15. Francisco Mejia, C, Cleveland Indians
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/27/1995 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: Mejia gained national notoriety from a 50-game hitting streak in 2016, but he was known by many prospect hounds well before then, as he’s shown a cannon for an arm behind the plate for a number of seasons with the ability to contact the ball at a consistent rate as well.
He continued to hit in 2017, flashing more power than he’d shown previously while hitting in AA, making solid hard contact from both sides of the plate. He doesn’t walk a ton, but he also doesn’t strike out much either, with a contact-oriented approach at the plate.
The Indians tried Mejia at third base in 2017 due to his plus arm, and he’s far from a plus defender, but having the versatility to play both will allow him to get to the majors and stick as he’s still more arm than glove behind the plate and may need multiple years of work behind the plate yet, while his bat could be ready soon. Mejia will certainly play both positions in AAA this season and get some run in the majors this year at some point.
14. Sixto Sanchez, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/29/1998 (19)
Likely 2018 opening level: high-A
Info: The Phillies farm system boasts a wealth of Latin arms, but the best one was likely one of the cheapest, as Sanchez signed for just $35,000 out of the Dominican. He had a monster season in 2016 in the Gulf Coast League, and he followed that up with a big year in his first year of full-season ball.
Sixto’s 6′ stature scares some scouts, but watching him pitch, you’d never know that he’s one of the hardest throwers in the game, with a delivery that is as repeatable as it is smooth. From that delivery, he pops out mid-90s average fastballs, toppling the triple digit mark on occasion each start.
Sanchez also works with a change that flashes plus and a slider with good break but still a work in progress. Right now, Sixto’s plus command and control allows him to work primarily off of his fastball and keep his walk numbers miniscule.
While he has some time to get there, Sanchez is already one of the most exciting arms in the game and could be a front line starter in the end.
13. Mitch Keller, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 4/4/1996 (21)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: Asking around to scouts who had a chance to get to the AFL along with cover other areas nationally who their top pitcher they saw was usually led to Keller’s name being discussed. While he may not have had the most impressive start every time out, it seemed he was in that discussion for the best that each veteran scout had seen on the year.
Keller works with a fasatball that sits mid-90s and can touch 99, and he saw his command of the fastball begin to catch up to his control of the pitch in 2017. He works his fastball with a plus curve and a change that showed average to above-average in season but was the talk of nearly everyone who saw him in the AFL – positive or negative. The change showed so well it was notable or so average/bland that it was notable for those who saw him in Arizona.
Keller has frontline projection in his raw stuff due to his ability to pound the zone with the ball on top of the raw movement of his pitches. He will head back to AA after a brief exposure there in 2017 and could end up in AAA by the end of 2018.
12. Michael Kopech, RHP, Chicago White Sox
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 4/30/1996 (21)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: The hardest thrower in the minor leagues could be up for debate, but one of the leading candidates would certainly be Kopech. He has a legit triple digit fastball that the White Sox had Kopech pair with a two-seam sinking heater that came in in the upper 90s and seemed to help him with getting better spin on the four-seamer.
The 2017 season was Kopech’s first full year without major injury or suspension
Kopech works off of his heat with a slider and a nasty change that both play very well when his command and control is at its best, though he had moments where that was a definite struggle. The 2017 season was Kopech’s first full year without major injury or suspension, however, so inconsistency is not a surprise.
Kopech will hope to have a more level season of performances in 2018 in AAA, and if he could do that, he could end up in the majors by season’s end in the rotation.
11. Forrest Whitley, RHP, Houston Astros
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/15/1997 (20)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: A tall, thick righty, many felt Whitley might be a project, which led to him dropping down in the first round, but he dedicated himself to his conditioning, taking himself from significantly out of shape to a legit athlete on the mound, seeing his stuff tick up alongside.
Whitley has incredible raw stuff, with a fastball touching the upper 90s and a slider that can touch 90 as well with ridiculous movement and plane, and then he throws in a 80ish MPH curve with huge break to completely toy with hitters.
Whitley works with a cutter and change that are also at least average. He has certain frontline projection, and once he returns from a stimulant suspension to open the season, he will be playing in the upper minors.
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