Bernie on the Scene: Major League Ready Prospects

Leading Off

• Response to our initial RotoWire On The Scene Fantasy Baseball League was outstanding. As a result, we are adding another league. If you are interested in joining our second league, also a 5x5, 10-team roto league, and can draft on a Saturday in May, contact me me at BPleskoff@aol.com. Once I hear from you via email, I will send you the details. Some folks have already been entered, but spots remain.

• Here is a crazy idea that was floating around this past week. Again, this is just a rumor, and it is likely unfounded. However, sometimes these things do actually happen:

For some time, there has been talk that baseball will begin in empty stadiums in warm areas. One thought was that one league would play their schedule in spring training sites in Arizona and the other in spring training sites in Florida.

A visiting team hotel would be designated. Every visiting club would stay at the same hotel, with the floor of the hotel housing the visiting club personnel alternating from series to series.

All that is needed is a major league quality field, and spring training fields fit the bill. Since the stands would be empty, it doesn't matter how many seats the stadiums hold.

Once the virus seems to be more under control and an "all clear" is issued, the leagues would return to normal schedules and their own venues.

While the idea sounds interesting, there are obstacles to hurdle regarding state and local regulations and protecting the health of everyone involved. 

• Suspended former Astros manager AJ Hinch and former Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow will be reinstated next season, even if the 2020 season is not played. Their suspension is for this baseball season only. Beyond this year, there are no restrictions on their baseball careers.

We may see Hinch show up in a front office at some point in time. I think it will be very tough for Luhnow to get another job in baseball. 

• This past week baseball lost one of my favorite people. Chicago White Sox radio voice Ed Farmer lost his long battle with polycystic kidney disease. Farmer had a unique, friendly and "folksy" style on White Sox radio broadcasts and everyone who came in contact with him loved him. I am grateful to have had many conversations with the very intelligent, very funny and very kind Ed Farmer. A Chicago icon, Ed Farmer loved the White Sox, Notre Dame and anything and everything that was Chicago. We will greatly miss him.

Player Profiles — Viable Rookies

For the next few weeks I will profile viable MLB rookies who can be drafted with confidence. Some may graduate to the big leagues this year, but the shortened season threatens that. I would classify them as major league ready.

Scouting Grades:

45 - Utility player
50 - Everyday regular player
55 - Above Average every day player
60 - Capable of an occasional All Star appearances with game-changing impact

A grade 65 or 70 fastball is an electric, elite, ace-type pitch.

Nate Pearson, Blue Jays, RHP, 6-6, 245, Age 23

Without question, I believe Pearson to be among the best prospect pitchers in the game. I'm very bullish on White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech, but Pearson ranks above the Astros' Forrest Whitley in my evaluations, and right up there with Kopech.

Pearson uses his huge frame to pitch downhill and throw his blazing fastball at 97-99 miles per hour with ease. I saw him throw plenty of high velocity, Grade 75 fastballs in the 2018 Arizona Fall League.  But at that time, he struggled a bit, throwing to a 6.20 ERA in 20.1 innings. He walked 13 and yielded 23 hits. Since then however, Pearson has blossomed.

His huge physical presence on the mound can easily intimidate hitters.

Pearson was a 2017 first-round pick by the Blue Jays out of Central Florida Community College in Ocala, Fla. He really does rely on the fastball, but he has a solid at-bat finishing slider while mixing in a curveball at times. It will be his fastball/slider combination that moves him along in major league baseball. 

Pearson will improve his own chances for success by completely developing that third pitch, his curveball.

Pearson repeats his delivery well, using good mechanics and sequencing his secondary pitches at the right time. He has the ability to throw to all quadrants of the plate, making the hitter sharpen and quicken his ability to track the ball out of his hand.

If the season begins soon, we could see Pearson this year. However, he still needs a bit of finishing in his development, so next year seems even more likely. Regardless of his graduation date, Pearson will be an important component of the Blue Jays rotation. Grade: 60

Ryan Mountcastle, Orioles, 3B/1B/SS, 6-3, 195, Age 23

Mountcastle was drafted in the first round by the Orioles as a shortstop in 2015 out of Paul J. Hagerty High School in Florida. He has since been converted to both corner infield positions. He also played left field last year at Triple-A Norfolk as well. In essence, he is a hitter looking for a position to play on defense.

Mountcastle is a solid, major league quality hitter with a good swing and some power. He has a career .295 minor league batting average in parts of five seasons. He should be able to handle major league quality pitching after he settles in on the Orioles roster. From what I have seen of Mountcastle, he can hit breaking balls better than most young prospects.

When I saw him in the 2017 Arizona Fall League, Mountcastle's bat looked slow and he looked tired as a player. Since then, however, he has shown in his last two seasons that he can handle secondary pitches and have an impact at the plate. Last season, he hit 25 homers and 35 doubles at Triple-A Norfolk.

With defensive deficiencies, Mountcastle's future may be as a designated hitter. For now, however, he will be able to continue to prove his value as a gap-hitting doubles machine capable of driving in runs.

Even though he has good hitting mechanics, swings and misses remain in his game. His contact rate needs improving. Grade: 55

Spencer Howard, Phillies, RHP, 6-2, 205, Age 23

Spencer Howard was selected in the second round of the 2017 draft by the Phillies. He pitched at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, going 11-2 in 14 starts with a 2.24 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.

Howard throws a four-seam grade 65 fastball, a slider, a curve and a changeup in his complete repertoire. His most usual combination is fastball/changeup, which I saw him use to a great extent in the 2019 Arizona Fall League.

From what I have seen of Howard, his secondary pitches are all of major league quality, but none come close to matching the quality and refinement of his blazing fastball at this early point in his career. It is my hope that his secondary pitch development will carry him to the top of the Phillies rotation in the future. But refinement work remains.

Howard was very impressive pitching in the AFL, yielding only 11 hits in 22.1 innings. By the way, that statistic (hits to innings pitched) is one this old scout relies upon heavily in evaluations. As well as walk and strikeout rates. 

Having pitched in college, Howard may have a fairly quick route to the parent club. He has only thrown 211.1 minor league innings, and more are needed. However, the Phillies need pitching and I believe he'll be on a fast track, especially if he does well this season. For this observer, the only thing I see missing is repetition. He needs work on the mound to learn how to repeat his delivery pitch-to-pitch without hiccups and alterations. Grade: 60

Carter Kieboom, Nationals, SS/2B/3B, 6-2, 190, Age 22

The Nationals had two first-round draft picks in 2016. They took Carter Kieboom out of Walton High School in Georgia at No. 28, right before they chose pitcher Dane Dunning with the next pick. Dunning has since been traded to the White Sox in the deal that brought Adam Eaton to the Nationals.

Truth be told, most scouts and analysts are more bullish on Kieboom than yours truly. But that has more to do with his defensive shortcomings than his bat.

I was able to scout Kieboom in the 2018 Fall League, where he went to the plate 96 times and hit .295 with a homer and five RBIs.  At the time, I liked his offense better than his defense. And it is his offense that matters in fantasy. 

Kieboom has good pitch recognition and comes to his at-bats with an ability to barrel the ball. His batting average and overall hit tool are the best part of his game. I do think power will emerge from his long arms and quick hands through the ball. For now, I have seen a bit too much use of his pull side in his approach at the plate, but he is smart enough to make adjustments and take pitches where they are thrown.

For me, Kieboom is more future than present, a situation that always concerns me when a guy is on the brink of a major league promotion. I don't think the Nationals will quite see what they want from Kieboom, even at second base, which is where I think he will end up playing. 

From what I have seen repeatedly, Kieboom profiles for me as a future second baseman due to inconsistent, quirky arm action on his throws and a slow first step. In my evaluation, his range is not what one would want as a full-time shortstop.

Kieboom's hit tool and emerging power are legitimate. Grade: 55

• Note: If there is a player you would like me to profile in coming weeks, please let me know in the comments below. If I have seen the player in person and I feel confident in my evaluation, I will include the player in a coming article.

• If you haven't already contacted me about playing in League Two of our RotoWire On The Scene Fantasy Baseball League, email me at BPleskoff@aol.com. If room remains, we'll include you in our second league. Thanks to all who have notified me so far of your interest.

Stay safe and healthy out there. And to all of you who work in health care, in public safety or at grocery stores or drive trucks that bring us food and supplies or provide public service in this time of need, I am deeply grateful to each of you. Our country is deeply grateful to each of you. Our language is limited to a couple words like ... Thank You. 

Follow me on twitter @BerniePleskoff and at  forbes.com-Pleskoff.