Prospect Stock Watch: Andujar, Tucker, Jimenez

Today’s Prospect Stock Watch looks at an underrated Yankees prospect, a top draft pick from 2015 and a hard-throwing, triple-A reliever.

Miguel Andujar | 3B | Yankees
ETA: 2018
Value: Rising (Underrated)

The Yankees system is loaded with talent thanks to some recent trades, as well as heavy investments in the international market. Andujar — a 2011 signee for $750,000 — gets kind of overlooked but he has the makings of a solid big leaguer. His best tool is a rocket arm that should allow him to stick at third base even if his range is just average. The 21-year-old also has above-average raw power even though he has yet to tap into it consistently in game situations (11 homers, 22 doubles in 119 games in ’16). Andujar doesn’t walk a ton but he’ll take some pitches and he strikes out less than the typical slugging prospect (just 62 Ks in 459 at-bats). He also a decent hitter and could produce a .250-.270 average in his prime.

Kyle Tucker | OF | Astros
ETA: 2019
Value: Rising

The fifth overall pick in the 2015 draft and just 19 years old, Tucker opened 2016 in full-season ball. He produced solid but unspectacular numbers. The most inspiring number was the 31 steals in 40 tries. With just 190 pounds on his 6-4 frame, Tucker has a lot of room to add strength and could eventually hit 20+ bases from the left side of the plate. Add in the potential to hit .280-.300 and you have a very intriguing player. He’s played all three outfield spots in 2016 with the bulk of the time coming in center. The Astros have some outfield depth a head of Tucker so there is no real reason to rush his development as he learns to translate his tools into results.

Joe Jimenez | RHP | Tigers
ETA: 2017
Value: Rising

The Tigers don’t develop a ton of players but Jimenez looks like he might be a good one in the very near future. He’s played at three levels in 2016 and is currently holding triple-A hitters to a .195 batting average. In total, the right-handed reliever has struck out 73 batters in 49.1 innings and has shown above-average control for a hard-throwing reliever with just 17 walks. Jimenez, 21, is an extreme fly-ball pitcher but he’s allowed just four career home runs in 137 innings (and one this season) thanks to his overpowering fastball and slider. The Tigers love their hard-throwing relievers and Jimenez should be ready for the The Show by the beginning of the 2017 — if not sooner.