TOP 5 PROSPECTS
Excerpted from BaseballHQ.com’s 2020 Minor League Baseball Analyst. To order: https://www.baseballhq.com/mlba2020
Brendan Rodgers, 2B/SS: Rodgers, 23, struggled in his major league debut and needed season-ending shoulder surgery in June. He blends above-average power with line-drive contact to all fields but is a free swinger who needs to get in better counts to flourish. He should get another shot in the majors once his rehab is complete.
Ryan Rolison, LHP: Rolison, 22, had a 4.87 ERA in 22 starts at high A in 2019. His hammer curveball with late bite is a plus, but his fastball is average and his changeup needs more reps. He has plus command, fills up the zone and could move up to Class AA.
Colton Welker, 3B: Welker, 22, has good bat speed and started tapping into his plus raw power with more fly-ball contact at Class AA in 2019. His thick frame isn’t conducive to stolen base value, but he has the arm strength to stick at third base. He should jump to Class AAA.
Sam Hilliard, OF: Hilliard, 25, had a strong major league debut in 2019, hitting .273 with seven home runs in 77 atbats. He runs well for his size and has plus raw power with a discerning eye at the plate, but his contact skills remain fringe average. He should enter 2020 on the opening-day roster.
Ryan Vilade, 3B: Vilade spent all year at high A and hit .303 with 12 home runs and 24 steals. Just 20, he is a patient hitter with good raw power and solid bat-toball ability and could provide sneaky stolen base value. The versatile infielder should graduate to Class AA next season.
Pos SP SP SP SP SP RP RP SP
RP RP CL
Pitcher
German Marquez Jon Gray Antonio Senzatela Kyle Freeland* Peter Lambert Bryan Shaw Carlos Estevez Jeff Hoffman Chad Bettis
Chi Chi Gonzalez Jairo Diaz Scott Oberg Wade Davis Jake McGee*
Age W L 24 125 27 11 8 24 11 11 26 3 11 22 3 7 31 3 2 26 2 2 26 2 6 30 1 6 27 2 6 28 6 4 29 6 1 33 1 6 32 0 2