Tyler Nevin

Nevin is nearing major-league readiness, but he's still got some improvements to make. The 25-year-old slashed .291/.382/.479 with Triple-A Norfolk last season, but he found himself in a reserve role when with the Orioles, logging a .197/.299/.261 line in 184 plate appearances in the majors. He appeared in 102 games across the two levels, adding nine home runs, 53 RBI and 12 doubles. He can play both corner infield and corner outfield, which will help his cause for getting more playing time if his bat warrants it. He was designated for assignment by Baltimore in December and subsequently traded to Detroit, which could provide a better opportunity for immediate playing time. Spencer Torkelson and Ryan Kreidler both struggled in their first tastes of the big leagues last season, so Nevin could be a factor between first and third base in 2023, though he's likely to open the campaign in a reserve role.

After five years in Colorado's system, Nevin made his way to Baltimore last season as part of a trade-deadline deal for Mychal Givens. The 23-year-old brings with him a big-league lineage (he is the son of former All-Star Phil Nevin) and a mature bat, though he has struggled to stay healthy thus far in his professional career. Nevin missed significant time with various injuries between 2016 and 2018 but impressed when he was able to play, slashing a collective .315/.372/.482 over 183 contests. He was healthier but less productive at Double-A in 2019, batting .251 over 540 plate appearances. Nevin has a good eye at the plate (career 10.0 BB%, 17.7 K% in the minors) but has topped out at 13 homers (in both 2018 and 2019). He did total 51 doubles over those two campaigns, however, so he could grow into more over-the-fence power. Nevin has the bat to succeed in the majors, but he may not be a star.

Nevin had a great year at High-A, but if his season ended in September, the buzz surrounding him would be moderate at best. Instead, he went to the Arizona Fall League to make up for lost time (he missed five weeks early in the year with a groin injury) and won the league's batting title. Nevin did not hit a home run in the AFL, but slashed .426/.535/.593 with 15 walks and five strikeouts in 17 games. He benefited from the home park at Lancaster during the regular season (11 of his 13 HR came at home), but still hit .340/.397/.454 on the road. The righty-hitting Nevin uses the whole field with ease and has a 17.7 K% against full-season pitchers. He missed almost all of 2016 with a hamstring injury and has struggled to get to his plus raw power since missing a couple months of 2017 with a wrist injury. Now a full-time R/R first baseman, he will need to demonstrate plus power in games, if he does, he could be a fantasy monster in Coors Field.

Nevin was selected by the Rockies with the 38th overall pick in the 2015 draft out of Poway high school after being named to the California large schools All-State team his senior year. He began his career with the Grand Junction Rockies in the Pioneer League where he posted a .265/.368/.386 line with two home runs and 18 RBI. Nevin's solid walk rate of 13 percent was the driver of his impressive OBP, and his 19-percent strikeout rate was slightly above average. Scouts see his bat as his biggest asset, but it comes with below-average speed and defense. The Rockies will develop him at third base, but he could see a position change to either first base or a corner outfield spot. The No. 14 prospect in the Rockies' organization, Nevin is a few years away from the majors.