2016 Pacific Coast League Top 20 Prospects
| LEAGUE SUPERLATIVES |
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| Best Record Nashville (Athletics), 83-59 (.585) |
| Most Valuable Player Hunter Renfroe, of, El Paso (Padres) |
| Pitcher Of The Year Brady Rodgers, rhp, Fresno (Astros) |
| Did Not Qualify Julio Urias, lhp, Oklahoma City (Dodgers) |
See Also: Pacific Coast League Top 20 Prospects Chat With Brent Ingram
See Also: 2016 League Top 20 Index
See Also: League Top 20 Prospects Historical Index
The Pacific Coast League has earned its reputation as a hitter’s paradise, and its conditions often tempt organizations to rocket top pitching prospects through the league.
While that trend held in 2016, at least the Cardinals and Dodgers left prodigious talents Alex Reyes, a Memphis righthander who ranked No. 7 on the preseason Top 100 Prospects, and Jose De Leon, a Oklahoma City righthander who ranked No. 23, in the PCL long enough to qualify for our prospect ranking. The Dodgers also assigned lefthander Julio Urias to OKC, but he fell two innings short of qualifying for this ranking. The 20-year-old southpaw would have ranked No. 1.
El Paso outfielder Hunter Renfroe earned MVP honors in the circuit after smashing 30 home runs and driving in 105 runs. He became the first Padres farmhand awarded since catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. in 1989.
Steve Scarsone earned the league’s manager-of-the-year honor after guiding Nashville to the division title with a league-best 83-59 mark. The Athletics affiliate lost to Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs.
El Paso second baseman Carlos Asuaje was the PCL rookie of the year after he drove in 69 runs and hit .321. Fresno righthander Brady Rodgers paced the PCL with a 2.86 ERA, contributing a 12-4 record for the Grizzlies to win pitcher-of-the-year honors. He issued just 23 walks in 132 innings.
Las Vegas third baseman T.J. Rivera won the league batting title with a .353 mark, edging out 51s teammates Brandon Nimmo (.352), an outfielder, and Gavin Cecchini (.325), a shortstop. All three players made their major league debuts for the Mets this season.
1. Alex Reyes, rhp Memphis (Cardinals) | 
Age: 22. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-3. Wt: 175. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2012.
Reyes had an eventful 2016 campaign, which began on the restricted list as he completed the 50-game suspension levied after he tested positive for marijuana. The penalty cut short his stint in the Arizona Fall League, and he made his Triple-A debut on May 22 and earned his first callup to St. Louis on Aug. 9.
Reyes pitches with top-of-the-scale velocity that makes him an elite prospect. He works off a 96-98 mph fastball that hit 101 in the big leagues, and he owns a hammer curveball that grades as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He also throws an upper-80s changeup. He maintains his velocity deep into starts, and now that he has developed consistency and confidence in his changeup, he has the ability to work through the lineup multiple times.
Reyes has beefed up his lower half since he signed at 175 pounds, and he now has the look of a durable starter. With two excellent pitches, he could make an immediate impact in relief, but his upside is as a No. 1 starter.
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | AVG |
| 2 | 3 | 4.96 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 65 | 63 | 38 | 36 | 6 | 32 | 93 | .252 |
2. Willson Contreras, c, Iowa (Cubs) |
Age: 24. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-1. Wt: 210. Signed: Venezuela, 2009.
A year after claiming the Double-A Southern League batting title, Contreras starred for Iowa and made his major league debut on June 19. He signed as a third baseman before converting to catcher in 2012.
“Willson can play anywhere you want him to: first base, third base or any of the outfield positions,” Iowa manager Marty Pevy said. “He can run. He is super athletic, with a strong arm. He’s the most athletic catcher in baseball today.”
Contreras has demonstrated an ability to hit for average and power, and he should be above-average on both counts. He has an above-average arm behind the plate and has improved his blocking and receiving. He runs well for a catcher and has played left field and first base as well as catcher with Chicago. He is the organization’s catcher of the future.
| AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 204 | 40 | 72 | 16 | 3 | 9 | 43 | 28 | 32 | 4 | 4 | .353 | .442 | .593 |
3. Jose De Leon, rhp, Oklahoma City (Dodgers) |
Age: 24. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-2. Wt: 190. Drafted: Southern, 2013 (23).
Southern coach Roger Cador discovered De Leon in Puerto Rico, saw potential in his high-80s fastball and soft body with projection and offered the righty his only Division I scholarship. In three years at Southern, De Leon learned English and developed his body, and the Dodgers made him a 23rd-round pick in 2013.
De Leon tapped into his potential in a breakout 2015 season, when he struck out 163 batters at two levels and 114.1 innings. He shined in the PCL in 2016 when he got healthy after a March ankle sprain and May shoulder problem. De Leon’s fastball jumped up in 2016, and he now works at 92-93 mph and tops out at 96 with late life. He locates well to all areas of the zone.
A key ingredient in De Leon’s rise has been the improvement of his low-80s changeup, which is at least a plus pitch. He uses his low-80s slider as a chase pitch, and with good results. He has average to above-average command of his arsenal, which allows his stuff to play up.
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | AVG |
| 7 | 1 | 2.61 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 86 | 61 | 29 | 25 | 9 | 20 | 111 | .194 |
4. Orlando Arcia, ss, Colorado Springs (Brewers) |
Age: 22. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-0. Wt: 165. Signed: Venezuela, 2010.
Though he hit just .267 with ordinary power this year in the PCL, Arcia boasts the potential to develop all five tools. Immediate Gold Glove-caliber value at shortstop carries the torch for his talents, and he has hit in the past, such as in 2015 when he hit .307 at Double-A Biloxi. He is the younger brother of outfielder Oswaldo Arcia.
“He is the most exciting player in this league,” Colorado Springs manager Fred Dabney said. “His instincts are through the roof. He goes to his right in the hole (at shortstop) better than anybody I have ever seen.”
Arcia has shown glimpses of an ability to hit for average and gap power, with his present strength geared toward spraying liners to the gaps and taking the ball the other way. He uses his plus speed on the bases and will continue to develop as a basestealer with experience.
Arcia worked deeper, more competitive at-bats in the PCL but has shown a tendency to get too big with his swing in an effort to hit for power. He plays with elite instincts and exudes confidence in his game, which shines in big moments but at times leads to overconfidence at the plate.
| AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 404 | 59 | 108 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 53 | 29 | 77 | 15 | 8 | .267 | .320 | .403 |
5. Jeff Hoffman, rhp, Albuquerque (Rockies) |
Age: 23. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-5. Wt: 225. Drafted: East Carolina, 2014 (1/Blue Jays).
The ninth overall pick in the 2014 draft by the Blue Jays, Hoffman had Tommy John surgery in May of his draft year and didn’t pitch the summer he turned pro. Toronto included him as the top prospect they sent to the Rockies to acquire Troy Tulowitzki at the 2015 trade deadline.
Hoffman has reached 99 mph with his power fastball in the past, but he pitched at 93-94 mph in the PCL and then hit 97 in the big leagues following his Aug. 20 callup. He owns a power low-80s curveball that rates as plus, and he also is able to mix in a change-of-pace slider. Hoffman’s potential as a top-of-the rotation workhorse depends on the development of his changeup, which has improved in its consistency and has the potential to be a plus offering.
A good athlete, Hoffman ranked second in the PCL with 124 strikeouts, and his ability to induce ground balls furthers his standing as a potential frontline starter for the Rockies.
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | AVG |
| 6 | 9 | 4.02 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 119 | 117 | 60 | 53 | 11 | 44 | 124 | .261 |
6. Joey Gallo, 3b/1b, Round Rock (Rangers) |
Age: 22. B-T: L-R. Ht: 6-5. Wt: 235. Drafted: HS—Las Vegas 2012 (1s).
Gallo stands out as one of the top power prospects in the game with the potential to belt 30 or more home runs annually as a middle-of-the-order presence. He spent 2016 primarily at Triple-A for the second consecutive season, with brief cameos in Texas before a September callup.
A strong-framed slugger, Gallo solidified his prospect status with 40-homer seasons in 2013 and 2014. He tied for third in the PCL with 25 homers, while splitting his time between third base (44 starts) and first base (32 starts).
Gallo’s carrying tool is power but he is a good athlete whose arm strength grades as plus and could be an asset at third base or a corner-outfield post. Defensively, Gallo will never win a Gold Glove at the hot corner, but his versatility and athleticism is an asset, and he has drawn comparisons with the Orioles’ Chris Davis.
A career .254 hitter in the minors, he works deep counts as he looks for a pitch to crush. This leads to many strikeouts but also many walks because pitchers have to work him so carefully.
| AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 359 | 71 | 86 | 17 | 6 | 25 | 66 | 68 | 150 | 2 | 0 | .240 | .367 | .529 |
7. Hunter Renfroe, of, El Paso (Padres) |
Age: 24. B-T: R-R. 6-1. Wt: 220. Drafted: Mississippi State, 2013 (1).
The MVP of the PCL, Renfroe ranked among the league leaders with a .306 average (eighth), 30 home runs (tied for first), 105 RBIs (second) and a .557 slugging percentage (second). He appeared in the Futures Game in San Diego and was called up at the end of El Paso’s season.
Renfroe improved his ability to hit for average this season despite a slow finish to the campaign. He has a pair of tools that stand out: game-changing power to all fields and plus-plus arm strength. He is a good athlete who could capably play center field, but he profiles best in right field, where he has plus range and instincts
A powerful but overaggressive slugger, Renfroe has curbed his strikeout rate with experience, but after recording a career-low walk rate in 2016, he needs to improve his ability to work the count and get on base more often if he’s going to hit for average.
| AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 533 | 95 | 163 | 34 | 5 | 30 | 105 | 22 | 115 | 5 | 2 | .306 | .336 | .557 |
8. A.J. Reed, 1b, Fresno (Astros) |
Age: 24. B-T: L-L. Ht: 6-4. Wt: 275. Drafted: Kentucky, 2014 (2).
Reed starred as a two-way player at Kentucky in 2014, when he claimed the BA College Player of the Year award. After showing up overweight to his first spring training in 2015, Reed started slowly but rebounded to lead the minors in homers (34), RBIs (127), slugging (.612) and OPS (1.044).
Reed took on the PCL in 2016 and played to his strengths with plus power, above-average feel to hit and strong strike-zone judgment. He made his big league debut on June 25 but struggled in Houston, where he is the likely long-term answer at first base. In addition to his mammoth power, he has great feel for the game and, despite being a poor runner, more athleticism than his frame suggests.
Reed improved as a defender at first base, though he grades as below-average, and grew more confident in his ability to throw the ball across the diamond. He projects to hit at least 25 home runs, with a good two-strike approach and batting eye to bolster his on-base percentage.
| AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 261 | 42 | 76 | 22 | 1 | 15 | 50 | 32 | 67 | 0 | 0 | .291 | .368 | .556 |
9. Joe Musgrove, rhp, Fresno (Astros)
Age: 23. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-5. Wt: 265. Drafted: HS—El Cajon, Calif., 2011 (1s/Blue Jays).
Musgrove pitched his way from Double-A Corpus Christi to Fresno in May and worked effectively in the PCL before Houston summoned him to the majors on Aug. 2.
Musgrove throws three above-average pitches, but his best skill is dynamic command. His fastball sits 91-93 mph and can reach 96, and some observers rate it as a plus weapon. He boasts a hard slider that he spots well throughout the zone and is using it more as a putaway pitch when he gets ahead in the count. His changeup rates as plus.
With a 6-foot-5, workhorse frame, Musgrove is a safe bet to become a mid-rotation starter who attacks the strike zone, misses bats and helps himself by holding baserunners and fielding his position. He is athletic for a pitcher his size, and Fresno manager Tony DeFrancesco sees him as having Gold Glove potential
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | AVG |
| 7 | 4 | 2.74 | 16 | 14 | 0 | 85 | 79 | 28 | 26 | 9 | 10 | 87 | .241 |
10. Jharel Cotton, rhp, Oklahoma City (Dodgers)/Nashville (Athletics)
Age: 24. B-T: R-R. Ht: 5-11. Wt: 195. Drafted: East Carolina, 2012 (20/Dodgers).
A native of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Cotton has begun to charge up prospect rankings. The Athletics acquired him (and two other pitching prospects) at the trade deadline this year when they sent Rich Hill and Josh Reddick to the Dodgers. He continued to shine at Nashville to earn a September callup.
Despite a smallish frame that invokes Tom Gordon comparisons, Cotton established himself as one of the top power pitchers in the PCL, leading the circuit with 155 strikeouts. He owns a bevy of weapons, highlighted by a 70-grade changeup on the 20-80 scouting scale that he can use at any point in the count. His change averages about 77 mph, affording him incredible separation from his 91-92 mph fastball that reaches 94 consistently. He mixes in a slider and curveball.
Cotton throws from an overhand arm slot and has used a new cutter to add movement in fastball counts. With an aggressive mentality, great athleticism and potential quality command, Cotton could become a mid-rotation arm or possibly a high-leverage reliever.
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | AVG |
| 11 | 6 | 4.31 | 28 | 22 | 0 | 136 | 108 | 71 | 65 | 20 | 39 | 155 | .214 |
11. Josh Hader, lhp, Colorado Springs (Brewers) |
Age: 22. B-T: L-L. Ht: 6-3. Wt: 185. Drafted: HS—Millersville, Md., 2012 (19/Orioles).
Hader has developed into one of the game’s top pitching prospects, but you wouldn’t know it to read his career transactions. The Orioles traded him to the Astros for Bud Norris in 2013, and then the Astros traded him to the Brewers for Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers in 2015. Hader carved up Double-A competition this season and appeared in the Futures Game, but in his first taste of adversity in pro ball, he ran up a 5.22 ERA in 14 starts at Colorado Springs following a June 12 promotion.
Hader uses an electric fastball with plus movement to highlight his arsenal. He works at 94-97 mph with an ability to reach 99 on occasion. He throws a tight slider and fringe-average changeup, with his breaking ball sitting 76-78 mph and flashing plus. Hader walked 4.7 batters per nine innings in the PCL as struggled to entice Triple-A batters to chase out of the zone.
Hader’s power repertoire, deceptive and funky delivery and low arm slot remind some evaluators of White Sox ace Chris Sale, though Hader doesn’t have that kind of breaking ball quality or overall pitch command at this stage.
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | AVG |
| 1 | 7 | 5.22 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 69 | 63 | 42 | 40 | 5 | 36 | 88 | .245 |
12. Albert Almora, of, Iowa (Cubs) |
Age: 22. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-2. Wt: 190. Drafted: HS—Hialeah Gardens, Fla., 2012 (1).
The sixth overall pick in the 2012 draft, the first conducted by Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, Almora reached Iowa in 2016 for his first taste of Triple-A ball. His potential as a future Gold Glove-caliber center fielder highlights his skill set, but he also hit .303 in 80 PCL games.
“(He has) front-line center field ability with plus-plus defense,” Iowa manager Marty Pevy said. “At the crack of the bat you look and he’s already moving. He reminds me a lot of Vernon Wells, with his route and first-step quickness, arm strength and accuracy.”
Almora’s offensive skill set still is developing. With exceptional hand-eye coordination and proven contact ability, he could develop into a top-of-the-order batter who can hit for average. He hasn’t shown an inkling to draw walks, and though he has raw power, it doesn’t play in games because of his impatience. Almora isn’t a burner, but he has above-average speed underway and is still learning to apply it to the bases, working with the Iowa coaching staff on reading pitchers, accelerating his head-first slide and understanding opportunities to swipe a base.
| AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 320 | 46 | 97 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 43 | 9 | 44 | 10 | 3 | .303 | .317 | .416 |
13. Manuel Margot, of, El Paso (Padres) |
Age: 21. B-T: R-R. Ht: 5-11. Wt: 180. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2011 (Red Sox).
The key piece of the trade with the Red Sox for closer Craig Kimbrel last offseason, Margot had a strong season in 2016 despite suiting up as one of the youngest players in the PCL. He ranked first in the league with 12 triples, second with 98 runs, third with 157 hits and fifth with 30 stolen bases. He also played in the Futures Game.
A great athlete, Margot has game-changing ability as a defender in center field, where his range and instincts grade as plus. Offensively, he has elite bat control and a strong feel for the strike zone, which can translate into a top-of-the-order skill set. He doesn’t project to have elite power, but his ability to avoid strikeouts and drive the gaps from line to line mean he won’t have the bat knocked out of his hands.
On the bases, Margot is a plus runner who has worked to refine his skills and is improving his jumps and reads. He has the potential to steal 40-50 bases a season as a big league regular.
| AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 517 | 98 | 157 | 21 | 12 | 6 | 55 | 36 | 64 | 30 | 11 | .304 | .351 | .426 |
14. Teoscar Hernandez, of, Fresno (Astros) |
Age: 23. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-2. Wt: 180. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2011.
Hernandez burst on the prospect scene in 2014, when he hit .292 with 21 home runs and 33 stolen bases, but he fell off radars in 2015 when he hit .219, albeit with power and speed, at Double-A Corpus Christi. The Astros left Hernandez unprotected in the Rule 5 draft last winter, but no team gambled on his upside.
Hernandez played well at Double-A and Triple-A this season, batting .307/.377/.459 with 10 homers and 34 steals, to earn an Aug. 12 callup to Houston. He owes his success to an improved hitting approach that includes more refined pitch recognition and an ability to lay off breaking balls. That allows his solid-average power to play, and he could launch 15-20 homers per year.
A plus runner who is aggressive on the bases, Hernandez can man any outfield position and can be an above-average center fielder, though his plus arm also plays in right field.
| AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 144 | 20 | 45 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 13 | 25 | 5 | 4 | .313 | .365 | .500 |
15. Hunter Dozier, 3b, Omaha (Royals) |
Age: 25. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-4. Wt: 220. Drafted: Stephen F. Austin State, 2013 (1).
When Dozier received a September callup to the Royals, it capped a redemptive season for the 2013 first-round pick. He hit just .213 at Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2015 as he struggled for the first time as a pro. He faced no such trouble this season as he mastered Double-A and Triple-A by batting a cumulative .296/.366/.533 with 23 home runs and 44 doubles.
A good athlete, Dozier played quarterback at his high school in Denton, Texas, but he got away from his line-drive hitting approach as he tried to sell out for power during his 2015 struggles. His swing became too mechanical as a result, but those days appear to be gone.
A big-framed shortstop in college, Dozier profiles as a regular third baseman who hits for average over power. His feel for the barrel suggests an ability to hit for average, and he has bat speed to fill the gaps with line drives. He has improved defensively at third and owns plus arm strength and average range.
| AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 391 | 65 | 115 | 36 | 12 | 15 | 54 | 40 | 100 | 3 | 1 | .294 | .357 | .506 |
16. Brock Stewart, rhp, Oklahoma City (Dodgers)
Age: 24. B-T: L-R. Ht: 6-3. Wt: 210. Drafted: Illinois State, 2014 (6).
The son of longtime Illinois State coach and current Rays scout Jeff Stewart, Brock was little used as a pitcher until his senior year of college, when he threw 27 innings. He played mostly third base at ISU, but the Dodgers shrewdly signed Stewart as a pitcher in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. He dominated pro competition almost immediately.
Stewart cruised through three minor league levels this season, going 9-4, 1.79 with 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings and a minor league-leading 0.88 WHIP. He made his big league debut on June 29. Stewart works off a fastball that touches 96 mph and throws a pair of sliders, including a chase pitch and one that he can drop in for strikes. The harder slider has the makings of an above-average offering. He can also throw in a changeup that has developed into what some observers rate as fringe-average.
Scouts and coaches laud Stewart’s mound presence and competitive fire, and though he will be 25 next season, he has a relatively fresh arm as a converted player. With a sturdy frame, advanced command and a potential four-pitch arsenal, Stewart could be a mid-rotation starter.
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | AVG |
| 4 | 0 | 2.49 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 51 | 41 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 54 | .217 |
17. Jeimer Candelario, 3b, Iowa (Cubs) |
Age: 22. B-T: B-R. Ht: 6-1. Wt: 210. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2010.
Candelario was born in New York but calls the Dominican Republic home. Signed by the Cubs at age 16, he has made a steady rise through the system. Even though Candelario hit just .219 at Double-A Tennessee at the outset of 2016, the Cubs promoted him to Iowa on June 9 and he thrived. He even received a five-game big league callup in July.
“Candelerio is one of my favorite guys to watch in the league,” Nashville hitting coach Eric Martins said. “I just love the energy and how he went about his business. He can play third base and has a smooth stroke from both sides and was not overwhelmed. He’s a bright kid and plays the game the right way.”
Despite a thick frame, Candelario has present above-average defensive ability at third base, with quick, soft hands and a plus arm. Despite his youth, he shows great plate discipline and feel for the strike zone. He has a sweet swing from both sides of the plate with an ability to fill the gaps with line drives. He could develop 15-20-homer power as he develops strength and experience against top-tier pitchers.
| AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 264 | 44 | 88 | 22 | 3 | 9 | 54 | 38 | 53 | 0 | 2 | .333 | .417 | .542 |
18. Daniel Mengden, rhp, Nashville (Athletics) |
Age: 23. B-T: R-R. Ht: 6-2. Wt: 190. Drafted: Texas A&M, 2014 (4/Astros).
The Athletics acquired Mengden as the key piece of the Scott Kazmir trade with the Astros in 2015. He cruised through 17 starts at two minor league stops this season, going 10-2, 1.46 with 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings and a 0.99 WHIP, which earned him an extended look in the Oakland rotation.
“He is an ultra-competitor,” Nashville hitting coach Eric Martins said. “He’s smart—he really studies hitters—and his has a plan.”
Mengden saw his velocity jump in 2016 and he works primarily in the 93-95 mph range and touches 97. His changeup is the best of his secondary offerings and can be a plus pitch. He also throws an average curveball and slider. Mengden has added a cutter that is another weapon. A bulldog with an old-school windup, he is a strike-throwing machine who has the ability to become a mid-rotation starter.
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | AVG |
| 8 | 2 | 1.67 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 75 | 54 | 15 | 14 | 4 | 17 | 67 | .200 |
19. Brandon Nimmo, of, Las Vegas (Mets) |
Age: 23. B-T: L-R. Ht: 6-3. Wt: 205. Drafted: HS—Cheyenne, Wyo., 2011 (1).
Nimmo became the first player in the history of Wyoming—a state without high school baseball—selected in the first round back in 2011. He made his Triple-A debut with 32 games in 2015 before excelling in the PCL this season. He earned five separate callups to the Mets this summer and even started 15 games.
Nimmo ranked second in the PCL with a .352 average and .964 OPS. While he lacks a carrying tool, he has shown consistent on-base skills in the minors with a career .389 on-base percentage. He excels at working counts and lining the ball the other way. He has the ability to pull the ball over the fence, but his swing is geared for line drives, though he did record a career-high 11 home runs and .189 isolated slugging percentage in 2016.
Defensively, Nimmo is an average defender in center field, though he’s just an average runner. He is a reliable defender with a near-average arm who probably fits best in left field. He has refined his baserunning skills but will likely never become a stolen-base threat. Nimmo profiles as a table-setting corner outfielder or possible platoon bat.
| AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 392 | 72 | 138 | 25 | 8 | 11 | 61 | 46 | 73 | 7 | 8 | .352 | .423 | .541 |
20. Anthony Banda, lhp, Reno (Diamondbacks)
Age: 23. B-T: L-L. Ht: 6-2. Wt: 190. Drafted: San Jacinto (Texas) JC, 2012 (10/Brewers).
The Diamondbacks snagged both Banda and outfielder Mitch Haniger when they traded Gerrado Parra to the Brewers in 2014. Both prospects broke through in 2016, with Banda dominating at Double-A Mobile for 13 starts before continuing to shine in the PCL.
“He’s electric and is maturing at a very rapid pace,” Reno manager Phil Nevin said. “On days when he has had his best stuff, he dominated hitters in this league and is someone who has a chance to crack our major league rotation.”
Banda’s fastball has highlighted his jump in 2016, and he now bumps 96 mph and works 93-94 consistently. He owns good secondary offerings that could develop into plus pitches, with a slow curveball that works in the 70s and a firm changeup that can be a weapon against righthanders. A good athlete, Banda has the ability to repeat his smooth delivery and showed improved command this season.
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | AVG |
| 4 | 4 | 3.67 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 74 | 73 | 36 | 30 | 6 | 27 | 68 | .257 |
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