150. Jake Rogers, C, Detroit Tigers
Acquired as part of the return last season when the Tigers traded Justin Verlander to Houston, Rogers has a very high floor as a catcher with some of the best all-around defensive skills in the entire minor leagues. Add in legit plus plower, and there’s a definite major league future here. Whether that future is as a regular or backup, and then what type of regular he could become, all depends on his ability to make contact after hitting .219 in AA in 2018 but also pounding out 17 home runs.
149. Tyler Nevin, 3B/1B, Colorado Rockies
Former first-round pick out of high school in 2015 that has taken his time developing, but had a breakthrough season in 2018 in the Cal League and finished off by going bonkers in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .426/.535/.593. Nevin has good glove work at first base and a penchant for putting the barrel to the ball, but a line drive approach that is more likely to tally plenty of doubles than a lot of home runs.
148. Elehuris Montero, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals
Still just a teenager for the 2018 season, Montero hit across both A-ball levels, showing impressive power. He may eventually work his way off third base as he fills out more, but the bat is certainly impressive.
147. Daulton Varsho, C, Arizona Diamondbacks
One of the more athletic backstops in the minors, Varsho fought through some injury in 2018, but it didn’t end up hampering his final line as he hit 12 home runs and stole 19 bases before stealing 8 bases in the Arizona Fall League. While his defense behind the plate is still not fully there, he’s a guy who could jump from AA to the majors quite reasonably in 2019.
146. Franklin Perez, RHP, Detroit Tigers
Only getting in 7 starts and 19 1/3 innings due to coming back from injury in 2018, Perez showed the same velocity as before surgery, but the movement wasn’t there, which is certainly something to watch. Still just 21 in 2019, he’ll have plenty of leash to work with in the Tigers system.
145. Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
A name that just seemed to keep rising up prep draft rankings all spring, Rodriguez is probably tapped out on his physical projection, but that’s perfectly fine, as he’s 6’5″ and 220 pounds. He showed excellent stuff in his 19 1/3 innings of pro debut and his ceiling is very, very high.
144. Dane Dunning, RHP, Chicago White Sox
Former Florida Gator has established himself as a workhorse arm, but struggled through some nicks and dings in 2018 that limited his innings. Already 24 this season and likely to start out at AA, he’s really only placed here due to that age, but he’s got a very real shot at a mid-rotation job in two years.
143. Tony Santillan, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
Big, hard-throwing righty put things together in 2018 the way the team had hoped he would since drafting him in 2015 out of high school in Texas. His high velocity may not show up in high strikeout numbers due to use of a heavy sinker that works in the upper 90s over a four-seamer, but his repertoire should advance quickly and could play well in Cincy’s home park.
142. J.B. Bukauskas, RHP, Houston Astros
One of the biggest worries that scouts had with Bukauskas coming out of the University of North Carolina wasnt necessarily his small stature, but the combination of that stature with a powerful delivery that seemed to use every ounce of his energy. He was only able to pitch 59 innings in 2018 due to injuries, and that will be a worry, but when he has been on the mound so far in his career, he’s been electric.
141. Daniel Lynch, LHP, Kansas City Royals
It’s wise to take some guys who add significant velocity with a grain of salt, and Lynch did that in his final year at Virginia, which could be why I have him still in this range after a dominant pro debut. He has the long (6’6″) frame to be a dynamic force from the left side if his new-found mid-90s velocity sticks.