100. Anderson Espinoza, RHP, San Diego Padres
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 3/9/1998 (20)
Likely 2018 opening level: Out for 2018
Info: The trade that brought Espinoza to San Diego got general manager A.J. Preller into hot water, but his raw talent is certainly worth it. That said, he will be out most, if not all, of 2018 after Tommy John surgery in August of 2017, so he won’t likely be moving up on the prospect lists this offseason.
Espinoza’s received comparison to small-ish Latin righties with major stuff since being signed, from Pedro Martinez to the late Yordano Ventura. He can work up to the upper 90s with a fastball that has incredible late low-zone movement along with a plus change and a curve that is above-average.
His raw stuff merits this placement, and it will be interesting to see how Espinoza responds once he gets on the mound.
99. Carson Kelly, C, St. Louis Cardinals
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/14/1994 (23)
Likely 2018 opening level: MLB
Info: If Kelly was on any of probably 20 other teams in the major leagues, he’d be getting ready to start the season as a major league starting catcher. A transitioned third baseman, Kelly showed power as a high school player offensively, but the offensive profile has changed for Kelly some.
Kelly has developed into a guy who has an above-average contact ability
Kelly is a solid defensive catcher with more of a skill at blocking and receiving than at gunning down runners. He’s received very high marks with how he works with his pitchers.
Kelly has developed into a guy who has an above-average contact ability and good gap power with the ability to yank 15-20 home runs at his top end. If Kelly would be able to have a starting job, he could be at least a league-average catcher, but he’ll likely work as Yadier Molina’s backup for the next couple of seasons, barring a trade.
98. Mitchell White, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 12/28/1994 (23)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: White struggled in college to find the form he had as a high school underclassman before he went under the knife for Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers picked him in the 2nd round of the 2016 draft, and he’s been flashing impressive stuff when he’s been on the mound.
White works at 94-97 with an impressive array of movement that he can get by manipulating the pitch. He adds in a plus slider, an above-average curve, and an improving change to give him a lethal four-pitch mix.
While White has a delivery that is fluid and easy, he struggles with his release point at times, leading to his control and command wavering. He’ll return to AA in 2018 to hopefully establish that control and step forward to the future #2 that he could become.
97. Brian Anderson, 3B, Miami Marlins
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/19/1993 (24)
Likely 2018 opening level: MLB
Info: Anderson was the 3rd round selection of the Marlins out of the University of Arkansas in 2014. He’s moved up the system slowly, flashing power and playing quality defense at the hot corner.
Anderson plays above-average defense at the hot corner, using a plus arm to add to his quality reactions. He has above-average power and good control of the strike zone, and he could end up being a player who gives decent average along with 20+ home runs.
Anderson had an excellent finish to his season in AAA, and with the team going through a major rebuild, Anderson will have a starting role at the big league level in 2018.
96. Jesus Luzardo, LHP, Oakland Athletics
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/30/1997 (20)
Likely 2018 opening level: low-A
Info: A likely first round pick before Tommy John his senior season of high school, Luzardo fell to the Nationals in the 3rd round in 2016. Luzardo finally got back on the mound midway through the 2017 season.
Luzardo worked up to the upper 90s with his fastball, though he sat more around 92-94 with excellent late sink and wiggle. Luzardo has a plus change that he really got back to feeling out this season. Luzardo can break his breaking stuff in multiple ways.
While Luzardo saw his stuff return, the feel for it wasn’t perfect, and at times, he was seemingly aiming his pitches so he would not miss the zone, which is what led to a 5/48 BBK over 43 1/3 innings. Luzardo will work to build his innings up in 2018 in full-season ball.
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