140. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 1/28/1997 (21)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: Hayes seems to have fallen off for a number of evaluators due to his power numbers this season, but for a 20 year-old in the Florida State League, he was not terribly off, especially for a guy who stole 27 bases.
Hayes is not a guy who will likely offer big stolen base numbers down the road, but he has impressive bat control, keeping his strikeout rate around 15%. Hayes has natural gap power that could grow into more power as he ages and advances as well.
Defensively, Hayes has impressed with his hands and instincts at third base and should be a plus defender at the position as he moves toward the big leagues, getting to the upper minors in 2018.
139. Mark Vientos, 3B, New York Mets
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 12/11/1999 (18)
Likely 2018 opening level: low-A
Info: One of the highest-regarded pure hitters in the high school draft class over the summer showcase circuit, Vientos struggled through his spring with inconsistent performances at the plate, leading to him falling to the 2nd round.
The Mets were happy to jump on Vientos in the 2nd round, and he showed well defensively at both short and third base, though his likely home will be third base with his above average arm and big 6’4″ frame. Vientos will get to push forward to full-season ball next season, and he has the chance to be a really special one for the Mets and to leap up this list in 2018.
138. Kyle Lewis, OF, Seattle Mariners
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/13/1996 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: An excellent college power hitter who was one of the top prospects coming into the 2016 draft, Lewis began falling down draft boards as he met with teams for interviews and medicals, falling from a top 2-3 pick to #11 overall. He came out like gang busters in short-season ball in his draft season before completely shredding his knee.
Lewis was only able to play 49 games in 2017 and got 2 games into the Arizona Fall League, he left due to issues in that same knee he injured in 2016. Hoping for a chance to return strong in 2018, Lewis ended up needing a knee scope already in spring training, and he could miss up to a month of the season already.
He’s already heading down a road that could lead to promise unfulfilled due to injury, so here’s hoping he can get on the field and show us something in 2018. The Mariners system needs something positive!
137. Beau Burrows, RHP, Detroit Tigers
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/18/1996 (21)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: Burrows has been pushing hard through levels since the Tigers selected the Texas righty with the 22nd overall selection in the 2015 draft. He spent his 2016 season at low-A and in 2017, he split his year between high-A and AA.
Burrows’ fastball is so elite that he was able to blow through high-A
Burrows hit a bit of a wall once he got to AA due to less developed offspeed stuff, but Burrows’ fastball is so elite that he was able to blow through high-A nearly on its strength alone. The fastball runs in the mid-90s, but it has elite spin rate and “rise”.
Burrows needs to polish his secondary stuff to ensure he can remain in the rotation going forward, with a curve, slider, and change in the offering, but none of them above average. He does have an easy delivery that allows him to stay consistent in his arm slot if he can get the feel on the pitches down. Burrows will return to AA to open 2018 and if he can show improvement on his offspeed stuff, he could really move quickly to the big league rotation.
136. Ryan Castellani, RHP, Colorado Rockies
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 4/1/1996 (21)
Likely 2018 opening level: AAA
Info: Castellani was selected out of high school in Arizona in 2014 and the Rockies eased him into a heavy workload, but once he was allowed to handle more innings, he’s been a guy to take the ball deep each time out, tossing 157 innings in 2017.
Castellani may not have elite, frontline stuff, with a fastball that has plenty of sink and peaks at 97 along with a hard, biting slider. He mixes in a change that is more effective based on location than on action, and he sequences all his pitches well to get deep into games.
Built durable and with easy mechanics, Castellani is built to be a durable #3/4 type that saves a bullpen, and he could be doing that soon for the Rockies as he’ll open 2018 in AAA.
Next: #131-135