TOP 5 PROSPECTS
Excerpted from BaseballHQ.com’s 2020 Minor League Baseball Analyst. To order: https://www.baseballhq.com/mlba2020
Triston Casas, 1B: Casas has mammoth power. He hit 19 homers in 422 atbats in low Class A, third best in his league. The 19-year-old has an advanced eye with a chance to hit for a moderate batting average, though he strikes out in bunches. He’s a passable defender.
Bobby Dalbec, 3B: Dalbec, 24, is a slugger who led the organization with 27 home runs. He crushes fastballs to all fields and works counts to find quality pitches. He’ll swing and miss, but his power, patience and defense are a solid combination for future success.
Jarren Duran, OF: Duran led the organization in steals (46) and was second in batting average (.303) but cooled once promoted to Class AA. He knows the strike zone, hits hard line drives and has plus speed as his best tool. The 23-yearold could become a top-of-the-order hitter and should head to AAA.
Tanner Houck, RHP: Houck, 23, moved quickly despite mediocre results (4.01 ERA in 107.2 innings) at Class AA/ AAA. He gets plenty of ground balls with a sinking fastball and induces weak contact with a nasty slider but needs a better third pitch to stick in the rotation. He’ll return to AAA.
Jay Groome, LHP: Groome returned in August from Tommy John surgery but threw just four innings. He is expected to be at full health next season and head to Class A. The 21-year-old has a plus fastball/curveball combo, and while his changeup needs refinement, he could become an ace if his control improves.
KEY: e Full-timer
Pos SP SP SP SP RP CL SP RP
RP RP 5 Competition
Pitcher
Eduardo Rodriguez* Rick Porcello Chris Sale* David Price* Marcus Walden Brandon Workman Nathan Eovaldi Matt Barnes Hector Velazquez Ryan Brasier Colten Brewer Andrew Cashner Josh Taylor* Ryan Weber Brian Johnson*
Age W L 26 30 30 33 30 30 29 29 30 31 26 32 26 28
28 1 Up-and-coming t Backup & Injured