120. Brandon Marsh, OF, Los Angeles Angels
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 12/18/1997 (20)
Likely 2018 opening level: low-A
Info: One of the best athletes available in the 2016 draft, Marsh was an elite football player and baseball player in high school in Georgia. Marsh signed late in the season and then had some injury issues keep him out in his draft season, though his work in instructs was impressive.
Getting a chance to get on the field, Marsh showed off his impressive skillset, but also showed that he is still raw right now. He was able to power out 13 doubles, 5 triples, and 4 home runs and use his plus speed to steal 10 bases while covering ground impressively in the outfield in both center field and right field.
Marsh did walk less than 5% of his plate appearances, so while his 18% strikeout rate was not terrible, striking out three times as often as he walked was concerning. He’ll get pushed up to full season ball to open 2018 and his athletic profile could jump in a hurry once he adds some baseball polish.
119. Jeren Kendall, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 2/4/1996 (22)
Likely 2018 opening level: low-A
Info: Kendall was an elite player in his first two seasons for Vanderbilt, leading to him being considered a top 10 prospect coming into his junior season. However, Kendall struggled in his drat season, showing a bunch more swing and miss than he had in any previous season, falling to the Dodgers at 23rd overall in the first round.
Kendall has elite tools defensively, with plus-plus speed allowing him to make highlight-reel plays with incredible range and a plus arm allowing him to gun down runners after he makes the catch. While Kendall utilizes his speed well on defense, on the bases, he struggles with consistent reads off of pitchers in base stealing.
Kendall will head to full season ball, and the biggest question for Kendall – his hit tool, will be tested in the Midwest League as he struggled in a short showing there in 2017.
118. Riley Pint, RHP, Colorado Rockies
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/6/1997 (20)
Likely 2018 opening level: high-A
Info: The focus of Jeff Passan’s “The Arm”, Pint was lighting up radar guns very early in his high school career, touching triple digits. He was able to cover up other issues due to his powerful arm in high school, but it’s catching up to him in pro ball.
Pint’s fastball is still lighting up radar guns
Pint’s fastball is still lighting up radar guns, sitting 95-98 with a top end of 102. He struggles with his command and control due to issues repeating his delivery, specifically his release point.
If he could control the fastball or his three secondary offerings, Pint would have the makeup of a future frontline starter, but he has struggled to adjust his mechanics to be more consistent with his control. He’ll move up to high-A in 2018, and the Rockies hope to eventually see him pick up better control along the way.
117. Hans Crouse, RHP, Texas Rangers
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/15/1998 (19)
Likely 2018 opening level: low-A
Info: Crouse was the talk of the 2016 summer showcases, with impressive performances and a “bulldog” mentality on the mound. A violent/unorthodox delivery led to a number of teams passing over Crouse until he was the second round pick of the Rangers.
Crouse showed out very well in the Arizona Rookie League after being drafted, showing a fastball in the upper 90s pounding the zone with excellent late life along with a plus slider that left hitters often shaking their heads.
Crouse’s competitiveness and mentality on the mound should serve him well as he reaches full season ball in 2018.
116. Jon Duplantier, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/11/1994 (23)
Likely 2018 opening level: AA
Info: Duplantier faced some injury issues and overuse concern at Rice, leading to him falling to the 3rd round, in spite of having first round stuff. His minor league numbers thus far have been incredible, with a minute 1.38 ERA over 137 innings.
Duplantier had an ERA this season that hasn’t been seen in a dozen seasons due to a balanced repertoire of pitches, with a sinking low-90s fastball, slider, curve, and change, all of which were above-average pitches and flashed plus in the way he sequenced them and located them.
The Diamondbacks will open Duplantier at the upper levels, and he should move quickly to his projection as a mid-rotation inning eater, but as he builds up arm strength, he could be even better.
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