Here at Legends on Deck our passion is prospects and the offseason presents an outstanding opportunity for us to showcase some of baseball’s top up and comers. Throughout the offseason, we will be bringing you the top ten prospects from all 30 organizations. We will start with the Arizona Diamondbacks and work our way alphabetically all the way through the Washington Nationals. This series is the opinion of Jake Berry, Senior Editor at Legends on Deck and does not reflect any official MLB rankings.
#5 – LHP Darwinzon Hernandez
2019 Opening Day Age: 22 ETA: 2020 Top Future Pitch: FB
2018 Stats (High-A): 9-5, 3.56 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 124 SO, 60 BB
Sure, he might not be number one on this list, but make no mistake about it, Hernandez is the most promising arm in this system. I don’t think the ceiling is as high as the guy below, but I think the floor is higher. Hernandez impressed in the Arizona Fall League this year blowing hitters away with his mid to high 90’s fastball while breaking off a pretty nasty curveball. Honestly, if I could pick one player to poach from this system and put him with my favorite team it would probably be Hernandez.
#4 – 3B Triston Casas
2019 Opening Day Age: 19 ETA: 2022 Top Future Tool: Power
2018 Stats (Rookie): 0/4
The Sox took yet another power hitting corner infielder in the first round of the 2018 draft when they selected Casas 26th overall. The big left handed hitter is strong, but he isn’t a power hitter solely for that reason. He also has a rather advanced swing with great leverage that just adds to the power he has from his physical strength. While he will likely end up at first base defensively, the former pitcher does have a pretty strong arm as well.
#3 – LHP Jay Groome
2019 Opening Day Age: 20 ETA: 2021 Top Future Pitch: CB
2018 Stats DNP
The big 6’6 lefty had TJ this year and didn’t get to pitch in a game in 2018. The former 12th overall pick has only tossed 62 innings since he was drafted in 2016 which leads me to stick a higher ETA on him than most. With that being said, if the 20 year old has a successful return from rehab and can actually log some innings in the near future, it will really help us to determine where he stands. The potential is there and the ceiling is high due to his combination of downhill plane and sheer stuff. A fastball, curveball combo like his can take you places.
#2 – 3B Bobby Dalbec
2019 Opening Day Age: 23 ETA: 2020 Top Future Tool: Power
2018 Stats (High-A/Double-A): .257/.361/.558, 32 HR, 109 RBI, 176 SO, 66 BB
Dalbec struck out 176 times in 129 games, but man the power is prolific. I won’t harp on that because most of you know him for the 32 homers he hit in 2018, but he should also be a serviceable defender at third with a plus arm. I have him so high on this list because of all the power hitting infielders in the system, he might be the only one not destined for first base. Dalbec probably would have been a pitcher had it not been for his ability to hit the long ball.
#1 – 1B/3B Michael Chavis
2019 Opening Day Age: 23 ETA: 2019 Top Future Tool: Power
2018 Stats (Rookie/Double-A/Triple-A): 171 AB’s, .298/.381/.538, 9 HR, 27 RBI
The Red Sox probably have more power first corner infield bats in their farm system than any other organization, and Chavis heads that group up. He does have a plus arm to go with it, but first base may be in his future due to the rest of the defensive skill set. A PED suspension limited the former first round pick to just 46 games in 2018, but he impressed in that small sample size hopefully reassuring folks of his ability post suspension.
Featured Image: LHP Darwinzon Hernandez
