Like A Pro: 3 prospects ready to make an impact in the bigs
Prospects aren't always sure things. For every Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones who make good on all those "can't miss" projections, there's a Brien Taylor or Steve Chilcott who fail to live up to the hype. That's the beauty of prospecting, as we watch and wait and dream about whether these skilled young men will make an impact at baseball's highest level.
Today's prospects have a larger spotlight on them than in decades past, and their games in the minors are picked apart. And while every team's list of minor leaguers is loaded with names who might be years away from the show - if they ever get there - the best ones aren't just at the top of their class, but perfectly capable of reaching stardom in the show tomorrow.
Here are three prospects ready to make an impact in the big leagues:
Victor Robles, Nationals OF
Even in an era when the home run is emphasized over small ball, speed is a tool that can single-handedly change the outcome of a baseball game. Enter Victor Robles: the next great speedster.
The Washington Nationals' top prospect is highly regarded as a well-rounded player, but it's his speed that makes him stand out. Since the Nationals signed Robles out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, he's run wild across the minors, swiping 110 bases while being caught only 38 times. And it's more than just a weapon against catchers, as scouts have marveled at how his wheels give him tremendous range and capabilities as a center fielder.
Last season, the 20-year-old jumped from Single-A to Double-A and then right to the majors in a September call-up, then got the last spot on Washington's playoff roster as a pinch-running specialist. While he understandably had little impact in limited action, that will change going forward. Once he gets to play regularly, which could come as soon as next season, expect Robles and his speed to shine beside Bryce Harper at Nationals Park - much to the dismay of National League catchers.
Michael Kopech, White Sox SP
It's scary enough when Aroldis Chapman brings his ridiculous fastball out of the bullpen for a single inning. Now imagine having to face 103-mph pitches three times in one game from a starting pitcher, and you get Michael Kopech.
One of the key pieces acquired by the White Sox from Boston in last winter's Chris Sale trade, Kopech's rise through the minors has been well-chronicled thanks to his 80-grade fastball that routinely breaks 100 mph. In 2016, while still in the Red Sox system, he threw a 105-mph fastball. This kind of velocity is truly rare. In the 2017 major-league season, StatCast recorded 50 fastballs thrown over 100 mph. Forty-six of them were thrown by Chapman, and only one of the other four was thrown by a starter (Luis Severino, 100.8).
And if you think Kopech's fastball is scary, he also possesses a slider that can buckle knees at over 90 mph, and is working on a changeup. He used this entire arsenal to dazzle in the minors last season, striking out 155 batters (11.7 per nine) in 22 Double-A starts before earning a late-season cameo in Triple-A, while producing a 2.88 ERA across both levels. The 21-year-old is likely to start 2018 at the Triple-A level, but expect the rebuilding White Sox to call him into their rotation at some point next season.
Gleyber Torres, Yankees IF
It's hard to say what makes a prodigy better at one specific skill than the rest of his peers, so sometimes it's better to just sit back and watch them work. If you're a fan of the New York Yankees, this is how you should look at Gleyber Torres.
The 21-year-old Venezuelan has flown through the minors and has already been traded once, but wherever he goes, he hits - as evidenced by his two most recent seasons and his 2016 Arizona Fall League stint. During his red-hot spring training last March, then-Yankees manager Joe Girardi even compared Torres to Venezuelan legend Miguel Cabrera. So why is he so polished at such a young age? One reason might be his naturally quick hands, which are highlighted in his scouting report on MLB Pipeline.
Torres began 2017 with a pit stop in Double-A before jumping to Triple-A, and he never stopped hitting (.287/.383/.480 across both levels). An unfortunate play at the plate ended his season in June, but Tommy John surgery merely delayed the inevitable. Torres will be in the Bronx in 2018, likely as a key figure in the Yankees' revamped lineup. Where he'll play defensively isn't clear (he can play three infield positions), but that's a problem Aaron Boone should be glad to have. When he finally debuts, he's not only going to hit, but will be a critical component of any success the Yankees have next season and beyond.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)