Prospects1500 Rankings
2017 (overall): #2
2017 (team): #1 White Sox
Prospects1500 Blurb:
The diamond in the Chris Sale trade, Moncada heads into 2017 as a near-consensus #1 overall prospect in baseball. Young Cuban should fit in well in the White Sox clubhouse, as it looks like the White Sox will keep around fellow Cuban and former teammate Jose Abreu. The Mike Trout comparisons are probably too optimistic, but he boasts power (.254 ISO at AA-Portland), patience (13% walk rate at AA), speed (45 steals in 57 attempts in 2016) and enough defense to stick at 2B. His propensity to strike-out is concerning, as evidenced by 12 Ks in 20 MLB at-bats during his brief sip of coffee for Boston last fall. But if he can improve on the contact rate, he’s a middle of the order hitter that can play the middle infield, and could be a perennial all-star.
