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MLB Top Prospects: Call To The Pen’s top 150 prospects in baseball

By Benjamin Chase

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 26: A bat and glove sit in the Oakland Athletics dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 26: A bat and glove sit in the Oakland Athletics dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT /
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150. Chris Shaw, 1B, San Francisco

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/20/1993 (24)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: Shaw was the Giants’ selection in 2015 at 31st overall in the draft out of Boston College due to his impressive lefty power bat, and he’s produced power at every level, hitting 57 home runs over 303 minor league games to this point in his minor league career.

(Shaw has) produced power at every level

Shaw is limited defensively, a below-average outfielder and average first baseman, but his bat should offer power enough to have a major league career. His ability to manage the strike zone will determine what Shaw’s eventual role will be as he could be top-10 first baseman offensively with even above-average walk rates.

Shaw will open at AAA most likely, but it will be interesting to see how the Giants handle his powerful bat as the team desperately needs power, and starter Brandon Belt has not been providing it.

149. Erick Fedde, RHP, Washington Nationals

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 2/25/1993 (25)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: Anyone who saw that start against the Cubs knows exactly the kind of pitcher that Fedde can be. He works with a sinking fastball that sits in the low-90s, but works with incredible movement low in the zone, along with an elite slider and an impressive split-change.

However, the 9.39 ERA that Fedde sported in his three major league starts is not entirely surprising either, as Fedde lives off of his typically-plus control and command. However, when he sees that command and control slip, it’s usually to the loss of movement on his pitches, and his arsenal can be quite easily hit.

Fedde will likely open in AAA in 2018, but he could be one of the first arms that the Nationals call up in the season.

148. Jordan Hicks, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/6/1996 (21)
Likely 2018 opening level: high-A
Info: One of the most exciting arms in the entire Cardinals system, when he’s healthy, Hicks is absolutely electric on the mound. Able to touch triple digits, Hicks impresses with his ability to maintain upper-90s velocity deep into his starts. Hicks works with a power curve and a nasty mid-80s slider.

Due to his delivery that can get violent at times, Hicks struggles with his control and (more frequently) his command on the mound. With refinement on his command, he could be a guy to profile as an elite starter. Of course, with even a modicum of improvement, he could be a dominant force in the back of the bullpen.

With a big performance in the spring, Hicks could end up in AA, but he’s likely to open in high-A after less than 10 starts there in 2018, but with similar success to 2017, he’ll move up in a hurry to the upper minors.

147. D.J. Peters, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 12/12/1995 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: Peters strikes one of the most imposing presences at the plate of any hitter in all of baseball, yet has the athleticism to handle center field defensively as his 6’6″, 225 pound cut physique certainly has to make opposing pitchers uneasy on the mound.

While he has incredible power and flashes speed that is at least above average, Peters also has issues with swing and miss that is significant and could derail what is otherwise one of the most enticing tool sets to watch in minor league baseball. He should be fun to watch in AA to see how he adapts to upper-level hitting.

146. Logan Allen, LHP, San Diego Padres

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/23/1997 (20)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: The Padres acquired Allen from the Red Sox as part of the trade package for closer Craig Kimbrel, After missing most of 2016 due to elbow issues, Allen excelled on the mound in 2017. He displayed some inconsistency in the level of his performance, but that is to be expected with the time off he had in 2016.

At his best, he has a fastball that sits in the low- to mid-90s, peaking at 95-96 with a change that plays from above-average to plus. His curve is the pitch with the most inconsistency, but when it’s on, it’s certainly an above average pitch, with a chance to be a plus pitch as well.

Allen showed above-average control in 2017, but his command was inconsistent, and if he can continue to improve that while working at AA, he could move beyond his mid-rotation projection.

Next: #141-145

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