2019 Preview: Birmingham Barons

A talented pipeline of players has the Barons marked as perennial contenders. Will 2019 mark the season that Birmingham secures its seventh Southern League title?
2018 RECORD: 66-72, 4^th in the SL North Division
2018 PLAYOFFS: N/A
OPENING DAY: Wednesday, April 10 vs Tennessee (Chicago-NL)

WHAT'S NEW?

• After leading the Hi-A Winston-Salem Dash to a spot in the 2018 Carolina League playoffs, Omar Vizquel will make his Southern League managerial debut with Birmingham this year. Vizquel, a three-time MLB All-Star and 11-time Gold Glove winner, went 84-54 in his first season as a manager.

TOP 100:

• OF Eloy Jiménez - Fans across the Southern League were able to marvel at Jimenez's power and hitting prowess. Jimenez is slated to begin 2019 in Triple-A Charlotte and make his major league debut in either May or June.
   
• RHP Michael Kopech - The 2017 Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher will miss the 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery and will likely return straight to the majors.
   
• RHP Dylan Cease - After 10 dazzling Southern League starts last year (3-0, 1.72 ERA), Cease appears ready to start his 2019 campaign with Triple-A Charlotte.
   
• OF Luis Robert - A five-tool player with blistering speed and above-average power, Robert was limited to just 50 total MiLB games last season; advancing as high as Hi-A Winston-Salem. Still, thanks to a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, a Spring Training invitation, and years of professional experience in his native Cuba, Robert could make a case to begin his 2019 season in the Southern League.
   
• INF Nick Madrigal - One of the most polished bats in the 2018 draft, Madrigal's opposite-field approach and solid defense enforced the idea that he may be ready to make his MLB debut sooner rather than later. Expect him to battle for an infield spot in Birmingham straight out of Spring Training.
   
• RHP Dane Dunning - The former first round pick avoided elbow surgery last season but nonetheless saw his season end after 15 starts. The University of Florida alum did impress with a 5-2 record and a 2.76 ERA across 11 Southern League starts, and it is not yet clear whether he will return to Birmingham's rotation or make the move directly to Triple-A this year.

NEXT UP:

• OF Blake Rutherford - Despite just missing MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, Rutherford did it all in Hi-A Winston-Salem last season. Thanks to his consistent approach and .345 OBP across 115 games, he will likely start the season in a Barons uniform.
   
• RHP Alec Hansen - Command issues resurfaced for the 24-year-old Hansen in 2018, compounding the problem that injury held him to just 14 starts. Hansen will have to prove himself at the AA level and could get the chance straight out of Spring Training.
   
• OF Micker Adolfo - The White Sox shut down Adolfo last July so that he could get Tommy John surgery and be ready for the 2019 season. Prior to that, he held his own and posted a .833 OPS in 79 games for Winston-Salem. Starting him in Birmingham's outfield may be an aggressive promotion for the 22-year-old, but it would not be an unprecedented one. Regardless, he should be with the Barons at some point this year.
   
• OF Luis González - A breakout 2018 season which featured a .313            /.376/.504 slash line at Hi-A Winston-Salem boosted Gonzalez up a number of prospect rankings, and a solid Spring Training could force Chicago to challenge him with an assignment to AA Birmingham.
   
• INF Gavin Sheets - The son of former Southern League slugger Larry Sheets looks poised to break camp with the Barons following 119 games with Winston-Salem last season in which he hit .293 with 178 total bases.