MLB prospects we're most excited to see in 2017
The 2017 MLB season is officially underway with all the familiar faces taking the field. But one of the great things about baseball is tracking the prospects looking to carve out their roles in the big leagues. Is this the year Byron Buxton lives up to his potential? When will the Dodgers call pitching phenom Julio Urias back up to the big club? Will J.P. Crawford make his MLB debut for the Phillies?
Welcome to the Yardbarker rountable, where we're just as excited for the Luca Giolitos, Hunter Renfroes and Jose Berrios of the world as we are to watch Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw and everyone on the defending World Series champion Cubs. So, we asked our panelists:
Who is the prospect you’re most excited to watch this year?
Shiloh Carder: As a Reds fan, I'm excited to see Amir Garrett . He's a lefty starter who could crack the rotation at some point this year. Cincinnati is in the ugly phase of the rebuilding process and isn't exactly brimming with prospects. The pitching staff is young (aside from the oft-injured Homer Bailey), and this year has zero expectations. Aside from watching the greatness of Joey Votto, seeing a guy like Garrett come up may be the best it gets.
David Matthews : Andrew Benintendi. He's got all the tools to become the next great Red Sox player that is hated by non-Red Sox fans . By virtue of being on the Red Sox, we'll all be forced to watch a lot of Benintendi, so the least he could do is be an exciting player. Seeing as how the White Sox received Yoan Moncada as the centerpiece of the Chris Sale trade and Benintendi was apparently never on the table, he just might be worth the hype.
Demetrius Bell: As the resident Braves fan on the block, I feel a little biased in answering this question with Dansby Swanson, but it feels like an easy answer. He's going to be the starter at shortstop for the Braves all year, and he's already established himself as one of the most exciting young players in baseball. If he lives up to the hype, then he'll be an easy Rookie of the Year candidate and one of the reasons why you should actually keep an eye on the Braves this year. Plus, look at his majestic hair. Gaze upon it.
Jamie Neal: He's not seen as a prospect anymore after a breakout year last year, but I am eager to see how Mookie Betts does without David Ortiz batting in the lineup with him.
If we are going straight prospect hunting, I can't wait to see how Andrew Benintendi does with the Red Sox as well. A highly touted outfielder on a team looking to grab another World Series with an incredible rotation going? Yeah. I am all in on watching how this kid impacts the squad.
Matt Whitener: Without a doubt, it's Yoan Moncada in his new digs with the Chicago White Sox. While we got to see him in a brief debut with the Red Sox last year, it proved to be too soon for multi-skilled infielder, as he hit only .211 over eight sporadic games. But I wouldn't take that too seriously. Remember, once upon a time, Mike Trout struggled to hit .220 during an accelerated cup of coffee debut as a 19-year-old, and that experiment worked out the second time around.
The same expectations should be there for Moncada, who has dominated every level of competition, from Cuba to the minors to the Arizona Fall League. Much sooner than later, it will be the Majors as well.
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