757690
07-13-2018, 07:11 PM
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/article/41327/2018-prospects-the-midseason-top-50/
#7 Nick Senzel, IF, Cincinnati Reds
Why he’ll succeed: Senzel came into the season as one of the “safest” high-end prospects in baseball, and then proceeded to hit .310/.378/.509 in the International League. There’s no real weakness in his profile, and whatever spot the Reds drop him on the dirt, the above-average hit/power combo should play.
Why he might fail: Despite the near .900 OPS for Senzel, it’s been a bit of a lost season. He missed a month with vertigo symptoms and then tore a tendon in his finger shortly after his return. He’ll miss the rest of 2018, and while there’s few long term concerns—and it’s the only reason he is even still eligible for this list—we’ll exercise a bit of caution.
#21 Taylor Trammell, OF, Cincinnati Reds
Why he’ll succeed: Premium athleticism, plus-plus speed, and an advanced approach that helps the hit tool play up. There’s more pop here than initially expected, too.
Why he might fail: For all his athleticism, he might end up in left field rather than center, increasing the offensive expectations of the profile. His arm won’t be an asset in either position
#45 Hunter Greene, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
Why he’ll succeed: It’s hard to argue with an arsenal as electric as the one Greene brings to the table. An eye-popping fastball is obviously the highlight here, and he shows signs that his command will surpass that of many fireballers. Not only is he able to blow the the ball by guys, his slider elicits swings and misses. He’s built well, and there isn’t any obvious reason he won’t be able to start games for a few more seasons at least.
Why he might fail: As a two-way player in high school and for a brief time after turning pro, there’s a lot more work to do with Greene than many prospects of his caliber. He needs to find a repeatable delivery that maximizes on his command potential—advanced hitters will punish a poorly located fastball, no matter how explosive. Not only that, he needs to show hitters a better changeup to keep them off the heater.
#7 Nick Senzel, IF, Cincinnati Reds
Why he’ll succeed: Senzel came into the season as one of the “safest” high-end prospects in baseball, and then proceeded to hit .310/.378/.509 in the International League. There’s no real weakness in his profile, and whatever spot the Reds drop him on the dirt, the above-average hit/power combo should play.
Why he might fail: Despite the near .900 OPS for Senzel, it’s been a bit of a lost season. He missed a month with vertigo symptoms and then tore a tendon in his finger shortly after his return. He’ll miss the rest of 2018, and while there’s few long term concerns—and it’s the only reason he is even still eligible for this list—we’ll exercise a bit of caution.
#21 Taylor Trammell, OF, Cincinnati Reds
Why he’ll succeed: Premium athleticism, plus-plus speed, and an advanced approach that helps the hit tool play up. There’s more pop here than initially expected, too.
Why he might fail: For all his athleticism, he might end up in left field rather than center, increasing the offensive expectations of the profile. His arm won’t be an asset in either position
#45 Hunter Greene, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
Why he’ll succeed: It’s hard to argue with an arsenal as electric as the one Greene brings to the table. An eye-popping fastball is obviously the highlight here, and he shows signs that his command will surpass that of many fireballers. Not only is he able to blow the the ball by guys, his slider elicits swings and misses. He’s built well, and there isn’t any obvious reason he won’t be able to start games for a few more seasons at least.
Why he might fail: As a two-way player in high school and for a brief time after turning pro, there’s a lot more work to do with Greene than many prospects of his caliber. He needs to find a repeatable delivery that maximizes on his command potential—advanced hitters will punish a poorly located fastball, no matter how explosive. Not only that, he needs to show hitters a better changeup to keep them off the heater.