MLB Top 125 Prospects: 75-51

65. Dominic Smith, 1B, New York Mets, Mets #2

Smith is one of those guys who has always looked the part of a big-time slugger, but his production never really got to that level until this season. Smith instead has always been a guy who could hit .300+ with an excellent quick swing and tremendous strike zone judgement that allows him to take plenty of walks and keep his strikeouts in check. Smith is also a very highly regarded defender at first base, with one scout I talked to calling him the best defensive first baseman in the minor leagues. One of the very common comparisons I got for what to expect for Smith was former Met John Olerud, which would be a very high-level offensive producer, if not your prototype 1B, perhaps.

64. Phil Bickford, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers, Brewers #5

Bickford was recently hit with a 50-game suspension for a “drug of abuse”, which has been widely reported to be marijuana, which is legal in his home state. My own feelings aside on the issue, he’d be higher on this list if not for the suspension. Bickford was acquired by the Brewers from the Giants, and many have dinged Bickford for not coming out and absolutely blowing away everyone with triple digit velocity along with elite breaking pitches. Scouts who saw Bickford once likely weren’t impressed with him. He’s a guy whose velocity readings rarely jump off the page, and often, his stuff just doesn’t stand out, but if you watch him work for a handful of starts, you begin to see his methodology, and how he works so well low in the zone, keeping hitters beating balls into the ground, until he unleashes a much-improved change that he can locate very well and get swing and miss. Bickford will have a 50-day suspension to serve to open the season, but it’s quite possible he then opens in AA, so he’ll get a chance to work against upper minors hitters in 2017.

63. Delvin Perez, SS, St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals #2

Perez came into the 2016 draft with a high reputation for his raw talent, which many thought could be as high as anyone else in the draft, but he then tested positive for a substance intended to mask PEDs during pre-draft tests. If you’d have asked me which organization would have been the best fit for Perez at that point, I think the Cardinals may have ranked near last on my list, but there they were, snapping him up with the 23rd overall selection. Perez has the ability to play shortstop going forward at a very high level, but if he is forced off the position, he has the arm and instincts to move to third or the range and hands to move to second. Perez has elite speed and a natural build that would suggest future power to come, and he flashed line drive power in his pro debut. The sky should truly be the limit for Perez.

62. Ian Anderson, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Braves #8

When Anderson suffered through weather issues and an oblique injury this spring, many evaluators didn’t get a chance to see how he was throwing until very late in the process, so he was able to be an under-the-radar guy that surprised many when he was selected #3 overall by the Braves. Many figured he was a “cheap” pick that would allow the Braves to sign more guys, and while he did sign for under slot value, he was also very highly regarded by the end of the season as many stated that if the draft happened in September, rather than June, Anderson could have leveraged his bargaining position better as one of the best pitchers available in the entire draft. Anderson has a fastball that already reaches the upper 90s, and many are very impressed with his change. He’s been discussed as having the possibility of three plus-level pitches, which would put him in the realm of front line starters.

61. Brady Aiken, LHP, Cleveland Indians, Indians #4

Aiken was the #1 overall selection in 2014 before the Astros found issues with his elbow and significantly reduced their offer to him, causing him to leave their offer on the table and instead attend community college for a season so he could return to the draft in 2015. Sadly, that elbow issue did prove to be real, as Aiken needed Tommy John and fell to the Indians at #17 overall due to having TJS. He spent the entire 2015 season recovering and was slow to get on the mound in 2016 as he was still coming back. Aiken has the making of three possible plus pitches when healthy, and he flashed those at times in 2016. We’ll see how he can progress in 2017.

Next: #56-60