35. Michael Chavis, 3B, Boston Red Sox
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/11/1995 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: Chavis had been playing primarily on a host of extremely bright natural talents since his drafting in 2014, which led to flashes of brilliance, but extreme inconsistency. He dedicated himself to his craft beginning in the offseason of 2016-2017, and the change was notable.
Chavis was able to drive the ball with authority, pounding out 31 home runs, but unlike many of the other minor leaguers with such numbers, he was able to utilize the whole field with his power, attacking pitchers with obvious utilization of his notes after games on how he had performed and ways he could improve his approach on certain pitches and types of pitchers.
Chavis also saw significant improvement on his defense, such that he was a fringe defensive third baseman and a questionable player defensively as his 5’10” frame would be a tough fit at first base. Instead, he’s made huge improvements at the hot corner to the point where some scouts I talked with graded him as above average, and I would have put his hands and reaction at a 50-55 myself in my views.
The next item to tackle for Chavis will be his walk rate, but he has a decent idea of the strike zone, and with the work ethic he showed in 2017, he has the chance to jump to AAA and possibly assert himself as the next major trade chip for the Red Sox and a future quality third baseman for someone.
34. Kolby Allard, LHP, Atlanta Braves
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/13/1997 (20)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: Pushed to AA in 2017 as a teenager, Allard responded by pitching well and sequencing very well, but he also exposed himself to some degree as well.
Allard was noted for his fastball that could get up into the mid-90s as an amateur, but he worked in the 88-91 range for a lot of his starts at AA. He did have some starts spent in the 91-93 range as well, but by far the majority I viewed were in the lower velocity range.
Allard’s velocity is not going to be what makes him a major leaguer, however. He has an elite change up, an easy plus pitch, and often working as a plus plus pitch. He has the ability to manipulate the action of his fastball, something he’s really seemed to take note of from fellow 2015 draftee Mike Soroka. His curve is his breaking pitch, and he struggled with some inconsistency in the pitch in 2017.
All that said, he put up 150 innings pitching all but the last two weeks of the 2017 season in the upper minors as a teenager. He has the projection of a consistent #3 starter that can tally a ton of innings and just a shade of increased consistency in his pitches or a tick more velocity would put him in the #2 conversation or better.
33. Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/25/1998 (19)
Likely 2018 opening level: high-A
Info: If not for an inordinate amount of injuries that cost Soto time in 2017, he very well may be in the top 10-15 of this list as his raw talent is simply that good, but he wasn’t able to show he could do it for a full season.
The sweet swinging lefty outfielder should hit for both average and power with his excellent swing and bat speed. He does bring a ton to the table as far as speed goes on the bases, but he does work well in the outfield as he has average to above-average speed once underway.
Soto did miss enough time that he could return to low-A, but the Nationals will likely see all they need to in spring training to send Soto to high-A to open the 2018 campaign.
32. Anthony Alford, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/20/1994 (23)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: While many were tracking his organization mate Bo Bichette’s run at .400 later into the season, many forget that Alford was called up to the big leagues in May with a batting average in that area before injury in the majors led to him missing some significant time and struggling some when he returned.
Alford still ended the year with productive numbers and continued to flash the incredible athleticism he has always possessed, but the injuries have become a bit of a worry due to their frequency, even though they’re not exactly related.
Alford plays an elite center field with ease of movement due to excellent reads off the bat. His offensive mindset is that of a top-of-the-order hitter, working counts and getting on base, and then using his blazing speed to create run-scoring opportunities once on base.
Alford will likely open the season in AAA, barring an incredible spring that wins him a major league job, and he should get the chance to push for a regular job in 2019.
31. Alex Reyes, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/29/1994 (23)
Likely 2018 opening level: MLB
Info: Reyes was on a path to stardom last spring, with the only decision left just whether he would be finding that path in the rotation or the bullpen in 2017. Then he popped his elbow and required Tommy John surgery, costing him the entire season.
Reyes will be interesting to track this spring
Before surgery, he had a fastball that averaged 97 and could climb up to 100+ without much problem. His fastball was paired with a hammer curve that would leave hitters completely frozen at the plate. He’d started working on a slider to compliment his above-average, but infrequently used change as his starting repertoire.
Reyes will be interesting to track this spring to follow how the team will be using him and how his stuff is returning on the mound, but if he can come all the way back, the Cardinals have themselves a special pitcher.
Next: #26-30