C Alejandro Kirk (A+)
Projected Hit grade: 60
Alejandro Kirk put up a staggering .299/.427/.519 and 172 wRC+ in Lansing (A) at 20 years old, finishing with a ridiculous 18 walks and 8 strikeouts in 21 games. His onslaught has continued in Dunedin (A+): .303/.406/.431 and 153 wRC+ with 17 walks and 18 strikeouts in 32 games. Anytime a hitter can put up those gaudy walk to strikeout numbers, you have to look twice. But when it's coming from a catcher that’s 2 years younger than average for his level, people really should be taking notice. Kirk has an uncanny ability to lay-off and spit-on bad pitches, reminiscent to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette coming through Lansing and Dunedin just two years ago. He is happy to draw walks and find opportune times to hit for power. So far, Alejandro Kirk has really impressed with his bat.
CF Cal Stevenson (A+)
Projected Fielding grade: 60
Cal Stevenson skipped two levels, being promoted directly from Appy league Bluefield (Rk) straight to Florida State league Dunedin (A+). His patience at the plate and ability to make contact has been demonstrated early and often since being drafted, but his outfield prowess may be the best Dunedin has seen since Kevin Pillar and Jonathan Davis. Despite the slow start at Dunedin, Stevenson is putting up a .327/.412/.433 line with a 154 wRC+ since May 23. But most impressively, he has 0 errors in 60 games, 11 outfield assists and induced 2 double-plays from the center field position. It’s exciting to see a 10th round pick with this type of package. What’s the ceiling you ask? A left-handed bat version of Kevin Pillar with OBP/walking ability. That’s pretty exciting.
RF Griffin Conine (A)
Projected Arm grade: 70
Son of former MLB All-Star Jeff Conine and 2-time world series champion, young Griffin Conine has raked in Lansing since his Lansing debut. In a short 25 games, he’s putting up a monstrous .309/.398/.628 and 189 wRC+ including 7 home runs. But even more impressive is Conine’s throwing ability from right-field that has been clocked at 97 mph! In just 22 games, Conine already has 4 outfield assists while players in low-A ball continue to test his absolute cannon. I fully expect a promotion to Dunedin is coming soon.
RHP Nate Pearson (AA)
Projected Slider grade: 65
Nate Pearson’s slider, a very nasty breaking ball that plays way up as he constantly touches triple-digits and sits 98 mph every outing. In the Arizona Fall League, Pearson’s slider was clocked as high as 95 mph while his fastball touched 104 mph. Absolutely filthy stuff. So far in A+/AA, we’ve seen a high-80s and low-90s slider from Pearson that pounds the strike-zone with solid command. The pitch is thrown not only for strikeouts, but thrown on any count and is practically unhittable when paired with his elite heater, good changeup, and solid high-70s curveball.
After dominating Dunedin in 6 starts (0.86 ERA, 1.69 FIP, 0.62 WHIP, 35 strikeouts to 3 walks), Pearson has continued pitching very well through 8 starts at Double-A: 2.70 ERA, 1.98 FIP, 0.90 WHIP, 31 strikeouts to 5 walks.
RHP Jackson Rees (A+)
Projected Control grade: 55
2018 undrafted prospect Jackson Rees is currently one of the most dominant bullpen arms in minor league baseball. Through 35.1 innings pitched between A/A+, Rees has only given up 1 earned run in 128 batters faced. He throws a mid-90s fastball, both 4-seam and 2-seam with movement, along with a devastating slider that he throws in any count. Currently developing both a changeup and curveball, he’s been able to get batters out in multiple ways.
He finished Lansing (A) with 25.1 innings pitched, 0.36 ERA, 0.50 FIP, 44 strikeouts to 4 walks. That’s good for a ridiculous 15.63 K/9 and 1.42 BB/9. In 10 innings pitched for Dunedin, Rees has still not given up a single run and has already pitched multiple-innings 4 times in 5 games.
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