Taveras’ 2018 was not unlike his 2017 full-season debut in Low-A: his stats alone were relatively pedestrian, with tools and scouting grades that were significantly better. Another similarity is how young he was for the level, playing all of last season as a 19-year-old in the Carolina League. He’s repeating the level this year, showing more life at the plate but still struggling to bring power into games with a .294/.368/.376 line in the first half.

Taveras is a remarkable athlete who impacts the game in CF, grading as a potential 70 defender at a premium position. A switch-hitter, he’s more advanced from the left side but has made progress with his right-handed stroke. It still hasn’t showed up, but there’s sneaky power potential that could still be on the way as Taveras fills out a wiry, long-limbed frame. We’re bullish on the tools, chalking up his lack of production to being extremely young for his level each step of the way so far in his career. Switch-hitting compounds this, as young players learning two different swings often come into their offensive game a bit later. His defense in CF is enough to make Taveras a regular, with the chance to be a FV 55 contributor with continued offensive development.