Eduardo Garcia, SS - MIL

Age: 16 (7/10/02)

Signed July 10, 2018- $1.1 Million

Ok, so signing for over a million dollars might be too much to call Garcia a sleeper but this kid should be getting more buzz. He couldn’t sign right away on the July 2nd date because he didn’t turn 16 until a few days later. Garcia has a well rounded skill set and was garnering praise for how he looked at instructs. All indications are he’s an extremely advanced kid with the defensive skills to stick at the position. Offensively, the righty has a nice swing, but just needs to add strength. At six-foot-two, he has plenty of room to add weight. - Matt Thompson

Logan Simmons, SS - PHI

Age: 18 (4/11/2000)

6th Round - 167th overall

.232/.345/.400, .168 ISO, 115 wRC+, 8 BB%, 26.5 K%

The player formerly known as Kendall Logan Simmons was a potential top three round pick entering the spring, but some struggles to make consistent contact saw his stock tank. The Phillies popped the Georgia bred shortstop in the 6th round. He showed pretty well in the GCL flashing some power (.168 ISO) and athleticism in the field. He’s just an average fielder at third, but he has the pop and projectable frame to transition into power hitting corner man with a plus glove. Not often you find a raw player with some pedigree this late. - Ralph Lifshitz

Korey Holland, OF -CLE

Age: 19 (1/1/2000)

14th Round - 433rd overall

.245/.400/.298, .053 ISO, 115 wRC+, 19.2 BB%, 25 K%

The top prospect in Texas’ incoming recruiting class, jetted for the pros after the Indians offered the speedy outfielder a bonus north of $500K. In his early returns Holland hasn’t flashed much power, but there’s plus speed, athleticism, a projectable frame, and a right-handed swing that’s so basic there’s plenty of room for mechanical adjustments to unlock some of the power potential. A top prep talent that slipped through the cracks. - Ralph Lifshitz

Gionti Turner, 2B - TB

Age: 18 (8/17/2000)

27th Round - 823rd overall

.296/.348/.396, .101 ISO, 113 wRC+, 6.4 BB%, 22.5 K%

The extra young Turner was a jewel of pick by the Indians in round 27, blessed with plus plus athleticism, speed, and loads of projection. His offensive profile lags behind his raw tools at the moment but there’s an exciting athletic talent, which is always a worthy gamble the deeper you get into first year player drafts. Turner was acquired by the Rays for Chih-Wei Hu in late November. Two thoughts on that: first, it’s not often that a 27th round pick is traded for a big leaguer straight up; second, with the Rays recent track record in the amateur market you have to think they know something we don’t. - Ralph Lifshitz

Lawrence Butler, OF - OAK

Age: 18 (7/10/2000)

6th Round - 173rd overall

.226/.339/.330, .104 ISO, 98 wRC+, 14.5 BB%, 34.7 K%

An athletic lefthanded hitting power prospect with a likely home at first base long term. The only prep player the Athletics took in the first 10 rounds of the draft. He’s 6’4 with a projectable frame, a swing already leveraged for hard contact, and a patient, but not passive approach at the plate. Butler is one of the better power sleepers outside the first three rounds of the draft, and one I’d take a flier on in deeper formats. - Ralph Lifshitz

Sean Guilbe, 2B - SD

Age: 19 (12/13/1999)

12th Round - 351st overall

.218/.409/.421, .203 ISO, 141 wRC+, 22.7 BB%, 35.2 K%

One of the top prep performers post draft was the Padres 12th rounder, despite a .218 batting average and 35.2 K%, the second baseman posted a 22.7 BB%, a .203 ISO, and a wRC+ of 141. A Tennessee commit from the Pennsylvania prep ranks, Guilbe shows elite bat speed, a big frame with natural raw power, and an average exit velocity of 96 MPH (97 percentile) on the showcase circuit. Despite the tantalizing tools at the plate his approach provides significant risk of falling into the three true outcome profile. His arm graded out well over the 2017 showcase circuit exhibiting good carry and zip. It’s a risk/reward profile in an organization with a track record of uncovering gems. During his time at Berks Catholic, Guilbe played every position on the field including catcher, but saw a majority of his action in pro-ball split between second and third (20 games at each) with a quartet of games in center. - Ralph Lifshitz

Cal Stevenson, OF - TOR

Age: 22 (9/12/1996)

10th Round - 296th overall

.369/.511/.523, .154 ISO, 181 wRC+, 22.9% Bb, 8.6% K

No one hit in rookie ball in 2018 the way Stevenson did, unfortunately he bears the “advanced college hitter vs. rookie ball pitching tag.” Stevenson played at three different colleges during his amateur career, first starting at Nevada before transferring to Chabot College, a junior college in California, for his sophomore season before transferring to Arizona for his final two seasons of eligibility. While in Tucson, Stevenson never displayed much power or speed, he did however have plate approach and discipline in spades. Ultimately I view that as Stevenson’s calling card, a player who can get on base, control the strike zone and score a fair amount of runs. - Ralph Lifshitz

Jaylen Palmer, SS - NYM

Age: 18 (7/31/2000)

22th Round - 650th overall

.310/.394/.414, .103 ISO, 134 wRC+, 8 BB%, 27 K%

A homegrown talent from the Mets own backyard with a bag of raw tools that hint toward upside far above his draft spot. Palmer’s carrying tool is his athletic fielding, pointing toward a good chance of sticking at short in the future. At this point Palmer is raw at the plate, but the swing is smooth and athletic. He’s very upright, employing a slight toe tap as he engages his lower half. The bat path is balanced and linear and his barrel hangs in the zone, leading to lots of hard line drive contact. It’s a swing that could be leveraged for more potential as he develops in the coming years. His above average wheels should lead to some value on the bases, though it may show more in stretching for extra bases than actual steals. For now Palmer’s upside sits at utility infielder, but one with the ability to unlock another gear. - Ralph Lifshitz





Featured Image: Gabriel Rodriguez courtesy of Jeff Morris @BIRDIESnBRAVES



