1B Jake Gatewood, Milwaukee Brewers
The biggest downside of Jake Gatewood as a Rule 5 Draft selection is the lead of every story recently, he tore his ACL in July. He is going to miss the bulk of the 2019 season, but could still be selected if a team wants to stash him.
Gatewood is the Brewers 10th ranked prospect largely due to his raw power. He signed out of high school after being a Competitive Balance Round A pick. His strikeout numbers were worrisome. They improved a little due to new contact lenses.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
In 94 games at the Double A level Gatewood hit 19 homers and posted a wRC+ of 112. The strikeout rate was still up near 30 percent.
To go along with his above average power, Gatewood has a plus arm. That is to be expected from a former high school shortstop. Since that time, the Brewer prospect has struggled to find a defensive home.
At the outset of his career, he was a shortstop. Since then he has moved to third and over to first. Gatewood as even dabbled in the outfield. It seems that his long term home is going to be at first, however.
It is going to be important for Gatewood to figure out how to make good contact if he is going to tap into his raw power at the major league level. Especially if his strikeout numbers do not improve.
If a team decides to take a chance on Gatewood they will have to stash him on the DL. However, if he does not reach 90 active days then he will just be under the same restrictions the following year.
The ability to select him in the Rule 5 Draft and stash him on the DL will make him an attractive option for any team that might want to take a chance on him, because they will not have to lose a roster spot for much of the season to hold onto Gatewood.