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Drew Ward DOB: 11/25/94 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 215 Bats: L Throws: R Career Stats |
Ward returned to Harrisburg for a full season but did not progress, as his K rate ballooned to 27%. To his credit, his walk rate remained the same. MLB.com reports that Ward had offseason wrist surgery, which may explain his drop in production, but it’s troublesome given that power was something he showed as an amateur but hasn’t as a pro. Defensively, Ward remains strong of arm but slow of foot, so it still seems like a shift to 1B is inevitable. |
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Kelvin Gutierrez DOB: 8/28/94 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 185 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats |
Gutierrez was in the midst of a breakout year when he injured his ankle on June 9 while trying to beat out a grounder. He would miss 10 weeks and finish 2017 in the GCL. Gutierrez got an invite to the AFL and slashed .350/.438/.475 in 13G. All signs indicate that he’ll take his game to AA and stick at third base, where he is the organization’s best on defense. The big question: “When is the power going to come?” He only hit 3HR including the AFL but has the physique to hit 20 or more. |
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Anderson Franco DOB: 8/15/97 Ht. 6’3″ Wt. 190 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats |
A back injury limited Franco to just 24G in the GCL in 2016 and he was sent to Low-A in 2017 despite having played just 11 games at Auburn (in 2015). Still, the 20-y.o. hit 11HR and 23 doubles and played 120 games, including 29 at 1B. The question is whether or not he’ll repeat. Both Franco and Omar Meregildo, born three days apart in 1997, were young for the level in 2017 and neither tore it up down the stretch. |
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Omar Meregildo DOB: 8/18/97 Ht. 6’1″ Wt. 185 Bats: R Throws: R Career Stats |
Meregildo makes his first appearance after moving from the DSL to the GCL to the NYPL in his first three seasons with unspectacular numbers with one exception – home runs. While eight is not a ton, it was the third-most in the NYPL last summer. Power is short supply in this organization, and it’s especially hard to find among the few age-appropriate-to-the-level players in the Nats farm system. |