4. Dustin Fowler, OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 12/29/1994 (23)
2017 teams/levels played for: AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, MLB New York Yankees
2017 Stats: Minors: .293/.329/.542, 313 PA, 13 HR, 13 SB, 15/63 BB/K
Info: Fowler was drafted out of Georgia high school in 2013 as a premium raw athlete by the Yankees, though worry that he would head to college caused him to fall to the 18th round.
The Yankees convinced Fowler to sign and have benefitted from his defense in center field in their system ever since. In his draft season and first season in 2014, Fowler did not provide a lot of consistency with his bat, but his glove was outstanding.
Fowler’s bat has caught up to his glove, giving him a legit shot at starting as a major league center fielder
Essentially from that point forward, Fowler’s bat has caught up to his glove, giving him a legit shot at starting as a major league center fielder. Fowler unleashed his speed in 2015, stealing 30 bases, and then also 7 more in the Arizona Fall League.
Then, Fowler exploded onto the scene in AA in 2016, hitting for a good average (.281), and also hitting 30 doubles, 15 triples, 12 home runs, and 25 stolen bases. He followed up with a similar line in 2017 in AAA before he was called up to the Yankees.
In his first game, Fowler was injured in a devastating collision as he slid to make a catch. In spite of that fact, the Oakland Athletics made him a part of the trade package they received for Sonny Gray.
Fowler will get a chance to compete for a starting outfield job in spring training, but his knee may not be completely ready quite yet. Once he’s 100% healthy, he has the ability to be a well rounded offensive player with elite defense that should play a good portion of his 2018 at the big league level.
3. Jorge Mateo, SS
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 6/23/1995 (22)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Tampa Yankees, AA Trenton Thunder, AA Midland RockHounds
2017 Stats: .267/.322/.459, 584 PA, 12 HR, 52 SB, 40/144 BB/K
Info: Mateo’s calling card since being signed in 2012 out of the Dominican Republic has been his incredible speed, a true 80 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale, one of only a handful in the game who truly earn that grade.
Mateo had seemingly hit a rut in the Florida State League in the Yankees system, stalling in his development defensively and on the basepaths, but when he was bumped up to AA in 2017, he made huge offensive gains in his whole package, including showing plenty of sting to his bat as well as wheels.
The long-term defensive home has always been in question with Mateo as his hands are not exactly smooth at shortstop, often due to his speed over running a play. He has a plus arm that would translate to any outfield position and the type of range that work at second base would be feasible as well.
His offensive ceiling has certainly taken a turn upward since getting to the upper minors as his power upside has begun to manifest. He will open 2018 in AAA and could spend time in the majors in 2018.
Next: #1 and #2