2016 Gulf Coast League Top 20 Prospects

LEAGUE SUPERLATIVES
Mickey Moniak (Photo by Cliff Welch) Championship Series GCL Cardinals 2, GCL Phillies 1
Best Record GCL Phillies, 43-15 (.741)
Most Valuable Player Juan Soto, of, GCL Nationals
Pitcher OF The Year* Sixto Sanchez, rhp, GCL Phillies
Did Not Qualify Ian Anderson, rhp, GCL Braves
* As selected by Baseball America

See Also: 2016 League Top 20 Index

With the most prospect-stacked team in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, the Phillies rolled to the best record (43-15) during the regular season. The Phillies have four players ranked among the league top 20 prospects, including No. 1 overall draft pick Mickey Moniak and three players from their international program.

The Phillies reached the league finals, but the Cardinals won the championship with a 4-2 victory in the decisive Game Three of the series. The Cardinals had two first-round picks, shortstop Delvin Perez and outfielder Dylan Carlson, along with a strong Venezuelan battery of righthander Alvaro Seijas and catcher Dennis Ortega.

Several 2016 first-round picks pitched in the GCL this year, though Braves righthander Ian Anderson, the No. 3 overall pick, fell two-thirds of an inning short of qualifying.

1. Mickey Moniak of, Phillies |

Age: 18. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 185. Drafted: HS—Carlsbad, Calif., 2016 (1).

Moniak was the No. 1 overall pick in June and signed for $6.1 million. After a stellar start to his pro career, his numbers tailed off in August when he looked tired at the end of the season. He showed the advanced combination of tools and skills in the GCL that made him the top pick.

Moniak has a short, fluid swing with excellent ability to manipulate the barrel, showing he can hit good fastballs and offspeed pitches. He has good strike-zone judgment and a sound hitting approach, going with where the ball is pitched and using the whole field. He’s skinny, so his power is mostly to the gaps at this point, but he has the room to fill out and grow into at least 10-15 home runs.

An above-average runner, Moniak is a smooth defender with good instincts and a quick first step in center field.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
194	27	27	11	4	1	28	11	35	10	4	.284	.340	.409

2. Matt Manning, rhp, Tigers |

Age: 18. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-6. Wt.: 190. Drafted: HS—Sacramento, 2016 (1).

The son of former NBA player Rich Manning, Matt was a standout high school basketball player who could have played hoops and baseball at Loyola Maramount. Instead the Tigers drafted him with the No. 9 overall pick this year and signed for $3,505,800 as the No. 9 overall pick. The Tigers kept Manning on a tight leash in his pro debut, never letting him throw more than three innings in a start.

Manning struck out 38 percent of the batters he faced in the GCL, where his fastball sat at 93-97 mph with steep downhill angle. He has tight spin on a power curve, which he doesn’t always repeat consistently, but it’s a swing-and-miss pitch that flashes plus. He didn’t throw his changeup much in short stints, but he has shown feel for that pitch.

Manning throws slightly across his body, which creates some deception, and his excellent athleticism helps him repeat his delivery to throw plenty of strikes. He has the upside to develop into a front-end starter.

G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
10	10	0	2	0	3.99	29	27	18	13	2	7	46	.237

3. Juan Soto, of, Nationals

Age: 17. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 185. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2015.

Soto was one of the best hitters on the international market in 2015, which is why the Nationals signed him for $1.5 million. He had a spectacular pro debut, skipping the Dominican Summer League and winning MVP honors in the GCL as a 17-year-old. He led the league in batting (.361) and slugging (.550) and ranked second in on-base percentage (.410).

Soto is a smart player with a high baseball IQ and an advanced hitting approach. He controls the strike zone, recognizes offspeed pitches and hits to all fields. He maintains a short, fluid stroke with a knack for being on time and squaring up all types of pitches. He earns praise for his two-strike approach, which is uncommon for his age.

While Soto’s power has increased since he signed, he focuses on hitting first and power second, though both his future hitting and power tools could be above-average. Soto’s value is tied into his bat. He’s not a liability in right field, but he’s a fringe-average runner with around an average arm, with mixed reviews on his outfield routes.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
169	25	61	11	3	5	31	14	25	5	2	.361	.410	.550

4. Bo Bichette, ss, Blue Jays |

Age: 18. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 200. Drafted: HS—St. Petersburg, Fla., 2016 (2).

During Bichette’s senior season in high school, scouts didn’t get the best chance to see him hit in games because he was constantly being intentionally walked or pitched around. The son of former major league outfielder Dante Bichette, Bo went in the second round and signed for $1.1 million, then demolished GCL pitching during his brief time in the league before he missed five weeks with appendicitis, though he didn’t require surgery.

With hitting mannerisms reminiscent of Josh Donaldson, Bichette gears up for his swing with a leg kick, cranks his back elbow with a deep load, then accelerates the bat head into the hitting zone thanks to terrific bat speed. He keeps the barrel on plane through the zone for a long time, showing a mature approach and polished feel to hit for his age, and he quiets his swing when he gets into two-strike counts. He hits to all fields and drives the ball with plus power.

The Blue Jays plan to develop Bichette as a shortstop, where he has a good internal clock, a solid arm and makes plays on the run. He’s a below-average runner who could move to second or third base.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
82	21	35	9	2	4	35	6	17	3	0	.427	.451	.732

5. Delvin Perez, ss, Cardinals |

Age: 17. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 175. Drafted: HS—Ceiba, P.R., 2016 (1).

Perez was in the mix to be a single-digit draft pick until he reportedly tested positive for an unspecified performance-enhancing drug in a pre-draft test. That caused him to fall to the Cardinals at No. 23 overall. He signed for $2,222,500.

Perez separated himself in the draft for his quick-twitch athleticism and raw tools. He has 70 speed on the 20-80 scouting scale and a quick first step, giving him good range to both sides. He’s an instinctive defender with quick feet, smooth actions, good hands and a plus arm. Still learning to play under control, he made 17 errors in 40 games but also can make the difficult play look easy, so like many young infielders, he’s still learning to play under control.

Perez’s glove is ahead of his bat, but he hit well in his pro debut. With quick bat speed and good swing plane, he is adept at hitting fastballs. He is an extreme, dead-pull hitter and can get fooled on offspeed pitches. He has strong hands and forearms with a projectable frame, so he should be able to add to his gap power.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
163	19	48	8	4	0	19	12	28	12	1	.294	.352	.393

6. Jesus Sanchez, of, Rays

Age: 18. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 200. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2014.

When the Rays went over their international bonus pool in 2014, they did it primarily to sign Dominican shortstop Adrian Rondon. They also spent $400,000 that year to sign Sanchez out of the Dominican Republic. Since then, Sanchez’s tools have only improved. He’s added strength and has developed plus raw power with more room to continue filling out his lean, well-proportioned frame.

Sanchez does an excellent job of using his hands with quick bat speed on a loose lefty swing, good bat control and the ability to use the whole field. He can get too aggressive at times and over-swing, but despite not walking much he has shown the ability to recognize pitches.

Sanchez spent most of his time in center field, where he has the tools to play. He has an unorthodox gait that affects his first step, but he’s an above-average runner underway and has a plus arm, though he needs to improve his accuracy and release. On the basepaths, he’s still learning how to read pitchers and get better jumps stealing bases.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
164	25	53	6	8	4	31	6	31	1	5	.323	.341	.530

7. Sixto Sanchez, rhp, Phillies

Age: 18. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 200. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2015.

Phillies special assistant Bart Braun was in the Dominican Republic scouting a Cuban catcher at a workout when he came away more impressed by Sanchez, the 16-year-old eligible pitcher throwing to him in the low 90s. Sanchez, who had previously worked out for teams as an infielder, signed with the Phillies for $35,000, then saw his status skyrocket as he allowed just four runs in 11 starts to claim the ERA title at 0.50.

Sanchez has an easy delivery and pounds the strike zone with an explosive fastball that sits 92-96 mph and touches 98 with solid sink and armside run that leads to weak contact. He commands his fastball well for his age and uses it in all quadrants of the strike zone. He has two secondary pitches that flash plus, including his breaking ball. His changeup runs away from lefthanded batter with good downward action. He’s athletic and fields his position like an infielder.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
5	0	0.50	11	11	0	54	33	4	3	0	8	44	.181

8. Josh Lowe, 3b, Rays |

Age: 18. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 190. Drafted: HS—Marietta, Ga., 2016 (1).

Some scouts preferred Lowe as a pitching prospect, but he also had some of the best tools in the 2016 draft as a third baseman. The Rays drafted him 13th overall and signed him for $2,597,500. He performed well in his pro debut, finishing in the Rookie-level Appalachian League.

Lowe has a tall, lean, high-waisted frame with a lot of physical projection to be able to add strength. He has plus raw power, which should only improve with physical maturity. He puts himself in a position to track pitches, staying within the strike zone to draw plenty of walks. Lowe’s swing is loose, he uses his hands well and has leverage to hit for power, but he has long levers and will have to work to shorten his stroke and cut down on swing-and-miss in the zone.

Lowe runs extremely well for his size, with plus speed and a plus arm with excellent carry, though he will have to sharpen his accuracy.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
93	14	24	6	1	2	15	20	27	1	1	.258	.386	.409

9. Alvaro Seijas, rhp, Cardinals

Age: 17. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 180. Signed: Venezuela, 2015.

Signed for $762,500 last summer, Seijas started the season in the Dominican Summer League, then jumped to the GCL and showed the three-pitch mix and feel for his craft to project as a starter who could advance quickly.

Seijas is a good athlete with quick arm speed who pitches off a fastball that ranges from 91-95 mph. He mixes his offspeed pitches liberally, the best of which is a curveball with tight spin, good shape and depth that flashes plus. His changeup improved significantly and could develop into at average or better offering. His arm action and a tendency to overthrow hurt his fastball command, but he’s generally a good strike-thrower with advanced feel to pitch for his age.

Seijas lost his composure at times when things didn’t go his way, but that should improve with time and maturity.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
3	2	3.06	10	9	0	50	48	21	17	4	13	33	.224

10. Cristian Pache, of, Braves

Age: 17. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 185. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2015.

The Braves signed Pache last year for $1.4 million, then skipped him over the Dominican Summer League this year so he could make his pro debut in the GCL. He continued to perform after a promotion to Rookie-level Danville.

Pache is a quick-twitch athlete with plus-plus speed who gets good reads in center field. Prior to signing, he had a screw put in his right elbow to repair a fracture, but he has recovered and has a plus arm, projecting as a plus defender.

Pache doesn’t have classic hitter’s actions, but he gets the bat to the hitting zone quickly and has uncanny hand-eye coordination. He’s a high contact hitter whose bat control allows him to connect with pitches even when he expands the strike zone, though he has to improve his pitch recognition and plate discipline against better pitching. He can hit balls over the fence in batting practice, but is an extreme groundball hitter in games, so he will have to adjust his bat path to hit for more power in games.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
106	16	30	2	4	0	11	6	11	7	3	.283	.325	.377

11. Kyle Muller, lhp, Braves |

Age: 18. B-T: R-L. Ht.: 6-6. Wt.: 225. Drafted: HS—Dallas, 2016 (2).

Muller was throwing in the mid- to upper 80s last summer, but his tall, lanky frame screamed projection. As he added size and strength over the past year, his fastball rose in turn, boosting his stock to become one of the top lefties in the 2016 draft. After signing with the Braves for $2.5 million as a second-round pick, Muller allowed just two earned runs in his 10 GCL appearances and struck out more than 12.0 per nine innings, though the Braves never let him throw more than three innings per game.

Muller’s heavy fastball parks at 89-91 mph and can reach 94 with downhill plane from his high three-quarters arm slot. His mid-70s curveball has good shape and depth, flashing as an average pitch. He hasn’t used his changeup much yet, but he shows early signs of having feel for that offering. He throws across his body, but he’s an excellent athlete who repeats his mechanics well to throw strikes at a good rate for his age.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
1	0	0.65	10	9	0	28	14	3	2	0	12	38	.144

12. Daniel Brito, 2b, Phillies

Age: 18. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 175. Signed: Venezuela, 2014.

Brito was one of Philadelphia’s bigger international acquisitions of 2014, when he signed for $650,000 out of Venezuela. A skinny, long-limbed shortstop, he played second base this year and probably stays there long term, but it’s his bat that’s his calling card.

Brito has an advanced hitting approach for his age with good plate discipline and pitch recognition skills. He stays back on the ball, doesn’t drift forward and tracks pitches well, using a loose, handsy swing and good hand-eye coordination to barrel up balls at a high rate.

Brito is a high-contact hitter with good bat control who can handle good fastballs and breaking pitches, hitting line drives to all fields. Mostly a gap hitter now, he has room to add weight and develop 8-12 home run power, though his offensive value lies more in his on-base skills. An average runner, Brito projects as at least an average defender at second base, where he charges balls well and looks smooth turning the double play with a solid-average arm.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
190	35	54	10	5	2	25	21	27	7	2	.284	.355	.421

13. Derian Cruz, ss, Braves

Age: 17. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 180. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2015.

Cruz’s explosive athleticism made him one of the top international prospects last year, when the Braves signed him for $2 million. He spent a month in the GCL before the Braves promoted him and center fielder Cristian Pache to Rookie-level Danville.

Cruz struggled after the promotion but is a dynamic athlete with well above-average speed. He accelerates in a hurry with a quick first step and gliding strides. Cruz still has a ways to go at the plate. The switch-hitter shows more promise from the right side, where he has a line-drive approach with solid bat-to-ball skills. From the left side his weight drifts out front early and he loses his balance with less ability to drive the ball. Cruz has gap power now and could grow into double-digit homers. His biggest red flag at the plate is his tendency to swing at everything, so he will have to show more selectivity.

Cruz has a chance to stay at shortstop, where he has good range and footwork, though his lack of game awareness shows at times. Some scouts wonder whether he might end up in center field or at second base, in part because of an inconsistent arm. Cruz shows solid-average throwing ability when he gathers his feet underneath him, but he needs work on his exchange, release and angle.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
110	11	34	7	1	2	16	2	16	4	1	.309	.336	.445

14. Carter Kieboom, ss, Nationals |

Age: 18. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 190. Drafted: HS—Marietta, Ga., 2016 (1).

The Nationals drafted Kieboom No. 28 overall and signed him for $2 million, putting him in the same organization as his 25-year-old brother Spencer, a catcher at Double-A Harrisburg this year. After a long high school season, Carter played through some minor physical issues, first with shoulder soreness and later on some hamstring tightness, but in spite of that he held his own during his pro debut.

Kieboom has a steady mix of solid tools with a chance to stay in the middle of the field. He has good bat speed and body coordination—he used to pitch ambidextrously earlier in his career—though he showed more swing-and-miss than expected in his pro debut. Scouts highest on Kieboom believe in his hitting ability and polished approach for his age. He showed surprising pop in his pro debut and could have average power.

Kieboom improved his defense as a high school senior, showing better first-step quickness and range that carried over into the GCL, so he should develop the next few years as a shortstop, where he makes the routine plays even if he’s not flashy.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
110	11	34	7	1	2	16	2	16	4	1	.309	.336	.445

15. Jhailyn Ortiz, of, Phillies

Age: 17. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 240. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2015.

Ortiz had the biggest raw power in the 2015 international signing class, which compelled the Phillies to sign him for $4.01 million, which paced all Dominican players last year. The price seemed like a stretch to a lot of clubs, who had concerns about the 240-pound Ortiz’s ability to hit in games and where he would play. As a 17-year-old in the GCL this year he ranked third in the league in home runs (eight) and was hitting well early before tailing off in August as he got tired.

Ortiz has 70 raw power on the 20-80 scouting scale, with impressive bat speed and present strength. He puts on a loud batting-practice display, and when he squares up a fastball he can take it over the fence from right-center field over to his pull side. He has the raw power to hit 25-30 home runs, but he has to improve his pitch recognition and pure hitting ability to get there. Ortiz can keep his hands inside the ball, but he has a pull-oriented approach and doesn’t have natural rhythm and timing in the box. When pitchers started throwing him more breaking pitches in the last month of the season, he got caught off balance and expanded the strike zone.

When Ortiz signed, defense was an adventure for him, but he has made significant progress with his reads and routes. His plus arm also plays in right field. A below-average runner, he is already so big that many project him to first base, but for now he handles himself surprisingly well in right field.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
173	29	40	9	1	8	27	17	53	8	2	.231	.325	.424

16. Dylan Carlson, of, Cardinals

Age: 17. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Elk Grove, Calif., 2016 (1).

At 17, Carlson was one of the youngest players in the 2016 draft and also ended up becoming a surprise first-round pick when the Cardinals selected him at No. 33 overall and signed him for $1.35 million.

A switch-hitter who is better from the left side, Carlson changed his swing plane during the season. Early on, his barrel was getting in and out of the hitting zone early, but by the end of the year he flattened out his bat path to stay through the zone longer. It didn’t help his contact frequency, but it did help him show more extra-base sock as he had his best results in August. There’s strength in Carson’s swing and he’s able to turn on good fastballs and use the whole field. He showed an ability to identify breaking balls, though changeups gave him trouble.

Carlson mostly played center field, but his speed and arm strength are both fringy and fit better in left field.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
183	30	46	13	3	3	22	16	52	4	2	.251	.313	.404

17. Austin Franklin, rhp, Rays |

Age: 18. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 215. Drafted: HS—Paxton, Fla., 2016 (3).

Signed for $597,500 this year as a third-round pick out of high school, Franklin found immediate success in his transition to pro ball. With strong legs and a durable frame, he operates with a fastball that sits at 89-92 mph and touches 95 with good downhill angle. His out pitch is his plus curveball, which GCL hitters had trouble making contact with in the strike zone and often chased for swings and misses when it was out of the zone.

Franklin’s fastball-curveball combination was a big reason he struck out 26 percent of batters in his pro debut, though he showed feel for a changeup as well. He could do a better job staying over the rubber and with his direction to the plate, but he’s a good strike-thrower for his age and projects as a starter.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
1	2	2.70	11	9	1	43	30	16	13	0	16	40	.192

18. Lorenzo Cedrola, of, Red Sox

Age: 18. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 170. Signed: Venezuela, 2015.

While Cedrola wasn’t Boston’s prized international signing heading into the 2015 season—that title belonged to Yoan Moncada—he could end up being a bargain at his bonus amount, which was $35,000.

While Cedrola showcased as a shortstop, the Red Sox liked him better in center field, where he already shines. He’s a twitchy athlete with plus-plus speed underway and gets great reads off the bat. He is a plus defender who tracks the ball, has good range and a slightly above-average arm.

Cedrola had some of the best contact skills in the GCL. He squared up the ball with high frequency and used the whole field. He’s an aggressive hitter with mostly doubles power (his 14 doubles led the league) but could grow into double-digit homers, with some scouts giving him a chance to hit 10-15.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
214	33	62	14	1	2	21	11	28	9	4	.290	.350	.393

19. Diego Castillo, ss, Yankees

Age: 18. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 170. Signed: Venezuela, 2014.

Castillo isn’t the type of flashy shortstop who jumps out for his athleticism or tools, but his outstanding instincts and feel for the game at a premium position helped him secure a $750,000 bonus from the Yankees two years ago when they soared past their international bonus pool.

Castillo is a fundamentally sound player who models his swing and setup after Derek Jeter, from his high hands to the same pre-pitch movement. He has great feel for the barrel with a short, simple stroke with good bat path. He is a high contact hitter with an inside-out approach, wearing out the opposite field. Castillo doesn’t have much power and probably won’t ever be more than a gap hitter. Once he learns to turn on pitches with more authority he should show more extra-base sock, with a chance for his tools to tick up once he gets stronger.

Castillo should stick at shortstop, where he has a great internal clock and plays under control. He’s a smart, instinctive player who has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, with good hands and footwork. He’s an average runner with a slightly above-average, accurate arm.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
165	14	44	7	0	1	7	14	21	5	3	.267	.332	.327

20. Lupe Chavez, rhp, Astros

Age: 18. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 170. Signed: Mexico, 2014 (Blue Jays).

The Blue Jays signed Chavez two years ago from Quintana Roo of the Mexican League and started him in the Dominican Summer League last year before bringing him over to the GCL at the end of the year. Chavez returned to the GCL this season and pitched well before the Blue Jays traded him to the Astros for righthander Scott Feldman on Aug. 1.

Many other pitchers in the GCL lit up the radar gun more than Chavez, but few had his feel for pitching and ability to keep hitters off balance. He is a prolific strike-thrower with a fastball that ranges from 88-93 mph and could tick up once he gets stronger.

Chavez’s fastball plays up in part because hitters have to stay back for his plus changeup, which gets empty and off-balance swings. His changeup is more advanced than his curveball, but there’s good shape and depth to the curve for it to potentially develop into an average pitch.