8. Matt Tabor, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/14/1998 (19)
2017 teams/levels played for: Arizona Rookie League Diamondbacks
2017 Stats: 4 GS, 4 2/3 IP, 1.93 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 0% BB, 39.1% K
Info: Tabor was a late riser up draft boards in 2017, with some helium as a possibility in the late first round. The Arizona Diamondbacks were quite happy to lock him down in the 3rd round.
A growth spurt aided in Tabor going from 5’11” to 6’2″ between his junior and senior seasons of high school, and that added size and muscle to his frame that came with the growth spurt took his fastball from sitting in the upper 80s and touching 93 to sitting 92-94 and touching 95-96 by the draft.
Tabor works with an easy, simple delivery that he can repeat that allows him to command and control well, and he shows advanced feel for manipulating his pitches for variation in movement and velocity both. He has a plus change that he can throw with multiple grips and keep arm deception with his fastball, allowing him to get plenty of swing and miss on the pitch.
He went from a hard curve in high school to a slider as a pro, and the pitch already as flashes of plus potential, and he did unleash a few of the curves in fall instructs, so it’s still a weapon in his pocket when he wants to use it.
Tabor’s advanced feel for adjusting his pitch grips and pace on the mound to throw off a hitter could allow him to move quickly, but he will likely build up pro innings in 2018, opening the season in Arizona Diamondbacks extended spring and heading out to a short-season affiliate after that.
7. Marcus Wilson, OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/15/1996 (21)
2017 teams/levels played for: low-A Kane County Cougars
2017 Stats: .295/.383/.446, 445 PA, 9 HR, 15 SB, 55/90 BB/K
Info: The Arizona Diamondbacks knew when they drafted Wilson out of high school in 2014 that he would be a “project”, likely taking time to develop, and he has been. In 2017, much of that work in complex leagues came to fruition as he showed out very well in full season ball.
(Wilson’s) batting average and on base were among the leaders in the Midwest League
Wilson’s overall stat line may not blow anyone away, as 9 home runs and 15 steals isn’t exactly the type of numbers to write home about, but his batting average and on base were among the leaders in the Midwest League, and for a project player to take such large steps with his plate discipline is extremely notable.
Offensively, Wilson has above-average raw power, though he had some nagging injuries in the second half that didn’t keep him out long but slowed him at the plate, so when viewing his season output, it’s notable that 8 of his 9 home runs came in the first half of the season before he was fighting through fatigue and injury on a nearly daily basis.
Defensively, Wilson has the arm to handle any outfield position, but he has the speed and instincts to handle center field right now, so that’s where he’ll stick until he outgrows the position.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have to be pleased with his first full season, and they’ll likely give Wilson a shot to enjoy the hitter-friendly California League with high-A Visalia to open 2018.
Next: #5 and #6