73. Lourdes Gurriel, 3b/of, Blue Jays
Tools & Grades
Hit: 55. Power: 55. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50. ETA: 2017.
Stats & Media
VIDEO — PLAYER CARD
Scouting Report
Gurriel’s father, with the same name, starred for Cuban national teams (winning Olympic gold in 1992) for more than a decade, as did his older brother Yulieski. The brothers came to the U.S. in early 2016, with Yulieski signing with the Astros for a $47.5 million major league deal. Lourdes waited to sign until he turned 23 in October to get out from under the international bonus pools and signed a seven-year, $22 million contract with the Blue Jays in November. Scouts often have compared Gurriel to his father and brother, but he’s a prospect on his own, with a lean, athletic frame. He has a fairly polished offensive approach, knows the strike zone and has the bat speed to catch up to good fastballs, even though his swing has some length. It also features some loft and leverage, giving him above-average power potential. Gurriel has run better in recent years, rating from average to above-average. He played shortstop, third base and left field in Cuba and profiles best at third or in left field. He has a solid-average arm. The Blue Jays are fairly set on the left side of the infield with Troy Tulowitzki and Josh Donaldson, so the outfield looks like Gurriel’s best path to helping Toronto in the short term. He’s expected to open his pro career at Double-A New Hampshire, likely giving third base a try before a move to the outfield.
Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2017-top-100-prospects-with-scouting-reports/#PFJh1rBwf7zoay3d.99
75. Sean Reid-Foley, rhp, Blue Jays
Tools & Grades
Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 45. ETA: 2018.
Stats & Media
VIDEO — PLAYER CARD
Scouting Report
Reid-Foley is close to becoming the second big leaguer ever born in Guam. He would join John Hattig, who got 24 at-bats in 2006 for Toronto. Reid-Foley’s older brother David, a converted catcher, pitched in the Dodgers system and taught his younger brother a curveball last offseason, helping him have a breakout 2016 season. The only flaw was an elbow flare-up in August that prompted the Jays to shut him down. The Jays knew Reid-Foley had power stuff, which he maintained and improved in 2016 with the strides he made with his upper-70s curveball, which now rivals his slider as his best secondary pitch. At times both play as plus, though his mid-80s slider was less consistent than it had been in the past. Sent back to low Class A to start the season, Reid-Foley streamlined his leg kick in his delivery, which improved his direction to the plate, resulting in more command of his 92-94 mph fastball that touches 97. He threw harder in 2015 but has better command now while retaining good angle to the plate and solid life. His changeup, his fourth pitch, shows average potential if he can commit to it. Reid-Foley and Conner Greene should front the rotation at Double-A New Hampshire at some point in 2017. Greene’s stuff is more electric, but Reid-Foley’s strides in commanding his plus stuff gives him the edge as a potential future No. 2 starter
Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2017-top-100-prospects-with-scouting-reports/#PFJh1rBwf7zoay3d.99
95. Rowdy Tellez, 1b, Blue Jays
Tools & Grades
Hit: 50. Power: 60. Speed: 20. Fielding: 40. Arm: 45. ETA: 2018.
Stats & Media
VIDEO — PLAYER CARD
Scouting Report
Tellez played with future pros J.D. Davis (Astros), Dom Nunez (Rockies), Derek Hill (Tigers 2014 first-rounder) and Dylan Carlson (Cardinals 2016 first-rounder) at Elk Grove High before signing for $850,000, the largest bonus in the Blue Jays’ 2013 draft class. He had a strong 2016, ranking second in the Double-A Eastern League in on-base percentage (.387) and third in slugging (.530). A slow start (.164 in April) tested Tellez’s confidence, but he turned up his aggressiveness and rallied, hitting .318 the rest of the way. He has improved his body significantly since signing, losing 15 pounds. Scouts laud his makeup for his dedication to his fitness, which also has helped improve his power production. Tellez always has shown feel for hitting and good control for the strike zone, and he’s got plus power to punish mistakes when pitchers miss. He chased plenty of breaking balls early but adjusted and started laying off them, and he has enough bat speed to catch up to good fastballs. Tellez is a fringy defender with good enough footwork to improve to average. Tellez is the most advanced hitter among top Toronto farmhands and could hit his way to the majors in 2017, depending on how the Blue Jays’ offseason shapes up. More likely, he’ll head to Triple-A Buffalo.
Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2017-top-100-prospects-with-scouting-reports/#PFJh1rBwf7zoay3d.99