that his hitting and power just profiles better as a left-handed hitter. We generally don’t suggest switch-hitters give up a side, but it’s unusual to see a “natural” lefty continue to switch-hit if he’s this bad right-handed. He was plagued by hamstring problems for much of the 2017 regular season, and didn’t run as much or quite as well as he had in the past. And, of course, he’s tiny.

The Role:

OFP 55 – Good starting center fielder that has flu-like symptoms a lot against David Price
Likely 45 – Nifty fourth outfielder that does a bit of everything off the bench

The Risks: He might be best suited for a super-platoon role, where he could see a healthy amount of right-handed pitching at the top of the order and be a late-inning bench weapon on his off-days, but that role is easier to pull off in simulation leagues than in reality. As with Hays, there are more than enough secondary skills here for a long, long career as a reserve or platoon player if things don’t all come together. –Jarrett Seidler

Major league ETA: Late 2018

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: The difference between Mullins being an interesting fantasy outfielder and a really interesting fantasy outfielder is just how much of that power jump is due to a friendly environment in Bowie and how much is actually development of his in-game power. The glimpse of a 15-homer, 25-steal outfielder is there if he can just secure a starting role.

https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... nce-sisco/
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Post by Padres »

4. KYLE WRIGHT, RHP

BORN: Oct. 2, 1995
B-T: R-R | HT: 6-4 | WT: 220
DRAFTED: Vanderbilt, 2017 (1st round)
SIGNED BY: Dustin Evans
MINORS: 0-1, 2.65 ERA | 18 SO | 6 BB | 17 IP

TRACK RECORD: Wright traveled the typical Vanderbilt ace develop- ment track, going from dominating reliever as freshman to reliable starter as a sophomore and junior. The Braves went nearly $1.3 million over slot to sign Wright for $7 million as the fifth overall pick in 2017. He finished the year with six starts at high Class A Florida.

SCOUTING REPORT: Wright's plus-plus fastball ranges from 92-98 mph, with late life at its best to go with excellent angle. His command is better when he's pitching in the lower registers of his velocity range. Wright's curveball and slider both generate potential plus grades, but he often shows a knack for locating one or the other, depending on the day. His curveball is a low- 80s pitch with late break and good depth. His harder mid-80s slider has modest break but plenty of power. His mid-80s changeup is his fourth pitch for now but shows excellent fade and run when he's locked in.

THE FUTURE: Wright is still adjusting to the five-day schedule of pro ball, but in an organization that doesn't hesitate to challenge players, an Opening Day assignment to Double-A isn't out of the question. He has a chance to be a future top-of-the-rotation starter thanks to his varied repertoire, physicality and control.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/ ... 33ftzc4.99

4. Kyle Wright, RHP
DOB: 10/2/1995
Height/Weight: 6’4”, 200 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Acquired: Drafted 5th overall in the 2017 MLB Draft, Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN); signed for $7 million.
Previous Ranking(s): N/A
2017 Stats: 3.18 ERA, 1.97 DRA, 11 â…“ IP, 8 H, 4 BB, 10 K at High-A Florida
; 1.59 ERA, 2.08 DRA, 5 â…” IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 8 K at short-season Danville

The Good: Wright used one of the deeper arsenals in college baseball to dominate on Friday nights at Vanderbilt this year. He’s a typically polished Commodore product. He added velocity throughout his college career and now regularly bumps 95 and occasionally higher than that. He’ll also throw a slider and curve that both project as above-average major-league offerings. If you were designing an ideal starting pitching prospect he’d probably look a lot like Wright.

The Bad: You might associate the phrase “highest pitcher picked in the draft” with a little more stuff than Wright projects to have. His velocity wavered a bit at times this spring and his changeup will need to improve with pro instruction. His arm action allows him to get really good extension on his fastball, but it also gives me sympathy pains in my elbow when I see it. The effort in the arm action may limit the overall command profile to average.

The Role:

OFP 60–No. 3 starter
Likely 50–No. 4 starter

The Risks: Average (for a pitcher). Wright was a high first-round pick in part because he is very polished and should move quickly. But man that arm action gives me the heeby-jeebies.

Major league ETA: Late 2019

Bret Sayre’s Fantasy Take: There’s a lot of responsibility in dynasty leagues that comes with being the “top college arm in a draft class.” You’re expected to move quickly and have significant upside. Since Stephen Strasburg in 2009, that title has gone to Drew Pomeranz, Gerrit Cole, Mark Appel (twice), Carlos Rodon and Dillon Tate. Maybe that responsibility should be abdicated and replaced with the typical “let’s just hope he’s an SP3 and move on.”

https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... in-maitan/
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Re: 2018 White Sox Prospect Notes

Post by Padres »

Haven't posted about any of the kids on the farm recently so let's share some recent news ...

7. Jackson Tetreault, RHP, Nationals
Team: low Class A Hagerstown (South Atlantic)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 2-0, 1.29, 2 G, 2 GS, 14 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 15 SO.

The Scoop: Tetreault was a teammate of Cubs’ first round pick Brendon Little at State College of Florida JC last year. So far, he’s actually had a little easier adjustment to pro ball, as he’s shown flashes of dominance this year, including seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball against West Virginia on July 2. Tetreault has shown solid stuff all year (with a low-90s fastball) and reliable control. He’s walked more than two batters only once all season. (JJ)

11. Eli Morgan, RHP, Indians
Team: high Class A Lynchburg (Carolina)
Age: 22
Why He's Here: 2-0, 0.75, 2 G, 2 GS, 12 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 14 SO.

The Scoop: Morgan succeeds to an extent with deception and location, but it's impressive deception and location. Morgan's changeup is simply too good for Class A hitters, and it makes his 88-90 mph fastball just enough. It's fair to wonder if Morgan's excellent changeup will be as effective against more advanced hitters, but he does get a curveball over as well. His feel and command have allowed him to dominate so far, and there are scouts who think it will work well enough to get him to the majors. (JJ)

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... heet-7918/

Lord knows I can use some decent starting pitching ...
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Re: 2018 White Sox Prospect Notes

Post by Padres »

Yunior Severino, 2B, Twins
Rookie-level Elizabethton

Severino got $2.5 million from the Twins in addition to his $1.9 million bonus from the Braves. He’s hitting well with a .296/348/.457 slash line at Elizabethton and has moved almost exclusively from shortstop to second base. Most evaluators expect him to eventually end up at third base, where he has the bat to profile.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... ee-agents/

Good to see ...
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Re: 2018 White Sox Prospect Notes

Post by Padres »

Nice debut …

Cedric Mullins- OF - Orioles

Cedric Mullins impressed in his major league debut Friday against the Red Sox by going 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBI, and three runs scored.

It was a historic debut for Mullins, as he became the first player in franchise history with three hits in his major league debut. The 23-year-old had two doubles and a single. He knocked in a run with his first double in the second inning before plating another run with a single one inning later. Mullins, 23, batted .288/.346/.465 with 11 homers and 21 steals over 108 games this season between Double- and Triple-A. The Orioles have shifted Adam Jones over to right field to make room for Mullins, so it would appear that he could have a long leash as long as he produces. There's deep league fantasy appeal here.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/9586/cedric-mullins
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Re: 2018 White Sox Prospect Notes

Post by Padres »

4. Michael Chavis, 3B, Red Sox
Team: Double-A Portland (Eastern)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .560/.593/.880 (14-for-25), 7 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 1 BB, 7 SO, 1-for-2 SB

The Scoop: Chavis missed most of the season while serving a suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing substances, but he has gotten right back on the horse in Double-A. He’s swatted five homers, including a two-homer game on Aug. 9, in the 21 games since he’s been back. Even with the suspension, he’s one of the better prospect in a tapped-out Red Sox system. He’s also been splitting time between first and third base with fellow bopper Bobby Dalbec. (JN)

I see him fighting Welker for 3B, maybe the right side of a platoon at 1B with Bradley and/or DHing some ...

17. Luis Gonzalez, OF, White Sox
Team: High Class A Winston-Salem (Carolina)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .412/.500/.941 (7-for-17), 6 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 3 BB, 3 SO

The Scoop: Gonzalez was one of the top hitters in the western U.S. while at New Mexico and is showing the same advanced ability at the plate in his first full professional season. The White Sox’s third-round pick a year ago recorded a hit in all six games last week, pushing his slash line up to .302/.359/.501 on the season. Gonzalez’ long-term power potential was in question entering the season, but he’s answered those questions so far with 34 doubles, four triples and 13 home runs in 97 games. (KG)

Getting a lot of strong attention, plays all three OF positions well but has the arm for CF or RF ...

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... eet-81318/
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Re: 2018 White Sox Prospect Notes

Post by Padres »

Likely the IBC White Sox starting CF next season ...

The Call-Up: Cedric Mullins

Jarrett Seidler and Eddy Almaguer
August 13, 2018

The Situation: The Orioles are the worst team in baseball. Their longtime incumbent center fielder, Adam Jones, is on the backside of his peak, a pending free agent, and perhaps no longer a viable defensive center fielder. One of their top prospects, Cedric Mullins, is a center fielder more or less ready for The Show. Unlike their Canadian division mates, Baltimore is actually prioritizing player development here instead of service time manipulation, so they’ve brought Mullins up for a trial run.

Background: A 2015 13th-rounder out of Campbell University, Mullins put himself on the prospect map with a buzzy 2017 spring training. Although limited by hamstring problems during the following regular season, he still made the jump from Low-A to Double-A and excelled when healthy, establishing himself as more than a small slash-and-dash reserve outfield type prospect. Sent back to the Eastern League to start 2018, a healthy Mullins started using his speed again and blitzed the league in April and May, earning a quick promotion to Triple-A. We ranked Mullins 5th in Baltimore’s system entering this season, and he was a serious candidate for the midseason global top 50.

Scouting: Despite only being listed at 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, Mullins has developed into a well-rounded, all-around offensive and defensive prospect. He combines strong bat speed and barrel control from the left side of the plate, enough that he projects as an above-average hitter for average against right-handed hitting. He’s also another one of these compact hitters that’s developed some uppercut power on a muscular frame; seasonal home run totals in the teens with a goodly number of doubles and triples is a reasonable outcome here. Mullins has consistently clocked as a plus to plus-plus runner, and should steal bases regularly unless his hamstrings become a recurring problem. He projects to stay in center in the majors and might even excel there in range and glove, although he will be somewhat limited by a below-average arm.


The downside here stopping him from being a top global prospect is that he’s somewhat inexplicably a switch-hitter. Our internal reports across four seasons and three evaluators all make note that his right-handed swing is far, far behind his left-handed swing, and he’s consistently posted huge platoon splits for his entire professional career. He just doesn’t have enough bat speed from the starboard side, enough that it’s a detriment to the whole profile, and it’s a bit baffling that he’s never given lefties a go from his stronger side. Despite his speed, Mullins might be more of a middle-to-bottom of the order hitter given his low walk rates, and he might be a platoon player at that.

Immediate Big-League Future: It appears Mullins is ready to contribute, and it sure looks like Baltimore is prepared to give him a go for the rest of this season. He’s got a strong shot to establish himself for 2019 and beyond. —Jarrett Seidler

Fantasy Impact: Perhaps the most encouraging thing about Mullins’ 21 steals this season are that a third of them have come in the last month. This late in the season we know who’s running and who’s not so it’s hard to grab anyone from the wire who can make an impact. Mullins has the capacity to chip in two or three steals a week if he gets consistent playing time, which is a sizeable contribution. The switch-hitter isn’t punchless either and can hit a handful out of Camden before the season is over. Considering we’re headed toward the lowest stolen base total league-wide in the last decade, it’s hard to pass up on Mullins in deep leagues. Add in his stubbornness with strikeouts and the makings of a solid outfielder are here to bolster your team in the stretch run. —Eddy Almaguer

https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... e-orioles/
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Re: 2018 White Sox Prospect Notes

Post by Padres »

4. Moises Gomez, OF, Rays
Team: Low Class A Bowling Green (Midwest)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .333/.357/.889 (9-for-27), 6 R, 3 2B, 4 HR, 10 RBIs, 1 BB, 11 SO

The Scoop: The list of breakout prospects for the Rays this year is a long and varied one. Gomez hasn’t taken the steps forward this season that his teammate Ronaldo Hernandez has, but he’s still a tooled-up outfielder with power potential. Hernandez leads the league with 20 home runs, but after this week’s power binge, Gomez has climbed into the top 10 in the league. Gomez has to done down some his over-aggressiveness at the plate, but outfielders with plus power and above-average speed are hard to find. (JJ)

5. Michael Chavis, 3B, Red Sox
Team: Triple-A Pawtucket (International)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: .424/.441/.818 (14-for-33), 11 R, 4 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBIs, 9 SO

The Scoop: Chavis’ return from his half-season PED suspension has seen him go right back to slugging home run runs like the did last year. Chavis now has a 15-game hit streak that included home runs in his first two games after his promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket. Chavis now has nine home runs in only 40 games this season. (JJ)

10. Bobby Bradley, 1B, Indians
Team: Triple-A Columbus (International)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .429/.520/.714 (9-for-21) 4 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 4 BB, 5 SO

The Scoop: Yes, it’s a long season, but Bradley is a perfect example about how one truly awful month can weigh down a hitter. In April, Bradley hit a truly putrid .114/.202/.228. Ever since then, he’s been a model of consistency. He doesn’t hit for much average, but he has power (seven home runs in May, seven more in June, seven more in July and three so far this month) and he does draw enough walks to make up for some of his strikeouts and low average—he’s posted a .325-.345 OBP each of the last four months. But that awful April explains why Bradley is still hitting .228 with a .313 OBP despite his improved consistency over the past four months. Bradley is what he is. He has 26 home runs right now and has hit 23 or more in each of his four full pro seasons. (JJ)

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... eet-82718/
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Re: 2018 White Sox Prospect Notes

Post by Padres »

1.DJ Peters, OF, Dodgers
Team: Double-A Tulsa (Eastern)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .444/.484/1.074 (12-for-29), 8 R, 2 2B, 5 HR, 2 BB, 6 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Peters remains the same balance of pluses and minuses that he was going into last year, but he’s a lot higher profile now thanks to 55 home runs in two seasons. Peters hit 27 home runs in the California League in 2017. Thanks to his furious finish, he finished with 28 home runs in the Texas League in 2018. The rest of Peters’ season didn’t match his Cal League stint, as Peters walked less and hit for less average, but the power is still some of the best in the minors, and there aren’t many center fielders anywhere in pro ball who can crank 25-plus home runs in a season. (JJ)

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... heet-9418/
User avatar
Padres
Site Admin
Posts: 4382
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Wells, Maine
Name: Jim Berger

Re: 2018 White Sox Prospect Notes

Post by Padres »

The Call-Up: Kyle Wright

David Lee
September 7, 2018

The Situation: After a successful minor-league season between the top two levels of the system, Wright was called up to Atlanta when rosters expanded. His minor-league season ended at 138 innings and he’s expected to be in the Braves bullpen the rest of the way, perhaps with the occasional appearance like Sept. 4 when he threw his first two major-league innings and kept the Boston Red Sox scoreless.

The Background: Wright was selected fifth overall in the 2017 draft after being in the discussion for first overall. The Braves were understandably thrilled to see the Vanderbilt right-hander fall to no. 5, and he’s already knocking on the door to a major-league rotation spot after his first full season. He posted a 3.70 ERA with 105 strikeouts to 43 walks in 109 1/3 innings for Double-A Mississippi and capped his first full season at Triple-A Gwinnett with a 2.51 ERA, 28 strikeouts and eight walks in 28 2/3 innings. There may be no such thing as a guaranteed major leaguer out of the draft, but Wright was about as close as one can get.

Scouting Report: Wright simply gets the job done with an array of major-league-quality pitches, average command potential and the athleticism to repeat a delivery with rhythm and deception. His fastball should play to plus with the ability to hold 94 throughout a 100-pitch start. It ranges 92-96 with solid-average downhill plane, above-average life and some deceptive run. He can lose the pitch up at times to become hittable, but he knows how to pitch to weak contact to the quadrants, which combats occasionally inconsistent command. He has two variations of breaking balls between a downer curveball in the upper-70s that flashes plus and a downer slider in the low-80s that will be above-average. He shows feel for both and is confident in throwing both in any count. He also offers a changeup in the mid-80s that sits fringe-average and could become above-average with good arm speed and depth to the tumble.

Wright is that sneaky pitcher who doesn’t have eye-popping stuff but works quickly, knows how to attack hitters and has depth to his arsenal. You blink and he’s thrown seven innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts, and you wonder where the game went. There are occasional control hiccups, hence the 9 percent walk rate at Mississippi, but he knows how to work with it and limits it enough to remain effective. The frame isn’t imposing but is durable enough for a starter’s workload. There’s just a lot to like here.

Immediate Big League Future: The 22-year-old will likely stay in relief the rest of this season with the target of a 2019 rotation spot in Atlanta. He has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues and should be given every chance to earn a spot with the Braves out of spring training. He has the stuff and mindset to succeed in the majors right away, and he could sit atop the Braves rotation within a couple years. A mid-rotation grade is the easy fallback here. The ceiling is a no. 2.

https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... le-wright/

I believe this 17 draftee may be part of next year's IBC White Sox rotation!
Post Reply

Return to “Musings from Maine”