MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players under 25

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 17: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a fly ball to left field for an out in the fourth inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays played on May 17, 2018 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 14: Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (2) hits a long fly ball during a MLB game between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on May 14, 2018 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

16. Alex Bregman

Generally speaking, college infielders make for very safe draft picks these days. There is limited upside, and they can typically be in the big leagues after a little more than a year in the minors. That’s certainly been the case for former number-two pick Alex Bregman of the Houston Astros. The 24-year-old played a grand total of 146 games in the minor leagues and was called up after hitting .306/.406/.589 with 20 home runs in 80 games at Double-A and Triple-A in 2016.

Bregman has not produced monster numbers on par with Kris Bryant in his first three seasons with the Astros, but he has been solid. He hit .264/.313/.478 as a rookie with eight home runs in 49 games. In his first full season, Bregman doubled back to hit .284/.352/.475 with 39 doubles, five triples, 19 home runs and 17 stolen bases.

After that fine regular season, Bregman was one of the big World Series heroes for the Astros. He hit two home runs and drove in five in the Fall Classic while adding a double and a stolen base. As a whole, Houston’s lineup has seen their power number drop a tick to start the 2018 season, and Bregman has not been immune. That’s been more of a league-wide trend, however, and his OPS+ is down only two points year-to-year.

A shortstop in college, Bregman is locked in at third base for the Astros next to Carlos Correa. He is adequate with the glove, but his most important contributions come at the plate, where he should continue growing into a consistent 20-20 threat.

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