Daily Prospect Notes: 8/16/2018

Notes on prospects from lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen. Read previous installments here.

Bryse Wilson, RHP, Atlanta Braves
Level: Triple-A   Age: 20   Org Rank: 12   FV: 45+
Line: 8 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 13 K

Notes
Bryse Wilson touched 97 several times last night and sat 93-95 late in the outing. He pounded the zone with his fastball (72 of 98 pitches were for strikes) and blew it past several hitters up above the strike zone. His slider (mostly 83-85, though he lollipops some slower ones into the zone for first-pitch strikes) flashes plus but is mostly average and is only capable of missing bats when it’s out of the zone. Wilson’s changeup is fringey and firm, without much bat-missing movement, but the velocity separation off of the fastball is enough to keep hitters from squaring it up, and it’s going to be an effective pitch. The entire package (Wilson’s physicality and stuff) looks very similar to Michael Fulmer and Wilson’s delivery is much more graceful and fluid than it was when he was in high school, when scouts thought it would impact his ability to command the fastball and possibly move him to the bullpen.

Alex Kirilloff, OF, Minnesota Twins
Level: Hi-A   Age: 20   Org Rank: 2   FV: 55
Line: 4-for-4, 2 2B

Notes
Because of a Tommy John surgery that scrubbed away his 2017 campaign, Alex Kirilloff has now played just a little over one complete pro season in the minor leagues. In 168 games, he has slashed .337/.377/.545 and is on pace to reach Double-A at some point next year, when he’ll be the age of the college juniors in the 2018 draft class, many of whom will spend their summers in advanced rookie ball. If we’re going to nitpick Kirilloff’s profile, it’s that he’s a corner-only bat with a very aggressive approach. But he has all-fields power and advanced barrel control, so he has a great chance to hit and hit for power even if he doesn’t develop selectivity.

Adonis Medina, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Level: Hi-A   Age: 21   Org Rank: 2   FV: 55
Line: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 1 R, 12 K

Notes
This is the best single-game line Adonis Medina has posted this year. His home/road splits are pretty disparate, and I spoke with a source recently who thinks Medina has trouble bouncing back from longer outings. But when his stuff his crisp he has three plus pitches — a fastball in the 92-96 range with tail, a plus slider, and plus, power changeup — and generates that kind of stuff with effortless grace. His fastball command is below average and one could argue Medina would benefit from a longer, more direct stride to the plate given his modest size (a longer stride means better extension) and plus athleticism (which means he could probably maintain such a stride), but his performance to this point has been excellent (112 Ks against 31 walks in 98 innings) and hard to quibble with.

Lewis Thorpe, LHP, Minnesota Twins
Level: Triple-A   Age: 22   Org Rank: 26   FV: 40
Line: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 0 BB, 3 R, 9 K

Notes
Lewis Thorpe sat 90-94 last night and mixed in two good breaking balls — a slower curveball with 12-6 shape and a two-planed slider — to various locations, including in the zone for strikes. His fastball runs up and to his arm side and sometimes they sail on him, but they slip past hitters in the zone, as well. He has a starter’s mix and good pitchability. His FV is always going to be lower than his stuff would otherwise dictate due to his lengthy injury history, but he could be a league-average starter as soon as next year.

Nick Pratto, 1B, Kansas City Royals
Level: Low-A   Age: 22   Org Rank: 5   FV: 45
Line: 3-for-4, 2B, HR

Notes
After a slow start, Nick Pratto has been better of late and is hitting .290/.360/.430 since the start of July. If there’s anything concerning it’s that he was thought to have elite plate discipline and feel for the strike zone for a high-school hitter (even garnering some irresponsible Joey Votto comps), but his current peripherals don’t indicate that. It’s encouraging that Pratto is hitting and he’s still an excellent prospect, but the skill profile is looking different than was anticipated.

Frank Lopez, RHP, San Diego Padres
Level: AZL   Age: 17   Org Rank: NR   FV: 35
Line: 3ip, 2 H, 2 HBP, 0 BB, 5 K

Notes
The Padres have done well acquiring a wide array of $300K-or-less bonus prospects while in the July 2 penalty box for their spending splurge in 2016. Frank Lopez is one of the several pitchers part of this interesting group. He sits 91-94 and flashes a plus breaking ball. His frame and posture draw mixed reviews, as does his command, but he’s yet another prospect of note in baseball’s best system.