Edgardo "Colonel" Encarnacion 2B Jacksonville Hurricanes
Age: 19
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6'2" Weight: 180
Nationality: Salvadoran
POT: 8/8/2/4/9
It says a lot about what your organization thinks of you when you get called up as a 19 year old and immediately inserts you into the #3 hole against righties and the leadoff spot against lefties. It's even more impressive when that organization is Jacksonville. He was up to the task in the early going, batting .333 in his first 27 at-bats. "Colonel" is a classic contact hitter, who has great defense at second base (where his arm limits him to on the infield). He could also be useful in the outfield in spots.
Nathan Lee RHP Mexico City Aztecs
Age: 23
Height: 6'6" Weight: 195
Nationality: American
POT: 9/5/4 PIT: FB (9) CB (9) CU (1) STA: 10 VEL: 99-101 TYPE: GB
A starter throughout most of his professional career, the Aztecs moved him to a relief role last year in anticipation of his long term BBA role and saw flashes from him. Starting this year in AAA, he was excellent in 15 appearances (4-0, 1 SV, 1.82 ERA, 1.04 WHIP) and earned a promotion to the big league club. His big league debut was a three inning shutout save. Lee's control and middling movement will limit his ceiling but he could be a useful big league reliever.
Jack "Waddles" Moniker LF Des Moines Kernels
Age: 21
Bats: L Throws: L
Height: 6'2" Weight: 190
Nationality: American
POT: 7/4/3/6/10
Des Moines' second rounder from 2034 makes the show. He's a "ball in play" type, with great contact, good eye and outstanding ability to avoid strikeouts. He lacks both traditional and gap power. Defensively, he's an average left fielder with a plus arm. He strikes me as the type of player that is destined for a bench role but in Des Moines he will get every opportunity to be a starter.
Kidane Ata RF Nashville Goats
Age: 21
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6'2" Weight: 185
Nationality: Kenyan
POT: 9/10/8/5/6
Whatever "The Plan"™ is, Ata is certainly a focal point of it. The Goats waited it out, bought themselves another year of service time, and now have Ata in their lineup in the midst of a surprising start. Right now he's miles ahead defensively in his development process than he is offensively, and it could be argued that it would have been wise to let his bat develop in the minors some more. He will struggle, at times badly, against RHP this season. But he's SO good defensively- the strange thing is Nashville's decision to put him in right field. The wise move would be to swap him and Kamade right now.
Francisco Salazar C Seattle Storm
Age: 20
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 5'11" Weight: 180
Nationality: Puerto Rican
POT: 7/8/4/6/8 CAT: 9 ARM: 4
When you draft a college catcher in the first round in 2036, you hope for a quick rise through the minors. Salazar may have gotten here quicker than even the Storm hoped he would. He hit at every level...up until this season in AAA where he couldn't hit a lick. Solution? Promote him to the BBA! His bat immediately ignited, he's batting .364 over his first 10 BBA games. He's got good contact, great gap power and outstanding plate discipline. That's the good stuff...now for the bad stuff. He's a righty, so there's the reverse platoon split. He doesn't have the strongest throwing arm, but that hasn't stopped him from being a borderline elite defender in the minor leagues. Personality wise, if you're expecting your catcher to be a leader you will probably be disappointed with Salazar. He's been called an "introvert" with high greed and low loyalty. If he performs, that won't matter.
