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Who will be the next MLB prospect to get called up?

By Benjamin Chase

May 5, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) smiles before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) smiles before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox

The only hitter below AAA on this list, Devers is currently assigned to the Red Sox AA team in Portland in the Eastern League. He’s posted a .333/.366/.590 line with five doubles and five home runs, posting a 4.88 percent walk rate and a 20.73 percent strikeout rate.

The low walk rate is something that is of concern, but Devers has always had an aggressive approach at the plate, yet his strikeout rate hasn’t gone through the roof, even though he’s not walking at a high rate.

After a 2016 where Devers spent much of the first two months of the season trying to get his batting average above .200 before finishing with a very good final line on the season due to a very impressive finish to the season, this early season success sets him up for a possible future boon in the walk and strikeout rates as he tends to get better as the year goes on.

Right now, Devers has minimal resistance to the major league job. Pablo Sandoval is the starting third baseman in Boston, but on top of being currently injured, he’s only hitting .213/.269/.377 on the season. Utility man Brock Holt is the typical fill in, and while he’s also on the DL, he’s struggling to hit as well, posting a .133/.316/.133 line this season.

Devers may not make his major league debut in May, but he could be an MLB player by the time the end of August comes.

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