TOP 5 PROSPECTS
Excerpted from BaseballHQ.com’s 2020 Minor League Baseball Analyst. To order: https://www.baseballhq.com/mlba2020
Forrest Whitley, RHP: A premium prospect entering 2019, Whitley didn’t live up to the hype with a 7.99 ERA over 592⁄3 minor league innings. With a fastball and changeup among the top offerings in the minors, Whitley, 22, still has the ingredients to be an ace.
Bryan Abreu, RHP: Abreu, 22, reached the majors despite not throwing an inning above Class A before 2019. He moved quickly due to a plus fastball and elite curveball, though he doesn’t throw his slider consistently for strikes. Abreu has a high walk rate but a high ceiling as well.
Abraham Toro, 3B: Toro led the Class AA Texas League in on-base percentage (.393) last year while setting a career high with 17 home runs. He offers above-average power and can drive the ball to all fields but has limited range defensively. .
Tyler Ivey, RHP: Ivey, 23, missed time with injuries and a suspension in 2019. His numbers (1.57 ERA in 46 innings at AA) look better than his stuff, and he might not have the durability to stick as a starter. Ivey’s curveball might be his best pitch, and he gets good movement from his fastball. He’ll return to AA.
Brandon Bielak, RHP: Bielak is a durable starter who put himself on the map with a 4.22 ERA between Class AA and AAA. He pitches to all parts of the zone and can mess with hitters’ timing. The 23-year-old mixes in a slider and curveball with his moving fastball and can be deceptive from his high arm slot.