This article is part of our Farm Futures series.
After kicking off our tour of the minor leagues last week with a look at the high-end teenage position player talent in the Sally League, we will stick with the Low-A level and check in on how the notable hitters in the Midwest League are faring through almost two weeks. Remember that at this point in the season it's very difficult to draw conclusions from how a player is performing, but it is nonetheless very interesting to see how these specific players are handling what for many is their first crack at a full-season league. Each player's rank on the top 400 prospect rankings is noted.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B, Lansing (Blue Jays): .286/.444/.486, two HR, one 2B, 7:9 K:BB in 39 ABs.
Rank: 13
He is alone at the top among the prospects in this league, and that would be the case if he were struggling mightily, like most 18-year-old hitters do in their first tour of the Midwest League. However, unlike the other 18-year-olds in the league (all of whom he is younger than) and even most of the tooled up 19- and 20-year-olds, Guerrero is setting a blistering pace. Not only is he showing off all-fields power while walking more than he strikes out, but his .308 BABIP suggests he has not been noticeably fortunate on balls in play. It would be pretty shocking if his walk rate remained around 20 percent, but it certainly seems like Guerrero has the league's pitchers petrified on
After kicking off our tour of the minor leagues last week with a look at the high-end teenage position player talent in the Sally League, we will stick with the Low-A level and check in on how the notable hitters in the Midwest League are faring through almost two weeks. Remember that at this point in the season it's very difficult to draw conclusions from how a player is performing, but it is nonetheless very interesting to see how these specific players are handling what for many is their first crack at a full-season league. Each player's rank on the top 400 prospect rankings is noted.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B, Lansing (Blue Jays): .286/.444/.486, two HR, one 2B, 7:9 K:BB in 39 ABs.
Rank: 13
He is alone at the top among the prospects in this league, and that would be the case if he were struggling mightily, like most 18-year-old hitters do in their first tour of the Midwest League. However, unlike the other 18-year-olds in the league (all of whom he is younger than) and even most of the tooled up 19- and 20-year-olds, Guerrero is setting a blistering pace. Not only is he showing off all-fields power while walking more than he strikes out, but his .308 BABIP suggests he has not been noticeably fortunate on balls in play. It would be pretty shocking if his walk rate remained around 20 percent, but it certainly seems like Guerrero has the league's pitchers petrified on the mound, and he has the patience to take advantage of being pitched around while also having the elite raw power and bat speed to make them pay when they do have the courage to pitch in the zone.
Jesus Sanchez, OF, Bowling Green (Rays): .237/.293/.316, one 3B, one 2B, 8:3 K:BB in 38 ABs.
Rank: 87
Sanchez, like many of his Bowling Green teammates, is bursting with tools, and he boasts the best combination of power/speed projection and a solid approach in the Hot Rods' lineup. His bat should heat up with the weather, and he could finish the year as a top-50 prospect. This is a good time to point out that Isan Diaz slashed .232/.309/.370 in the first half in the Midwest League last year and went on to enter this season as a top-30 prospect. Teenagers are supposed to get off to slow starts in this league.
Taylor Trammell, OF, Dayton (Reds): .233/.327/.349, one HR, two 2B, 3-for-4 on SB attempts, 12:6 K:BB in 43 ABs.
Rank: 88
Trammell has actually been an above league average hitter thus far (103 wRC+), thanks largely to an impressive 12.2 percent walk rate. Most evaluators expect him to slowly grow into average or better power, but his on-base skills could allow him to hit at the top of a lineup when he still possesses plus speed, and then he could eventually mature into a No. 3 hitter when the power comes.
Jahmai Jones, OF, Burlington (Angels): .167/.205/.310, two HR, 3-for-4 on SB attempts, 9:2 K:BB in 42 ABs.
Rank: 89
Jones has been a victim of a .161 BABIP, but that has not prevented him from showing off what could be a special power/speed combination. His 20.5 percent strikeout rate is a career high, which bodes well for his chances of maintaining an acceptable rate in that department as he moves up the ladder. If at all possible, now is a great chance to try and buy low.
Jorge Ona, OF, Fort Wayne (Padres): .277/.333/.362, one 3B, two 2B, 16:3 K:BB in 47 ABs.
Rank: 96
This is Ona's professional debut after signing with the Padres for $7 million last July (which cost the team $14 million due to a 100 percent overage tax). He has been billed as a potential run-producing right fielder, so it's not that surprising to see him striking out a lot (31.4 percent strikeout rate) as he gets acclimated, but for a 20-year-old, I would like to see more over-the-fence power as the season progresses.
Bo Bichette, SS/2B, Lansing (Blue Jays): .419/.526/.613, one HR, three 2B, 1-for-2 on SB attempts, 5:6 K:BB in 31 ABs.
Rank: 97
Statistically, Bichette has been the league's best hitter through two weeks, using his plus-plus bat speed to make a ton of hard contact while also showcasing an excellent approach for a 19-year-old. He has a BABIP over .480 so far in 31 career games, so we haven't gotten a really good feel for what his true talent is in the batting average department, but there is obviously some pop and speed in his game. In leagues that roster 100-120 prospects, he may be available, and makes for a nice pickup early in the season.
Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, Fort Wayne (Padres): .156/.224/.244, one HR, one 2B, 2-for-3 on SB attempts, 16:3 K:BB in 45 ABs.
Rank: 97
This is what it should look like when a recently-turned 18-year-old ventures into the chilly conditions of the Midwest League for the first time. Tatis is striking out too much (32.7 percent strikeout rate) while also not impacting the baseball with any regularity. He is bursting with tools and physical projection, but strikeouts have been a bit of an issue, and it would not be surprising if he continues to get exposed over the first half against full-season pitching.
Josh Lowe, 3B, Bowling Green (Rays): .161/.257/.194, one 2B, 3-for-3 on SB attempts, 20:4 K:BB in 31 ABs.
Rank: 119
Of the high-end prospects in the Midwest League, Lowe is off to the most troubling start. He is striking out at a 57.1 percent clip, and while it's important not to overreact to these struggles through 10 games, strikeouts have been his main weakness as a professional. He has tools for days, but it looks like the Rays may have found another prep hitter early in the draft whose track to the upper levels of the minors will be rocky and plodding.
Lucius Fox, SS, Bowling Green (Rays): .152/.222/.182, one 2B, 2-for-4 on SB attempts, 12:2 K:BB in 33 ABs.
Rank: 139
Like Lowe, Fox is also off to a slow start in a return trip to Low-A after posting just a 74 wRC+ in 331 plate appearances in the Sally League last year. It is important to preach patience with these players, as their tools are all still present.
Adrian Rondon, SS, Bowling Green (Rays): .280/.379/.360, two 2B, 1-for-2 on SB attempts, 9:3 K:BB in 25 ABs.
Rank: 143
A .438 BABIP has propped up Rondon's numbers to a respectable level, but his 31 percent strikeout rate looms as a warning that his batting average is due to regress in a major way. Rondon, like many of the Hot Rods' most enticing hitters, is still quite raw, so if he can just tread water in the Midwest League this season, it would be considered a huge success.
Wladimir Galindo, 3B, South Bend (Cubs): .326/.354/.457, one HR, three 2B, 10:2 K:BB in 46 ABs.
Rank: 166
Two numbers jump out when looking at Galindo's start to the season: his .400 BABIP and 20.8 percent strikeout rate. While the former indicates his batting average will regress, the latter is a very encouraging sign that he has worked to address his primary flaw from last season (28.6 percent strikeout rate in short-season ball). Galindo has monster raw power, especially to the pull side, and he is still maturing physically. It would not be surprising if we looked up in June or July and people were talking about him as one of the year's top pop-up prospects Of course he has been in the top-200 on our rankings all offseason, so it wouldn't really apply here.
Lewin Diaz, 1B, Cedar Rapids (Twins): .256/.293/.410, one HR, three 2B, 7:2 K:BB in 39 ABs.
Rank: 168
Like Galindo, Diaz is 20 years old, which makes him a tad older than the prospects ranked higher on this list, but he is still at an age-appropriate level, especially for a potential middle-of-the-order corner infielder. Diaz's lack of strikeouts, dating back to his run in the Appalachian League last year, is very encouraging, but he will need to develop a more patient approach to realistically profile as an everyday first baseman.
Garrett Whitley, OF, Bowling Green (Rays): .156/.270/.250, one HR, 1-for-1 on SB attempts, 13:5 K:BB in 32 ABs.
Rank: 197
The lowest ranked of Bowling Green's five uber-toolsy position players, Whitley is 20 years old and has the same swing-and-miss issues as his teenage teammates. He has always walked a ton for a player of his ilk, and his .222 BABIP suggests he has been pretty unlucky, so his numbers should improve as the season progresses.
Travis Blankenhorn, 3B/2B, Cedar Rapids (Twins): .311/.380/.600, three HR, one 3B, two 2B, 1-for-1 on SB attempts, 14:1 K:BB in 45 ABs.
Rank: 227
Blankenhorn can flat out hit, but that has led to him developing some shaky habits, as he boasts a 27.5 percent strikeout rate and a 2.0 percent walk rate. He played 25 games at Low-A last year, and he probably needs to be challenged with an assignment to High-A in the coming weeks, where his super-aggressive approach could get exploited. So far he has played primarily third base this year, and that appears to be his defensive home for now.
Demi Orimoloye, OF, Wisconsin (Brewers): .200/.282/.486, three HR, one 2B, 1-for-1 on SB attempts, 14:4 K:BB in 35 ABs.
Rank: 237
In a league full of impressive physical specimens who ooze tools, Orimoloye still stands out for his physicality and five-tool potential. He is 20 years old, but as a Canadian, he is a little behind his peers in terms of facing high-end competition over the past five years. It's possible that he goes the Monte Harrison route and needs at least two seasons at Low-A before mastering that level of pitching, but if he can cut his strikeout rate over the next couple months, his stock has a chance to really take off thanks to a unique blend of power and speed.
Daz Cameron, OF, Quad Cities (Astros): .214/.286/.548, three HR, one 3B, three 2B, 4-for-5 on SB attempts, 11:4 K:BB in 42 ABs.
Rank: 242
Cameron was so quiet in his first full season as a pro, that it is easy to forget how much hype there was surrounding him as a draft prospect. Last year at Low-A he looked lost, and was quickly sent to extended spring training and then short-season ball, but in just 11 games he has already topped the two long balls he had in his first 91 games as a pro. Most importantly, his 22.4 percent strikeout rate is more than manageable, and should allow him to keep a solid batting line once his .200 BABIP normalizes. His stock is trending way up.
Hudson Potts, 3B, Fort Wayne (Padres): .156/.188/.222, one HR, 0-for-1 on SB attempts, 15:2 K:BB in 45 ABs.
Rank: 253
Potts was one of the youngest players in last year's draft class, but he has plenty of fantasy intrigue thanks to a promising hit tool and potentially plus power down the road. Of course, so far, the production is not there, and his 31.3 percent strikeout rate is almost double the rates he posted in rookie and short-season ball. He can be left unowned for now in the majority of dynasty leagues, but has the potential to really turn it on in the second half.
Isaac Paredes, SS, South Bend (Cubs): .222/.271/.289, three 2B, 3:2 K:BB in 45 ABs.
Rank: 258
Paredes has a chance to be a top-100 prospect on real-life prospect lists next offseason, thanks to a very solid approach, the defensive tools to stick at shortstop, and a really solid hit tool. His .238 BABIP is suppressing his overall line, but his ability to make consistent contact as one of the youngest players in the league (just a month older than Vlad Jr.) really stands out.
Jasrado Chisholm, SS, Kane County (Diamondbacks): .302/.362/.372, one HR, 18:3 K:BB in 43 ABs.
Rank: 284
One of the best prospects in the worst farm system in baseball, Chisholm has solid offensive tools and should stick at shortstop, but he's also a long way from the big leagues, as his 36.7 percent strikeout rate shows. It's tough to sit on guys with this distant of an ETA unless the tools are special, and Chisholm's aren't. He could be a starting shortstop in four years, however, and that has value in deep leagues.
T.J. Friedl, OF, Dayton (Reds): .318/.380/.568, one HR, three 3B, two 2B, 3-for-3 on SB attempts, 9:5 K:BB in 44 ABs.
Rank: 291
Friedl's overall line is one of the most aesthetically pleasing in the league, but he is also a year or two older than most of the league's top prospects, and over three years older than many of the 18-year-olds in the league. He looks like a potential leadoff hitter down the road, but we won't have a good idea what the batting average will look like until he is at an age-appropriate level. That said, if he keeps hitting, he could force his way to Double-A by the end of the season, possibly emerging as a legitimate top-150 prospect along the way.
Brendon Davis, SS/3B, Great Lakes (Dodgers): .382/.523/.647, one HR, one 3B, four 2B, 1-for-3 on SB attempts, 10:8 K:BB in 34 ABs.
Rank: 296
Davis is one of the most projectable offensive players in the lower levels of the minors, as he could develop into a monster down the road if everything clicks. At 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, he figures to outgrow shortstop, but so far that has been his primary position in 2017. His .522 BABIP illustrates how much regression is coming to his numbers, but his 18.2 percent walk rate is very encouraging for a player who posted a 6.7 percent walk rate in his first tour of the Midwest League last season.
Mario Feliciano, C, Wisconsin (Brewers): .333/.389/.576, one HR, one 3B, three 2B, 4:3 K:BB in 33 ABs.
Rank: 299
Feliciano has had the most impressive start to the season of any hitter in the Midwest League. He is an 18-year-old catcher from Puerto Rico who had fewer than 30 professional games under his belt prior to this season, yet he has been one of the best hitters in a league filled with 21- and 22-year-olds. His BABIP (.357), strikeout rate (11.1 percent) and walk rate (8.3 percent) are all indicative of a player who is primed to continue to hit all season long.
OTHERS OF NOTE
D.J. Wilson, OF, South Bend (Cubs): .206/.250/.441, one HR, one 3B, three 2B, 1-for-3 on SB attempts, 15:2 K:BB in 34 ABs.
Rank: 301
Oneil Cruz, 3B, Great Lakes (Dodgers): .135/.220/.216, one HR, 4-for-4 on SB attempts, 9:4 K:BB in 37 ABs.
Rank: 314
Monte Harrison, OF, Wisconsin (Brewers): .286/.333/.476, two HR, two 2B, 1-for-2 on SB attempts, 12:2 K:BB in 42 ABs.
Rank: 331
Cody Thomas, OF, Great Lakes (Dodgers): .195/.250/.366, two HR, one 2B, 14:3 K:BB in 41 ABs.
Rank: 346
Ronnie Dawson, OF, Quad Cities (Astros): .217/.260/.348, one HR, one 3B, one 2B, 2-for-4 on SB attempts, 12:2 K:BB in 46 ABs.
Rank: 373
Gabriel Mejia, OF, Lake County (Indians): .182/.208/.250, one 3B, one 2B, 1-for-2 on SB attempts, 8:2 K:BB in 44 ABs.
Rank: 388
Bradley Jones, 1B/2B/3B, Lansing (Blue Jays): .386/.429/.727, four HR, one 3B, one 2B, 14:4 K:BB in 44 ABs.
Rank: 397
Buddy Reed, OF, Fort Wayne (Padres): .147/.256/.176, one 2B, 2-for-2 on SB attempts, 15:4 K:BB in 34 ABs.
Rank: Not ranked
J.B. Woodman, OF, Lansing (Blue Jays): .267/.292/.289, one 2B, 0-for-2 on SB attempts, 20:2 K:BB in 45 ABs.
Rank: Not ranked
Anfernee Grier, OF, Kane County (Diamondbacks): .311/.367/.400, four 2B, 1-for-3 on SB attempts, 13:3 K:BB in 45 ABs.
Rank: Not ranked
