It’s been a crazy opening week in the MLB from the first game of the season being just six innings long and a stud testing positive before the game even started. Since that time we’ve seen several big names test positive and an entire team being put essentially on lockdown and utilizing mostly a minor league roster to continue as this week moves on. There are also key prospects that have been called up or will be this week, so with that in mind let’s take a look at some prospects that have already come up and those slated to come up shortly.
Brady Singer , RHP KC - Singer started on Saturday in his MLB debut after being drafted out of the University of Florida in the 2018 first round. The 6’5”, 210-pound righty has a three-pitch mix that are all at least above-average if not plus. The fastball is a low-90s sinking two-seamer but he can reach back for a mid-90s four-seamer when he needs to. The slider is the premier pitch in the arsenal as it comes in a plus-pitch that he can vary the speed, depth, and break to keep hitters off balance. The changeup is still developing but at least MLB-average at the moment. His first career start came against the Indians and he looked every bit the part expected with five innings of scattered damage and eight strikeouts. He has the stuff to be a number two starter to mid-rotation starter.
Edward Olivares , OF SD - Olivares was an unknown international prospect when he signed in 2014 out of Venezuela and since that time he’s been stepping his way through the Padres’ farm system. In 2019 at Double-A he posted .283/.349/.453 in 127 games with 18 home runs, 85 runs, 77 RBI, and 35 steals. He had 20 or more steals the two seasons prior as well and it’s that speed that has really caught the eye of the Padres. He’s now played a couple of games in the majors going 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. The speed is definitely a threat once he gets on base which he should be able to do with his approach and the good extension in his swing that also produces a fair bit of hard contact. He does need to refine his approach to be an everyday starter full-time but he should get enough shots to prove that this year and add needed speed to the lineup as well.
Jaylin Davis, OF SF - Davis was taken in the 24th round of the 2015 draft by the Twins but didn’t make his pro debut until 2016 after recovering from a torn labrum. He was then traded to San Francisco in the Sam Dyson trade last July in the middle of his breakout campaign, hitting 36 homers including 10 in 27 games at Triple-A. He played a bit in the majors last season but has made the opening roster for the Giants this year. He has an interesting set of skills in that his raw power is at least above average and saw him hit 36 long balls a year ago, however he also had the fourth-highest ground ball rate in the minors for any player with 20 or more homers at 51-percent. The speed is also above-average but in game situations drops a tick. The hit tool will likely never be better than a tick below-average and the pop and defense lend themselves to a corner outfield and profiles as a 25 home run, .250 hitter at the absolute best.
Joe Palumbo , LHP TEX - Palumbo is one of the top pitching prospects in the Rangers’ system and he came in to fill in for the injured Corey Kluber on Sunday pitching a few innings of relief. There was an outside shot that he’d have a rotation spot if they went to a six-man rotation this year in Texas but with that out of the question, he’ll fill a relief role in all likelihood as Kolby Allard is set to take the rotation spot for Kluber, though Allard no longer counts as a prospect at this point. To be honest, the repertoire lends itself more to a reliever role than starter as there’s really a two-pitch mix in play with a developing third. The low-80s 11-5, curveball is his best pitch and sits well into the plus range on the 20-80 scouting scale. It’s a high-spin rate pitch that adds depth to it and deception. The fastball comes in in the low-90s but ticks up to 96 occasionally, though more in relief, and it gets on hitters faster than they think as it plays well off of the curveball. The third pitch is a changeup which is average at best but needs to keep righties off balance more. While pitching for two levels last year in the minors he struck out 108 in 80.2 innings with an ERA of 3.01 and a 1.13 WHIP as mostly a starter. The stuff plays up in shorter stints and so he fits the mold of a high-strikeout lefty reliever.
Nate Pearson , RHP TOR - Are we salivating yet? Perhaps the best pitching prospect in the minors is making his MLB debut on Wednesday against the Nats. The big, 6’6” 250-pound righty has some of the best stuff in the minors including a fastball that is elite to say the least. It clocks in at 102 mph but sits 98-101 with great life and he pairs it with an upper-80s slider with late, glove-side cut. There’s also a changeup he’s worked hard on and now has an above-average grade and he’ll mix in a top-to-bottom curveball as well. The four-pitch mix is more than enough to make him a frontline starter and the anchor of the Blue Jays rotation for years to come. The Nats offense might not be the most intimidating one out there but they are patient which should be a good test for Pearson in his debut.
Tyler Stephenson, C CIN - Stephenson was taken as a high school catcher at 11th overall in 2015 and was sidetracked by injuries for the first couple of years. Last year in 89 games at Chattanooga he slashed .285/.372/.410 with six homers and 44 RBI. Arizona Fall League really boosted his standing as well with a .347 average and seven doubles in the desert. The offense is still coming as he’s made swing changes to make it shorter and get more bat speed in the zone but overall he already had a good approach. At 6’4” he’s bigger than your standard catcher but there aren’t any real concerns about moving him as he’s a very good defensive backstop and receives well. The Reds have announced that he’ll be up early this week with the Mike Moustakas move to the IL, Stephenson will act as a backup backstop and get some work but going forward in keeper leagues he’s an interesting bat at a shallow position.
Spencer Howard, RHP PHI - Howard was the talk of Phillies Summer Camp as Bryce Harper went so far as to say he needed to be in the starting rotation when camp broke for the shortened season. Well now it appears that Harper will get his wish as Howard is expected to come up over the weekend or early next week and take a spot in the rotation, like Vince Velasquez ’s if they are kicking someone out. The 2017 second round pick out of Cal Poly, Howard has four potential out pitches and the one that leads the way is his near double-plus mid-90s fastball that has great life in the zone. He also elevates it well in the lost art of the high strike. His two breaking pitches are distinct and both above-average. The slider is a tight biting slider while the curve can be better any given day. The changeup is the real equalizer and one of the filthiest offspeed offerings in the minors. He’s so confident in the pitch that he’ll throw it in any count as it has great fade and depth and downward action. He’s a frontline starter in the making.