Keith Law's Top 100 Prospects List For 2015

Insiders can read scouting reports.




This is my eighth such ranking for Insider, with a lot of the same names near the top of last year's list but in a different order based on what we learned from those players' 2014 seasons. Just 10 players from last year's top 50 lost their eligibility for this year's list due to exceeding the limits for rookie of the year eligibility. The list is heavy on position players up the middle, including shortstops near the top of the list and many potential everyday catchers further down, as with the previous year's ranking. A number of the top arms from last year's list were hit by the injury bug, including a few Tommy John surgeries and a number of other arm problems that kept them off the mound, some for almost the entire season.
A complete list of the top 100 is below, and a more detailed explanation of the process in determining these rankings is found at the top of each of the player capsule pages.

RANK PLAYER POSITION TEAM
1. Kris Bryant 3B Chicago Cubs
2. Byron Buxton CF Minnesota Twins
3. Carlos Correa SS Houston Astros
4. Addison Russell SS Chicago Cubs
5. Corey Seager SS/3B Los Angeles Dodgers
6. Francisco Lindor SS Cleveland Indians
7. J.P. Crawford SS Philadelphia Phillies
8. Lucas Giolito RP Washington Nationals
9. Julio Urias LHP Los Angeles Dodgers
10. Blake Swihart C Boston Red Sox
11. Joey Gallo 3B Texas Rangers
12. Carlos Rodon LHP Chicago White Sox
13. Tyler Glasnow RHP Pittsburgh Pirates
14. Jorge Soler RF Chicago Cubs
15. Miguel Sano 3B Minnesota Twins
16. Hunter Harvey RHP Baltimore Orioles
17. Noah Syndergaard RHP New York Mets
18. Daniel Norris LHP Toronto Blue Jays
19. Braden Shipley RHP Arizona Diamondbacks
20. Henry Owens LHP Boston Red Sox
21. Archie Bradley RHP Arizona Diamondbacks
22. Jon Gray RHP Colorado Rockies
23. Aaron Judge OF New York Yankees
24. Jose Peraza SS/2B Atlanta Braves
25. Kyle Zimmer RHP Kansas City Royals
26. Dylan Bundy RHP Baltimore Orioles
27. David Dahl OF Colorado Rockies
28. Joc Pederson OF Los Angeles Dodgers
29. Eduardo Rodriguez LHP Boston Red Sox
30. Alex Meyer RHP Minnesota Twins
31. Nomar Mazara OF Texas Rangers
32. Austin Meadows OF Pittsburgh Pirates
33. Eddie Butler RHP Colorado Rockies
34. Tyler Kolek RHP Miami Marlins
35. Jorge Alfaro C Texas Rangers
36. Jameson Taillon RHP Pittsburgh Pirates
37. Aaron Blair RHP Arizona Diamondbacks
38. Raul Mondesi Jr. SS Kansas City Royals
39. Hunter Renfroe OF San Diego Padres
40. Jesse Winker LF Cincinnati Reds
41. Michael Conforto LF New York Mets
42. Dalton Pompey CF Toronto Blue Jays
43. Nick Gordon SS Minnesota Twins
44. Mark Appel RHP Houston Astros
45. Kevin Plawecki C New York Mets
46. Andrew Susac C San Francisco Giants
47. Mike Foltynewicz RHP Atlanta Braves
48. Sean Newcomb LHP Los Angeles Angels
49. Robert Stephenson RHP Cincinnati Reds
50. Ryan McMahon 3B Colorado Rockies
51. Aaron Sanchez RHP Toronto Blue Jays
52. Jake Thompson RHP Texas Rangers
53. Kohl Stewart RHP Minnesota Twins
54. Orlando Arcia SS Milwaukee Brewers
55. Rafael Devers 3B Boston Red Sox
56. Vincent Velasquez RHP Houston Astros
57. Aaron Nola RHP Philadelphia Phillies
58. Andrew Heaney LHP Los Angeles Angels
59. Alex Jackson RF Seattle Mariners
60. Josh Bell OF Pittsburgh Pirates
61. D. J. Peterson 1B Seattle Mariners
62. Stephen Piscotty OF St. Louis Cardinals
63. Joe Ross RHP Washington Nationals
64. Marco Gonzales LHP St. Louis Cardinals
65. Dominic Smith 1B New York Mets
66. Ozhaino Albies SS Atlanta Braves
67. Tim Anderson SS Chicago White Sox
68. Raimel Tapia OF Colorado Rockies
69. Amed Rosario SS New York Mets
70. Manuel Margot CF Boston Red Sox
71. Michael Taylor CF Washington Nationals
72. J.T. Realmuto C Miami Marlins
73. Colin Moran 3B Houston Astros
74. Austin Hedges C San Diego Padres
75. Reynaldo Lopez RHP Washington Nationals
76. Brett Phillips OF Houston Astros
77. Alex Reyes RHP St. Louis Cardinals
78. Justin O'Conner C Tampa Bay Rays
79. Grant Holmes RHP Los Angeles Dodgers
80. Greg Bird 1B New York Yankees
81. Matt Olson 1B Oakland Athletics
82. Tyrell Jenkins RHP Atlanta Braves
83. Daniel Robertson SS Tampa Bay Rays
84. Brad Zimmer CF Cleveland Indians
85. Derek Hill CF Detroit Tigers
86. Alex "Chi Chi" Gonzalez RHP Texas Rangers
87. Rob Kaminsky LHP St. Louis Cardinals
88. Trea Turner SS Washington Nationals
89. Alen Hanson 2B/SS Pittsburgh Pirates
90. Kyle Schwarber C Chicago Cubs
91. Brandon Nimmo OF New York Mets
92. Clint Frazier OF Cleveland Indians
93. Rio Ruiz 3B Atlanta Braves
94. Spencer Adams RHP Chicago White Sox
95. Franklin Barreto SS Oakland Athletics
96. Luis Ortiz RHP Texas Rangers
97. Jose Berrios RHP Minnesota Twins
98. A.J. Cole RHP Washington Nationals
99. Kyle Freeland LHP Colorado Rockies
100. Max Fried LHP Atlanta Braves

Um, wow, no Luis Severino.

Interesting list. This looks like it's based on sheer talent alone, and not “MLB readiness" as you get from 40-100. That's where you and he differ, JP.

With that said, very surprised Matz was completely left off, and guys like Conforto and Dominic Smith made it.

Notable omissions:

Severino
McKinney
Finnegan
B. Johnson
Edwards
Bethancourt
D. Herrera
Fedde
T. Taylor
Dozier
Hoffman
Mateo
Sims
Franco
Wisler
Pentecost
Grichuk
Adames
McGuire
Quinn
Manaea
Matz
Moya
Toussaint
Souza
Beede

Pretty S*** list IMO. When I saw Severino left off, this list lost all credibility.

he certainly loves shortstops...

maxe0213 said:

Pretty S*** list IMO. When I saw Severino left off, this list lost all credibility.

Click to expand...

From the chat:

Klaw
(1:08 PM)

Severino is a future reliever. You can't stay a starter without using your lower half at all. He has a great arm, loose and easy, but I can't name an MLB starter who uses his lower half as little as Severino does - nor do I think you can truly command your fastball if you're all arm and no legs.

Jaypers said:

From the chat:

Klaw
(1:08 PM)

Severino is a future reliever. You can't stay a starter without using your lower half at all. He has a great arm, loose and easy, but I can't name an MLB starter who uses his lower half as little as Severino does - nor do I think you can truly command your fastball if you're all arm and no legs.

Click to expand...

I fully believe Severino will be a starter. His omission as well as some of those other guys really dismisses this list in my opinion.

For those interested, here's a link to KLaw's top 100 chat. Free for everyone.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/51543/mlb-insider-keith-law

maxe0213 said:

I fully believe Severino will be a starter. His omission as well as some of those other guys really dismisses this list in my opinion.

Click to expand...

What you believe does not change the fact that at this point Law is correct. All arm speaks to the longevity of being a starter long term. How many relievers did he place in the top 100?

Dave Kreis, Tinley Park, IL [via mobile]

Where did CJ Edwards fall? 101-150?



Klaw (1:36 PM)

He fell between the bars of a storm grate when he tried to walk over it.



HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA

Classic KLaw......

[h=6]Todd (Bronx, NY)[/h]

Seems like numerous outlets mentioned how Severino started using his lower half more in the second half last year. Hmm.
[h=6]Klaw (1:51 PM)
[/h]

I saw him in the second half, July 29th at Trenton. No change. You should replace your outlets with GFCIs, apparently.

Keyser Soze said:

Dave Kreis, Tinley Park, IL [via mobile]

Where did CJ Edwards fall? 101-150?

Klaw (1:36 PM)

He fell between the bars of a storm grate when he tried to walk over it.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA

Click to expand...

Keyser Soze said:

Classic KLaw......

Todd (Bronx, NY)

Seems like numerous outlets mentioned how Severino started using his lower half more in the second half last year. Hmm.
Klaw (1:51 PM)

I saw him in the second half, July 29th at Trenton. No change. You should replace your outlets with GFCIs, apparently.

Click to expand...

These are hilarious.

he could not sound like more of a pompous dbag in that chat. Never been a fan of his opinion anyways.

jcmint said:

he could not sound like more of a pompous dbag in that chat. Never been a fan of his opinion anyways.

Click to expand...

Why pay any attention to his analysis then?

One thing is for certain - he's not boring. The other experts' analyses are written in language you'd find in a medical journal.

I didnt just a casual browse thru. I didnt set my watch to its release like some others. Thanks for the reply though

WCTYSON said:

Why pay any attention to his analysis then?

Click to expand...

WCTYSON said:

What you believe does not change the fact that at this point Law is correct. All arm speaks to the longevity of being a starter long term. How many relievers did he place in the top 100?

Click to expand...

Many other analysts that have seen Severino know that he has improved using his lower half more and projects as a #2 or so starter with the possibility of Ace or 3 starter stuff.

KLaw's ommisions (not just Severino) are pretty glaring.

To say that you do not believe that Severino is a top 100 prospect just shows a lack of information or just ignorace.

jcmint said:

I didnt just a casual browse thru. I didnt set my watch to its release like some others. Thanks for the reply though

Click to expand...

You are welcome. When does your list come out? I need to set my watch.

maxe0213 said:

Many other analysts that have seen Severino know that he has improved using his lower half more and projects as a #2 or so starter with the possibility of Ace or 3 starter stuff.

KLaw's ommisions (not just Severino) are pretty glaring.

To say that you do not believe that Severino is a top 100 prospect just shows a lack of information or just ignorace.

Click to expand...

He only has past performance to base his projections on. Looking at his past delivery, he projects him being a relief pitcher. Can his delivery be changed? Sure, as can the projection for the following season. Going into 2015, Law sees his past performances as a relief pitcher projection. While I was surprised by this and a few other omissions, it is one analysis.

Kris Bryant is ranked too low