Prospect Stock Watch: Bradley, Giolito, Moncada, Reyes

Today we look at some prospects who are displaying awe-inspiring power — both at the plate and on the mound.

Bobby Bradley, 1B, Indians: First base prospects don’t tend to get a lot of attention, especially in the low minors, unless they put on ungodly power shows so I’ll forgive you if you’ve never heard of Bradley (although he does have 25 home runs in 91 games). He’s one of Cleveland’s top prospects and he’s quietly having an excellence season given his age (19) and presence in full season ball. The slugger swings and misses more than his fair share but (128 Ks), when he makes contact, he hits the ball a long way. The encouraging thing for me is that the left-handed hitter has acquitted himself quite well against southpaw hurlers. He actually has a higher OPS against them (.894 vs .864). He’s also avoided the streakiness that can hurt a lot of young hitters by having only one really bad month (July) so far this season. Carlos Santana has been a disappointment since moving out from behind the plate and is set to get expensive once his current contract expires after 2016. Bradley is a few years away but could be ready to hit the Majors in 2018 so the club might need a stopgap measure for a season. [Value Up]

Lucas Giolito, RHP, Nationals: Giolito doesn’t seem to get talked about as much as he should. Quite possibly the most talented arm left in the minors, his on a collision course with the Majors at some point in 2016 — which is a good thing for the Nationals considering the club may lose Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister to free agency after the ’15 season. Plus the club could use some salary relief with one of the more expensive rotations in the Majors. Giolito, 21, is one of those rare talents that only comes by once in a blue moon. Despite missing parts of two seasons due to Tommy John surgery, he’s moved quickly since his return and, despite his over-powering fastball, isn’t just a thrower; he’s shown solid control and command considering his development detour. Along with the ability to strike out just about anyone, he induces more than his fair share of ground-ball outs, which makes him all the more deadly. [Value Up]

Yoan Moncada, 2B, Red Sox: Moncada got off to a slow start to his pro career — no doubt due to a long layoff from organized call, as well as the immense pressure heaped on him by his reputation and massive contract. He post an OPS of just .576 in his first 25 games but .944 thereafter. He’s displayed plus, raw power in Cuba and in his showcases but it has yet to fully manifest itself in North American ball. Even so, he’s been an impact player with a solid approach at the plate and strong base running abilities — as witnessed by his 35 steals in 38 attempts. His biggest opportunity is on defensive at the keystone. He’s still young but the glut of talented infielders in the Sox system could make a quick shift to the outfield a possibility. He should have enough bat to play anywhere on the field and could move quickly through the system once he acclimatizes to life in North America. [Value Up]

Alex Reyes, RHP, Cardinals: Reyes would like to challenge Giolito for the mantle of ‘Most Talented Arm in the Minors’ but he’s not quite as advanced as the Nationals’ hurler. This young New Jersey-Dominican native sits in the mid-90s with his heater and can tickle triple digits but the rest of his arsenal remains inconsistent. His curveball shows the most potential among his secondary pitches with his changeup a distant third offering. Despite that fact the Cardinals have been aggressive with his development and he recently reached Double-A where he’s held his own. It’s not crazy to suggest Reyes could be in the Majors in 2016 at the age of 21 but he may not fully tap into his true potential for another couple of years. The Cardinals rotation could be something to behold in the next few years with the likes of Michael Wacha, Carlos Martinez and Reyes holding court. [Value Up]