Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB top prospects show off in winter leagues

By Benjamin Chase

SURPRISE, AZ - NOVEMBER 03: AFL West All-Star, Vladimir Guerrero Jr #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats during the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SURPRISE, AZ - NOVEMBER 03: AFL West All-Star, Vladimir Guerrero Jr #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats during the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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MLB Top Prospects
WASHINGTON, D.C. – JULY 15: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the World Team looks on during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on Sunday, July 15, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Australian Baseball League

The 2018 National League Rookie of the Year Ronald Acuna used a dominant 2016-2017 season in the ABL to launch him into his dominant 2017 season that established him among MLB top prospects. After a number of fits and starts, Michael Gettys of the Padres organization is hoping to do the same, hitting .357/.367/.821 with 4 home runs in his first 8 games.

Part of the package that brought Corey Dickerson from Tampa Bay to Pittsburgh, Tristan Gray struggled in his first year in the Rays organization, with a .719 OPS in his first full season after being a 13th round pick of the Pirates in 2017. He’s been hitting very well in the early going in the ABL, posting a slash of .417/.571/.875 with 3 doubles, a triple, 2 home runs, and 2 steals over 8 games.

Dominican Winter League

Part of the rules of the Rule 5 deadline that recently passed that is underrated is that if a player is not protected, he is not able to be traded until the Rule 5 draft occurs. Jacob Webb of the Atlanta Braves could be a guy whose Dominican Winter League performance allows him to be a solid second or third piece of a trade. A power reliever, Webb has tossed 10 innings thus far in the DWL, with a 0.90 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 2/14 BB/K, while converting all 4 of his save chances.

Even though he’s no longer among MLB top prospects as he has too much major league time, Detroit Tigers lefty Daniel Norris missed a lot of 2018 due to injury, so he’s getting innings in the DWL. He has made 3 starts thus far, tossing 14 2/3 innings, with a 1.84 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a 4/12 BB/K ratio.

Williams Ramirez may not be a headline member of MLB top prospects, but after spending the year in the AA bullpen for the Twins, he is having a dominating performance in the DWL. He has not given up a single run yet in 8 2/3 innings, allowing only a single hit, with a 4/13 BB/K ratio.

The Baltimore Orioles selected Nestor Cortes in the Rule 5 draft in 2017, but he couldn’t stick on the 2018 roster, and he was returned to the New York Yankees. After a season spent mostly in AAA, Cortes is pitching in the DWL, and he’s been dominant, posting a 1.71 ERA and 0.86 WHIP over 42 innings thus far, with a 10/45 BB/K ratio.

Struggling to establish himself thus far in his minor league career, Pirates righty Tyler Eppler has found something special in the DWL. Typically fairly homer-prone, he’s allowed just one in 28 1/3 innings, posting a 3.18 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 4/25 BB/K ratio.

Needing to turn heads to earn a role in the crowded Padres outfield, Franmil Reyes is crushing the ball in the DWL, hitting .444/.510/.689 with 3 home runs in his first 13 games. His Padres org-mate Fernando Tatis, Jr. is already among MLB top prospects, and he could be showing he’s ready for big league at-bats in 2019 as he’s hitting .286/.412/.643 with 3 homers and 3 steals over his first 8 games.

Acquired as part of the Tommy Pham deal with the Rays, lefty Genesis Cabrera has wicked raw stuff that could be impactful for the Cardinals out of the bullpen, but he’s spent most of his minor league time in the rotation. He’s working in the bullpen in the DWL, making 14 appearances, tossing 9 2/3 innings, with a 1.86 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and a 2/13 BB/K ratio.

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