95. Luis Ortiz, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/22/1995 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: Ortiz has impressive stuff, but he’s struggled to stay healthy since being a first round draft pick by the Rangers in 2014. Ortiz has a very large frame, bordering on too big for his 6’3″ body, and there is some worry that he’s not going to be able to take care of himself well enough to have a long-term future in the rotation.
With a mid-90s heavy fastball and a hard slider to pair, Ortiz could work well out of the bullpen, but he does also work in an average curve and a change that can flash above-average at times. His size and health have led to issues with a consistent delivery, however, so he’s not developed the polish on his last two pitches that he’ll need long-term.
Ortiz has found success enough to get him all the way to the AAA level, but it will be how he cares for himself that determines whether his next step is to the big leagues as a starter or a reliever.
94. Jake Bauers, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/6/1995 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: MLB
Info: Bauers came to the Rays system from the Padres in the Wil Myes deal, and he jumped two levels in his first season in the Rays system, leaping his way to the upper minors at just 19. The Rays let him spend full seasons at AA and AAA the last two seasons, splitting time between the corner outfield and first base.
Bauers will likely get every shot to walk out of spring training with the starting first base job with the Rays in 2018. He has a blend of power and speed along with enough bat speed that he should be able to hit for a solid average along with excellent gap power and double digit steals right away.
The question for Bauers will be how much home run power he will generate. He certainly can flash borderline plus power in the cage, but whether he will settle in more as an above-average power guy with 20ish home runs or really push forward with 25+.
93. Austin Beck, OF, Oakland Athletics
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/21/1998 (19)
Likely 2018 opening level: low-A
Info: One of the toughest guys to judge this spring was Beck, who was facing fairly weak competition a lot of the spring in high school after an injury kept him out of the summer showcase series against the top players in his draft class.
Beck has a naturally athletic build, and thankfully, his athleticism returned after injury, and he was able to play incredible baseball all spring, putting up numbers that dwarfed his regional competition.
Beck has incredible raw power and can flash plus speed as well
When he can tap into it, Beck has incredible raw power and can flash plus speed as well, though he’s likely to settle more into more of an above-average sort of guy down the road.
There is still some plate discipline issue to work through with Beck, but he is a good candidate to open 2018 in full-season ball.
92. Brusdar Graterol, RHP, Minnesota Twins
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/26/1998 (19)
Likely 2018 opening level: low-A
Info: Graterol came back from Tommy John surgery in 2017 with as much or more zip on his fastball as he’d shown before along with much more composure on the mound and a fully-developed physique, ready for the rigors of starting. His fastball eclipsed triple digits and sat up to 98 through 5 innings. He showed off a pair of brutal breaking pitches, with a high 80s slider and low 80s hard curve that both earned plenty of flailing swings. His change has wicked movement, but he still has work to do to harness that movement.
Graterol needs to put innings onto his arm, but there may not be a better chance in the Twins system at a true four-pitch ace-type pitcher than Graterol, in spite of some suddenly-impressive pitching depth in the system. He should be a guy to track this season as he could end up pushing the Twins’ plans with a dominant showing at Cedar Rapids to open the season.
91. Tanner Scott, LHP, Baltimore Orioles
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/22/1994 (23)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: Scott was originally drafted in the 6th round of the 2014 draft out of Howard College in Texas, and with a strong build, he’s lived up to his physical look with his performance on the mound thus far.
The Orioles used Scott primarily out of the bullpen his first two seasons in their system, hoping to build up arm strength, and in 2017, they found his likely future role in moving him into a multi=inning role where he started in the minor leagues, but was used for just a maximum of a few innings each start.
Scott has an incredible pair of pitches in his fastball that can run up and over triple digits in velocity, and he pairs that with a low-90s slider with wicked bite. Scott generates a ton of swing and miss and could be headed for a bullpen role in Baltimore straight out of spring this season.
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