85. Nolan Jones, 3B, Cleveland Indians
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/7/1998 (19)
Likely 2018 opening level: low-A
Info: Jones was a highly regarded high school hitter from Pennsylvania, but some lack of views on him in his senior year due to cold weather and concerns about his future defensive position led to him falling to the Indians in the second round. He struggled a bit out of the gate with the bat, but he more than made up for that in 2017.
Jones has a fluid left-handed swing that generates hard contact throughout the field. He has an excellent eye, but he waits out his pitch, and that will likely lead to inflated strikeout numbers because he is perhaps a bit too patient and finds himself often in deep counts.
Jones has worked on his skills at third base, but he still has more work to do, as he struggles some with his reaction time and coming forward on balls from the position, but his plus power and plus arm should play in a corner outfield spot if third base doesn’t work long-term.
84. Nate Pearson, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/20/1996 (21)
Likely 2018 opening level: low-A
Info: A big (6’6″, 240-250 pounds) righty, Pearson caught the scouting world’s attention with the JC of Central Florida last season when his fastball began ticking up and over the triple digit mark.
By the time draft time had come, he showed enough that the Blue Jays selected him with their second pick in the first round, #28 overall. He certainly didn’t disappoint in his pro debut.
Pearson works with a heavy fastball that sits 91-94 and can touch 97-98, though he’s run it up to 101 in bullpen work. He works with a power slider that can reach the upper 80s with late movement, which simply was not fair to hitters. His change showing improvement was also a positive sign. While he used it seldom, Pearson does spin a hard curve as well.
With that depth of repertoire and the frame he has, Pearson has a mid-rotation projection, but if he can get his change and/or his breakers to take another step forward, he could be a frontline sort of arm. He’ll spend 2018 in a full season league, whether that’s low-A or high-A will be interesting to see coming out of camp.
83. Adrian Morejon, LHP, San Diego Padres
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 2/27/1999 (19)
Likely 2018 opening level: high-A
Info: Considered one of the most well-rounded arms to ever come out of Cuba when he signed in 2016, Morejon signed for a Padres franchise record $11 million bonus. He’s not disappointed since, either, showing off both elite stuff and impressive mound presence for a teenager in his time on the hill thus far.
Morejon works with a fastball that works up to the mid-90s and sits in the low-90s with elite late movement. He uses two plus changes that can generate swing and miss and weak contact. His curve is of a high-spin variety, making it very difficult to barrel for hitters, but sometimes difficult for Morejon to command within the zone.
Morejon can get a bit ahead of himself in his lower half in his delivery, which usually leads to more issues with command than control, but he still pounds the zone even then. He’ll likely get a chance to earn his way to the upper minors as a teenager with an excellent 2018 performance.
82. Keston Hiura, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/2/1996 (21)
Likely 2018 opening level: high-A
Info: Hiura missed any time in the field in his draft season in college due to having a torn elbow ligament, but he was still able to hit, and he hit very, very well, enough to convince the Brewers to take him with the 9th overall selection in the 2017 draft.
Hiura has a natural quick stroke that is optimized for both power and contact, and he also has very good zone recognition. Some compared Hiura to Chicago Cubs IF/OF Ian Happ due to playing both infield and outfield in his collegiate time and not exactly being stellar at either.
Truly, Hiura’s batting ability will be what pushes him forward, and it sounds like the Brewers will try to keep him at second base for the time being.
81. Yadier Alvarez, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 3/7/1996 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: Alvarez was an amazing arm from Cuba with velocity that reached the upper 90s with ease, and he could snap off an upper 80s slider with nasty movement. However, his control was so bad that even with those pitches, he was unable to make the Cuban 18U national team. The Dodgers paid him a hefty sum to hopefully hone his command.
So far Alvarez’s incredible stuff is still untamed
So far Alvarez’s incredible stuff is still untamed. The Dodgers have worked with Alvarez to calm down his delivery to possibly work as a starter long-term. The results have not been promising so far, but the Dodgers have continued to push Alvarez through the system in spite of not showing advances in his raw stuff.
With even an average change and average control, he could be a dominant starter. His floor would be that of a dominant reliever. He’ll likely return to AA to hopefully hone in his command.
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