115. Carson Fulmer, RHP, Chicago White Sox, White Sox #8
Fulmer has the makeup from pitching for an elite program at Vanderbilt that many figured he’d be a guy to move quickly to the majors, and he did just that, arriving in Chicago this season, though as a reliever. Fulmer’s violent delivery leads to struggles with command and control of his fastball that can run to 97 and a power curve. He’ll have work to do to remain a starter, but as a reliever, he would have a high ceiling if he did make that move.
114. Joe Jimenez, RHP, Detroit Tigers, Tigers #3
My own personal bias may be showing a bit here as I am very hesitant to rank any guy who has already moved full-time to the bullpen in a top list, so this is the only guy who has made that full time move that you will see on my list. That said, Jimenez may be the best pure relief prospect since Craig Kimbrel came up for the Atlanta Braves, and it would surprise no one if he took over the closer job in Detroit this season, allowing for a trade of current closer Francisco Rodriguez.
113. Alec Hansen, RHP, Chicago White Sox, White Sox #7
Hansen entered the season considered one of the elite prospects in the draft with a fastball that could touch triple digits and wicked offspeed stuff. However, as happens with guys at his size (6’7, 235), he got off bad in his mechanics this season, and he simply couldn’t get the ball over the plate early in the college season. He got things righted late, and it looks like the White Sox may have gotten a steal here as he looks like the guy who was in discussion as the #1 overall pick. Those mechanical concerns will be a consistent worry, but if he can maintain there, he’s got frontline starter potential.
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112. Robert Whalen, RHP, Seattle Mariners, Mariners #5
I get plenty of flack for my high view of Whalen, but if you have watched Whalen a few times, you’ll see what I have fallen in love with. Whalen is a guy who has four pitches that he alters his grip to truly throw in 6-8 different ways per game, giving hitters a difficult time ever truly knowing what pitch is coming their way. 2016 was Whalen’s first ever truly healthy year, and he did go deep into the season on innings, so he did wear down some in his major league trial, but he’s got the mental fortitude and pitch combinations to be able to be a very solid mid-rotation starter for quite some time.
111. Fernando Romero, RHP, Minnesota Twins, Twins #4
Romero was in his first season back from TJS in 2016, and he truly was elite in that first year, even though the Twins handled him quite cautiously. He has elite stuff that he controls very well in the zone. I heard comparisons of his change to that of former Twins Johan Santana and Francisco Liriano, who both had elite change ups when they were at their best. He has front line stuff if he can make it all the way back from his surgery and handle the jump to the upper minors in 2017.
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