2018 Carolina League Top 20 Prospects

Image credit: Dylan Cease (Photo by Fourseam Images)

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The impending arrival of Hurricane Florence turned the Carolina League championship series in to a one-game, winner-takes-all affair, which worked out quite well for Buies Creek as the Astros edged Potomac 2-1 in the championship game, providing a nice finale to the Astros’ two-year stay in Buies Creek as the team waited for its new stadium in Fayetteville that will open for the 2019 season.

It was fitting for Buies Creek to win because the Astros had battled Winston-Salem for the best record in the Carolina League all season. The Dash ended up edging Buies Creek for the league’s best record during the regular season, but Buies Creek won the playoff series between the two teams.

Those two teams also had the most prospect-laden clubs. Winston-Salem, which was managed by Omar Vizquel, had the league’s top prospect in Dylan Cease, but it was its two waves of outfield prospects that caught the most attention. Buies Creek shuffled through a large number of talented pitchers, very few of whom stuck around for more than 10 to 15 appearances.

Players who did not qualify: Potomac OF Juan Soto (Nationals), Winston-Salem 2B Nick Madrigal (White Sox), Buies Creek RHP J.B. Bukauskas (Astros), Buies Creek RHP Corbin Martin (Astros), Buies Creek RHP Jairo Solis (Astros), Lynchburg 3B Nolan Jones (Indians).

SEE THE CAROLINA LEAGUE TOP 20