2. Evan White, 1B/OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 4/26/1996 (21)
2017 teams/levels played for: short season A-ball Everett AquaSox
2017 Stats: .277/.345/.532, 55 PA, 3 HR, 1 SB, 6/6 BB/K
Info: Typically, a first baseman taken with the 17th overall pick would lead to eye rolls from many evaluators, who would then mention how much a first base prospect will have to hit just to have any value.
Cody Bellinger first showed it last season, and White could show it this season with the Seattle Mariners system after being their first round selection this past summer that a premium defender at first base with other batting skills could provide more than adequate value at the position.
It’s not that White won’t ever hit for power, but he has an advanced hit tool currently with excellent feel for the zone, which will give him value at the plate as a hitter who could put up seasons of .280/.350/.450 with a ton of doubles as that home run power comes as a pro hitter.
White also brings the unique value of being an above-average center fielder when he’s not playing first base, where he’s arguably a 70 or better glove on the 20-to-80 scouting scale already. That sort of defensive flexibility and athleticism is rare for a first baseman.
The Seattle Mariners will send White to full season ball in 2018, though whether it will be to low-A or to their high-A club will be the big question.
1. Kyle Lewis, OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/13/1995 (22)
2017 teams/levels played for: Arizona Rookie League Mariners, high-A Modesto Nuts
2017 Stats: .257/.329/.412, 213 PA, 7 HR, 3 SB, 19/52 BB/K
Info: Coming into the 2016 draft, many considered Lewis a lock for the top 3 picks of the draft – then started falling…and falling…until the Seattle Mariners grabbed him with the 11th overall selection. One of the questions many had was exactly what other teams saw in the medical reports or found out during interviews that may have scared them away.
Initially, it looked like those 10 teams were going to regret their decision as Lewis looked like a beast out of the gate in his draft season. After putting on a home run barrage in batting practice at the big league park in his introduction to fans, Lewis went out and pounded the Northwest League, hitting .299/.385/.530 in his first 30 games.
Then disaster struck. Lewis injured his knee – better put, he shredded his knee, ending his season in 2016 and making his 2017 quite a bit in question.
As a draft prospect, Lewis was an incredible athlete, capable of being a plus defender in right field, stealing bases, and offering a projection of a plus-plus power tool. Injuries have sapped away much of that lofty ceiling
Lewis didn’t make his season debut in 2017 until June, and after just two games, he headed back to extended spring and eventually re-started his year with the Arizona Rookie League team to get his feet under him.
He played out the year after mid-July in high-A, and he showed quality power in his time there, though he struggled with his contact rate, hitting .255, which was lower than expected for a guy who was supposed to be a pure hitter. He then left the Arizona Fall League after 2 games and just 9 plate appearances due to soreness in the same knee that he destroyed in 2016.
As a draft prospect, Lewis was an incredible athlete, capable of being a plus defender in right field, stealing bases, and offering a projection of a plus-plus power tool. Injuries have sapped away much of that lofty ceiling, leaving Lewis entering his age-22 season with many not knowing exactly what to think of him.
Lewis was considered the Seattle Mariners only top 100 prospect going into the 2018 season before news that came out on Monday that Lewis had arthroscopic surgery on his knee and would not be on the field until the end of April at the soonest. This is a huge blow to the system and could be a death nail in the future of Lewis as a contributor defensively. The Mariners may have to hope he can salvage value in his bat alone at this point.
Once healthy, Lewis should likely open 2018 in AA, but after not exactly wow-ing scouts at the high-A level, he’ll have work to do, and he’s already coming off of a major set back this spring.
Next: Newcomers to watch