MLB: 5 American League East prospects to watch for in 2020
As the 2020 MLB season approaches, these five budding stars in the American League East may make a big impact.
One of the more exciting storylines heading into each new MLB season is the anticipation of which top prospects make their big league debut. As Opening Day quickly approaches, it looks as if fans will get an opportunity to see plenty of young talent on display this year, including many of the game’s most elite prospects.
With MLB rosters expanding and a 60-game schedule in 2020 making each game that much more important in pursuit of a playoff spot, many teams could look to some of their top prospects to inject a boost into their major league rosters.
There’s also the growing list of major leaguers opting out, the higher risk for injuries as the season chugs along, and a possible increase of COVID-19 infections all possibly impacting how rosters will shake out over the next few weeks and months.
We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but for now we do know that baseball is scheduled to be played in the coming days and plenty of new faces will either be making their major league debuts at some point this season or becoming more impactful pieces after getting their first taste of the majors last year.
In a full 2020 season, American League East teams like the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles likely would have used the largest handful of prospects as they continue with their rebuilds and look to evaluate a long list of young talent.
We won’t see these teams go deep into their talent pool this year, but that doesn’t mean a number of highly anticipated prospects won’t be taking the field.
Here are five AL East prospects to get excited about as the season approaches, one from each organization.
Toronto’s Nate Pearson opened a lot of eyes at last year’s MLB Future’s Game.
Currently ranked as the top prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays system and the eighth-best prospect in baseball, RHP Nate Pearson should see significant time in the major leagues this year, joining a long list of exciting young players in Toronto, including the trio of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio.
With a recent injury to starter Chase Anderson putting his immediate future in a bit of limbo, the Blue Jays could turn to Pearson and plug him into the starting rotation to start the year. While Pearson is without a doubt one of the best pitchers on the roster, it’s more likely that Pearson spends a week or so in Buffalo before getting his call-up.
Service time manipulation is a point of contention right now, but the Blue Jays are sure to exercise this option with their top prospect.
Once Pearson is in the majors, AL East lineups better be on notice. Standing at 6-6 and 250 pounds, Pearson possesses one of the more powerful fastballs in baseball and is a true top of the rotation candidate with three other plus-pitches in his repertoire.
He saw action across three minor league levels in 2019 (A+/AA/AAA), going a combined 5-4 with a 2.30 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, .176 batting average against and 119 strikeouts across 101.2 innings pitched.
Will Brendan McKay become an impact two-player for the Tampa Bay Rays as he begins his MLB career?
The Tampa Bay Rays have a long list of intriguing prospects to choose from here, including the top overall prospect in baseball in Wander Franco, but LHP Brendan McKay provides the most immediate intrigue, and it’s not just because he’s a two-way player.
McKay cruised through the 2019 season on the mound in the minor leagues, going 6-0 with a 1.10 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, .165 average against, and 102 strikeouts in 73.2 innings across Double-A and Triple-A.
His success earned himself a call-up to the big leagues where he had mixed results. McKay made 13 appearances, posting a 2-4 record with a 5.14 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. He did, however, continue to pile up the strikeouts with 56 in 49 IP.
McKay also saw his first action at the plate as a major leaguer, going 2-10 with his first career home run.
The Rays are one of the best when it comes to creatively getting everything they can out a player and McKay should be no exception. With four average to above-average pitches and impeccable control, McKay is a high-quality arm with the potential to settle in nicely within Tampa’s starting rotation behind Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.
Ranked as the second-best prospect in Tampa’s system and 15th overall, McKay has been absent from summer camp, and with the Opening Day a week away, it doesn’t appear likely that McKay will be ready.
When he is back on the field for Tampa Bay, expect to see McKay used in a variety of different roles, especially in a 60-game season against a tough schedule.
Ryan Mountcastle will make his MLB debut at some point in 2020, hopefully.
Baltimore Orioles fans won’t see first baseman/outfielder Ryan Mountcastle make the Opening Day roster, but it won’t be long before the 2019 International League MVP is in the major leagues. Once the organization can secure that extra year of control, expect to see Mountcastle patrolling the outfield at Camden Yards shortly after.
Ranked as the #4 prospect in Baltimore’s system and #94 overall, Mountcastle hit .312 with a .871 OPS with the Norfolk Tides in 2019, adding a career-high 25 home runs and 35 doubles along the way.
Offensively, Mountcastle’s bat is major league ready. However, the Orioles need to find a home for him defensively. He started 2019 as a first baseman, his first experience at the position since turning pro, and while he performed well at the position, the Orioles moved him to left field to close out the season.
Since being added to the Orioles 60-man player pool, Mountcastle has been in left field for intrasquad scrimmages. With Trey Mancini out as he fights colon cancer, Anthony Santander recovering from COVID-19, and Dwight Smith Jr.missing in action, the Orioles need help in the outfield, which may come in the form of Mountcastle.
Since becoming a first-round pick of the Orioles in 2015, Mountcastle has posted a career minor league slash line of .295/.328/.471 with 70 home runs, 137 doubles, and 10 triples.
A few other top prospects to watch out for in Baltimore this season include 11th-ranked prospect LHP Keegan Akin (led the International League in strikeouts in 2019), outfielder Austin Hays (#5), and RHP Hunter Harvey (#12). Hays and Harvey were very impressive in their late-season call-ups last year and are locks for an Opening Day roster spot as they look to cement their place within the organization.
Bobby Dalbec has recovered from COVID-19 and is ready to make his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox.
It’s tough to look at the Boston Red Sox and the American League East and try and figure out where exactly this team fits. Are they a contender? Or should they continue moving pieces and begin a rebuild? If the pitching staff can pull something impressive off, Boston has the lineup to compete and they have a power-hitting prospect waiting in the wings who could provide a an offensive boost.
After contracting COVID-19, Bobby Dalbec has only recently returned to Red Sox camp, so a spot on the Opening Day 30-man roster may not happen, but Dalbec won’t be at Boston’s alternate sight for very long.
Dalbec’s ability to fill in at first and third base will call him into action should the injury bug bite this year and his powerful bat could be a game-changer if Boston finds themselves in the playoff picture later this summer.
In 135 games last season at the Double-A and Triple-A level, Dalbec hit just .239 but did compile 27 home runs and posted a .356 on-base percentage. He has a career .362 OBP since Boston used a fourth-round pick on him back in 2016 out of Arizona.
Dalbec currently ranks as the third-best prospect in Boston’s farm system behind infielders Jeter Downs (#1) and Triston Casas (#2).
Also, keep an eye out for RHP Tanner Houck. Houck reached AAA last season, working effectively as a reliever with his sinker/slider combo. However, Houck is still a rotation candidate for the Red Sox and if he can repeat his delivery and refine his changeup and/or curveball, Houck may have an opportunity to break into the rotation sooner rather than later.
Yankees prospect Clarke Schmidt has been impressive against MLB veterans during summer camp.
If you’re looking for a hot name on the rise, look no further than New York Yankees prospect pitcher Clarke Schmidt. The 24-year-old righty has made just three starts above the High-A level in the minor leagues, but he could end up becoming an X-factor for the Bronx Bombers in 2020.
In those three starts at the Double-A level, Schmidt struck out 19 and walked just one across 19 innings, going 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA and 0.79 WHIP with the Trenton Thunder. Ideally, Schmidt would have began the 2020 season in AA or AAA to continue to build his innings after logging only 114 since being drafted in 2017, but after his recent performances in intrasquad scrimmages, it’s going to be hard to keep Schmidt out of the rotation.
Schmidt ranks second among Yankees prospects on their Top 30 list (88th overall), is fully recovered from his 2017 Tommy John surgery (occurred one month before the draft), has three-plus pitches, including an impressive fastball with heavy run and sink, and is ready to contribute immediately.
A short season and veteran-heavy rotation will help keep Schmidt’s workload light, if called up to the active roster. But keep an eye on that rotation and their ability to hold up, even in a 60-game schedule. Regardless, Schmidt should make a big impact in 2020.
Next. Three players who will impact the MLB playoff race. dark
Don’t count out seeing another top pitching prospect in New York this season in Deivi Garcia. The Yankees third-ranked prospect owns an electric repertoire of pitches and could be used out of the bullpen where he should be highly effective in short outings.