The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

SINCE Major League Baseball (MLB) Pipeline began listing its top 30 prospects within each franchise for the upcoming 2019 season, Bahamians have been prominently featured.

D’Shawn Knowles, Trent Deveaux and Tahnaj Thomas were all listed between 10-19, indicative of their projection within their respective organisations.

Perhaps the biggest ascension on any prospect featured on the MLB Pipeline list was made by Knowles, who is now ranked No.10 in the Los Angeles Angels farm system.

The 18-year-old outfielder was ranked No. 30 headed on the prospect list going into last season.

“Throughout his first summer of pro ball, Knowles showed a solid approach from both sides of the plate, with excellent bat speed. There’s emerging power, though it only showed up from the left side during his debut.

“He’s not afraid to draw walks and could be a plus hitter as he continues to refine his approach, perhaps eventually with average big league pop,” His Prospect Watch analysis said. “Knowles has plus speed and loves to use it, though he’ll have to learn the nuances of base stealing.”

After 30 games in the Arizona League last year, he received his first promotion with the Angels. Through 30 games in the AZL, Knowles hit .301 with a .385 OBP, .765 OPS with 14 RBI, 19 runs scored, seven stolen bases and one home run. He was assigned to the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League and continued his production for the remainder of the season as MLB Pipeline’s No.25 prospect in the Angels organisation.

With the Owlz, he appeared in 28 games and hit .321 with a .398 OBP, .949 OPS with 15 RBI, 27 runs scored, two stolen bases and four home runs.

Deveaux, also with the Angels, progressed to No. 17 after being listed at No.21 last year.

The 18-year-old outfielder appeared in 44 games in the Arizona League last year and hit .199 with a .309 OBP, .556 OPS with 11 RBI, 20 runs scored, seven stolen bases and one home run.

“Though he struggled out of the gate, Deveaux continues to be one of the best athletes in the organisation. He has top of the scale speed, which should allow him to steal bases and cover a ton of ground as an above-average, if not eventually plus, centre fielder.

“Deveaux has pleased the organisation with his willingness to ask questions and learn with an understanding he has a long way to go,” his analysis said. “With a ‘whopping’ 44 games of professional game experience under his belt entering 2019, the most important thing will be for him to get as many reps as possible.”

With a move to the Pirates organisation, 19-year-old right hand pitcher Tahnaj Thomas has seen his preseason ranking increase.

Thomas was traded to the Pirates from the Cleveland Indians alongside Erik Gonzalez and Dante Mendoza in exchange for Jordan Luplow and Max Moroff.

Last season, Thomas appeared in eight games (six starts) in the Rookie League, recording a 4.58 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 27 strikeouts in 19.2 innings. He was assigned to the AZL Indians 1 in the Arizona Rookie League.

Thomas was listed as the No.30 rookie prospect in the Indians organisation. “Very much a raw project, he threw just 58 total innings in two pro summers before he was sent to the Pirates,” his analysis said.

“At 6-foot-4, Thomas is an extremely athletic and projectable right-hander who has a long way to go before fulfilling his potential, considerable as it might be. His fastball in 2018 clocked in the 92-96mph range with life up in the zone and it’s much more control over command with it right now -- he’s around the strike zone with it, but not putting it where he wants it at all times. His low-80s slider flashes plus with good biting action to it. He hasn’t shown much of a changeup, showing one around 85-87 mph the few times he’s thrown it, another area of focus as he moves forward.

“Thomas is the epitome of a long-range project, but the feel for his stuff and his athleticism give him a chance to eventually get there as a starting pitcher.”