Cost the Bucco’s 1.5 mil to sign this Mexican
76. Luis Heredia – RHP – Pirates – Age: 18 – Level: A – Another big time sleeper who could rank much higher in a year or to as he enters full season ball. Brings the heat and pitched very well in short season ball.
77. Nick Franklin – SS – Mariners – Age: 22 – Level: AAA – Not a huge Franklin fan. I think there’s a decent bust chance with him if he can’t make adjustments as a hitter in the bigs. Projects as a solid regular with above average pop for a SS. Best case scenario could be a Jed Lowrie type player.
78. Clayton Blackburn – RHP – Giants – Age: 20 – Level: A+ Doesn’t offer much projection but is built like a workhorse and has advanced command and control of four solid pitches. Projects as a consistent, durable, #3/#4 starter and seems like a pretty safe bet to reach his potential in my opinion. Still a few years away.
79. Allen Webster – RHP – Red Sox – Age: 23 – Level: AAA – Webster has a a plus sinker and a good breaking ball. If he develops much needed consistency from start to start, I could see him as a solid mid rotation guy in a couple years. Might end up a power reliever in the pen.
80. Eddie Rosario – 2B/OF – Twins – Age: 21 – Level: A+ Twins are attempting to make him an offense first 2B. If that doesn’t work, he’ll return to the OF where he projects as an above average regular but not a star that can hit .280 with 15 HR.
81. Dan Straily – RHP – Athletics – Age: 24 – Level: AAA – Feel good story as a 24th rounder out of Marshall. Straily has solid command of a 91-94 MPH fastball and three average secondaries. Plus pitch ability and deceptiveness should allow him to develop into a solid #3/#4 starter.
Could replace Mike Leake at some point this year
82. Tony Cingrani – LHP – Reds – Age: 23 – Level: AAA – Interesting case. Has a great fastball, deceptive delivery, plus command and has put up silly numbers as a starter in the minors. Weak secondaries lead many to think he fits better as a late inning reliever. If they make dramatic improvements, he could be a C.J. Wilson type starter down the road.
83. Kolten Wong – 2B – Cardinals – Age: 22 – Level: AAA – Im a Wong believer. I think as soon as this year, he could be a solid regular for the Cardinals. Doesn’t have sexy upside, but plays average defense at 2B, will post a great OBP, and can put out 10-15 HR.
84. James Paxton – LHP – Mariners – Age: 24 – Level: AAA – Needs to improve command and current secondaries don’t impress me. Long term I could see him peaking as a Jason Vargas type but I wouldn’t expect immediate success when he gets to the bigs.
85. Zach Lee – RHP – Dodgers Age: 21 – Level: AA – Big, athletic pitcher with good control of four average pitches. Has #3 starter upside. Former LSU QB recruit that took a 5 million bonus to sign.
86. Matt Davidson – 3B – Diamondbacks – Age: 22 – Level: AAA – Davidson is another guy without sexy upside, but could have a long career as a solid everyday 3B who hits around .250 – .260 with 20 – 25 HR. Needs to cut down K’s first.
Sometimes players with boring names get overlooked
87. Brad Miller – SS – Mariners – Age: 23 – Level: AA – Mariners – Miller is very underrated and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up better than Nick Franklin. Limited upside but plus makeup, a great feel for hitting, and can steal 20 bases.
88. Jake Marisnick – CF – Marlins – Age: 22 – Level: AA – Not big on Marisnick. Think he’s overrated. Plus defender in CF. Has great tools but questionable hitting ability could hold him back. Could end up the white version of Cameron Maybin.
89. Yordano Ventura – RHP – Royals – Age: 21 – Level: AA – Sleeper alert! Yordano brings a fastball that has touched upper 90’s. He doesn’t rank higher because he’s short and many think he might end up in the bullpen due to average secondaries. Young enough to improve that outlook.
90. Courtney Hawkins – OF – White Sox – Age: 19 – Level: A – Long way away but has tremendous raw power and major league athleticism. A boom or bust type.
91. Jarred Cosart – RHP – Astros – Age: 23 – Level: AAA – Durability concerns worry me but he has a tremendous sinking fastball/ slider combo and a decent change. Poor command may hold him back from starting but he has closer upside in the pen.
92. Wilmer Flores – 3B – Mets – Age: 21 – Level: AAA – Went from hugely overrated prospect a few years ago, to slightly underrated prospect now. He’s made big progress with the bat and is only 21. The question remains where he fits best defensively. Should be a solid regular but probably not a star.
93. Wily Peralta – RHP – Brewers – Age: 24 – MADE MLB ROSTER – Has great sinking fastball but lacks consistency with secondaries. Will pitch as the Brewers #5 starter. Reminds me of Ivan Nova of the Yankees.
94. Delino DeShields, Jr. – 2B – Astros – Age: 20 – Level: A+ Astros – Quietly stole over 100 bases in the minors last year. Has Eric Young upside but still far away from majors.
This year’s feel good story in the MLB. Could be in N.L ROY race
95. Evan Gattis – C – Braves – Age: 26 – MADE MLB ROSTER – I’m sold. The power is legitimate and I think he can hit enough for it to matter. A nice story. Very similar profile to Josh Willingham when he was a prospect. Like Willingham, I think he moves from C to LF or 1B.
96. Brandon Maurer – RHP – Mariners – Age: 22 – MADE MLB ROSTER – If Maurer can stay healthy, he has upside as a solid #3 starter. Long term, I think he fits better in the pen where he has closer upside with his mid 90’s fastball.
97. Daniel Corcino – RHP – Reds – Age: 22 – Level: AAA – Has the upside of a No. 3 starter with a low 90’s fastball and above average slider. However, there’s a good chance he ends up a setup reliever in the pen due to command issues and flyball tendencies.
98. Stefen Romero – 2B – Mariners – Age: 24 – Level: AAA – Hit the living crap out of the ball last year but gets knocked by scouts for his defensive limitations. I think he could surprise.
99. Joc Pederson – OF – Dodgers – Age: 21 – Level: AA – Young Joc doesn’t get much hype but is a great ballplayer who really makes the most of his solid but major league average tools. Wouldn’t be surprised if he has a better career than some of the outfielders ahead of him on this list.
100. Slade Heathcott – CF – Yankees – Age: 22 – Level: AA – Way to steal my last name, asshole. He would be a Yankees prospect. Very talented athlete but is injury prone. You’ll see clowns like Keith Law rank him as high as 57 but he’s too much of a boom or bust type for me. Barely made the list.
Bonus Prospect: Martin Perez – LHP – Rangers – Age: 22 – Level: AAA – An enigma. Once highly rated, his development has gone backwards the past few years. Shows flashes of a quality arsenal. Still has #2/#3 upside but is a project at the moment. May end up in the bullpen long term. Didn’t want to include him in Top 100 but didn’t want to put him in the HM section either. You could call him prospect No. 101
Slade's Top Orioles Prospects 