30. Austin Meadows, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/3/1995 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: When Andrew McCutchen was traded to the Giants, it looked like the Pirates had finally opened up a spot for Meadows, who hadn’t performed all that stellar in 2017, but seemed to be knocking right at the door in the upper minors the past couple of seasons waiting his turn. Instead the team acquired Corey Dickerson, which likely means Meadows gets another turn in AAA to open the year.
Meadows once again failed to play a full season in 2017
Meadows jumped up the system as an elite high school hitter would be expected to do, but once he hit upper minors pitching, he’s really struggled to produce at a consistent level, showing definite flashes of ability but unable to consistently produce.
Part of that consistency issue has been injuries. Meadows once again failed to play a full season in 2017, tallying just 318 at bats in the minor leagues. If he can keep healthy and find his stroke more consistently, Meadows could be forcing some decisions in Pittsburgh come midseason.
29. Luiz Gohara, LHP, Atlanta Braves
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/31/1996 (21)
Likely 2018 opening level: MLB
Info: Gohara came to the Braves in an offseason trade from the Mariners, and the team did very well working with Gohara on his command and control to truly enhance his stuff, and that stuff is some of the most impressive in the entire game from the left side.
Gohara has a double plus fastball and slider both, with a fastball that can top triple digits and a slider that comes out mid-80s with wicked movement at the end, looking like a fastball out of hand. His change took big strides in 2017 along with his control, and it would not surprise with Atlanta’s coaching if he took another step forward in both in 2018.
Gohara is a favorite for a starting rotation spot out of camp with the Braves this season due to his excellent performance in the majors when he was up in 2017 and his incredible stuff.
28. Mike Soroka, RHP, Atlanta Braves
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/4/1997 (20)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: The first round selection out of Canada in 2015 has done nothing but impress his entire career, though he consistently gets nailed for not having “premium stuff”. However, the Braves have continued to push Soroka beyond what most his age should be able to handle, and he continually proves himself ahead of the curve.
Soroka may be classified as a three-pitch pitcher (four if you list his two-seamer and four-seamer as two pitches, which many don’t when discussing pitch velocities), he will give hitters in the range of 8-9 looks over the course of a game, which is why hitters struggle mightily to put barrel on anything he offers.
Soroka has been the talk of the first few weeks of spring training camp. Many feel he could provide a legit challenge for a starting rotation spot for the major league club due to his incredible makeup and ability to sequence hitters.
27. Willy Adames, SS, Tampa Bay Rays
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/2/1995 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: MLB
Info: Adames was able to handle the move to AAA in 2017 with relative ease, not blowing anyone away with numbers, but offering consistent production at the plate and a steady glove in the field.
The field has been Adames’ biggest question during his pro career as he was a tremendous defender when he signed out of the Dominican, but had filled out in such a way that some scouts worried that he would eventually move off of the position. Instead, Adames has shown that his instincts at the position should keep him there for some time even if he would lose a touch of range.
At the plate, Adames is a balanced hitter who doesn’t sell out for power, but also has a fairly aggressive approach in the box. He won’t ever win any speed titles, but he uses his wheels well on the bases.
With a couple of options on the left side of the infield, Adames may crack the Rays lineup at second base to open 2018, but his future is likely as the Rays starting shortstop at some point in the 2018 season and for years to come.
26. Willie Calhoun, 2B/OF, Texas Rangers
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/4/1994 (23)
Likely 2018 opening level: MLB
Info: Calhoun has had a crazy ride from a 17th round pick out of high school, was booted from Arizona for academics, and then dominated Yavapai JuCo before being taken in the 4th round in the 2015 draft. He’s now staring down a major league job with the Rangers in 2018.
Calhoun has shown power since college, leading all of JuCo in 2015 with 31 home runs. He’s continued to power balls out of the yard as a pro, coming full circle with 31 home runs in what very well will be his last minor league season in 2017 before a brief major league debut.
Defensively, Calhoun has always been a conundrum. Standing 5’8″ (on his tip toes), Calhoun isn’t exactly cut out for first base, though that’s where his bat probably plays best. He’s a below-average second baseman, but he did show some ability to handle left field at an adequate level, which may be all he needs.
Even if he’s a DH-only, Calhoun’s bat is special and should make an immediate impact for the Rangers in 2018.
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