FOUR FOR THE FUTURE
1Richard Urena, SS Opening day age: 21 Height/Weight: 6-foot, 185 lbs Bat/Throw: S/R Acquired: Signed in 2012 out of Dominican Republic for $725,000 2016 stats: .295/.335/.434, 8 HR, 9 SB in 127 games between High-A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire In brief: Urena’s story is that he does everything well but doesn’t really have a standout tool. He’s got some speed, a little bit of pop and can hold his own at short. Combining all that with the fact he’s already tasted Double-A as a 20-year-old makes Urena an interesting commodity, one that could arrive in Toronto quicker than expected if the need arises. ETA: 2018
2Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B/1B Opening day age: 18 Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 200 lbs Bat/Throw: R/R Acquired: Signed in 2015 out of Dominican Republic for $3.9 million 2016 stats: .271/.359/.449, 8 HR, 15 SB in 62 games at short-season Bluefield In brief: Everyone is familiar with the last name and the younger Vladdy even shows a hint of the swing-outof-your-shoes hack made famous by his father with the Montreal Expos. He proved the hype wasn’t off base last year with an impressive season as a 17-year-old, and some believe he could reach the majors by the time he’s 20. While he’s at third base currently, he may have to eventually slide across the diamond to first. ETA: 2019
3Joshua Palacios, OF Opening day age: 21 Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 193 lbs Bat/Throw: L/R Acquired: Drafted in the fourth round (132nd overall) in 2016 2016 stats: .330/.397/.426, 0 HR, 8 SB in 50 games at short-season Bluefield, Vancouver and Low-A Lansing In brief: He’s got MLB bloodlines — his uncle was a catcher with the Kansas City Royals — and he showed plate discipline and speed in his debut last year. Injuries set him back in his final season at Auburn, leaving room for more projection than most college outfielders. Where Palacios’s prospect stock goes from here depends on how the power develops and whether he can handle centre field.
ETA: 2019
4Bo Bichette, SS/3B Opening day age: 19 Height/Weight: 6-foot, 200 lbs Bat/Throw: R/R Acquired: Drafted in second round (66th overall) in 2016 2016 stats: .427/.451/.732, 4 HR, 3 SB in 22 games at short-season Bluefield In brief: The second kid of a former Major League slugger on this list, Bichette has oodles of power, just like his Blake Street Bomber dad, Dante, showed with the Colorado Rockies in the 1990s. Drafted in the second round last year, Bichette impressed immediately, but he’s considered raw and light years away. If it all comes together, he’ll be worth the wait. Or he may never sniff the majors. ETA: 2020