145. Alex Kirilloff, OF, Minnesota Twins
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/9/1997 (20)
Likely 2018 opening level: low-A
Info: After being drafted 15th overall in 2016 by the Twins, Kirilloff exploded onto the scene against players coming out of college, mostly 3-4 years his senior, winning the Appalachian League MVP in 2016. However, he began feeling elbow soreness in August 2016 and rested the winter, hoping things would get better with rest and recovery. Instead, he found out in spring training 2017 that he would require Tommy John surgery.
Kirilloff did not play at all in 2017, but his swing is as pure as could be asked for, and if he can return to that swing in his return to the field in 2018, he can end up jumping up to high-A at some point in the season.
One of the interesting things will be to see how he handles his return to the field defensively. Kirilloff received high marks for his play in the outfield in 2016, but if he is limited to just first base, that will put more pressure on his bat.
144. M.J. Melendez, C, Kansas City Royals
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/29/1998 (19)
Likely 2018 opening level: low-A
Info: Melendez learned well from his father who is a collegiate coach and has an impressive level of natural instinct for the game, likely due to that in-home experience. However, it’s what Melendez does behind that plate that had people drooling immediately in 2017 in just 30 games behind the dish. Melendez has outstanding athleticism behind the plate along with a plus alarm.
At the plate, Melendez also showed an impressive ability to approach a ball, putting a loft into many pitches over the course of his season, and taking plenty of walks. He did show some swing and miss, but he will have plenty of time to work that out as he moves up the system with defense being the biggest worry for him going forward.
Melendez’s ability to offer incredible defense already as a high school pick could allow him to open 2018 in low-A for the full season, but the Royals may choose to hold him back for extended spring before sending him to their low-A team, depending on how he shows this spring.
143. Colton Welker, 3B, Colorado Rockies
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/9/1997 (20)
Likely 2018 opening level: high-A
Info: Welker was a 4th round selection in 2016 out of Stoneman-Douglas High School in Florida (yes, that same high school), and Welker has done nothing but hit since his drafting.
Welker has done nothing but hit since his drafting
While the Rockies system can give some false hopes due to the hitting environments in the system, Welker was one who hit well at home for Asheville and also on the road, still hitting .302 on the road. Welker’s biggest question to answer at the plate will remain just how much power is in his right-handed swing. He certainly shows excellent gap power, but how that will translate to home run power remains to be seen.
Welker did show notable skill defensively at third base, flashing a plus arm and really making some impressive plays along the way. He will move up to high-A in 2018, and if he can continue his progress, he will be the next in a line of quality Rockies left-side infield prospects.
142. Harrison Bader, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 6/3/1994 (23)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: After an impressive career with the Florida Gators, the Cardinals selected Bader in the 3rd round in 2015. Bader immediately came out of the gate with impressive numbers, hitting .311 with 11 home runs and 17 stolen bases across two levels in his draft season.
Bader made his major league debut in 2017 and played 32 games at the level, but his struggles with the strike zone led to his demotion. The acquisition of Marcell Ozuna this winter and the emergence of Tommy Pham in 2017 will put Bader back in AAA in 2018, but he will certainly be the first guy to be called up, and he has the ability to offer good contact rates with a balance of power and speed. He does have an aggressive approach at the plate, however, leading to a career 6.8% walk rate and 23.8% strikeout rate over his minor league career thus far.
141. Sean Murphy, C, Oakland Athletics
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/10/1994 (23)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: Considered one of the best of a very deep collegiate catching class in the 2016 draft, the Athletics were happy to see Murphy still on the board in the 3rd round. He’s simply shown himself to be arguably the best defender of his entire class and to have a fairly potent bat as well.
This season in high-A, Murphy hit .297/.343/.527 with 9 home runs in 45 games before being bumped up to AA. One game after his promotion mentioned Murphy focusing so much with the increased stuff of the upper level pitchers that he was not focusing to the same level at the plate, though there were also some nagging injuries that weighed in as well. The latter gained more weight when Murphy hit .309 with a 10/7 BB/K during the Arizona Fall League after some time off.
Murphy’s elite defense should allow him to move quickly, feasibly even spending time in 2018 in Oakland. His bat may not come right away in the majors, but he has the ability to hit for average contact and above-average power down the road as well.
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