Daily Prospect Notes: 8/28/2018

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

Performances from 8/26

Evan White, 1B, Seattle Mariners
Level: High-A   Age: 22   Org Rank: 2   FV: 45
Line: 3-for-4, 2B, 3Bho

Notes
We now have a full season of data to help us figure out whether Evan White’s weird profile is going to play. A plus-running backwards guy (bats right, throws left, a generally unfavorable combination due to the defensive limitations and platoon issues caused by both) who plays plus defense at first base, White was slugging .391 at the start of August, which is rather uninspiring for a college hitter in the Cal League. In August, however, White has 30 hits in 90 plate appearances and is slugging .763. He has made subtle changes to his lower half, drawing his front knee back toward his rear hip more than he did at Kentucky, and taking a longer stride back toward the pitcher. White is more often finishing with a flexed front leg, which has helped him go down and lift balls in the bottom part of the strike zone by adjusting his lower half instead of his hands. It’s a more athletic swing that was implemented before White’s explosive August, though he may just be getting comfortable with it now.

Riley Pint, RHP, Colorado Rockies
Level: Advanced Rookie   Age: 20   Org Rank: 2   FV: 50
Line: 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K

Notes
Just a quick means of updating readers on the status of Riley Pint, who hadn’t pitched in a game since June 21st. Colorado doesn’t typically play many instructional league games, and I’d be reticent to send him to the Fall League due to his strike-throwing deficiencies. It might be hard for Colorado to find him domestic innings this fall/winter, but he needs them.

Korry Howell, SS, Milwaukee Brewers
Level: Advanced Rookie   Age: 20   Org Rank: 30   FV: 35+
Line: 5-for-5, SB

Notes
Korry Howell was a 2018 12th-rounder out of Kirkwood Community College (Iowa) who signed for $210,000. He’s very raw, but he’s also exceptionally twitchy and has a projectable 6-foot-2 frame which, since Howell is only 19, will likely fill out and grow into much-needed strength over the next few years. A plus-plus runner, Howell has cobbled together a .311/.398/.350 line despite being behind the developmental curve. His speed alone presents an issue for AZL defenses and he’s running a .405 BABIP, and while it’s important to view Howell’s summer with some amount of skepticism, he does have an interesting set of tools and is one of the 2018 draft’s early-emerging sleepers.

Tucupita Marcano, SS, San Diego Padres
Level: Advanced Rookie   Age: 18   Org Rank: 31   FV: 40
Line: 3-for-4, 2B, 3B

Notes
Though he hasn’t walked 2.5 times more than he has K’d (as he did in the AZL) since being promoted, Tucupita Marcano has continued to perform and draw strong reviews from scouts with Northwest League coverage. Though most of his success is a product of elite instincts and feel, Marcano also has plus bat control and speed. His frame is narrow but not so small that he’s unprojectable. There are utility tools here if Marcano remains wispy and everyday potential (plus hit, sufficient power, plus defense) if he gets stronger.

Performances from 8/27

Yordi Rosario, RHP, Chicago White Sox
Level: Rookie   Age: 19   Org Rank: 30   FV: 35+
Line: 7 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 R, 9 K

Notes
Yordi Rosario is a pretty standard teenage projection arm. He has a prototypical build for his age and sits in the low-90s without exhibiting mechanical violence. His ability to throw strikes with both his fastball, and shapely curveball, is advanced for his age. His stuff is very average right now but he could be quite exciting if things break right.

Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago White Sox
Level: Triple-A   Age: 21   Org Rank: 1   FV: 65
Line: 4-for-4

Notes
Eloy Jimenez has 18 hits in his last seven games and has a hit in 17 of his past 19 games. He’s an elite, middle-of-the-order prospect who should be in the big leagues right now.

Gabriel Arias, SS, San Diego Padres
Level: Low-A   Age: 18   Org Rank: 17   FV: 45
Line: 5-for-6, 2B, 3B, HR

Notes
This was the best game of Gabriel Arias‘ career to date. Scout opinions have varied throughout the course of the year and have been stronger of late as Arias has gone from utilizing an open stance and simply striding closed to a monster leg kick that looks similar to the one used by Gleyber Torres. Some of the power Arias has exhibited over the last month has been to the opposite field. Early-season reports indicated Arias’ physical tools had regressed (4 runner, softer body, below-average power), but more recently, reports are similar to what they were last fall when Arias looked like he might explode the following year.

Deivi Garcia, RHP, New York Yankees
Level: High-A   Age: 19   Org Rank: 11   FV: 40+
Line: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 0 R, 8 K

Notes
Kiley saw Deivi Garcia last night and had him 91-94, touching 95 with a plus-flashing curveball and average changeup. His cross-bodied delivery and below-average fastball command create relief risk, but this is a 19-year old who has made five strong FSL starts, and his ceiling is higher than that if the changeup and command come along.