MLB Top Prospects: the top 150 prospects in MLB for 2019
120. Peter Lambert, RHP, Colorado Rockies
Lambert is an excellent pitcher with a good array of pitches that could be the next guy to get to Colorado and find success after struggling his way up the hitter-friendly Rockies minor league system. He has excellent command and limits damage, reaching AAA at 21.
119. Michael Chavis, 3B, Boston Red Sox
Chavis had a big breakthrough in 2017 with 31 home runs, but then he ended up getting a PED suspension that delayed the start of his 2018 season until after July. He did hit well once he returned, but he’s continued to struggle defensively at third, making a position change likely in the near future, though at just 5’10”, he could be on the short side for first base.
118. Kyle Muller, LHP, Atlanta Braves
Yes, the Braves have another pitching prospect establishing himself on the national scene. It would not surprise at all if Muller ends up a top-100 guy on a consensus basis by midseason. The big Texas lefty jumped up both A-ball levels and put in a handful of starts in AA at 20. He’s got a mid-rotation projection, but he’s shown a lot in the last year that could allow him to potentially be even more.
117. Ryan McKenna, OF, Baltimore Orioles
The Arizona Fall League confirmed what anyone seeing McKenna in the Carolina League this year already knew – the kid can just flat hit. It’s doubtful that McKenna ever is an elite base stealer or hits for big home run numbers, but he is a guy who makes very good contact, gets on base, plays plus defense, and is an excellent base runner. He could move up to AAA this season and make a push for the top of the Orioles lineup by the end of 2019.
116. Luis Oviedo, RHP, Cleveland Indians
A great example of the recent tremendous work by the Cleveland scouting department in the international market, Oviedo is a long, lanky guy with incredible raw stuff that was able to put it together very well in the New York-Penn League in 2018. He’ll get his first shot at full-season ball in 2019, but with his stuff, he could potentially move quickly.
115. Khalil Lee, OF, Kansas City Royals
Incredibly gifted as an athlete, many thought Lee would go to college to play multiple sports, but instead he signed with the Royals after being a 3rd round pick. Lee has power, speed, defense, plate discipline, and youth all on his side, reaching AA in 2018 at just 20 years old, but he did struggle to make contact in AA and also in the Arizona Fall League. If he can even be a .260-.270 hitter, he could be a potential star for the Royals.
114. Brandon Marsh, OF, Los Angeles Angels
Marsh has ridiculous raw talent, and he pushed up to high-A last year in what was really his first full season after playing just short-season ball in 2017 after being a 2nd round pick in 2016. Marsh has the build of a fullback, but he can chase down anything in the outfield with at least plus, if not fringe double-plus, speed. The biggest issue for Marsh will be controlling the strike zone. In an effort to take more walks in 2018, he seemed to become passive at times and that led to plenty of strikeouts. Being more aggressive on prime pitches to hit early in the count could lead to a big leap up this list in 2019.
113. Brent Rooker, 1B, Minnesota Twins
One of the more entertaining Twitter follows in minor league baseball, Rooker certainly has slipped under the radar even of Twins evaluators, who seem to pass him over in consideration for prospects that could make a difference in 2019. His work in AA was perhaps expected, with 22 home runs and a ~.800 OPS at the plate, but to remember that this was in his first full season of pro ball at the AA level is an impressive thing to consider. He could push for big league time by the end of the year.
112. Heliot Ramos, OF, San Francisco Giants
Not many seem to want to knock Ramos for his struggles last year, and it is informative to remember that he was still younger than a number of those drafted in the 2018 draft while he was already in full-season ball, but he did show some big things to work on with a swing that definitely lengthened over the offseason between 2017 and 2018 and an overly expanded zone late in counts. With his raw power, and defensive abilities, he could be an elite right field profile down the road.
111. Evan White, 1B, Seattle Mariners
While he’s only played at first base in the minors to this point, White is one of those rare players that could handle center field as well as first base, a la Cody Bellinger. Unlike Bellinger, his contact ability and pounding the gaps are his trademarks on offense, potentially never hitting 20 home runs, but having the type of swing that could challenge for a batting title and hit 50 doubles.