Bernie on the Scene: Scouting Reports on Recently Promoted Players

This week, I begin a new series of articles. 

With so many injuries, clubs are reaching down to their farm system to fill roster spots. Almost every team has been required to pluck a player from the development program to the big leagues to fill a void on the 26-man roster.

You may find several of these players on your waiver wire. Others will require a trade if you want to grab them.

I am sharing my scouting report of each player. Hopefully, it helps you gather information to make a good decision. 

Each player noted has less than 50 days of big league service time. Their rookie status remains.

Scouting Grades:

45 - utility player
50 - everyday quality player, but subject to platoon in today's baseball environment
55 - everyday player who is better than average and less subject to platoon

Alek Manoah, RHP, Blue Jays
6-6, 260 
Age 23
2019 first-round pick in 2019 out of West Virginia University

Called "The Mount" by his teammates, Alek Manoah dazzled in his debut against the Yankees.

Granted, there was no Giancarlo Stanton or Aaron Hicks to contend with, but Manoah was outstanding in throwing six shutout innings and yielding only two hits. He walked two and struck out seven.

Manoah throws his fastball 93-97 mph. He also has a slider and a wicked changeup. Those three pitches are enough to navigate a big-league lineup. It may help him to develop a curveball for the future. The greater the repertoire, the longer he can stay in the game.

Manoah threw only 35 innings in his minor league development program, spending time at short-season Vancouver in 2019 and at Triple-A Buffalo this year.

Manoah gets late sink on his fastball that helps him induce groundball outs. His sinker drops late and is a very tough pitch for the batter to track. When he mixes the fastball with a hard slider, he is tough to hit. His changeup is effective because his arm action doesn't change.

Manoah is a bulldog on the mound. He takes charge. He uses every inch of his huge frame to intimidate the hitter.

As I watch Manoah, I see a pitcher who can be fighting inconsistency as he progresses this season. Teams may be fooled the first two times through the order, but figure him out later. For that reason, he may remain a five- to six-inning pitcher for 2021.

Because he hasn't had much development time, be cautious about how much you spend in your own fantasy capital to acquire him. I see him as a really solid addition in a keeper league. He has outstanding upside as a quality starter. GRADE: 55

Owen Miller, SS/2B/3B/1B/DH, Indians
6-0, 185
BR
Age 24
2018 third-round pick of the Padres out of Illinois State University

Traded to the Indians with Austin Hedges, Joey Cantillo, Cal Quantrill and Gabriel Arias from San Diego for Mike Clevinger, Greg Allen and Matt Waldron in August 2020, Miller can flat out hit.

Owen Miller has outstanding eye-hand coordination and bat control that allows him to make hard contact. Couple that with outstanding speed, and Miller becomes as very viable fantasy option.

Playing wherever he is needed on defense, Miller assumed a role on the Indians roster when Franmil Reyes went down with an oblique issue.

Because he is so versatile, manager Terry Francona likely will find a place for Miller to play every day. The team needs his bat and his speed.

A line-drive hitter, Miller won't hit that many home runs. However, using the entire field, he will take the ball where it is thrown and get a nice share of doubles.

Still learning big-league pitching, fantasy managers will have to remain patient with Miller as he learns how the opposition is trying to pitch him. But he'll hit.

In today's game, it isn't often that we see the approach Miller uses at the plate. He knows his limitations and is happy to get his share of meaningful hits. He's a tough out. But again, patience is required as he adjusts to great changeups, sliders and cutters. GRADE: 50

Nick Gordon, 2B/SS, Twins
6-0-160
Age 25
BL
2014 first-round pick out of Olympia High School, Orlando, Fla.

Nick Gordon is the younger brother of Dee Strange-Gordon and the son of former major league pitcher Tom Gordon.  He isn't as fast as his brother. He doesn't have the same athletic ability as his brother had in his prime.

And to me, Nick Gordon was not worth a first-round draft pick. Especially not at fifth overall.

Nick Gordon is recovering from a stomach issue that cost him time on the field. For now, however, he is part of the Twins bench. How long that lasts is up for debate.

When I spoke with Nick Gordon a couple seasons ago, he told me he had no intention of ever playing second base. He said he is a shortstop, and that's where he wants to play. The Twins may have other ideas. He may play his share at second base.

I was never impressed with Gordon's ability to manage the deep repertoire and arsenals of quality pitchers. He really hasn't mastered the strike zone yet and is easily fooled.

When he does make contact, he hits the ball hard from the left side of the plate. I don't see much power in his game, but I do think he will try too hard to get loft on the ball. For now, however, his swing remains short and compact.

I don't see much in the way of fantasy upside for Nick Gordon. I include him here to warn managers not to get too excited about the name and expect blazing speed. He may steal some bases, but not like brother Dee in his prime. GRADE: 45

Khalil Lee, OF, Mets
5-10, 179 pounds
Age 22
BL
2016 third-round pick by Royals out of Flint High School, Oakton, Va.

Lee was part of a three-team trade between the Mets, the Royals and the Red Sox. The Royals sent Franchy Cordero to Boston in their part of the deal.

Lee has trouble making contact. That was his issue when I first scouted him, and it is his issue today. He has tremendous speed, but he can't steal first base. For that reason, I urge fantasy managers not to be swayed by his reputation as a stolen base savior. In 2019, Lee stole 53 bases in 65 attempts while playing for Northwest Arkansas in Double-A.

When I scouted Lee, I graded his hit tool a 40. I gave his speed a 60.

I see the Mets using him now in their outfield due to the rash of injuries they have suffered. He may also come in as a pinch runner. But you have to judge if his stolen bases are worthy of a roster spot in your lineup.

Lee has a strong, compact frame, but he isn't really a home run threat. I do see him improving in time. Remember, he's only 22. He's played a lot baseball for his young age, and improvement is very, very possible. But he isn't there yet.

The Royals, who always need outfielders gave up on Lee early in his development. To me, they saw what I saw. Trading him when they did spoke volumes to me.

You may want to stash Lee on your bench in a keeper league because the speed does play. Wait for his bat to mature and see if he can cut down the strikeouts. GRADE: 45

Albert Abreu, RHP, Yankees
6-2-190
Age 25
International free agent out of Dominican Republic in 2013 by Astros

The Yankees got Abreu from the Astros in 2016 in the trade for Brian McCann.

Simply put, Abreu's "stuff" is superb. He has an "electric" fastball that easily hits 98-99 mph when he's healthy. He also sports a wicked slider and changeup. Both those pitches are well above major league average.

The problem with Abreu has been his inability to stay healthy. He has suffered from biceps, shoulder and elbow issues — and that's a problem. When will he breakdown? Maybe never.

But those type of injury histories give me hives.

If he paces himself through the opposition's lineup, when needed, Abreu can reach back and hit 100 or more on his fastball. And it moves. It has late life.

In addition to his inability to keep his arm healthy, he also has command issues. If he falls behind in counts, he will have to recover by throwing cookies over the plate.

If you roster Abreu, know that he isn't likely to start for New York. They have used him out of the pen. But he could see high-leverage innings late in games, making him valuable in leagues that value "holds."

It is very tempting to watch Abreu for an inning or two and get excited at the velocity and the stuff. But as quickly as he excites is as quickly he can run off the rails. That said, I still like him.

If you can live with lack of durability and streaks of not knowing where the ball is going, he can return quality. GRADE: 45

Shane McClanahan, LHP, Rays
6-1, 200 
Age 24
2018 first-round pick out of the University of South Florida

Having just turned 24, McClanahan has won two games in his six starts for the Rays.

Of course, however, fantasy managers in leagues that value innings pitched and/or quality starts have to be careful with McClanahan. Who knows how many innings he will throw or if he will be part of a piggy-back game, etc.? I don't trust manager Kevin Cash at all with my pitchers.

In six starts, McClanahan has thrown 27.1 innings, or an average of a bit more than four per start. But he is pitching well.

With Tommy John surgery in his past, McClanahan comes with some injury risk. However, he has a blazing fastball that can hit well over 100 when he wishes. He usually sits below that, but he mixes that pitch with a terrific slider and a good changeup. He can be very tough to hit with a strong delivery. But I have seen McClanahan lose his command and try to overthrow, which is a product of inexperience.

If he ever masters his changeup, hitters will have their hands full. I expect that is the pitch that will take McClanahan to the next level. Fastball/slider/changeup at any count. I like what he can do now and I like his upside for the future. GRADE: 55

William Contreras, C, Braves
6-0, 180
Age 23
BR
International free agent out of Venezuela in 2015

William is the younger brother of catcher Willson Contreras. They have some very similar tools. But Wilson is a finished product. William is a raw prospect.

The Braves spent only $10,000 to sign William, and I was concerned they didn't have enough of an investment to move him along in their system. But he is now on the big-league roster.

William Contreras struggled to hit minor league pitching early in his professional career. He is learning to control his swing and making better use of his hands. But he still has work to do as a hitter. He has to learn to recognize the pitch out of the pitcher's hand and make better swing decisions. He has been overly aggressive and has been known to chase pitches.

Contreras has trouble with quality breaking balls. Not unusual for a young prospect, he chases pitches that he thinks he can reach. But he's still young enough to find some plate discipline and improve as a hitter.

An average defensive catcher, at this point he has plenty of work to do on both sides of the ball to earn a regular roll behind the plate.

My point: like Nick Gordon, don't be fooled just because he's Willson Contreras' brother. William has lots of work to do to get to a viable level as a fantasy producer. GRADE: 45

Next Week (subject to change)

Estevan Florial, Yankees
Sam Hentges, Indians
Logan Gilbert, Mariners
Wil Crowe, Pirates
Taylor Walls, Rays
Nick Maton, Phillies
Taylor Jones, Astros

HEADING HOME

We've all seen the video with Javier Baez and the Pirates. I was speechless. This is major league baseball. I agree with those critics who said we would never play like that in Little League. If we did, we'd get benched.

• The Tigers may lose, but they play hard every inning of every game. For me, A.J. Hinch is easily the best manager in baseball. The White Sox should have hired him instead of Tony La Russa.

• The White Sox pitching is keeping them afloat. The starting rotation is tremendous. Now the bullpen is beginning to live up to expectations. I think they easily, easily win the American League Central. Eloy Jimenez is ahead of schedule in his rehab.

• The reason we haven't seen the Angels Jo Adell? While he is hitting home runs, his strikeout rate is still way too high. He needs more development time. The Angels will give him that.

• I have no sympathy for Francisco Lindor. He left a team that respected him, loved everything about him and a city that he once owned. He had Cleveland fans in the palm of his hands. But his desire for that huge contract lost him plenty of support in Cleveland. Now, he will hear the boos in New York as he takes his paychecks to the bank. Maybe by the time you read this he will be hitting at least .200.

• Thanks for following me on Twitter @BerniePleskoff and for reading my work at Forbes.com.