2016 Midwest League Top 20 Prospects

LEAGUE SUPERLATIVES

Nick Senzel

Championship Series
Great Lakes (Dodgers) 3
Clinton (Mariners) 1

Best Record
Clinton (Mariners), 86-54 (.614

Most Valuable Player
Eloy Jimenez, of, South Bend (Cubs)

Pitcher OF The Year*
Evan Manarino, lhp, Beloit (Athletics)

Did Not Qualify
Triston McKenzie, rhp, Lake County (Indians)

*As selected by Baseball America

See Also: 2016 League Top 20 Index

Position players stood out in the low Class A Midwest League, despite its pitcher-friendly reputation. The league boasted the top bat in the 2016 draft (Nick Senzel), the top international talent from the 2013 class (Eloy Jimenez), the minor league all-star team catcher (Francisco Mejia) and the first high school position player popped in 2015 (Kyle Tucker).

Clinton, the Mariners affiliate led by a staff that included lefthander Luiz Gohara and righthanders Nick Neidert, Ronald Dominguez and Zack Littell, compiled the league’s best record and ran away with the Western Division title in the second half. Overall, Clinton won 86 games, a franchise record, and recorded 19 shutouts, the most in the MWL. The LumberKings didn’t hit much, though 2014 first-rounder Alex Jackson showed power. They advanced to the MWL finals before falling to Great Lakes.

As usual, the MWL saw the debut of some of the more advanced 2016 draft picks, such as Senzel, the No. 2 overall pick out of Tennessee, and Angels first baseman Matt Thaiss, who went No. 16 overall out of Virginia. Brewers second-rounder Lucas Erceg, a third baseman from Menlo (Calif.), was another notable draftee who pushed his way into the Top 20 Prospects.

1. Nick Senzel, 3b, Dayton (Reds) |

Age: 21. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 205. Drafted: Tennessee 2016 (1).

Senzel did not take a traditional path to becoming the No. 2 overall pick in the country. Undrafted out of high school, his stock surged at Tennessee and he signed with the Reds for $6.2 million, a bonus amount that topped all 2016 draft picks.

The most polished college bat in his draft class, Senzel advanced quickly to Dayton and has an above-average hit tool and plus raw power that could show up in games as he adds loft to his line-drive-geared bat path. His power is presently solid-average. Senzel has shown in batting practice the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field and over the fence. He has above-average bat speed with leverage and above-average pitch recognition.

Senzel has average speed but is an above-average baserunner with the ability to steal 15-20 bases, at least early in his career. He has average arm strength but enough to stick at third base, but his quickness and footwork allow for a move to second base, if necessary. Scouts laud him for his competitive makeup.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
210	38	69	23	3	7	36	32	49	15	7	.329	.415	.567

2. Eloy Jimenez, of, South Bend (Cubs) |

Age: 19. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 205. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2013.

The Cubs invested $2.8 million to sign Jimenez out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, and he took a huge step forward this season in his first crack at full-season ball. He starred in both the MWL all-star game and Futures Game, hitting a home run in both, and took home MVP honors after leading the MWL with 40 doubles and a .532 slugging percentage. He ranked second with 81 RBIs and third with a .329 average.

Jimenez has plus raw power, with the ability to hit the ball out to any part of the park. His hit tool grades as above-average. He can be overly aggressive but has a solid two-strike approach. He has shown the aptitude to adjust to pitches on the outer half as well as offspeed pitches, though his pitch recognition will need to improve.

Jimenez is an average runner and average defender in left field who has gotten better jumps on balls this year. He could improve his average arm with better lower-half mechanics. He engages with teammates and the media and has rapidly improved his English skills.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
432	65	142	40	3	14	81	25	94	8	3	.329	.369	.532

3. Francisco Mejia, c, Lake County (Indians) |

Age: 20. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 175. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2012.

After hitting .243 at Lake County in 2015, Mejia repeated the MWL this season with aplomb. In fact, he was in the middle of his historic 50-game hit streak when the Indians promoted him to high Class A Lynchburg.

The switch-hitting Mejia’s improvement at the plate stemmed from moving away from a pull-happy, homer-centric approach to letting the ball travel deeper in the hitting zone and using the opposite field. He’s still a free-swinger, but he does a better job with pitches on the outer half. He’s an above-average hitter with average power presently, and his .347 average would have tied Cedar Rapids’ Luis Arraez for the best in the MWL if he had the requisite number of plate appearances.

Like most catchers, Mejia is a below-average runner. A plus arm and quick release help him shut down the running game, and he threw out 43 percent of basestealers. He has made strides with blocking balls, where he grades as solid-average, but his receiving, while improved, needs work.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
239	41	83	17	3	7	51	15	39	1	0	.347	.384	.531

4. Kyle Tucker, of, Quad Cities (Astros) |

Age: 19. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 190. Drafted: HS—Tampa, 2015 (1).

The fifth overall pick in the 2015 draft, Tucker showcased a well-rounded game at Quad Cities to earn a mid-August promotion high Class A Lancaster. He hit .285/.360/.438 with nine home runs, 32 stolen bases and 50 walks as a 19-year-old at the two stops.

While Tucker might fill out somewhat, most observers expect he’ll remain lean and retain wiry strength, and he earned comparisons with the Marlins’ Christian Yelich. He projects as an above-average hitter with above-average power, with an expected ceiling of 20-25 homers because of the natural loft in his swing. His swing can get pull-heavy at times.

Despite his 31 steals—which tied for third in the MWL—Tucker is an average to tick above runner, but he has excellent instincts on the bases. He can play all three outfield positions but profiles better on a corner because his arm is just average.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
373	43	103	19	5	6	56	40	75	31	9	.276	.348	.402

5. Sandy Alcantara, rhp, Peoria (Cardinals) |

Age: 20. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 170. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2013.

Part of a promising pitching staff at Peoria that also included righthanders Junior Fernandez, Derian Gonzalez and Jake Woodford, Alcantara led the MWL with 119 strikeouts at the time of his late-July promotion to high Class A Palm Beach.

Of all the talented arms in the MWL, Alcantara has the highest ceiling because of present stuff. He throws a fastball that has touched 100 mph, a curveball with depth and an effective changeup with good arm speed. He also owns a lean, 6-foot-4 frame.

At his best, Alcantara keeps the ball down in the zone, but at times he can lose feel for his breaking ball. Command of all of his pitches will be the most important factor that determines whether he can be a starter.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
5	7	4.08	17	17	0	90	78	49	41	4	45	119	.228

6. Marcos Diplan, rhp, Wisconsin (Brewers) |

Age: 19. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 160. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2013 (Rangers).

The Brewers targeted Diplan and shortstop Luis Sardinas when they traded Yovani Gallardo to the Rangers in January 2015. Sardinas has moved on, but Diplan in his full-season debut advanced to high Class A Brevard County in mid-July. His 1.80 ERA would have led the MWL if he had the requisite innings.

Diplan, who pitched all season at age 19, lacks only Sandy Alcantara’s physical projection. Otherwise he would have ranked as the top pitching prospect in the MWL. Diplan’s fastball ranges from 92-96 mph with late life. His slider flashes plus and his changeup is a presently average pitch that he throws with good feel.

Diplan stands 6 feet tall and is slightly built, which leads some observers to peg him as a future reliever, but the Brewers believe he can handle a starter’s workload because of his athleticism and repeatable delivery. He has shown situational awareness and the ability to make adjustments.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
6	2	1.80	17	11	0	70	49	24	21	3	32	89	.191

7. Isan Diaz, ss/2b, Wisconsin (Brewers) |

Age: 20. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 185. Drafted: HS—Springfield, Mass., 2014 (2s/Diamondbacks).

The Brewers’ new front-office regime is heavily influenced by its scouting director Ray Montgomery, who drafted Diaz while with the Diamondbacks. A Puerto Rico product by way of a Massachusetts high school, Diaz earned MVP honors in the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2015 and, after a slow start, extended that success to the MWL, which he paced with 20 home runs and finished second with 72 walks.

A lefthanded batter, Diaz’s swing can get long and loopy at times, as it did toward the end of 2016, his first exposure to full-season ball. Though he looks smaller than his listed 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, his power grades as above-average and plays in games. He takes walks but needs to make more contact and is a below-average runner.

Diaz has played primarily shortstop as a pro, but late in 2016 he moved to second base, where he’s expected to see the bulk of playing time going forward. He is considered an average defender at short and perhaps a tick above-average at second, with a good glove-hand exchange on double plays. His average arm plays better on the right side.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
507	71	134	35	5	20	75	72	148	11	8	.264	.358	.469

8. Michael Gettys, of, Fort Wayne (Padres) |

Age: 20. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 185. Drafted: HS—Gainesville, Ga., 2014 (2).

A toolsy player who nevertheless paced the MWL with 162 strikeouts in 2015, Gettys began translating his raw ability to the field this season as he repeated the league. His power, speed and defense played, earning him a mid-June promotion to high Class A Lake Elsinore. He hit .305 at the two stops, albeit with strikeouts more than a quarter of the time.

One of the more exciting, multi-dimensional players in the MWL, Gettys is an easy plus defender in center field with incredible range and the plus-plus speed to run down his misreads. His arm is a plus weapon, and his 11 assists ranked among the league leaders.

At the plate, Gettys has shown more patience, but he still gets overly aggressive at times. He has toned down his swing and uses a back bend in the batter’s box to remind himself to stay tall in his stance. He has average power or perhaps a tick above but still swings and misses too often.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
257	37	77	10	5	3	27	18	69	24	10	.300	.366	.412

9. Sean Reid-Foley, rhp, Lansing (Blue Jays)

Age: 20. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 220. Drafted: HS—Jacksonville, 2014 (2).

Reid-Foley had a breakout 2016 season in which the righthander ranked sixth in the minors with a .190 opponent average.

Reid-Foley’s first two seasons were filled with walks—he averaged 6.1 free passes per nine innings—but mechanical tweaks have led to great improvement. He is in better shape now and owes better control to changes to his leg kick and better direction to the plate. His delivery is now cleaner and easier to repeat, resulting in a consistent release point and better command. His stuff lost none of its bite.

Reid-Foley’s fastball has been clocked up to 97 mph with tail and sink, and his curveball has flashed plus. He still needs to improve his currently below-average changeup, while his slider is unremarkable.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
4	3	2.95	11	11	0	58	43	22	19	2	22	59	.208

10. Franklin Perez, rhp, Quad Cities (Astros)

Age: 18. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 197. Signed: Venezuela, 2014.

Signed out of Carlos Guillen’s program for $1 million in 2014, Perez has pure mechanics and physical presence. Despite converting from an infielder when he was just 14, he has the pure mechanics of a longtime pitcher.

Tall and projectable, Perez has the ideal pitcher’s frame and is exceptionally athletic. He has good present size but scouts expect he can carry more weight.

Perez, who pitched all season at age 18, made full-season ball look easy. He struck out 10.1 batters per nine innings and walked just 2.6 per nine, showing control that belies his years. His fastball sits 92-94 mph with a peak of 96. His curveball projects to be a plus offering, while his slider and changeup are presently average pitches. His mixes his pitches well and profiles as a starter.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
3	3	2.84	15	10	0	67	63	24	21	1	19	75	.250

11. Luiz Gohara, lhp, Clinton (Mariners)

Age: 20. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 210. Signed: Brazil, 2012.

The Mariners say Gohara, who signed for $800,000 in 2012, dropped about 30 pounds from his mature, 6-foot-3 frame, but scouts who saw him say he’s still—to be polite—husky. He failed to crack a full-season Opening Day roster for a fourth straight year and didn’t join Clinton until July 4. [Note: A previous version of this capsule incorrectly stated that Gohara will be Rule 5 draft-eligible this winter. In fact, he won’t be eligible until after 2017.]

Gohara appeared more athletic on the mound this season, making his delivery more repeatable and helping his control. He walked 3.3 batters per nine innings, which is a huge improvement from previous efforts, while striking out 60 in 54.1 innings.

For a player just out of his teens, Gohara has great poise and combines that with two above-average pitches. His slider is a swing-and-miss offering and his fastball touches 100 mph on occasion, with 95-96 a more regular occurrence. He can cut and sink his fastball. He doesn’t throw his changeup often and needs to gain more feel for it to round out his arsenal.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
5	2	1.82	10	10	0	54	44	12	11	1	20	60	.223

12. Magneuris Sierra, of, Peoria (Cardinals)

Age: 20. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 160. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2012.

Sierra grades as one of the MWL’s most-skilled defenders in center field and is perhaps a step behind Fort Wayne’s Michael Gettys. He moves well into the gaps and has an above-average, accurate throwing arm. Sierra is a true center fielder and one scouts believe can handle the position in the majors right now, even with three-deck stadiums and larger spans to cover.

Sierra’s bat is no slam dunk, however. He has shown great bat-to-ball ability versus righthanders, but he almost never walks and has well below-average power. “You’re just trying to project that he can do some damage,” one manager said, “but it’s not a sure bet.” However, another evaluator said he believes Sierra’s quick, compact swing and projected strength gains mean he could hit 8-12 homers at his peak.

Sierra is a plus runner, perhaps a tick more, and his 31 steals ranked third in the MWL, but he also was caught 17 times, which is indicative of his lack of feel.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
524	78	161	29	4	3	60	22	97	31	17	.307	.335	.395

13. Jon Harris, rhp, Lansing (Blue Jays) |

Age: 22. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 175. Drafted: Missouri State, 2015 (1).

Harris ran up a 6.75 ERA in a rough pro debut in 2015 that he attributed to fatigue after a long college postseason. He re-established himself as one of the Blue Jays’ best pitching prospects this season and earned a late-July promotion to high Class A Dunedin.

Harris’ fastball sits 93-94 mph with late life and has touched 96. None of his other pitches are plus, but he can throws strikes with his 12-to-6 curveball, hard slider with depth and average changeup. Harris has improved the angle on his fastball so that he now works more consistently down in the zone. He drives down through his delivery, while staying tall.

Harris has great makeup and a tremendous work ethic, with room to carry another 15-20 pounds on his lean, broad-shouldered frame.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
8	2	2.23	16	16	0	85	74	28	21	1	24	73	.232

14. Albert Abreu, rhp, Quad Cities (Astros) |

Age: 20. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 175. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2013.

The Astros signed Abreu for $185,000 in August 2013, and he rose in the organization’s standing after showing big velocity and improved secondary stuff at Rookie-level Greeneville in 2015. He recorded a 5.45 ERA in April and May this season, but one evaluator said that battling adversity would benefit Abreu, who received a late-August promotion to high Class A Lancaster.

Abreu’s fastball sits 92-95 mph and touches 99, while his changeup is at least average. Abreu shows good feel for his slider and curveball, and he enjoys pitching backwards, but he needs to sequence them better in order for them to become chase pitches.

The key for Abreu will be the consistency of his delivery and his command. He’ll need to be able to repeat his delivery out of the windup and stretch in order to have enduring success.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
2	8	3.50	21	14	0	90	62	40	35	5	49	104	.193

15. Matt Thaiss, 1b, Burlington (Angels) |

Age: 21. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 190. Drafted: Virginia, 2016 (1).

From the amateur ranks to the pros, Thaiss has been regarded as a catcher in name only. He wasn’t proficient enough to play the position when he first got to Virginia, and then after two passable years behind the plate in college, the Angels drafted him 16th overall and immediately shifted him to first base. That’s OK, because Thaiss’ bat will do the carrying.

The New Jersey native should be an above-average hitter, thanks to a line-drive stroke and an all-fields game plan. Thaiss rarely expands the strike zone and is content to walk. His power projection is most in question. One MWL manager pegged Thaiss’ home-run projection at about 7-10 annually, while other evaluators think he could get to possibly 15 a season.

That sort of power profile doesn’t always fit at first base, and at least one manager predicts the Angels will try Thaiss again at catcher at some point. If not, he has an average arm that might play at third base, though his below-average speed would be stretched in left field.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
199	24	55	12	3	4	31	22	28	1	0	.276	.351	.427

16. Beau Burrows, rhp, West Michigan (Tigers)

Age: 19. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 200. Drafted: HS—Weatherford, Texas, 2015 (1).

For a pitcher still in his teens, Burrows displayed solid poise and presence in his full-season debut. He averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings in limited action last year in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, but that rate dropped to 6.2 per nine this season, which the Tigers chalked up to facing more advanced hitters.

Burrows’ fastball sits in the low to mid-90s, but he showed he has shown he is not a one-pitch pitcher. His power curveball flashes above-average potential but was inconsistent, especially in the cold climes of the MWL. He shows feel for his changeup, but that pitch is just developing.

Burrows has an athletic delivery that helps him repeat his mechanics and release point, but he needs more reps for that to become muscle memory. The Tigers carefully monitored his pitch count, which is not an uncommon practice for a pitcher his age.

W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG
6	4	3.15	21	20	0	97	87	38	34	2	30	67	.240

17. Trent Clark, of, Wisconsin (Brewers)

Age: 19. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 205. Drafted: HS—Richland, Texas, 2015 (1).

The 15th overall pick in the 2015 draft, Clark failed to build on a solid pro debut in the MWL this season. His full-season debut began with disappointment when Clark stayed back in extended spring training, per the Brewers’ game plan. Clark was disappointed with the decision and then got hurt a couple of weeks after joining Wisconsin on May 9. A hamstring injury and then a recurrence of that issue limited him to just 59 games.

Clark had trouble overcoming the adversity of not being fully healthy as well as dealing with better breaking-ball spin from more advanced pitchers. He hit just .231 with a poor strikeout rate, yet he did draw walks at an elite level for the MWL.

The Brewers were encouraged with how he worked counts, despite his struggles, and his consistently upbeat approach. At his best, Clark is a potential five-tool talent, with average hitting and power potential and above-average speed and range in center field.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
221	27	51	15	2	2	24	37	68	5	10	.231	.346	.344

18. Jake Cronenworth, ss, Bowling Green (Rays) |

Age: 22. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 185. Drafted: Michigan, 2015 (7).

Cronenworth served as a jack-of-all-trades at Michigan and yet the Rays found a new way to utilize him: as an everyday shortstop at Bowling Green. He pitched and played every infield position but shortstop for the Wolverines, but he has shown great versatility and aptitude by playing short well enough to be called one of the better defenders in the 16-team MWL.

Cronenworth has an average arm, but it’s adequate for the position. He lacks the fluid movements of the league’s top defenders, such as Peoria’s Edmundo Sosa, but is dependable.
At bat is where Cronenworth shines. He has a strong two-strike approach and sprays line drives from line to line. He has some gap power but below-average thump overall. He led the league with a .429 on-base percentage and hit .322 to rank fifth in the batting race.

The lefthanded-hitting Cronenworth crowds the plate and was one of the toughest batters to pitch to, according to league managers. He’s a tick above-average as a runner but is a skilled baserunner, so his basestealing ability plays up.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
314	66	101	15	6	3	48	54	57	12	7	.322	.429	.436

19. Eli Alvarez, 2b, Peoria (Cardinals)

Age: 21. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 165. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2011.

Finally healthy after a series of injuries since he signed in 2011, Alvarez showed off his five-tool ability at Peoria this season. Said one MWL manager: “He’s not the best player, but he’s my favorite player on that (Peoria) team.”

Alvarez’s bat is his headlining tool. He has a simple lefthanded stroke that never seems off-balance. He rarely takes a bad swing and shows at least average power, as evidenced by a .476 slugging percentage that ranked third in the league. He’s an average but smart baserunner who led the circuit with 36 steals.

Alvarez made 27 errors at second base but still is considered at least an average fielder with an above-average arm. The errors, according to one evaluator, are of the correctable variety. He tends to lay back on ground balls at times instead of charging for the best hop.

AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
433	70	140	36	6	6	59	53	96	36	15	.323	.404	.476

20. Lucas Erceg, 3b, Wisconsin (Brewers)

Age: 21. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 200. Drafted: Menlo (Calif.), 2016 (2).

A two-way star in high school, Erceg pitched in college at California, but his bat took center stage. After being voted all-Pac-12 Conference as a sophomore, he flunked out of Cal and ended up at NAIA Menlo, near his boyhood home of San Jose. The smaller campus helped Erceg focus, and he ranked fourth in the NAIA in homers.

Erceg drew first-round interest, but red flags about his background and the lesser pedigree of NAIA competition pushed him to the Brewers in the second round in 2016. He could have drawn interest as a pitcher as well since he hit 97 mph in college, but he prefers to hit.

Erceg has the plus arm to play third base or right field and good footwork to stay in the dirt, but he doesn’t have the the surest hands. A pro scout who saw him said he expects Erceg to fill out his thin frame, but that he generates above-average power with a loose, whippy swing, and that he ambushes first-pitch fastballs. He’s an average runner but has good instincts.