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

8/23

Mike O’Reilly, RHP, St. Louis (Profile)
Level: Hi-A   Age: 22   Org Rank: NR  Top 100: NR
Line: 6 IP, 9 H, 0 BB, 2 R, 7 K

Notes
A 27th rounder out of Flagler College last year, O’Reilly was promoted to High-A Palm Beach in late July after a dominant four-game stretch of Midwest League starts that included a complete game, one-hit, 12-strikeout performance. O’Reilly doesn’t throw all that hard, sitting 88-91, but he’s deceptive, he can locate his breaking ball for strikes, and he flashes a plus changeup. There’s some risk that O’Reilly’s fastball won’t be effective against upper-level hitters, but he has quality secondary stuff, throws strikes, and overall has a profile in line with valuable upper-level pitching depth.

Hunter Harvey, RHP, Baltimore (Profile)
Level: Low-A  Age: 22   Org Rank: 8  Top 100: NR
Line: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 7 K

Notes
Harvey has now made six starts this year, more than he has in a single year since 2014. He’s working his way back from Tommy John, the latest in a long list of severe injuries — others include: flexor-mass strain, fractured fibula, hernia surgery — that have stifled the development of a promising still just 22-year-old pitcher. Harvey’s fastball velocity is back, 92-96 and touching 97, and it hasn’t been challenged by low-level hitters.

Jose Albertos, RHP, Chicago NL (Profile)
Level: Short Season   Age: 18   Org Rank: 4   Top 100: NR
Line: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 R, 8 K

Notes
He was a bit wild during the spring, but Albertos has thrown more strikes lately at Eugene, allowing his stuff to thwart rookie-level hitters. He sits 92-95 with sink and will flash a plus curveball and changeup. It’s impact stuff if Albertos can locate it and stay healthy. (He had an ominous 13-day stretch without a start in mid-July and then got shelled when he returned, but has been very good since then.) He’s done both for the last 20 days.

Teoscar Hernandez, OF, Toronto (Profile)
Level: Triple-A   Age: 24   Org Rank: 4   Top 100: HM
Line: 4-for-5, 2 HR, 3B

Notes
Hernandez has a strong all-around skillset that simply couldn’t crack a talented and crowded big-league outfield in Houston. While some scouts consider Hernandez a viable defender in center field (impressive considering he was an amateur infielder) he generally gets projected to a corner and is very likely to play left or right in Toronto with Kevin Pillar under team control until 2021. He has the hit/power combination to profile there. Despite utilizing no leg kick or stride, Hernandez is able to generate power to all fields purely through rotation and bat speed. He hit both home runs and his triple to right-center field last night. He and Anthony Alford look like they’re going to be effective and exciting young bookend outfielders.

*****

8/24

Ramon Laureano, OF, Houston (Profile)
Level: Double-A   Age: 23   Org Rank: NR  Top 100: NR
Line: 2-for-4, 2 HRs

Notes
Laureano had a dubiously stellar season as a 22-year-old in the Cal League last year and then came to the Arizona Fall League and looked, to many, like an everyday player who’d make an impact on both offense and defense. He has struggled at Double-A this year, slashing .218/.288/.352. He’s not hitting the ball the opposite way as frequently this year. Aside from that, though, I have no signal as to why he’s struggled so mightily. He has three homers in two games, hopefully a sign of improvement.

Josh Staumont, RHP, Kansas City (Profile)
Level: Double-A  Age: 23   Org Rank: 4  Top 100: NR
Line: 7 IP, 0 H, 5 BB, 1 R, 8 K

Notes
Perhaps the most Staumontian line he could possibly produce, Staumont continues to get by at the upper levels despite lacking starter’s control due to a comfortably plus fastball and breaking ball. Even if he never figures it out, Staumont easily has the stuff to pitch at the back of a bullpen and, assuming he has the mental makeup to do so, could be one of baseball’s better late-inning arms.

Yohel Pozo, C, Texas (Profile)
Level: Low-A   Age: 20   Org Rank: HM   Top 100: NR
Line: 5-for-5

Notes
Pozo looks much more unique on paper than he does in person, though he was identified as a prospect during his stateside debut last year in the AZL. He has terrific bat control, hand-eye, and enough pop to drive the ball into the corners and gaps, doing most of his extra-base damage by way of the double. Pozo has posted career strikeout and walk rates of 5.6% and 6.2%, respectively, and those coupled with his build and position are reminiscent of statistical unicorn, Willians Astudillo. Pozo has a better chance to catch, with fringey, but passable, receiving and an average arm.