This is the Prospects Live All Stars series, where we settled on All Stars from all 17 professional leagues, giving credit where it was due. To be eligible for a list, a player must have played the majority of his season in said league and not exceeded 60 IP/300 PA in the majors. Players are listed under the position they played the most and stats shown pertain only to the listed league.
Triple-A All Stars
Double-A All Stars
High-A All Stars
A Ball All Stars
New York Penn League
After an underwhelming talent pool across the league in 2018, we were blessed with a strong crop of talent this term as top names like Adley Rutschman, Riley Greene, Jackson Rutledge, Brayan Rocchio, and George Valera in the NYPL. Outside of first rounders and highly touted Latin signings, the league featured a series of breakouts by talented, but less touted names. Players like the Yankees’ Ezequiel Duran, the Red Sox Gilberto Jimenez and Yusniel Padron-Artilles, and the Indians’ Bryan Lavastida announced their arrivals with strong showings in their first taste of short-season ball. Over the course of the summer, few leagues matched the New York-Penn’s combination of 2019 first-round talent and highly sought after international players from recent classes. Here are the best performers of the three month season.
This list was a combined effort by Ralph Lifshitz, Matt Powers, and Will Scharnagl. Will picked the squad and curated the list. Matt and myself (Ralph) colored in the pictures with our perspective live looks from this summer.
C - Bryan Lavastida (CLE)
.335/.408/.483, 2 HR, 3 SB, .148 ISO, 11.3 K%, 10.4 BB%
A fast-rising catcher since just before the 2018 MLB Draft, Bryan Lavastida is a former infielder converting to catcher. As you’d expect for a former infielder, he’s more athletic than the typical catcher, similar to the Dodgers Will Smith. The defense, while promising, is still a work in progress as he’s still new behind the dish. Offensively he’s got some pop that mostly shows up as doubles power due to his line drive oriented swing. He’s a plus athlete for the position, but it’s more average overall speed than true plus speed. Lavastida has a ton of upside with his athleticism and well-rounded skill set, especially when you look at his position. While nothing is truly a standout plus tool, he’s a sum of all parts type of prospect. - Matt Powers
1B - Stephen Scott (BOS)
.248/.364/.400, 3 HR, 3 SB, .152 ISO, 26.5 K%, 15.2 BB%
Despite performing well in summer leagues, Stephen Scott struggled in his first two years at Vanderbilt, rarely seeing playing time as a freshman and then posting a .658 OPS as a sophomore. Following a breakout junior year, in which he posted a 1.021 OPS and hit 15 HR, Scott decided to return to Vanderbilt where he again put up an OPS over 1.000, helping the Commodores to a College World Series title. Scott is a stocky, strong 5’10”, and split time between 1B and LF, though he’s likely a first baseman long term. Although his bat speed isn’t the best, Scott’s strength and fly ball tendencies give him big power potential moving forward. - Will
2B - Ezequiel Duran (NYY)
.256/.329/.496, 13 HR, 11 SB, .240 ISO, 27.8 K%, 9.0 BB%
Few players in the New York-Penn League were more capable of putting on a show in batting practice. Duran showcases big raw pop that has started to translate to games. The body is filled out, boxy and stout in the mold of your typical second baseman. After a fair amount of helium heading into 2018 deflated with a subpar campaign, Duran bounced back in 2019 slashing .256/.329/.496 with 13 home runs and 11 stolen bases over 66 contests. There’s still a fair amount of swing and miss due to an aggressive attack-minded approach, and Duran will struggle to pick up spin. A strong defender at second and an instinctive baserunner, he’s more than a positionless power bat. - RL
3B - Toby Welk (BAL)
.344/.397/.500, 4 HR, 2 SB, .156 ISO, 20.6 K%, 7.8 BB%
The 2019 Division III player of the year, Welk hit .483 his senior year with a .938 slugging for Penn State-Berks. After signing with the Orioles for $1,000 bonus out of the 21st round Welk raked for Aberdeen slashing .344/.397/.500. Impressive when you consider the competition bump from D3 pitching to facing a league littered with guys that sit 90+ with a secondary pitch. It’s a line drive oriented approach, with average bat speed. I’m interested to monitor Welk’s ability to catchup to mid-90s heat as he moves up the ladder. On the bright side, he didn’t often look fooled by spin, and does a good job of fouling off pitches on the fringes to extend at bats. Welk looks to put the ball in play and will get aggressive early in counts. This certainly worked in his favor, as his batting average benefited from the often under polished defenders of short-season ball. After a strong 48 game showing in short-season, Welk earned a well deserved eight-game cameo in the Low-A. - RL
SS - Greg Jones (TBR)
.335/.413/.461, 1 HR, 19 SB, .126 ISO, 25.7 K%, 10.1 BB%
One of our favorite prospects coming out of UNC-Wilmington, Jones continued to hit and raise hell on the bases. The switch-hitting Jones’ game is still predicated on groundballs and line-drives the other way. He does an excellent job of putting pressure on the defense with this mentality but it caps his power upside. It was a bit of a bummer considering Jones bumped up his ISO to .208 this spring for UNCW, but mustering just a .126 mark for Hudson Valley. His approach gets passive at times, which leads to walks but goes hand in hand with an elevated strikeout rate. The numbers both amateur and professionally bare this out. A natural shortstop, there was talk of moving Jones to the outfield, but he’s yet to log anytime on the grass in game, starting 21 games at short while filling the DH role the remainder of the time. Easily one of the best players on the circuit this season, and a well deserved honor for the most exciting collegiate player to enter the professional ranks in 2019. - RL
OF - J.D. Orr (MIA)
.352/.469/.423, 0 HR, 29 SB, .070 ISO, 11.5 K%, 16.8 BB%
After a four-year standout career at Wright State, the Marlins 10th round pick from the 2019 MLB Draft went straight to the NYPL and had little to no problems adjusting to pro ball. Orr is definitely a guy who was more advanced than his competition, using his above-average contact ability and speed to be able to hit .352 in Batavia. He also has real plate discipline, which allowed for more walks (44) than strikeouts (30). Unfortunately, he doesn’t have much pop to speak of, as the zero homers is an accurate indication of the type of power he brings. Orr profiles best as a fourth outfielder, but he’s going to need to prove he can keep hitting for a high average at each level since he lacks power. He will also need to work on his base running, as his 29 for 46 success rate on stolen bases isn’t going to earn him many green lights in the big leagues. - Matt Powers
OF - Gilberto Jimenez (BOS)
.359/.393/.470, 3 HR, 14 SB, .111 ISO, 15.0 K%, 5.1 BB%
Lightning speed is the calling card of the teenage prodigy that took the NYPL by storm, winning the batting title over J.D. Orr by seven points. A switch-hitter, Jimenez goes the other way and puts the ball on the ground putting pressure on defenders with his double-plus wheels. There’s rarely a pulled flyball from Jimenez at this point, but his approach obviously led to success, despite being the fourth youngest player on the circuit. It’s trending toward a plus hit, and his feel for both the strike zone and bat to ball ability show innate god given talents. Despite his speed he’s not the best basestealer, as he’ll fall victim to subpar instincts. He still managed to put up respectable numbers in the department with a 70 percent success rate. A raw, young player bursting with upside, Gilberto leaves 2019 very much on the prospect world’s radar. - RL
OF - George Valera (CLE)
.236/.356/.446, 8 HR, 6 SB, .210 ISO, 27.7 K%, 15.4 BB%
The native New Yorker who signed as an international free agent in 2017, Valera is a big time bat prospect- arguably the top hitting prospect in the entire New York Penn League. His second half was slowed a bit by a minor injury, and the club not pushing him too hard upon his return, but he still put up monster numbers at the plate. Valera is simply a dude at the plate. He’s got the bat speed, plan at the plate, and power in his bat to be a plus hitter with plus power, and watching him at 100 percent from batting practice into and through a game is like watching a grown man work against children. He’s just that skilled and advanced for his age and level that he can’t help but stand out in the NYPL. Valera probably could have handled full-season ball at some point this year, and should start next year in Low A with a chance to work his way further up the ladder during the season. He is a guy who has proven to be worth the hype around him. - Matt Powers
SP - Garrison Bryant (NYM)
75.1 IP, 2.39 ERA, 2.65 FIP, 25.7 K%, 4.8 BB%, .179 BAA
When the Mets drafted Garrison Bryant in the 36th round of the 2016 MLB Draft, they got a surprisingly interesting prospect. Despite his stuff being a bit behind, Bryant’s projectable 6’4” frame and lack of previous devotion to baseball (as he was a two-sport athlete in high school and more focused on football) made him an intriguing lottery ticket for the Mets at $100,000. While he struggled in his first few years a bit, allowing 62 ER in 91.1 IP from 2016 to 2018, he really came into his own in 2019, dominating the NYPL. His stuff isn’t overpowering, as he only sits low 90s, but his ability to mix in 3 pitches, and locate all of them very well, allowed him to be arguably the best pitcher in the NYPL this year. - Will
SP - Yusniel Padron-Artilles (BOS)
64.0 IP, 2.67 ERA, 2.75 FIP, 32.2 K%, 5.4 BB%, .225 BAA
On Sept.5, Pardon-Artilles entered the game in relief of Jason Groome, and set a professional record striking out 12 consecutive batters. A feat never achieved in MLB or MiLB is a great footnote, but Padron-Artilles’ season was full of consistently strong performances. His arsenal isn’t overpowering, mixing a fastball in the 88-91 range, bumping 93 on occasion with a pair of secondaries. Led by a low-80s changeup with run and fade, and a mid-70s curveball. He changes speeds, throws strikes, and hides the ball well during his deceptive motion to the plate from an over the top arm slot. Pop up player or breakout, Padron-Artilles pitched his way into the Red Sox Top 20 conversation from a relative unknown. - RL
SP - Kevin Magee (BAL)
70.2 IP, 2.04 ERA, 2.68 FIP, 28.5 K%, 4.7 BB%, .224 BAA
Drafted as a senior out of St. Johns, Kevin Magee has done nothing but pitch like a stud since entering the Orioles organization. After a strong showing at Aberdeen in 35.2 innings, where he posted a 1.51 ERA, he returned to Aberdeen again and continued to get more stretched out as a starter. In his transition to throwing more significant innings, Magee didn’t miss a beat, posting a 2.04 ERA, while increasing his K% and lowering his BB%. Magee certainly doesn’t overpower anyone, as he sits high 80s to low 90s, but a solid changeup and a decent curveball allow him to miss bats at an adequate rate. At 23, Magee is certainly ready for a new challenge coming into next season. - Will
RP - Valente Bellozo (HOU)
45.1 IP, 1.39 ERA, 1.64 FIP, 34.9 K%, 6 BB%, .162 BAA
In typical Astros fashion, Valente Bellozo burst onto the scene seemingly out of nowhere after being signed in 2017 out of Mexico, as he dominated in his DSL debut last year. The Astros got aggressive with his assignment this year, as he made his American debut in the NYPL, skipping rookie ball. Much like fellow Astros prospect Brandon Bailey, Bellozo is fairly undersized at 5’10”, and doesn’t have dominant velocity, sitting about 88-92, yet he still gets tons of swings and misses on his fastball due to great spin rate. He also works in three other good pitches, with his changeup and curveball both being solid pitches. His slider is a bit behind the other three. Bellozo served mostly as a long reliever this year, as the Astros were attempting to stretch him out, keeping him between three and five innings, but he projects as a starter long term. He should return to Quad Cities next year, where he finished off this year making two starts. - Will
MVP: Greg Jones (TB)
The New York-Penn League this year was more defined by a large group of solid performers than any one standout performance, so there was plenty of guys who could’ve gotten the MVP. Orr, Lavastida, Welk, Jimenez, and Duran would’ve all been great options as well, but I (Will) chose to go with Greg Jones. His .874 OPS and 163 wRC+ both ranked 4th in the NYPL, while contributing solid defense at SS. Jones’ strikeout rate saw a bit of a jump in his introduction to professional baseball, but his ability to take a walk was also on display, as his 10.1 BB% helped him to a .413 OBP. Once he got on base, his speed was also on display, as he stole 19 bases in only 218 PA. Jones does have some power potential, but he’s going to have to change his approach a bit to tap into it, as he only had a 17.6 FB%, as well as a 52.9 GB%. I would also like to see him be more aggressive, but the fact that he was able to post a 163 wRC+ without demonstrating his full potential should show you just how good he can be. I personally ranked Greg Jones as the 79th best prospect in baseball, the second highest hitter in this league behind only George Valera.
Northwest League
The smaller of the two short-season levels in Minor League Baseball, the NWL kicks off its season in mid-June after the end of the Rule IV draft. While the top high school prospects from that year’s draft typically head to rookie ball, it’s not uncommon to see college prospects assigned straight to short-season. For some, that actually marks a downturn in quality of competition, as the nation’s top college baseball conferences (the SEC, ACC, Big 12, etc.) tend to be more in line with Low-A level of play. For college prospects, then, a strong performance is expected, although it’s by no means guaranteed. More exciting are the teenage international signees or high school prospects who make it up to the NWL and perform above expectations, a few of whom (including our league MVP) merit mention on this year’s All-Star team.
It’s also worth noting that short-season tends to skew hitter-friendly for evaluations. Many of the league’s top pitching prospects (like Seattle first-rounder George Kirby) get limited reps in short-season as their teams look to manage their innings following heavy workloads as amateurs in the spring. -Anthony Franco and Alex Jensen
C - Logan Driscoll (SD)
.268/.340/.458, 3 HR, .190 ISO, 14 K%, 9 BB% in 162 PA
Admittedly, this one’s cheating a bit. Driscoll actually started more games in right field than behind the plate as a pro. That said, the supplemental second-rounder (an underslot signee as a bit of an unexpected top 100 pick) entered pro ball with a strong defensive reputation behind the dish, so there’s little reason to believe this portends a move down the defensive spectrum. Presumably, the Padres wanted to limit Driscoll’s innings in the crouch as he played into September for the first time. That lessened exposure behind the dish may have helped him at it, as he slashed a solid .268/.340/.458 with strong strikeout and walk numbers. That performance might be more meaningful for Driscoll than short-season ball typically is for a recent college draftee. Driscoll comes from the Atlantic 10, hardly a baseball powerhouse, and struggled mightily last summer on the Cape, his most recent experience with wood bats. It’s encouraging to see him get off on a good footing offensively in pro ball.
1B - Blaine Crim (TEX)
.335/.398/.528, 8 HR, 1 SB, .193 ISO, 12 K%, 8 BB% in 236 PA
Michael Toglia’s a better first base prospect than Crim, but the Rangers’ 18th-rounder handily outperformed his first-round counterpart at the same level. It’s not that Toglia had a bad debut, but Crim’s was phenomenal. A JUCO draftee, Crim paired the NWL’s third-lowest strikeout rate (11.9%) with its tenth-highest ISO (.193) among 108 hitters with at least 100 plate appearances. The result: a .335/.398/.528 slash. He’s a 22 year-old first baseman with no draft pedigree to speak of, so it’s an uphill battle, but Crim’s at least put himself on the map as a bat to monitor next year in full-season ball.
2B - Chase Strumpf (CHC)
.292/.405/.449, 2 HR, 2 SB, .157 ISO, 25 K%, 13 BB% in 157 PA
The Cubs’ second-rounder out of UCLA, Strumpf’s reputation as an offense-minded second baseman was reinforced in his pro debut. He only played 26 games in Eugene but hit as expected and earned a late-season promotion to the Midwest League. A short, stocky right-handed hitter, Strumpf comes with a bit of an unorthodox profile and will really have to hit, especially since fringe athleticism keeps him a mediocre defender at the keystone. He mashed his final two years on campus and has strong strike zone awareness, so there’s an encouraging track record of that kind of offensive production.
3B - Aaron Schunk (COL)
.306/.370/.503, 6 HR, 4 SB, .197 ISO, 13 K%, 7 BB% in 192 PA
Schunk’s first 132 pro plate appearances were a success: a .306/.370/.503 slash with a 14:25 BB:K ratio. A second-rounder from Georgia, Schunk should beat up on short-season pitching, of course. If anything, the NWL might be a downgrade from the competition he faced in the SEC. He’s a well-rounded third base prospect, with average to above-average tools across the board and a plus-plus arm. Schunk actually closed for the Bulldogs this spring, but he’s been strictly a position player in pro ball. No one will get too excited about a successful short-season debut for a major college prospect, but it’s a good way to end a breakout 2019 that has Schunk poised to make a quick rise through the system the next couple years.
SS - Jordy Barley (SD)
.254/.310/.423, 8 HR, 14 SB, .168 ISO, 32 K%, 7 BB% in 304 PA
It wasn’t a great crop of NWL shortstops this year, so we’re left with Barley, a well-regarded international prospect who hasn’t performed well in pro ball. Barley’s surface numbers this year were solid: a .254/.310/.423 line with eight home runs and 14 steals from a player who started 56 games at shortstop. Those mask a 32.2% strikeout rate and 7.2% walk rate, a continuation of pitch recognition problems which have plagued him since he signed. The athletic gifts are still here and he’s only 19, but Barley will need to tighten up the strike zone awareness as he moves to full-season ball.
OF - Franklin Labour (SF)
.307/.392/.639, 14 HR, 2 SB, .331 ISO, 23 K%, 9.5 BB% in 189 PA
The case for Labour is straightforward. He hit 14 home runs; no one else in the league hit more than nine. What’s more, he did that damage in only 41 games before forcing a call-up to the South Atlantic League. He wasn’t a highly-regarded international signee four years ago and struggled mightily following the promotion to Low-A, so it’s possible this was something of a blip. (It’s also worth considering the environment. While there aren’t any detailed analyses of short-season park factors, Salem-Keizer has led the league in runs scored while finishing top three in runs allowed each of the past two seasons, suggesting the park plays especially well to offense.) All that noted, Labour just turned 21 in May, so he’s not outrageously old for the level, and his average fly ball distance, predictably, was at a career-best level in Salem.
OF - Kristian Robinson (ARI)
.319/.407/.558, 9 HR, 14 SB, .239 ISO, 25 K%, 12 BB% in 189 PA
The toolsy Bahamian proved much too advanced for short-season ball. A physical specimen, Robinson has comfortably plus power thanks to electric bat speed. He slashed .319/.407/.558 in 189 plate appearances with Hillsboro before an end-of-season promotion to the Midwest League, an aggressive assignment for an 18-year-old. Robinson will always have some swing-and-miss due to lever length, but he’s got good bat control and fantastic strike zone awareness for someone so young. For good measure, he stole 14 bases in the NWL and started 22 games in center field, actualizing his plus speed. He might lose a step as he fills out and end up in right field long-term, but he’s a physical freak with advanced baseball skills and IQ. He’ll at least be in the conversation for the Diamondbacks’ top prospect this offseason.
OF - Will Robertson (TOR)
.268/.365/.404, 6 HR, 1 SB, .136 ISO, 18 K%, 12 BB% in 263 PA
Robertson’s a well-built corner outfielder who was a fourth-rounder this year from Creighton. He predictably beat up on the Big East, which isn’t an elite baseball conference, and showed well for Vancouver in his pro debut. He only hit six home runs with a .136 ISO, a bit underwhelming for a player with his raw strength, but demonstrated solid strike zone awareness and mashed right-handed pitching. It’s much too soon to read deeply into Robertson’s pronounced platoon splits.
SP - Tyler Holton (ARI)
32.1 IP, 2.23 ERA, 1.67 FIP, 41 K%, 3 BB%, .183 BAA
The 23-year-old Holton lapped the NWL in K:BB rate at 12.75 (minimum 30 innings). The next-closest arm sat at 9.5 K/BB. Holton was old for the league, but he’s a real prospect. Entering the 2018 season, Holton had a chance to go as high as the second round on the back of a pair of plus offspeed pitches, but he blew out in his first start at Florida State and fell to the ninth round. Following a year and a half recovery from Tommy John Surgery, he picked up where he left off. He’s got a high-80s fastball and will have to be built up slowly after missing almost two seasons of innings, but there’s a chance for a late-blooming back-end starter here.
SP - Luis Frias (ARI)
49.2 IP, 1.99 ERA, 1.78 FIP, 37 K%, 9 BB%, .202 BAA
Frias is the antithesis of his teammate. Physical and strong with a mid-90s fastball, Frias can overpower opposing hitters at his best but has bouts of wildness. Trouble repeating his delivery and inconsistency in his offspeed offerings point to a possible bullpen future. His curveball and changeup go back-and-forth resembling his top secondary, but each can flash plus on the right day, evidenced by his 36.9% strikeout rate for Hillsboro. Frias is a young 21 and has reached full-season ball.
SP - Adam Kloffenstein (TOR)
64.1 IP, 2.24, 3.73 FIP, 24.7 K%, 9 BB%, .203 BAA
Kloffenstein wasn’t dominant this year, but he held his own as one of the Northwest League’s youngest arms. He logged 64.1 innings over 13 starts with solid-average strikeout (24.7%) and walk (8.9%) numbers. Most notably, the former third-rounder ran up a 60% groundball rate. A 2018 high school draftee, Jordan Groshans’ high school teammate has prototype size and a low-mid 90s fastball. The strike-throwing he showed this year is impressive for a 6’5” teenager who figures to advance to the Midwest League in 2020.
RP - Jacob Wallace (Rockies)
21 IP, 1.29 ERA, 2.94 FIP, 36 K%, 11 BB%, .129 BAA
A former closer at UCONN, Wallace runs his fastball up to 98 MPH and pitched his way into the third-round this June. His 11.3% walk rate for Boise was higher than ideal, but he offset it with a 36.3% strikeout rate. Equally important, Wallace dominated this spring in Storrs, running a 68:10 K:BB rate in 42 innings. He’s one of the better pure relief prospects in all of baseball.
MVP: Kristian Robinson
Still just 18 years old, the Bahamian played his way up to full season ball by thoroughly dominating his short-season opponents. He showcased electric power and speed, a favorable defensive profile, and demonstrated exceptional strike zone feel for a prospect his age. Robinson is an easy top 100 prospect, the question for us to ponder the offseason is just how high he’ll rank.