Group 2 - Thinned by Promotions
Brooklyn Kraken
The Kraken are rebooting after promotions to the big club the past couple seasons have graduated the top level of the systems talent. Outfielders Manuel Magot and Andrew Benintendi are now starting in Brooklyn, along with catcher J.T Realmuto who was promoted last season. The remaining talent falls mostly on the pitching side. Kyle Wright, Jack Flaherty and Joey Wentz all have mid to top of the rotation potential, while Jesus Luzardo is one of the hottest names in the minor leagues and may end up surpassing all of them. Viewed cautiously by many due to Tommy John surgery before he was drafted, Luzardo has rewarded the Brooklyn front office for their gamble by coming back strong. Poised and intelligent beyond his young age, Luzardo not only studies the art of pitching but has the stuff to back it up. Able to hit 97 on the radar gun with excellent command, and place his plus curveball in or out of the zone as he chooses, he has put up astounding strikeout numbers in his limited action to date. Attesting to his work ethic, he is also developing a change up that is already seen as above average and should give him a third plus pitch. First baseman Jake Bauers and outfielder Harrison Bader also have good chances of breaking in with the big club soon and securing prominent roles.
Top Prospects: 1. Kyle Wright (SP), 2. Jack Flaherty (SP), 3. Joey Wentz (SP), Jesus Luzardo (SP), 5. Jake Bauers (1B), 6. Harrison Bader (OF), 7. Wander Javier (SS)
Foothill Nomads
Foothill is the system hit the hardest by promotions. That is a good thing for the Nomads big league team, but it drops the system in the rankings significantly this year. Graduated from the system are Rafael Devers, Alex Bregman, Dylan Bundy, Dansby Swanson, Mike Clevinger, Yuli Gurriel, and Josh Hader. Left are some compelling lower level talents who could be the next wave for the Nomads. Estevan Florial leads that group after his breakout campaign of 2017. The toolsy outfielder began to translate his plus-plus speed and developing power into actual game time skills. The centerfielder has the ability to be a perennial All-Star type player. A group of talented shortstops include Andres Gimenez, Richard Urena, and Edmundo Sosa. All are defensively gifted, the question will be which one develops offensively. Righty Albert Abreu is the class of the pitching side of the ledger. Abreu’s fastball has ticked up at almost every level, reaching the high 90’s last season when he also hit 100+ on several occasions. His secondary offerings, a curve and change up, are both developing and have the potential to be above average pitches as well. A pair of offensive minded first baseman, Pavin Smith and Bobby Bradley, are chasing each other through the system, with Bradley showing the significant power advantage but Smith showing a much more rounded offensive profile. Bradley will need to learn to reign in his swings and misses and Smith will have to develop additional power and both are capable of doing just that. Both will be fine at 1B, although if either one needs to be moved to the outfield they will be stretched to be at least adequate.
Top Prospets: 1. Estevan Florial (OF), 2. Andres Gimenez (SS), 3. Albert Abreu (SP), 4. Isan Diaz (2B), 5. Pavin Smith (1B), 6. Bobby Bradley (1B)
Orange County Devils
Orange County’s system has been severely thinned out by promotions. Trea Turner, Elias Diaz, Scott Schebler, Jeimer Candelario, Bradley Zimmer and others have all been promoted to the OC, leaving the Devils farm fairly barren. Righty starter Chance Adams has the ability to crack the Devils major league rotation in short order. Owner of a mid 90’s fastball that can touch 98 and a plus slider, Adams just needs to refine his change up to reach his potential as a mid rotation or higher starting pitcher. He also needs to learn to trust his stuff more. He tends to nibble too much and even with excellent command, he ends up losing hitters or making too many pitches. When he refines his change up and learns to attack hitters with well above average stuff, there should be no stopping the 2015 draftee. Everybody is rooting for Balbino Fuenmayor to make it big, if for no other reason than to be able to say Balbino Fuenmayor as often as possible! The rest of the system is fairly non-descript, but that is not surprising considering just how many recent prospects from the system now call Orange County home. Knowing the Devils front office and player development staff, the organizations rebuild probably shouldn’t take too long.
Top Prospects: 1. Chance Adams (SP), 2. Wilkerman Garcia (SS), 3. Nick Kingham (SP), 4. Balbino Fuenmayor (1B)!