55. Ryan Mountcastle, SS, Baltimore Orioles
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 2/18/1997 (21)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: Mountcastle was one of the most interesting infielders in the 2015 draft. He had the offensive upside to play for certain, but teams weren’t sure he would stick at shortstop, his arm is average at best, so third was likely out, and at 6’3″ and already 190ish at graduation, he was assumed to fill out too much to fit at second base.
(Mountcastle has) shown impressive wrists that should allow him to spray the ball throughout the field with authority
Mountcastle has done exactly what he was supposed to, and that’s hit. , and as he fills in more physically, he could see his above-average game power move up to plus.
Defensively, the concerns have been merited, and he may find that first base is his only defensive future home, which puts plenty of pressure on the bat. He’s also shown some definite need in his pitch and zone recognition.
Mountcastle will open 2018 likely back at AA, where he finished with a short stint in 2017, to iron out his defensive home and his pitch selection.
54. Monte Harrison, OF, Miami Marlins
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/10/1995 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: One of the elite athletes in the 2014 draft when the Brewers nabbed him in the 2nd round, Harrison has fought through some nasty injuries including a horrid ankle injury in his first full pro season. That has cost him truly developing the way he could have to this point, but he made up for lost time with a monster performance in 2017.
Harrison very possibly has the strongest outfield arm in the entire game. He likely will end up in right field, though he’s played quite a bit of center field thus far in his career due to his premier athleticism.
Harrison offers both above average power and plus speed with plus bat speed, though he can get a little pull-happy, which can lead to some strikeouts. He will work on that along with defining his defensive role as he moves to the upper minors in 2018, but with his rare athleticism, if he shows baseball moxy along with his raw talent, he could end up in Miami sooner rather than later.
53. Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Miami Marlins
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/7/1995 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: With the Cardinals, Alcantara was certain to be headed to AAA, and while that’s still the most likely destination, he certainly could push for a major league job straight out of spring with the depleted Marlins roster.
Alcantara had a mixed bag of a season in 2017, with his big time fastball getting tagged by hitters too frequently for a pitch that sits in the upper 90s and can touch 102. He pairs that fastball with a curve and a slider that often blend together, but are excellent when they’re more distinct. His change is still a work in progress.
While he’s definitely not a finished product, there’s enough polish on Alcantara in his raw stuff that the Marlins could risk the MLB call fairly early on in the season, though he could always end up becoming their next power-armed closer as well.
52. Scott Kingery, 2B, Philadelphia Phillies
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 4/29/1994 (23)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: Kingery could always hit, but never quite for the power that he showed off in 2017, clubbing 26 home runs between AA and AAA. Partner that with his plus defense, and Kingery is making his way up a lot of rankings lists this offseason.
Kingery’s short, balanced swing produces sharp contact throughout the field, though he can loft well to his pull side. He could end up topping out at around the range of home runs he hit in 2017, but he should add plenty of doubles and triples to compliment that as an offensive contributor up the middle with a very solid glove as well.
Outside of the power and defense, Kingery brings plus defense and excellent makeup and baseball instincts to the game as well. The Phillies will likely open with Kingery in AAA, but he could be up quickly in 2018.
51. Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 4/8/1999 (18)
Likely 2018 opening level: low-A
Info: Adell was one of the top position prospects in the draft in 2017, though he seemed to get pushed off a bit by some evaluators due to his competition level in Kentucky. No matter the level of competition, hitting 25 home runs and striking out just 7 times in a season is ridiculous!
The Angels see Adell as a future plus defender in right field, but he could stick in center for the time being with his natural athleticism and speed. He possesses above-average speed to go along with his plus power and plus arm.
How Adell handles pitch and zone recognition in his transition to full-season ball in 2018 could either launch him up the system or indicate a need for a more step-by-step approach.
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