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MLB’s Top 125 Minor League Prospects: 101-125

By Benjamin Chase

Aug 27, 2016; Williamsport, PA, USA; A general view of some game balls during the game between the Asia-Pacific Region and Latin America Region at Howard J. Lamade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 27, 2016; Williamsport, PA, USA; A general view of some game balls during the game between the Asia-Pacific Region and Latin America Region at Howard J. Lamade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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125. Dillon Tate, RHP, New York Yankees, Yankees #9

Tate going to New York’s system was really a stroke of luck for his future career. Even if he’s going to eventually end up in the bullpen, he’s already regained velocity that was “lost” while with the Rangers, and he’s likely to see further improvement in 2017.

124. Tyler Beede, RHP, San Francisco Giants, Giants #2

Beede’s been able to work well in the Giants system on improving his consistency in his delivery, and that has helped him to get much better results out of his curve, which is the pitch that seems to suffer most when he gets off in his delivery. When he’s right, he generates a ton of weak contact and gets whiffs on his very solid fastball/change combination. The fastball/change combo is good enough to consider for the bullpen if he can’t keep the mechanics as a starter.

123. Raimel Tapia, OF, Colorado Rockies, Rockies #5

While there’s little for Tapia to show in the minor leagues at this point, the Rockies really don’t have a spot for him to play. Tapia’s a contact-driven hitter with solid speed, but probably won’t take a ton of walks, so probably not the ideal leadoff guy, and he’s most likely a corner outfielder defensively, so while he might be one of the best contact hitters in the minors, he’s tough to project right now with an odd blend of skills for a major league job.

122. Robert Stephenson, RHP, Cincinnati Reds, Reds #4

Stephenson is just 23 and still has a big fastball, but he’s shown issues really getting much else to work for him at the upper levels, especially the ability to get depth on his power curve. I’d wager Stephenson has another year or two that Cincinnati will work him as a starter before moving him to the bullpen, but he could be an elite reliever if he was moved into that role.

121. Josh Staumont, RHP, Kansas City Royals, Royals #2

Staumont came out of college with the loose motion that produced easy velocity in the upper 90s in short bursts. That has bumped up even further as a pro, sitting in the mid-90s and reaching 102 at his top end. He also uses a sinking fastball that is nearly impossible to square up. Staumont’s biggest issue has been location thus far, but his raw stuff is absolutely elite when he shows those bursts of excellent mechanics. If he cannot get the mechanics settled to allow his secondary pitches to play up, he could be an elite reliever, something the Royals have churned out in bunches recently.

Next: #116-120

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