Today’s Prospect Stock Watch takes a look at three triple-A players worthy of a big-league opportunity but they are blocked in their current organizations. One player has a minor league option remaining for 2018 with the Astros, while the other two could be available through the Rule 5 draft in December. One of those two players is also heading into minor league free agency.

Tony Kemp, IF/OF, Astros: An excellent college performer at Vanderbilt, Kemp was selected in the fifth round of the 2013 draft by the Astros. The lower levels of the minors proved to be little challenge for the infielder and he reached triple-A in 2015. Unfortunately, strong depth at the big league level (Jose Altuve and Marwin Gonzalez) has kept Kemp at triple-A for the past three seasons despite solid numbers.

He’s even increased his versatility to no avail. His 2017 triple-slash line sits at .328/.373/.469 through 110 games and he has nothing left to prove at the level. Kemp, who turns 26 in October, will enter 2018 in a similar position — still stuck behind Altuve, etc. And with one minor league option remaining, he could be destined for another round in triple-A unless the Astros do him a favor and move him to a club with a question mark at second base or with a need for a strong bat off the bench.

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Today’s Prospect Stock Watch takes a look at a breakout 2017 draftee, a fast-rising starter who’s leaving the controversy of a failed physical behind him, and an undrafted pitcher who has become one of the top strikeout pitchers in the minors.

Brent Rooker, OF, Twins: I don’t typically write about same-season draft picks in the Prospect Stock Watch because first-year (half-season) stats often don’t mean much after long amateur seasons. Rooker, though, deserves some ink. Selected 35th overall out of Mississippi State University, this outfielder has defied his scouting reports and is quickly proving that his outstanding junior season in college was not a fluke.

He has some swing-and-miss to his game (50 Ks in 51 games) but he also has some of the best useable power in the low minors; he’s slugged 13 homers so far. Along with the power, he’s also shown a willingness to take a walk. Rooker opened his pro career in advanced-rookie ball but, after 22 games, was pushed all the way up to high-A ball where he’s continued to hit well with an .826 OPS. The first-year pro may return to high-A ball to open up the 2018 season but it may not take long for him to experience double-A. He has middle-of-the-order potential for the Twins.

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Today’s Prospect Stock Watch takes a look a future No. 2 or 3 starter for the Tigers, another impressive young third base prospect for the Red Sox and an 18-year-old prospect with 21 homers and 28 steals for the Padres.

Beau Burrows, RHP, Tigers: Wait, what? The Tigers have some prospects in their minor league system? Some real prospects? Yessiree, Detroit is back on the prospecting map. The club is starting to collect some arms with high-ceiling potential, including Matt Manning, Kyle Funkhouser, Alex Faedo and Burrows. Of the four pitchers, Burrows is the closest to impacting the big league team. Just 20 years old, he’s already at the double-A level after beginning the season in high-A ball where he produced a 1.23 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 58.2 innings. Things have been a little bumpier in double-A (4.38 ERA) but he’s still missing a lot of bats with 64 whiffs in 61.2 innings. He has a chance to reach the majors with four average or better offerings and his fastball works in the 91-95 mph range. His above-average control (38 walks in 120.1 combined innings) and improved command helps his stuff play up. Look for Burrows to reach the majors by mid-2018.

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Today’s Prospect Stock Watch takes a look at the Reds’ top prospect, a Rockies third baseman without a home and a military hero who’s going to make his MLB debut on Saturday.

Nick Senzel, 3B, Reds: Cincinnati is starting to build a pretty impressive system but the cream of the crop continues to be 2016 second overall draft pick Senzel. He’s split the 2017 season between high-A and double-A with a combined .320 average and .947 OPS. He has just 11 homers in 106 games but the 38 doubles hint at more over-the-fence pop to come as he matures as a hitter. Senzel also runs unusually well for a third baseman and has good athleticism – both of which make him a very well-rounded player who could threaten to have a 20-20 season early in his MLB career if so motivated. He should also be an above-average fielder at the hot corner. Cincinnati’s home park has turned Eugenio Suarez into a productive player for the Reds but his days of being the starter at third base should come to an end sometime in 2018 when Senzel descends upon the position.

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Today’s Prospect Stock Watch takes a look at a promising Pirates pitcher, an impressive infielder in the Yankees system and a rising name in the Royals system.

Mitch Keller, RHP, Pirates: Pittsburgh has developed some excellent big league arms in recent years with the likes of Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon but there is more on the way. Keller, 21, was recently moved from high-A ball to double-A. A back injury slowed his ascent earlier this year but he still produced some solid numbers. The right-hander’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and he struck out 64 batters in 77.1 A-ball innings. He uses his 6-3 height to create leverage and generates almost two ground-ball outs for every one made in the air. His combination of power, breaking ball, above-average control (20 walks) and ground-ball abilities makes him a potential No. 2 starter in the Majors – exceeding the potential of recent rotation additions Chad Kuhl and Trevor Williams. Look for Keller to spend a good portion of 2018 in double-A but he should taste big league action before that season is out.

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Today’s Prospect Stock Watch takes a look at a former Mariners pitching prospect making good in the Braves system, yet another impressive Dodgers prospect and a Yankees prospect that could be on the move at the trade deadline.

Luiz Gohara, LHP, Braves: The Braves organization has drafted a number of impressive, young arms in recent years but the club has also had eye for acquiring talented mound performers. Gohara was acquired from the Mariners at the beginning of this year in a deal that had Mallex Smith going the other way. A native of Brazil, this young left-handed spent parts of five seasons in Rookie or A-ball – as he struggled to stay healthy and find consistency. He opened 2017 in high-A ball in Atlanta’s system and struck out 39 batters in 36.1 innings with a 1.98 ERA. Gohara, 20, has been equally successful in double-A with 60 strikeouts in 52 innings. Overall, he’s whiffed 99 batters in 88.1 innings with just 28 walks. He has a sturdy frame and should be capable of developing into an innings-eating starter if he watches his weight. Another option, given Atlanta’s incredible pitching depth, would be to consider shifting him to a high-leverage relief role where he could be overpowering with a mid-90s fastball and potentially-plus slider.

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Today’s Prospect Stock Watch takes a look at a Jays pitching prospect that might make a good trade chip, a Dodgers catching prospect that should reach the Top 100 prospects list soon, and another potential Rule 5 pick for this December.

Sean Reid-Foley, RHP, Blue Jays: Reid-Foley has been one of those maddening young pitchers in 2017 due to his lack of command and consistency. He has overwhelming stuff — as witnessed by his 12 Ks in 6.2 innings on Friday night — thanks to a 95-97 mph fastball and slider but he’s also given up 12 homers and has a habit of producing a clunker of a game every two or three starts. He’s been better lately — In his first five starts of the year he got past three innings just once. He struggles to repeat his delivery and part of his issues may also be mental – he seems to meltdown pretty easily and is prone to overthrowing. A four-pitch pitcher, Reid-Foley may be better suited by trimming his repertoire and focusing on three offerings; if he can improve the fastball command he doesn’t really need many other tricks to overpower hitters other than a change of speed and/or plane. With Toronto’s pitching in a state of flux, Reid-Foley should have a good opportunity to throw meaningful innings at the big league level in 2018 — although he also seems like the type of pitcher that’s due for Tommy John surgery sooner rather than later (throws hard, inconsistent mechanics, etc). If I’m the Jays, I’m looking to use him in a package to acquire a young, controllable hitter.

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Today at the Prospect Stock Watch we take a look at a third baseman that could help Boston during their race for a playoff spot, an emerging pitching stud for the Astros and an underrated arm for the Reds.

Rafael Devers, 3B, Red Sox: The Boston Red Sox appear to be on a collision course with the 2017 playoffs but the team’s biggest gap is likely at third base — especially after Pablo Sandoval was recently cut (not to mention the ill-fated Travis Shaw trade). Devers, a 20-year-old prospect, could be the answer for the Sox. He’s advanced for his age and was recently promoted to triple-A from double-A where he was hitting .300 with a .944 OPS. He’s not easily overwhelmed and seems to handle pressure well; his triple-A debut saw him go 4-for-4 with a homer. He has 19 home runs on the season but makes a solid amount of contact with just 55 strikeouts in 78 games (17.2% K-rate). Devers has the raw power to be a 30-homer guy in his prime. He’ll have to keep an eye on his conditioning to remain at the hot corner but he has a strong arm and should stick at the position for a while. He could eventually challenge Mookie Betts for the most talented home-grown player on the Red Sox.

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Today at the Prospect Stock Watch we take a look at three of the lesser-known prospects to appear yesterday in the MLB Futures Game in Miami.

Jaime Barria, RHP, Angels: It’s becoming easier and easier to find intriguing prospects in the Angels system to write about — after years of mediocrity. This 20-year-old Panamanian pitcher isn’t the most physical but he commands three pitches that should grade out as average or better. He’s struck out 83 batters so far this season with just 16 walks in 95.2 innings of work. His sturdy frame could allow him to develop into an innings-eating, back-of-the-rotation arm with the ceiling of a No. 3 starter.

After beginning the year in high-A ball, Barria has now made five starts in double-A and, if he continues to succeed at the level, he could open 2018 in triple-A with an eye towards a mid-2018 big league debut. The system doesn’t have many near-MLB-ready impact arms and the big league rotation is fragile (both due to health issues and impending free agencies) so players like Barria could be key to the organization’s successes in the near future.

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Today’s Prospect Stock Watch takes a look at a Blue Jays’ Futures Game representative, an early 2017 Rule 5 candidate out of the Dodgers and an underrated Minnesota Twins infielder.

Bo Bichette, SS, Blue Jays: A 2016 second round draft pick, Bichette barely made some publications’ Top 10 prospect lists for the Jays but, six months later, he’s jumped onto everyone’s Top 100 overall prospect lists. The teenaged shortstop is hitting more than .380 and has flirted with .400 much of the first half of the year. He’s going to the Futures Game this weekend and will move up to high-A ball (with 18-year-old Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) at the beginning of next week. Bichette has the ability to make uncanny consistent hard contact and leads the Midwest League with 32 doubles (only one other player – five years older – has more than 23). There are doubts over his ability to stick at shortstop but he’s a smart player that seems to pride himself at proving people wrong — so don’t underestimate him. However, even if he does move, he should have lots of arm and power for third base or right field.

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