4. Brendan McKay, 1B/LHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 12/18/95 (22)
2017 teams/levels played for: short-season A Hudson Valley Renegades
2017 Stats: Batting: .232/.349/.376, 149 PA, 4 HR, 2 SB, 21/33 BB/K; Pitching: 6 GS, 20 IP, 1.80 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 6.8% BB, 28.8% K
Info: In a rare year with two-way draft talents, McKay was the rare talent that had a legit ability to be a top draft prospect out of college both as a pitcher and a hitter. Frequently a top two-way player in a draft is a high school player, not a collegiate player, but not only was McKay doing it in college, he was a legit first-round talent both as a pitcher and as a first baseman.
The Rays announced McKay as a first baseman when he was drafted, but it came out within 24 hours of the selection that the Rays intended to utilize McKay both as a pitcher and a hitter.
On the mound, McKay works more with pitchability, sitting in the low-90s with his fastball, but using multiple pitches well, including a plus curveball, and showing typically plus control. He has used multiple variations of his change, and while each has been effective at the collegiate level, it has shown that he isn’t exactly comfortable with any one type of changeup.
not only was McKay (playing both ways) in college, he was a legit first-round talent both as a pitcher and as a first baseman
At the plate, McKay has a lot of legit comparison to another former two-way player that had a very good career as a first baseman, John Olerud. McKay has a very smooth swing path that generates plenty of sharp contact, often more line drives than home runs, but the power is definitely there.
McKay also showed advanced skills at the plate in his batting eye, with good pitch and zone recognition at the plate.
In his pro debut, McKay was allowed to do both and made a better impression on the mound than at the plate, but he still flashed impressive power at the plate and walked in 14% of his plate appearances, while keeping his strikeout rate to a reasonable 22.1%.
He’ll see full-season ball in 2018, and it will be interesting to see how the Rays handle him. He could skip over the Midwest League and go straight to the Florida State League to stay closer to the Tampa Bay Rays coaching staff to open the season.
3. Jesus Sanchez, OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/7/97 (20)
2017 teams/levels played for: low-A Bowling Green Hot Rods
2017 Stats: .305/.348/.478, 512 PA, 15 HR, 7 SB, 32/91 BB/K
Info: At 6’3″ and 210-220 pounds, Sanchez has the physical build that would make you think that he’s going to be an absolute power monster, but he has one of the most balanced skill sets in full season ball with above average to plus tools all across the board.
Sanchez played all of 2017 as a 19 year old in full-season ball, and he showed very well, driving in 82 runs in the middle of the Bowling Green lineup, a move from hitting near the top in 2016 in his stateside debut.
Sanchez profiles as a future big bopper type, but he’s a guy who really does remind me a ton of Ron Gant in his raw skill set with the ability to hit for power with tremendous raw speed and good instincts in his base running (though his base stealing still could use some coaching).
Defensively, Sanchez profiles as an elite right fielder, but he can handle center field right now with exceptional range for his size and very good initial instincts off the bat. His arm is more above-average than plus, but he does well getting behind his throws.
Sanchez will open in high-A most likely to open 2018, and if he can continue to show progress, he could find his way to the upper minors by the end of the season at just 20 years old.
Next: #1 and #2