Michael Harris
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Overall: 45
Here is a guy who flew relatively under the radar before the 2019 draft, primarily due to a commitment to play at Texas Tech. However, the Atlanta Braves saw the talent and selected Harris with their third-round pick, 98th overall. The slot was enough to sway him away from Tech, and Harris has already started repaying the Braves for their faith, starting his professional career off with an absolute bang. His debut featured some incredibly gaudy stats, including a .433 wOBA, 6.6 Spd score, .414 BABIP, .917 OPS, 16.8 K% and .514 SLG. You could, of course, chalk this up to small sample sizes (119 at-bats) and note that regression is likely, but one can’t help but dream of a bright future when an 18-year-old prep prospect performs this well out of the gates. An end to the 2019 season featured the young man in A ball, where his numbers remained relatively stable over 93 more at-bats. With that, it will be exciting to see what 2020 brings for the will-be 19-year-old. An interesting aspect of Harris’s game is the fact that he was a true two-way player in high school, featuring a low 90’s fastball and three-pitch arsenal, displaying his true athleticism. Had he gone to Tech, chances are he would have developed as a pitcher. However, the Braves saw the athletic potential from Harris and drafted him with a pure offensive upside in mind. Looking at the physical features, Harris currently sports above-average to plus speed that should maintain as he ages, and despite a currently raw approach, possesses some serious thump to his swing. At 6’0″ 195, we’ve likely seen his growth cap, but some professional training could add some muscle onto the presently athletic frame, adding more pop down the road. There is some swing and miss to his game. However, any player with 20/20 potential is worth bookmarking. We all know the Braves know how to develop their young bats, so do not be surprised to see this young man sneak into the top 100 overall prospect lists by mid-season 2020, especially if he keeps his current tear going.
Benyamin Bailey
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Overall: 45+
Bailey is a J2 signing out of Panama who received little attention before the signing period and signed for a minimal amount with the Chicago White Sox. To this point, however, he has only impressed coaches, receiving a lot of hype out of the DSL in 2019. Take a look at this stat line from the DSL:
.324/.477/.454, 12 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBIs, 10 SB, 173 wRC+,.476 wOBA.
Most impressively, the young athlete led the DSL White Sox in walks at 52 and possessed a K:BB ratio of 40:52, a truly rare feat by a 17-year-old. The sample size is a factor, of course, but that stat line is more than enough to warrant a second look at Bailey’s physical features. Bailey has the build of an absolute slugger, standing at 6’4″, 215 pounds, again, at 17 years old! While his size will likely keep him from double-digit steal seasons moving forward, ten steals in a limited sample size shows that he has raw speed and athleticism beyond his build. He is lean for his size, which means he has plenty of room for muscle and more power moving forward. Expect to see Bailey play stateside before the end of the 2020 season and start catapulting into top prospect lists.
Arol Vera
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Overall: 45+
Opposite of Bailey, Arol Vera was a J2 prospect that everyone had their eye on, and for quite some time now. Scouts have coveted Vera for his physical projection and smooth swing from both sides of the plate; when eligible for the J2 signing, he was signed quickly by the Angels for $2 million. Although far too early to compare the skill-set, Vera’s physical build resembles that of Tatis Jr at the same age. He is a quick, athletic, and smooth defender at SS, but his size might require a move to 3B as he ages, where his bat could play if it advances as projected. He already presents an understanding of the strike-zone and balance at the plate well beyond his age, and he should continue the trend as he grows into a plus raw power frame. He hits the ball hard, leading to a lot of line-drives that should become home runs with more strength. Arol is all projection at this point, but the training background, character, and make-up are there to make one heck of a talented player in a few years.
Ethan Small
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
Ethan Small selected 28th overall by the Brewers in the 2019 draft, is not the kind of big-arm pitching prospect that jumps out at you. However, Smalls’ skill-set led to impressive numbers through the end of his NCAA and the start of his pro careers. After an early college TJ surgery, he ended his college career, leading the SEC in strikeouts and WHIP. Couple that with a start to his pro career that has seen a 15.5 K/9, 0.83 WHIP, and just 2 ER in 18 innings pitched at A Ball. Not bad at all for a pitcher whose fastball sits around 89, touching 92 on occasion. Small accomplishes this with exceptional pitch ability, deception, above-average command, and an already well developed four-pitch arsenal. That arsenal includes his average fastball, above-average changeup, average curveball, and above-average slider. Small’s baseball IQ coupled with the potential for four-plus pitches after some big-league instruction, could lead to a No 2-3 ceiling lefty in the Brewer’s near future rotation.
Bryson Stott
Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Overall: 55
Drafted 14th overall by the Phillies, Stott is the epitome of a well-rounded player. At 22-year-old, this Philly is all but big-league ready. He’s already showing off some of those skills that the Phillies drafted him for in A ball as in 182 at-bats, he posted a .384 wOBA and 146 wRC+. He is patient and comfortable in the batter’s box and shows great fundamentals with his swing, which, despite a slight lack of raw power, should translate into average HR numbers at the MLB level. Speed is above average and could lead to multi-digit steals moving forward as well. Although nothing about Stott will ever be eye-popping, you can expect a sneakily good floor from the shortstop without the peaks and valleys of some of the other high ceiling prospects at this position. Nobody will complain about a .280/.370/.430, 15 HR/15 SB season, which is where Stott’s future projections could leave him at his peak.
Rank | Prospect | Team | Pos | B | T | Age | Level | ETA |
50 | Jimmy Lewis | LAD | P | R | R | 19 | Rookie | 2023 |
49 | Shea Langeliers | ALT | C | R | R | 22 | A | 2022 |
48 | Luis Medina | MIL | OF | L | L | 16 | Rookie | 2025 |
47 | Alexander Ramirez | NYM | OF | R | R | 16 | Rookie | 2024 |
46 | Michael Harris | ALT | OF | S | L | 18 | Rookie | 2024 |
45 | Hedbert Perez | MIL | OF | L | L | 17 | Rookie | 2024 |
44 | Benyamin Bailey | CWS | OF | R | R | 18 | Rookie | 2024 |
43 | Peyton Burdick | MIA | OF | R | R | 22 | Rookie | 2021 |
42 | Dauri Lorenzo | HOU | SS | S | R | 17 | Rookie | 2024 |
41 | Matt Wallner | MIN | OF | L | R | 22 | A | 2022 |
40 | Arol Vera | LAA | SS | S | R | 17 | Rookie | 2024 |
39 | Andry Lara | WAS | P | R | R | 17 | Rookie | 2024 |
38 | Quinn Priester | PIT | P | R | R | 19 | Rookie | 2023 |
37 | Bryce Ball | ALT | 1B | L | R | 21 | A | 2023 |
36 | Antoine Kelly | MIL | P | L | L | 20 | A | 2022 |
35 | Matthew Allan | NYM | P | R | R | 18 | Rookie | 2022 |
34 | Ethan Small | MIL | P | L | L | 22 | A | 2021 |
33 | Bayron Lora | TEX | OF | R | R | 17 | Rookie | 2024 |
32 | Aaron Schunk | COL | 3B | R | R | 22 | Rookie | 2022 |
31 | Michael Toglia | COL | 1B | S | R | 21 | Rookie | 2022 |
30 | Michael Busch | LAD | 2B | L | R | 22 | Rookie | 2021 |
29 | Bryson Stott | PHI | SS | L | R | 22 | Rookie | 2021 |
28 | Keoni Cavaco | MIN | SS | R | R | 18 | Rookie | 2023 |
27 | Blake Walston | ARI | P | L | L | 18 | Rookie | 2022 |
26 | Maximo Acosta | TEX | SS | R | R | 17 | N/A | 2024 |
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