Baseball America's 2014 Top 100 Prospects List

Who wants to wait until tonight to see the unveiling on the MLB Network?

I managed to acquire an early copy from a friend, who got it from his just-released issue of the BA magazine.




01 BYRON BUXTON OF, Twins AGE: 20. ETA: 2014.
02 XANDER BOGAERTS SS/3B, Red Sox AGE: 21. ETA: 2014.
03 OSCAR TAVERAS OF, Cardinals AGE: 21. ETA: 2014.
04 MASAHIRO TANAKA RHP, Yankees AGE: 25. ETA: 2014.
05 JAVIER BAEZ SS, Cubs AGE: 21. ETA: 2014.
06 MIGUEL SANO 3B, Twins AGE: 20. ETA: 2014.
07 CARLOS CORREA SS, Astros AGE: 19. ETA: 2016.
08 KRIS BRYANT 3B, Cubs AGE: 22. ETA: 2014.
09 ARCHIE BRADLEY RHP, Diamondbacks AGE: 21. ETA: 2014.
10 GREGORY POLANCO OF, Pirates AGE: 22. ETA: 2014.
11 TAIJUAN WALKER RHP, Mariners AGE: 21 ETA: 2014.
12 JONATHAN GRAY RHP, Rockies AGE: 22. ETA: 2014.
13 FRANCISCO LINDOR SS, Indians AGE: 20. ETA: 2014.
14 ADDISON RUSSELL SS, Athletics AGE: 20. ETA: 2014.
15 DYLAN BUNDY RHP, Orioles AGE: 21. ETA: 2015.
16 NOAH SYNDERGAARD RHP, Mets AGE: 21 ETA: 2015
17 MAIKEL FRANCO 3B, Phillies AGE: 21. ETA: 2014.
18 GEORGE SPRINGER OF, Astros AGE: 24. ETA: 2014.
19 ROBERT STEPHENSON RHP, Reds AGE: 21. ETA: 2015.
20 KEVIN GAUSMAN RHP, Orioles AGE: 23. ETA: 2014.
21 LUCAS GIOLITO RHP, Nationals AGE: 19. ETA: 2016.
22 JAMESON TAILLON RHP, Pirates AGE: 22. ETA: 2014.
23 KYLE ZIMMER RHP, Royals AGE: 22. ETA: 2014.
24 EDDIE BUTLER RHP, Rockies AGE: 23. ETA: 2014.
25 NICK CASTELLANOS 3B/OF, Tigers AGE: 22. ETA: 2014.
26 YORDANO VENTURA RHP, Royals AGE: 22. ETA: 2014.
27 AUSTIN HEDGES C, Padres AGE: 21. ETA: 2015.
28 C.J. EDWARDS RHP, Cubs AGE: 22. ETA: 2015.
29 JOSE ABREU 1B, White Sox AGE: 27. ETA: 2014.
30 ANDREW HEANEY LHP, Marlins AGE: 22. ETA: 2014.
31 CARLOS MARTINEZ RHP, Cardinals AGE: 22. ETA: 2014.
32 AARON SANCHEZ RHP, Blue Jays AGE: 21. ETA: 2015.
33 KYLE CRICK RHP, Giants AGE: 21. ETA: 2015.
34 JOC PEDERSON OF, Dodgers AGE: 21. ETA: 2015.
35 GARY SANCHEZ C, Yankees AGE: 21. ETA: 2015.
36 ALBERT ALMORA OF, Cubs AGE: 19. ETA: 2016.
37 COREY SEAGER SS, Dodgers AGE: 19. ETA: 2016.
38 TRAVIS D’ARNAUD C, Mets AGE: 25. ETA: 2014.
39 MARK APPEL RHP, Astros AGE: 22. ETA: 2015.
40 HENRY OWENS LHP, Red Sox AGE: 21. ETA: 2015.
41 JORGE SOLER OF, Cubs AGE: 22. ETA: 2015.
42 ROUGNED ODOR 2B, Rangers AGE: 20. ETA: 2015.
43 BILLY HAMILTON OF, Reds AGE: 23. ETA: 2014.
44 MATT WISLER RHP, Padres AGE: 21. ETA: 2015.
45 ALEX MEYER RHP, Twins AGE: 24. ETA: 2014.
46 TYLER GLASNOW RHP, Pirates AGE: 20. ETA: 2016.
47 RAUL A. MONDESI SS, Royals AGE: 18. ETA: 2017.
48 CLINT FRAZIER OF, Indians AGE: 19. ETA: 2017.
49 AUSTIN MEADOWS OF, Pirates AGE: 18. ETA: 2017.
50 JACKIE BRADLEY OF, Red Sox AGE: 23. ETA: 2014.
51 JULIO URIAS LHP, Dodgers AGE: 17. ETA: 2016.
52 KOHL STEWART RHP, Twins AGE: 19. ETA: 2017.
53 MAX FRIED LHP, Padres AGE: 20. ETA: 2016.
54 JORGE ALFARO C, Rangers AGE: 20. ETA: 2015.
55 MARCUS STROMAN RHP, Blue Jays AGE: 22. ETA: 2014.
56 EDWIN ESCOBAR LHP, Giants AGE: 21. ETA: 2015.
57 LUCAS SIMS RHP, Braves AGE: 19. ETA: 2016.
58 KOLTEN WONG 2B, Cardinals AGE: 23 ETA:2014.
59 MIKE FOLTYNEWICZ RHP, Astros AGE: 22. ETA: 2015.
60 JOEY GALLO 3B, Rangers AGE: 20. ETA: 2016.
61 COLIN MORAN 3B, Marlins AGE: 21. ETA: 2015.
62 BRADEN SHIPLEY RHP, Diamondbacks AGE: 22. ETA: 2015 .
63 ERIK JOHNSON RHP, White Sox AGE: 24. ETA: 2014.
64 NICK KINGHAM RHP, Pirates AGE: 22. ETA: 2015.
65 EDUARDO RODRIGUEZ LHP, Orioles AGE: 20. ETA: 2014.
66 CHRIS OWINGS SS, Diamondbacks AGE: 22. ETA: 2014.
67 JAKE ODORIZZI RHP, Rays AGE: 24. ETA: 2014.
68 RAFAEL MONTERO RHP, Mets AGE: 23. ETA: 2014.
69 CHRISTIAN BETHANCOURT C, Braves AGE: 22. ETA: 2015.
70 STEPHEN PISCOTTY OF, Cardinals AGE: 23. ETA: 2015.
71 JESSE BIDDLE LHP, Phillies AGE: 22. ETA: 2015.
72 MATT DAVIDSON 3B, White Sox AGE: 23. ETA: 2014.
73 BLAKE SWIHART C, Red Sox AGE: 21. ETA: 2016.
74 GARIN CECCHINI 3B, Red Sox AGE: 22. ETA: 2015.
75 MOOKIE BETTS 2B, Red Sox AGE: 21. ETA: 2015.
76 ALEN HANSON SS, Pirates AGE: 21. ETA: 2015.
77 LANCE McCULLERS JR. RHP, Astros AGE: 20. ETA: 2016.
78 J.P. CRAWFORD SS, Phillies AGE: 19. ETA: 2017.
79 JAKE MARISNICK OF, Marlins AGE: 23. ETA: 2014.
80 HUNTER RENFROE OF, Padres AGE: 22. ETA: 2016.
81 REESE McGUIRE C, Pirates AGE: 19. ETA: 2017.
82 JONATHAN SINGLETON 1B, Astros AGE: 22. ETA: 2014.
83 TREVOR BAUER RHP, Indians AGE: 23. ETA: 2014.
84 DEVON TRAVIS 2B, Tigers AGE: 23 . ETA: 2015.
85 D.J. PETERSON 3B, Mariners AGE: 22. ETA: 2015.
86 ROSELL HERRERA SS, Rockies AGE: 21 . ETA: 2016.
87 PIERCE JOHNSON RHP, Cubs AGE: 22 . ETA: 2015.
88 ALLEN WEBSTER RHP, Red Sox AGE: 24. ETA: 2014.
89 TREY BALL LHP, Red Sox AGE: 19. ETA: 2017.
90 JORGE BONIFACIO OF, Royals AGE: 20. ETA: 2015.
91 MARCUS SEMIEN SS/2B/3B, White Sox AGE: 23. ETA: 2014.
92 DOMINIC SMITH 1B, Mets AGE: 18. ETA: 2017.
93 TAYLOR LINDSEY 2B, Angels AGE: 22. ETA: 2015.
94 DAVID DAHL OF, Rockies AGE: 20. ETA: 2017.
95 ZACH LEE RHP, Dodgers AGE: 22. ETA: 2015.
96 JIMMY NELSON RHP, Brewers AGE: 24. ETA: 2014.
97 NICK WILLIAMS OF, Rangers AGE: 20. ETA: 2016.
98 MICHAEL CHOICE OF, Rangers AGE: 24. ETA: 2014.
99 JAMES PAXTON LHP, Mariners AGE: 25. ETA: 2014.
100 ARISMENDY ALCANTARA 2B/SS, Cubs AGE: 22. ETA: 2015.

A few observations:

1) Tyler Glasnow. Pretty low for my taste. I'm assuming his command was the determining factor here.
2) Masahiro Tanaka. I hope he does indeed justify this lofty ranking, as they're claiming his ceiling is higher than both Bradley and Walker.
3) No Hak-Ju Lee. Yes he missed last season, but he's still one of the better shortstops in the Milb. Odorizzi was TB's only name on the list.
4) No Eddie Rosario. Guess BA's editors held his suspension against him somewhat?
5) Five SS in their top 15? Wow. Loving it.
6) That's right, another list without Plawecki. The Rodney Dangerfield of catching prospects.
7) Jose Abreu. He might be ML ready, but that's an awfully high ranking for someone with only one above-average tool that's confined to 1B/DH.
8) No Phil Ervin or Jesse Winker. I really thought they'd sneak in at the bottom, but I guess both of their tools were only considered solid overall.
9) No Hunter Harvey. He's on the "Just Missed" list of ten, though.
10) No A.J. Cole. Giolito was the sole Nats rep.
11) Joey Gallo. That's higher than I would have ranked him, as uncertain his future is (Yoda waxing poetic).
12) Interesting how three Red Sox guys were #s 73-75. What are the odds...makes me wonder how seriously this was taken. And the Pirates were the top farm system in the Handbook, yet there are 8 Sox and 7 Bucs (and 7 Cubs).

nice to see herrera on the list.

Jaypers, thanks for the list, was waiting for this to show up.

Side not question, what do you think of zunino going forward? H
He was rushed up, or he'd be a top 20 on this list, but he looked really bad last year.
Does he still have the high ceiling or just an avg catcher?
I don't see posey, any chance at weiters?
Is his swing fixable, or will he always be very low avg, with pop?

Thanks big guy,

Greg

Looks like Danny Hultzen will have to come back in a major way to prove himself. Nice to see DJ Peterson up there.

Sent from my BOOMSTICK!

Any of these guys leave spring with starting jobs?

Buxton, Taveras, Springer, or sano?


Will correa really take til 2017 to get to the bigs, with villar ahead of him? Hard to believe he isn't the better player, right now.


Will meadows really take til 2017?

Any thoughts on these would be great.

Personally, I don't like the 1-100 ranking system, from BA or anyone else. Why? Because overall talent and potential impact is often very hard to measure one guy against another, due to the fact they play different positions and have very often diff tool sets. Example: Billy Hamilton's speed alone makes him an elite prospect, as do the fastballs of Bradley, Walker, Glasnow, Ventura, etc. Ranking the speed and impact of Hamilton, or the potential dominance of a pitcher's fastball (or slider, etc), over the hit tool and or defense of say a G.Polanco, is a very subjective thing to do. That said, I think a different ranking system would be better, perhaps merely grouping guys into categories based on ranking of how many "plus" attributes they have and have demonstrated at their current levels of playing. For example, a guy with two "plus" attributes, say hitting and speed, would be ranked equally with a defender with both a plus arm and defense. It would make more sense to put guys into various groups of prospect status: perhaps such as these:

1. elite impact
2. high impact
3. impact
4. low impact
5. fringe impact

You might have 10 guys in group 1 and 30 in group 2, and 50 in group 3, for example, but at least the average fan following prospects could more easily see each players overall potential and who his current prospect peers are. To put a guy like Buxton above Bogaerts (or several other elite talents), doesn't make sense to me personally. I would much rather see them put into the same elite grouping and just leave it at that.

This is a rather raw, quick post, but I think you guys can understand what I'm saying.

Thanks!

I'm surprised that James Paxton is so low, and that Edwin Escobar is so high (this coming from someone who has been buying Edwin Escobar).

Thx JP...you da man

JAVY JAVY JAVY - LOVE Seeing Folty at 59

38 TRAVIS D’ARNAUD C, Mets AGE: 25. ETA: 2014. Hope they give him a serious shot this yr...still say the Jays made a major blunder trading him. Especially with Arencibia bombing out.

PeteD said:

38 TRAVIS D’ARNAUD C, Mets AGE: 25. ETA: 2014. Hope they give him a serious shot this yr...still say the Jays made a major blunder trading him. Especially with Arencibia bombing out.

Click to expand...

Give him a serious shot? He is the #1 catcher

Enny Romero and Alex Colome say they don't need to be on lists and they'll prove it in a month.

Thanks for posting JP

Ctrl F - Angels .... #93 ... at least we got one on here...

Wow, Taylor Guerrieri was sure punished for getting hurt.

Also, what a fall for Mike Olt and Bubba Starling from last year.

TehRegulator said:

Ctrl F - Angels .... #93 ... at least we got one on here...

Click to expand...

As a Ranger fan I can't say I'm upset but Trout is younger than half the guys on the list so I think you'll be ok unfortunately hah


Ogando, Michael Young, Leonys Martin and all Texas Rangers

MrMet said:

Give him a serious shot? He is the #1 catcher

Click to expand...

you hope.

Glad to see Heaney at 30. Don't think he will make team out of camp, but think we will see him this year.