Bernie on the Scene: Deep Dive into Central Division Prospects

This week I'll look at both central divisions for prospects who might be included in trades or who might get a chance to play a role on a big-league roster next season.

The talent of each is in the eye of the beholder.

Scouting Grades:

45 = utility, part-time player with a platoon possible
50 = a regular player in the lineup daily with less probability of being platooned
55 = an above average player with multiple skills

National League Central

Brailyn Marquez, LHP, Cubs

Big and strong at 6-foot-4, 185, left-handed starter Brailyn Marquez came to the Cubs as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2015. He will be 22 when the 2021 season begins.

Marquez is the highest-rated Cubs prospect by most analysts. 

He got into one game for the team this past season, throwing 0.2 and yielding two hits and five runs. He walked three.

Marquez throws a fastball in the 93-96 range. He also has a curve and a changeup. He does have a slider, but it isn't as prominent a pitch for him yet. Using a cross-fire delivery, Marquez has been known to hit 102 miles per hour, which is why he's so highly touted. His upside is real.  

He uses the short-arm delivery we saw so much of this past season (see Lucas Giolito) and has very little effort in his mechanics.

Marquez is a pitcher to target on a club that is woefully weak on starters. He isn't anywhere close to being a refined, major league-ready starter as far as I can tell. His command and control as well as the feel for every pitch other than his fastball need a lot of work.

Grade: 55

Nick Lodolo, LHP, Reds

Like Marquez, Lodolo is the highest-ranking Reds prospect. And like Marquez, Lodolo is a big lefty. He's huge at 6-6, 205.

Lodolo was the team's first-round pick in the 2019 out of Texas Christian University. As the seventh pick in the draft the Reds, he was probably the best pitcher available.

He uses his size well, pitching downhill with very good pitching mechanics that take advantage of his entire frame. He throws his fastball at 90-94 with sink and has a changeup and slider but has not re-introduced a curve, which he used to have in his repertoire. Lodolo can hit 96, but he loses command beyond that number.

Lodolo was a victim of the 2020 COVID shut down, and he is behind in his development. He didn't pitch against competition at all last season.

Grade: 55

Mario Feliciano, C, Brewers

Mario Feliciano was a 2016 second-round pick by the Brewers out of Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in Puerto Rico.

Note that the Brewers have invested $800,000 in Feliciano due to his potentially loud bat. He's a guy to keep an eye on, because he can hit as well as stick behind the plate on defense.

Feliciano is a free-swinging catcher with an ability to find the barrel of the bat. He is aggressive at the plate and still hunts home runs. He also strikes out.

The Brewers have moved him along quickly in their system and if minor-league baseball is played  in 2021, he could be at Double-A or even Triple-A during the season.

Grade: 50

Oneil Cruz, SS, Pirates

Believe it or not, Oneil Cruz is a 6-7, 210-pound shortstop. I don't think he sticks there.

Cruz was signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent in 2015 for $950,000.

He was 6-4 at the time he signed. He was traded to Pittsburgh in 2017 in a deal for Tony Watson.

He made it all the way to Double-A at age 20. The last time Cruz played competitively was in the Dominican Winter League last year.

He is a good athlete with a speed and power combination. Well advanced for his age, Cruz can become an offensive force with the Pirates. There are ways to get him out due to his aggressive approach, but the upside remains. This guy can hit.

I project Cruz as a corner infielder when it's all said and done. He does have a strong arm with good movement as a shortstop, but I think he'll end up at third or first base.

Grade: 55

Elehuris Montero, 3B, Cardinals

Elehuris Montero was an international free agent signed by the Cardinals out of the Dominican Republic for $300,000. He'll be 22 when the 2021 season begins.

I scouted Montero in the 2019 Arizona Fall League, where he hit .200 in his 60 plate appearances. Quite simply, he was overmatched. He did hit three doubles and a homer.

There is no doubt Nolan Gorman is the Cardinals third baseman of the future. However, any player assigned to the AFL has a chance to stick with the club or be traded, as top prospects are assigned to the league scouts get to see them play.

At 6-3, 235, Montero has a solid frame. He hit really well when he first came stateside and has earned the praise of the organization. He does, however, strike out far too often and needs lots of refinement to his pitch recognition and his ability to hit quality pitches. He has to temper his aggressive swing.

Montero could hit 25 big-league home runs when his development is complete.

I project Montero to progress in his development, but to ultimately end up at first base. He'll be much more of an offensive than defensive player. He may end up as a DH.

Grade: 50

American League Central

Micker Adolfo, OF, White Sox

Micker Adolfo was signed by the White Sox out of the Dominican Republic for $1.6M. That's a number to keep in mind. The team has money behind him.

I saw the right-handed Adolfo in the 2019 Arizona Fall League. He hit only .167 as a 22-year-old playing against quality minor league pitchers. He did, however, show some pop in his bat, hitting four home runs in 61 plate appearances. 

At 6-4, 240, Adolfo is the White Sox's highest-ranked outfielder. He may get a chance to fit with the club after he completes his development.

Adolfo had hamate bone issues as well as an ankle problem in his early development. He also had Tommy John surgery. He needs to make up at-bats, but there is no denying his potential power.

Other than his power, Adolfo has a right-field arm that might be as strong and accurate as the best in baseball. Adolfo could easily be the future right fielder on the south side of Chicago.

Adolfo has a long, long uppercut swing that can bring damage to starting pitchers. He is an especially dangerous fastball hitter.

Grade: 50

Owen Miller,SS/2B, Indians

I like right-handed hitting Owen Miller more than most analysts. Miller came to the Indians as part of the Mike Clevinger trade with the Padres. He could be the real sleeper in the deal.

He was a third-round Padres pick out of Illinois State in the 2018 draft.

He didn't hit when I saw him in the 2019 Arizona Fall League (.176/.194), but I liked what I saw of his approach at the plate. He made me take a second and third look.

I like Miller because of his bat. In his two minor league seasons, Miller has a line of  .307/.367/.441/.808. I'll take that from a middle-infielder. At the age of 24 when the 2021 season begins, it wouldn't surprise me if the Indians moved Miller along quickly to his ultimate big league destination.

Miller has outstanding, advanced hitting mechanics. He can find the barrel with a measured swing and good bat control. He doesn't have much power or speed, but he's a good baseball player and a solid hitter. I see him as more than just a utility player.

Grade: 50

Joey Wentz, LHP, Tigers

We think of Casey Mize, Matt Manning and Tarik Skubal as the future rotation of the Tigers, but Joey Wentz needs some love as well.

He was drafted by the Braves in the first round in 2016 out of Mission East (Kan.) High School. The Braves traded him to the Tigers for Shane Greene, and probably wish they had him today.

Wentz has a history of injuries, including an oblique injury that was serious enough to cost him plenty of playing time in 2018.

While he isn't on the same overall level of the big three pitching prospects of the Tigers, Wentz may shine due to his command and control, which are advanced. He could be a very solid lefty the team needs for their future.

Wentz has a mediocre fastball, but his late fading changeup and his curveball are both well above average pitches. He has enough of a repertoire for success, especially the first two times through the batting order, and maybe more.

Grade: 50

Nick Pratto, 1B, Royals

For whatever reason, teams simply don't draft many first basemen. It really is an under-appreciated position.

The Royals took left-handed hitting Nick Pratto in the first round of the 2017 draft. He was a high school draftee out of Huntington Beach (Calif.) High School.

Pratto has played three minor league seasons, finishing 2019 with the High-A Wilmington club. He hit .191/.278/.310/.588 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs.

He is seen as a very good defensive first baseman. He also has better than average power, but he could struggle against breaking balls and high velocity fastballs. That spells a bit of trouble.

Pratto may have to go back to the drawing board and work his swing mechanics to a point where he finds more comfort and confidence in his ability to recognize pitches more quickly out of the hand of the pitcher. For now, however, from what I have seen, he could struggle to hit.

A first-round pick always gets time to develop. That's what I think Pratto will need.

Grade: 45

Ryan Jeffers, C, Twins

Ryan Jeffers is a big, 6-4, 235-pound catcher. He was drafted by the Twins in 2018 out of the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the second round.

He played 26 games and went to the plate 62 times for Minnesota this past season. He hit three homers and drove in seven runs, finishing with a stat line of .273/.355/.436/.791. 

Jeffers has the ability to play much better than average defense behind the plate while hitting for better than average power. That's a solid combination. His weakness is an arm that grades out as average, at best.

Jeffers doesn't have the best bat speed, but his powerful frame makes up for what he lacks in that department. He can barrel the ball, but there is little question his hands are slow.

He isn't the best athlete, but Jeffers has the hitting power to do some damage if he continues to get a chance to catch with the Twins. For me, he's the guy they turn to next behind the plate.

Grade: 50

HEADING HOME

The situation with Tony La Russa and his alleged DUI has left the White Sox with a huge black eye. 

To me, the part that is as disturbing as the White Sox knowing about the incident before they announced La Russa's hiring is the fact that La Russa hung up on ESPN reporters when they called him. That's almost as inexcusable as the actual incident.

Follow me on Twitter @BerniePleskoff.

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