3 prospects to watch this week

Welcome to your weekly dose of hot prospects around the minor leagues. Here are the 3 you should watch this week.

Nolan Gorman, Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals)

You’re probably watching Gorman by now, but if you aren’t, it’s time to tune in. The Cardinals look like they struck gold with their 19th overall selection in the 2018 MLB Draft.

The 18-year-old third base prospect made quick work of the Appalachian League, slashing .350/.443/.664 with a 1.107 OPS over his first 38 games as a pro. Most impressively, he hit 22 extra base hits (10 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs).

Gorman came with some question marks in his plate approach, with many seeing holes in his swing and some swing and miss, but no one could deny the power was for real (like our own Shaun Kernahan). Though he’s showing that swing-and-miss a bit more since his promotion to Peoria, he’s still slugged six home runs and two doubles with his big, lefty swing. With mixed reviews at his play at the hot corner, it will be interesting to watch Gorman’s climb up the ladder.

Tucker Davidson, Florida Fire Frogs (Atlanta Braves)

I have never been shy on my feelings about Davidson, as he was one of my favorite arms on the Rome Braves staff.

The 22-year-old lefty had a rough transition to the Florida State League this season, but has looked a lot like the exciting, under-the-radar prospect he appeared to be last season. He’s gone 13.1 innings over his last two starts striking out 13 and walking one, while allowing zero earned runs.

He has a nice mid-90s fastball and slider combination and if he’s back to getting things the way they were for Rome, he’s another arm in the deep Braves arsenal.

Michael King, Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Railriders (New York Yankees)

King has flown under the radar into a prime spot for a possible late season call up. King, the Marlins 2016 12th rounder out of Boston College, was the return in the Caleb Smith/ Garrett Cooper deal and he’s looking like a steal.

King was good to start the season in the FSL, looked sharp in a stop in Trenton, and has been lights out in SWB. Ricky Keeler of Pinstriped Prospects has been telling me to watch him for a month, and imploring that the Yankees give him a shot in the pen. Jed Weisberger recently spoke to him, and it’s worth checking out at Clubhouse Corner.

Since coming to the RailRiders, King is 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA and a 21:4 K:BB ratio in 27 innings pitched. Mix in a .177 batting average against and a 0.78 WHIP, things are gelling for King. Put him on your radar and keep him there.