SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE NOTES: ROYALS, RED SOX, GIANTS, NATIONALS

Feature Photo: Triston Casas, 1B, Red Sox

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We just released our updated Top 125 Prospects entering 2019. Click here to view our user-friendly table, sortable by team, age, position, grade, MLB ETA, and more.

Our new 2019 pro-side video, scouting report, and spotlight libraries are now live! Check out the links below–and you can always refer to our 2018 libraries for even more player info:

Pro Video Library (2019, 2018)

Pro Scouting Report Library (2019, 2018)

Pro Spotlight Library (2019, 2018)

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FEATURED SPOTLIGHTS

Jake Wong, RHP, San Francisco Giants (Augusta GreenJackets)

Ht/Wt: 6’2” / 215 lbs.             B/T: R / R                Age (as of April 1, 2019): 22y, 6m
Video

Wong moved between the bullpen and rotation at Grand Canyon University, slotting in as the team’s Friday night starter during his junior season. The Giants third-rounder in 2018, he has been developed as in the rotation to begin his first full pro season, looking capable of potentially staying in that role as he moves up the ladder. Wong has cruised through his first few weeks in the South Atlantic League, missing bats at a solid clip while challenging with his fastball and limiting free passes.

A strong, well-built 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Wong looks the part of an innings-eater. He repeats a moderate effort semi-windup, able to consistently pound the zone and show flashes of fastball command despite some head-whack at finish. The heater has worked in the 90-to-94 mph range this season, touching 95-96 mph at best, with consistent armside run. Wong’s main off-speed pitch is a 78-to-81 mph curve that flashes solid depth at best. He casts it at times and the pitch gets loopier later in outings, but the makings of a future Major League breaking ball are here. He’s less comfortable with a mid-80s changeup, a third speed he’ll need to develop in order to work back through lineups at higher levels.

With more changeup development and general starting reps at the pro level, Wong’s ceiling is that of a #4/#5 rotation piece. His frame, velocity, and feel for spin are legitimate big league ingredients and should enable him to fill a Major League role in some capacity.

Joan Adon, RHP, Washington Nationals (Hagerstown Suns)

Ht/Wt: 6’2” / 180 lbs.             B/T: R / R                Age (as of April 1, 2019): 20y, 7m
Video #1 | Video #2

Signed for just $50K in 2016, Adon’s stuff has turned heads through the low parts of Washington’s system. He spent his first year in pro ball in the DSL, coming stateside last summer and splitting time between the GCL and New York-Penn League. The Nationals moved the 20-year-old righty to Hagerstown’s rotation this year, and while he ultimately is more likely to wind up back in the ‘pen, facing lineups numerous times and working late into games is good for his development.

Adon’s fastball works in the 93-to-97 mph range as a starter, hinting there’s even more velocity to come if he’s back in a relief role at any point. The pitch flashes occasional lively armside run, though his command and general pitchability are still fairly raw. His primary off-speed is a hard mid-80s slider, showing tight rotation and bite at times. He doesn’t finish the pitch consistently but the signs of a playable big league breaking ball are there. Adon’s changeup is a nascent third offering that lags behind the rest of his arsenal.

The arm-strength makes him a prospect, though Adon’s lack of size, third pitch, and present mechanical effort makes him a better long-term fit in the ‘pen. He has the stuff to fit a middle relief or 7th inning setup role with more breaking ball consistency and continued refinements to his strikethrowing.

FEATURED SCOUTING REPORTS

Triston Casas, 1B, Boston Red Sox (Greenville Drive)

Ht/Wt: 6’4” / 238 lbs.             B/T: L / R                Age (as of April 1, 2019): 19y, 2m
Video #1 | Video #2 | Scouting Report

Holding his own in full-season ball as a 19-year-old; high makeup paired with innate hitter’s feel and big power gives the upside of a middle-of-the-order bat.

Sean Hjelle, RHP, San Francisco Giants (Augusta GreenJackets)

Ht/Wt: 6’11” / 225 lbs.             B/T: R / R                Age (as of April 1, 2019): 21y, 10m
Video #1 | Video #2 | Scouting Report

6-foot-11 frame generates extreme down angle; four pitches for strikes from durable frame give the ceiling of a workhorse mid-rotation starter.

Zach Haake, RHP, Kansas City Royals (Lexington Legends)

Ht/Wt: 6’4” / 186 lbs.             B/T: R / R                Age (as of April 1, 2019): 22y, 5m
Video #1 | Video #2 | Scouting Report

Harnessing his control/command and the pro level, allowing stuff to dominate the way it has long shown the potential to do. 

Michael Gigliotti, OF, Kansas City Royals (Lexington Legends)

Ht/Wt: 6’1” / 180 lbs.             B/T: L / L                Age (as of April 1, 2019): 23y, 1m
Video | Scouting Report

Contact, on-base skills, and center-diamond defensive ability give the ceiling of a role player or solid fourth outfielder. 

Austin Cox, LHP, Kansas City Royals (Lexington Legends)

Ht/Wt: 6’4” / 185 lbs.             B/T: L / L                Age (as of April 1, 2019): 22y, 0m
Video #1 | Video #2 | Scouting Report

Durable lefty with deep mix of average pitches; fairly polished already with the upside of a #5 starter. 

Israel Pineda, C, Washington Nationals (Hagerstown Suns)

Ht/Wt: 5’11” / 190 lbs.             B/T: R / R                Age (as of April 1, 2019): 18y, 11m
Video | Scouting Report

Advanced defensive ability and barrel-feel for a young catcher; adjusting to the level as a teenager in full-season ball, but shows tools of glove-first backstop. 

OTHERS OF NOTE