MLB Top 125 Prospects: 75-51
70. Riley Pint, RHP, Colorado Rockies, Rockies #2
Pint was a guy who was known nationally even before the draft as he was being profiled by Jeff Passan for his book “The Arm” (a great read, by the way, if you haven’t had a chance). He is an excellent athlete that played basketball until his senior year along with baseball and can run his fastball into triple digits, which got plenty of attention. He was widely considered the top right-handed high school arm in the 2016 draft, and he fit the recent mold of Rockies pitchers, along with Jeff Hoffman, acquired from the Blue Jays, and Jon Gray – flame throwing pitchers with excellent secondary stuff who hope to beat the thin Colorado air with pure stuff. He has been noted to get excitable and get off with his command due to overthrowing more than an issue with his mechanics, which tend to be very solid overall.
69. Blake Rutherford, OF, New York Yankees, Yankees #4
Rutherford came into the 2016 high school season as one of the more highly-regarded high school hitters, but a fairly stagnant season along with his advanced age (he’s older than a number of guys who were drafted in 2015 out of high school) dropped him down many draft boards. The Yankees were glad to pick him up in the middle of the first round, and they saw excellent production from Rutherford a short time. He was able to move up to advanced rookie level and continue to hit. He’s already at his physical projection, so he’ll be expected to move quickly, and he’s likely a left field only player going forward, so he’ll have to hit at a high level to continue showing well, but so far, so good on both accounts.
68. Sean Reid-Foley, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays, Blue Jays #3
Reid-Foley was one of those “helium” prospects we hear about every draft season, a guy who was rising late in the process, going from nearly off the board coming into the summer showcase season before his senior season to a 2nd round selection. He has a unique delivery that has some concerned he may end up in the bullpen, but he does repeat it very well with excellent athleticism. He has a four pitch mix, though he seldom uses his curve ball. Reid-Foley took big steps forward as he built up innings this season and should see advanced minors in 2017.
67. David Paulino, RHP, Houston Astros, Astros #3
The big righty worked his way all the way to the majors in 2016, putting him on the radar for many people who were unaware of him before 2016. He had Tommy John surgery in 2014, and after spending 2015 as a sort of recovery season, he opened 2016 in AA and really did well moving up the line to the big leagues. He can touch triple digits with his fastball and has excellent plane on all of his pitches from his 6’7 frame, working low in the zone. He has the upside as an elite reliever, but he could work well as a mid-rotation starter with some upside as more in the rotation if he continues to produce as he adds more innings.
66. Mike Soroka, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Braves #9
Still younger than many of the high schoolers drafted in the 2016 draft, Soroka was a fixture the entire 2016 season in the rotation at full-season low-A. Soroka is not a guy with elite velocity by any means, but he has an elite ability to mix his pitches and definitely an exceptional ability to locate his pitches and miss barrels, as he’s allowed only 3 home runs in his 177 minor league innings so far. Soroka has tremendous mental make up and he is a guy who may not get the publicity of many pitchers who have a fastball with more velocity or breaking pitches that leave hitters weak in the knees, but he is a guy who could be a tremendous #2/3 starter due to his ability to stay ahead of hitters on the mound at such a young age.
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