40. Alec Hansen, RHP, Chicago White Sox
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/10/1994 (23)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: Coming into the 2016 season, Hansen was a legit candidate to challenge for the #1 overall pick, but he seemingly lost the plate completely for a few months at Oklahoma before recovering just before the end of the season enough to convince the White Sox to snap him up in the second round.
Hansen has more than regained his composure on the mound, and he has found ways to work around some still-present struggles with maintaining his delivery, not uncommon for a guy at his size (6’7″, 230-240 pounds). His imposing size on the mound helps him create excellent plane on his mid-90s fastball, but he also has some issues due to his long levers with consistent landing and release points, though he’s cleaned that up quite a bit.
Hansen was able to dominate A-ball levels with his fastball, hard curve, and his improving change. He’ll take his arsenal back to AA to open 2018, and he could finish the season in AAA, or even in Chicago.
39. Austin Hays, OF, Baltimore Orioles
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/5/1995 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: Few saw Hays doing what he did in 2017. Coming from Jacksonville as a 3rd round pick in 2016, he was a definite longshot to be the first member of his draft class to reach the major leagues.
Hays has excellent balance at the plate, even if he does have a bit of an aggressive approach. His quick bat and strong wrists allow the ball to jump off of his bat with authority, which is what he did in the minor leagues, nailing 32 home runs.
Hays fits a solid right field profile with an above-average arm and excellent instincts off the bat defensively. He should be able to offer enough offense to stick at the position, though his quick rise through the Orioles system could leave a few worried about his long-term approach issues.
38. Michel Baez, RHP, San Diego Padres
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 1/21/1996 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: high-A
Info: While everyone was tracking Adrian Morejon from the same Cuban pitching class (who also signed with the Padres), Baez may have been the gem of that country’s available arms in the 2016 international market.
Standing 6’8″, Baez gets impressive plane on his mid-90s fastball and can touch 98, giving him a double-plus fastball to lead off his arsenal, and he works three pitches along with it that each have flashes above-average, but are still not consistent at this point.
Even without that consistency in his offspeed stuff, Baez showed impressive command and control for a tall pitcher due to a very repeatable delivery. He should open in high-A this season, but he could find his way to the upper minors by the end of the campaign as he refines his secondary pitches.
37. Kyle Wright, RHP, Atlanta Braves
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/2/1995 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: While the projected opening day assignment is aggressive, the Braves have been aggressive with their young pitchers, and Wright is certainly much more advanced than the high school pitchers the team has drafted recently, so a push up to AA, especially when he’s as advanced as he is, would not be surprising for Wright.
a push up to AA, especially when he’s as advanced as he is, would not be surprising for Wright
Wright works with a fastball in the 92-95 range, topping out at 97-98, with tremendous late movement. His two breakers are both plus pitches, though not always at the same time, as he works with a hard curve and a slider. His change is his definite 4th pitch right now, but it has moments of flashing above-average or better, with very good late movement to mimic the fastball.
After finishing with a half-dozen starts at high-A, Wright will at least open at the level in 2018, and could push all the way to the upper minors for his first 2018 pitch of the season.
36. Royce Lewis, SS, Minnesota Twins
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 6/5/1999 (18)
Likely 2018 opening level: high-A
Info: The recent trade of Jermaine Palacios opens the opportunity for Lewis to open his 2018 at high-A, which is an incredible thing to consider, especially with so many wanting to complain or raise question with the Twins selecting Lewis over a number of other options. In the end, Lewis showed himself more than worthy of the #1 overall selection.
Lewis earned very high marks for his coachability in that time with the Twins, working extremely hard on his defense, earning true plus grades on his hands from most evaluators who saw him later in the season as he worked hard with coaches on his defensive skills in order to stick at shortstop.
Whether he stays at shortstop or finds himself moving to second or center field down the line, Lewis showed off his double plus speed, plus hit tool, and even flashed potential for above-average power as well. The true five-tool talent could end up being a guy to fly up the ranks in 2018.
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