4. Fernando Romero, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 12/24/1994 (23)
2017 teams/levels played for: AA Chattanooga Lookouts
2017 Stats: 24 G, 23 GS, 125 IP, 3.53 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 8.3% BB, 22% K
Info: Romero was scouting by the Minnesota Twins at a tournament in Florida, where they signed him out of the Dominican Republic. He showed flashes of brilliance in 2012 and 2013 in rookie ball, but his elbow popped after 3 starts in low-A in 2014.
Romero missed the rest of 2014 and all of 2015 rehabbing his elbow and getting fully healthy before he could return. Romero had an incredible season in his return in 2016, posting a 1.89 ERA and 0.90 WHIP over 90 1/3 innings with a 15/90 BB/K ratio.
Romero has an incredible collection of pitches, featuring a fastball that reaches the upper 90s
Romero has an incredible collection of pitches, featuring a fastball that reaches the upper 90s, sitting 92-95 with hard and heavy sink on the pitch, generating a ton of ground balls and swing and miss both when he’s at his best.
Romero’s slider and change are both above-average pitches at their best, but he has to stay within himself and his delivery, which can be an issue at times as Romero stands just 6′ tall and uses every bit of his frame to generate his velocity, so getting off a touch can lead to the pitches flattening out and getting tough to control.
Romero has upside of a possible #2 starter or better if he can max out on everything, but his frame and effort have a very strong reliever vibe, albeit an elite relief arm if that is his future path.
He’s had success at the upper minors level in 2017, and he should open 2018 in AAA, but Romero’s future path is still one that’s in the air.
3. Nick Gordon, 2B/SS
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/24/1995 (22)
2017 teams/levels played for: AA Chattanooga Lookouts
2017 Stats: .270/.341/.408, 578 PA, 9 HR, 13 SB, 53/134 BB/K
Info: Gordon may be a perfect example of prospect fatigue. Gordon is not his brother. He’s not his dad. He’s not a guy who is going to put together elite fantasy baseball numbers or be an elite defensive shortstop.
Gordon is, however, stable and sure, a guy who has excellent gap power, with likely 10-15 home run power being his top end. He’s also a much better base runner than a base stealer with very good instincts once he is on the bases.
Gordon is not a guy who will ever blow anyone away with range at short, but he’s steady enough there that he could work there, and he certainly has sure enough hands that he could move to the other side of the keystone and make a very solid second baseman.
The ability Gordon has to make contact will certainly earn him plenty of chances, and at just 22 and up to AAA in 2018, Gordon should have a productive major league career ahead of him, even if he doesn’t end up a superstar, fantasy or otherwise.
Next: #1 and #2