Call to the pen
Fansided

Baseball’s 50 Top Prospects: 20-11

By Benjamin Chase

Mar 23, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner (7) hits the ball in the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Space Coast Stadium. The Washington Nationals won 13-0. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner (7) hits the ball in the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Space Coast Stadium. The Washington Nationals won 13-0. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Mar 11, 2016; Kissimmee, FL, USA;Houston Astros first baseman A.J. Reed (80) hits a double to right center in the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2016; Kissimmee, FL, USA;Houston Astros first baseman A.J. Reed (80) hits a double to right center in the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

18. A.J. Reed, 1B, Houston Astros

The former Golden Spikes award winner was drafted in the 2nd round by the Houston Astros in 2014, and he’s moved quickly through their system. He’s a ginormous human being at 6’4 and 275 pounds, so he’s likely going to play first base or designated hitter, and that means he has to hit a lot to be a prospect…and hit a lot, he certainly has!

Coming into the season, Baseball America had Reed ranked as the #11 prospect in all of baseball, but MLB.com had him at #40 and Baseball Prospectus had him at #55. The lower rankings cited his limited position flexibility and his reliance on the long ball for his success as major knocks on Reed, along with an elevated strikeout rate due to his big swing.

This season, the Astros sent Reed to AAA Fresno, and some of those concerns proved true. While Reed hit for power, with 11 home runs, he hit .266 on the season, which was not that great, especially in a hitting league like the PCL. His strikeout rate has gone up 4% this season. The Astros called him up this week, but he’s struggled this week in his first exposure to the majors. Obviously that doesn’t mean he’s never going to produce, but it does highlight some of the concerns with Reed in spite of that monster power in his bat.

17. Jose Berrios, RHP, Minnesota Twins

The Twins drafted Berrios out of Puerto Rico in the first round of the 2012 draft. Many evaluators quickly realized that was possibly a steal in the draft as Berrios blew through both rookie leagues with a total 1.17 ERA. He spent a year in A-ball in 2013, but then he jumped all the way to AAA in 2014 and spent 2015 between AA and AAA at 21 years old, clocking a 2.87 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 38/175 BB/K ratio over 166 1/3 innings.

Coming into this season, Berrios was considered a very elite prospect, ranked #28 by Baseball America, #19 by MLB.com, and #17 by Baseball Prospectus. Berrios has a fastball that sits 93-95 and touches 97 along with a curve that sits around 81. His change is a definite elite pitch as well. Berrios is also considered an elite athlete on the mound.

The biggest issue for Berrios going forward will simply be his size. He’s listed at 6′ and 185 pounds, and that is quite accurate, and that small size throwing that hard just worries you about his long-term health. The Twins will be bringing Berrios back up again for the second half of the season, but there’s no rush with the major league team going nowhere in 2016.

Next: #16 & #15

Home/MLB News