Andres Munoz

Munoz is blessed with a special arm. He averages 100 mph on his fastball -- yes, averages -- and his slider is a legitimate wipeout pitch. Munoz struck batters out at a 30.9% clip in his first foray into the majors while holding batters to a .186 average, and he allowed just one hit off his slider all season. Hitters chased his slider out of the strike zone more than half the time he threw it there (51.1 O-Swing%). When a pitcher sits at 100 with the fastball, the batter simply has to cheat to have any chance to hit it and that leaves them highly susceptible to the breaking ball. Munoz battled some walk issues after getting the call up after the break, but he had an above-average zone percentage which portends better control numbers. Still just 21, Munoz could use a bit more refinement, but this is a future closer profile if there ever was one. Expect him to open as one of the Padres' top setup men.

Munoz, the best relief-pitching prospect in baseball, can touch 103 mph with his fastball and may reach the big leagues this year as a 20-year-old. A dominant showing as the youngest player in the Arizona Fall League in 2017 served as his coming out party. Regularly touching triple digits as an 18-year-old can have consequences, and he was held back in extended spring training at the outset of 2018 with a tender elbow. After a PRP injection, Munoz was ready to make his season debut with short-season Tri-City in mid-June. He struck out nine in 5.2 hitless innings, leading to him getting promoted over Low-A and High-A to the Texas League, where he was the league's youngest player. His lower half is strong, but he is still adding good weight to his upper body. His mid-80s slider needs refinement, but he already commands an 80-grade fastball, so his secondary offering just needs to be OK for him to develop into one of the best closers in baseball.