Standout prospects from the spring

 
3. Colin Moran, 3B Pittsburgh Pirates
Moran is just now receiving his first real opportunity in the majors as he joins his third organization since being selected sixth overall in the 2013 draft. He hit well enough this spring to wrest the third base job away from veteran David Freese and should be afforded every opportunity to keep the job this season. Moran is a polished hitter with the ability to put barrel to the bat regularly. That said, despite prototypical size and raw power, he rarely showed that pop in games. Last year, he adjusted -- prepare for the buzzword -- his "launch angle" and hit fewer balls on the ground and more over the wall as a result. He did not go yard in March, but he is still a left-handed hitter with a 320-foot wall down the right field line at PNC Park. A .280 average with 20-plus home runs seems rather attainable.

5. J.D. Davis 1B/3B Houston Astros
Blocked in almost every way with the Astros, Davis could be starting every day for a number of teams right now. While his long-term future has yet to be determined, Yuli Gurriel's injury has opened a temporary spot in the Houston lineup. Enter Davis, the team's third-round selection in 2014. The right-handed hitter has plus-power and an average-or-better hit tool. He can play the hot corner, too. Alas, with Alex Bregman around, there is no need for him to do so at the highest level. Davis should get some decent repetitions until Gurriel returns and then perhaps becomes the team's 26th Man, coming back when a bat is needed or used as a trade chip come July.

6. Jack Flaherty, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
Flaherty did not have a statistically great spring, but what he did do is work on another pitch -- a two-seam fastball -- and struck out a bunch of batters in a short period of time. He also will start the season as the Cardinals' No. 5 starter until Adam Wainwright returns from injury. The addition of the two-seamer adds another wrinkle to his arsenal and allows another pitch with which to bounce off his slider. He struck out 20 batters in 13 innings this spring, so the combination appears to be something worth taking into the season. Regardless of what happens when Wainwright returns, Flaherty is a major league starter who will get opportunities throughout the year.


7. Daniel Vogelbach, 1B, Seattle Mariners
A prospect zombie, Vogelbach is back on everyone's radar after a terrific spring. He led all qualified batters with a .400 average this spring and also smashed seven home runs. The former second-round pick has struggled in limited action at the highest level, but we have seen plenty of talented players struggle only to find "it" later. Limited defensively to first base, he will battle Ryon Healy for playing time. The Mariners, like most teams, will also maneuver their roster to manipulate their rotations and benches around off days. Vogelbach could get a few starts early in the season, but he'll need to keep up his spring performance if he is going to stick on the roster beyond tax day.

8. Yairo Munoz, UT, St. Louis Cardinals
This list's "off-brand version" of Kingery, Munoz was a surprise addition to the Cardinals' roster after a great camp. The 23-year-old hit .339 with three home runs in 59 at-bats this March. The offense is nice, but it is his versatility that manager Mike Matheny loves. Acquired in the Stephen Piscotty trade, Munoz has played six positions as a professional, with the ability to play shortstop and center field interchangeably. He is unlikely to overtake anyone's job outright. Meanwhile, as a backup to most of the team, he could get a decent amount of time -- especially when an injury occurs.