- Thread starter
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At the MLB season's midpoint, just past the signing deadline for drafted players, here is a fresh look at the top 50 prospects still in the minor leagues, including a new name on top.
These rankings are based primarily on upside or ceiling, not on proximity to the majors, so the list includes a mixture of players as high as Double-A or Triple-A and a few who have signed but either have yet to make their professional debuts or who have just a few appearances in the low minors.
Players who have already passed the cutoff for Rookie of the Year eligibility are ineligible, as is anyone currently on a major league roster.
Note: I use the 20-80 grading scale in these comments to avoid overuse of the terms "average" and "above average" across the 100 player comments. On that scale, a grade of 50 equals major league average, 55 is above average, 60 is plus, 45 is fringy or below average and so on.
1. Byron Buxton, CF | Minnesota Twins (age 19)
Current level: High Class A (Fort Myers)
Preseason ranking: 22
I've been a Buxton fan for a while and thought he was the best talent in the 2012 draft, although even I'm a little uncomfortable with the extent of the hype around him right now.
He's explosive across the board, with 80-grade running speed, an 80 arm and the potential for 70 or 80 defense in center, as well as great bat speed and a slightly quieter approach than he had in high school. He has the upside of a top-five overall player in the majors, and I would just like to see him maintain his strong contact rates and patient approach as he faces better pitchers this year and next.
2. Oscar Taveras, OF | St. Louis Cardinals (age 20)
Current level: Triple-A (Memphis)
Preseason ranking: 2
Taveras might have appeared in the majors by now were it not for recurrent ankle trouble this year, an injury that also knocked him out of the Futures Game. He's still a very high-impact bat, probably the Cardinals' opening day right fielder next April, with big power and tremendous plate coverage.
3. Xander Bogaerts, SS | Boston Red Sox (age 20)
Current level: Triple-A (Pawtucket)
Preseason ranking: 5
I still see no reason Bogaerts can't stay at short, and he continues to impress with his very quiet setup and swing and strong plate discipline. He's 14 months older than Byron Buxton, but two full levels higher in the minors right now. Jose Iglesias' glove is special, but he's no match for the overall package Bogaerts offers the Red Sox at shortstop.
4. Miguel Sano, 3B | Minnesota Twins (age 20)
Current level: Double-A (New Britain)
Preseason ranking: 11
He'll always strike out a lot, but that's the nature of the game today, especially when you have this kind of prodigious raw power. When Sano squares one up, Twins fans feel the earth move.
5. Francisco Lindor, SS | Cleveland Indians (age 19)
Current level: Double-A (Akron)
Preseason ranking: 7
It might be unfair to call Lindor a lower-ceiling guy, although he lacks the MVP or superstar potential of the four guys ahead of him, projecting more as a regular All-Star who gets on base at a high clip with plus defense at short and who boasts a very high probability of becoming that, and soon.
He's just a month older than Buxton, and just moved up to Double-A, which doesn't speak much to their relative ceilings but says a little about Lindor's polish.
6. Addison Russell, SS | Oakland Athletics (age 19)
Current level: High Class A (Stockton)
Preseason ranking: 10
A slow start due to a back injury masks what a strong season Russell has had as a 19-year-old in the California League, typically a hitters' league but one with very high strikeout rates.
He's hitting .326/.379/.565 since June 1, to choose one arbitrary (Gregorian) endpoint, and continues to impress with his range and especially his hands at shortstop.
7. Carlos Correa, SS | Houston Astros (age 18)
Current level: Low Class A (Quad Cities)
Preseason ranking: 24
Lost in the hype over Buxton is the strong pro debut for Correa, just 18 years old and already in the Midwest League, posting a .421 OBP (third best in the league, 10 points behind Buxton) and a .455 slugging percentage even though he's barely begun to grow into his 6-foot-4 frame.
He's also been better than expected at shortstop, keeping his body lean and showing better range and hands than he had in high school. He may still outgrow the position, but even at third this could be a special bat.
8. Archie Bradley, RHP | Arizona Diamondbacks (age 20)
Current level: Double-A (Mobile)
Preseason ranking: 29
His command has improved over last year, as well as the control, while he's still in the 93-98 mph range with his heater.
His curveball has been a little less consistent this year, still hard at 79-83 but not quite as sharp as last year, while the changeup continues to improve and should be no worse than a solid-average pitch. The curve is still a swing-and-miss pitch for him, and with the huge fastball and his No. 1 starter build, he's the minors' best pitching prospect.
9. Mark Appel, SP | Houston Astros (age 18)
Current level: Low Class A (Quad Cities)
Preseason ranking: Ineligible
This year's top draft prospect is now in Class A, still sitting in the mid-90s with above-average command, although I expect Houston will keep his outings short this year to try to build him up slowly for next year. He also has ace potential, with three above-average to plus pitches and an easy delivery he can repeat all day.
10. Taijuan Walker, RHP | Seattle Mariners (age 20)
Current level: Triple-A (Tacoma)
Preseason ranking: 9
Walker's mid-90s fastball, up to 97 regularly, is incredibly easy, and he still has the loose, athletic body that scouts love to see. This year, he's using a very good cutter as his out pitch, which is good because it's the best secondary weapon he's ever had, but not good because it's come at the expense of his curveball, which has become less tight and is now just a fringy third pitch.
He's still so young and athletic that I wouldn't bet against him, but as close as he is to the majors, he should have a stronger third offering in his arsenal.
11. Dylan Bundy, RHP | Baltimore Orioles (age 20)
Current level: Has not played (injury)
Preseason ranking: 3
Bundy is out for the year after Tommy John surgery, and probably won't pitch again until mid-2014, pushing his timetable for a return to the majors back significantly.
There's at least an 80 percent chance that he comes back as good as he was before the elbow injury, and probably another 10 percent or so that he comes back as something almost as good, so the odds are the Orioles still have an elite pitching prospect on their hands. We just won't know for a while.
12. Christian Yelich, OF | Miami Marlins (age 21)
Current level: Double-A (Jacksonville)
Preseason ranking: 6
I love Yelich's swing, one of the best in the minors, but he's had trouble staying healthy this year and, more importantly for these rankings, his inability to hit left-handers isn't going away at all -- he's hitting .182 against southpaws this season.
For a hitter as gifted as he is, he should be making some adjustments, even small ones, against lefties by now.
13. Jameson Taillon, RHP | Pittsburgh Pirates (age 21)
Current level: Double-A (Altoona)
Preseason ranking: 20
Much like his fellow Pirate Gerrit Cole, Taillon throws gas that's too easy to hit given its velocity, due to a lack of life on the pitch. His season line may be a touch misleading, as his last outing (3 1/2 innings, 10 runs) added eight-tenths of a run to his ERA; he'd allowed just nine earned runs in his previous six outings combined.
14. Kyle Zimmer, RHP | Kansas City Royals (age 21)
Current level: High Class A (Wilmington)
Preseason ranking: 27
I saw Zimmer recently and wrote about the electric stuff he showed -- a 70-grade fastball, 70 curveball and 60 changeup -- and he's had better results since then, with 36 strikeouts and 3 walks in his past four starts, covering 25 innings. He should be unhittable, but wasn't for almost three months, so the Royals can only hope he's just now approaching his ace potential.
15. Kris Bryant, OF | Chicago Cubs (age 21)
Current level: Short-season Class A (Boise)
Preseason ranking: Ineligible
Signed to the biggest bonus in this year's draft (as predicted in this space), Bryant has huge raw power from the right side, a rare and valuable commodity in and of itself, and profiles as a middle-of-the-order bat whether he's at third base or in right field.
16. Corey Seager, SS | Los Angeles Dodgers (age 19)
Current level: Low Class A (Great Lakes)
Preseason ranking: 46
Although he's still most likely a third baseman in the end, Seager has been the best hitter in the Midwest League since his return from a DL stint in early June, hitting .342/.439/.586 in that span. He's going to be big -- at 6-4, 215 pounds, he's already bigger than every full-time shortstop in MLB history -- but that's going to produce plus power that makes him a potential All-Star.
17. Gregory Polanco, OF | Pittsburgh Pirates (age 21)
Current level: Double-A (Altoona)
Preseason ranking: 55
Polanco's BP before Sunday's Futures Game was one of the best of any hitter, showing more power than scouts had seen from him before; it counts more when it shows up during a game, but even knowing he has that raw ability is useful.
I think he's a center fielder long term, although I've heard dissenting opinions on that point; what everyone agrees on is that his swing and advanced plate discipline make him a high-probability hitter.
18. Aaron Sanchez, RHP | Toronto Blue Jays (age 20)
Current level: High Class A (Dunedin)
Preseason ranking: 19
His season's been slowed since a minor shoulder injury in late May led the Jays to shut him down rather than risking structural damage, so he's still more pure potential than results, showing very easy mid- to upper-90s velocity with the chance for two plus secondary pitches.
The lack of reps hurts him most in command, where the clean delivery has yet to translate to above-average location and feel.
19. Kevin Gausman, RHP | Baltimore Orioles (age 21)
Current level: Triple-A (Norfolk)
Preseason ranking: 26
In hindsight, Gausman came to the majors too soon, but it doesn't tell us much about his long-term potential other than that he's not ready yet. He didn't use his changeup, which is plus (if not better), enough, and his slider was a little worse than it had been in the minors and last year.
He's back at Triple-A and still projects as at least a solid No. 2 starter as long as all three pitches are there, with no reason they won't be in time.
20. Jorge Soler, OF | Chicago Cubs (age 21)
Current level: High Class A (Daytona)
Preseason ranking: 42
Soler would have been in the Futures Game and likely in Double-A were it not for a stress fracture that has him on the shelf until at least early August and possibly until instructional league, although he could pick up some needed at-bats in the Arizona Fall League.
He remains a very high-ceiling player, with a quick bat, easy power and running speed, but losing a half-season of reps doesn't help.
20. Garin Cecchini, 3B | Boston Red Sox (age 22)
Current level: Double-A (Portland)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Cecchini has just one plus tool, but it's the most important one for a position player -- he can hit, showing an impressive, innate ability to barrel up the ball throughout 2013 now that he's regained the strength he lost after a July 2011 wrist fracture.
He hasn't been running as often this year after rolling his ankle in mid-May, but his base stealing was less about speed than about instincts, as he's become one of the best readers of pitchers' deliveries in the minors.
22. Nick Castellanos, 3B/OF | Detroit Tigers (age 21)
Current level: Triple-A (Toledo)
Preseason ranking: 38
Castellanos is now a full-time right fielder, which hurts his potential value relative to what it might have been had he stayed at third base, but he's putting together a solid season as one of the International League's youngest everyday players, working the count more effectively while already setting a career high in home runs.
He might be more above-average regular than superstar after the position switch, which still makes him very valuable and a likely trade target for sellers this month.
23. Jonathan Gray, RHP | Colorado Rockies (age 20)
Current level: Rookie (Grand Junction)
Preseason ranking: Ineligible
The third overall pick in this year's draft, Gray will touch triple digits with his fastball and complements it with a plus slider. He should be able to reach a full-season league later this summer -- a desirable move for the team, too, since the Rockies' lowest affiliate, Grand Junction, plays at more than three-quarters of a mile above sea level.
Gray is a potential No. 1 starter due to his sturdy 6-4 build and two primary pitches, and should be able to put the mini scandal over his positive amphetamine test from before the draft behind him.
24. Jackie Bradley Jr., OF | Boston Red Sox (age 20)
Current level: Triple-A (Pawtucket)
Preseason ranking: 40
Hyped way beyond the point of reason after hitting .419/.507/.613 in 62 spring training at-bats, Bradley hit .155/.258/.310 in 58 regular-season at-bats before being demoted and everyone should really remember this next March but won't because reality is boring.
Anyway, Bradley still projects as a plus-plus defender in center who hits for average and gets on base, with just a little power. He'll be an above-average everyday player who'll make a solid, cheap replacement for Jacoby Ellsbury when he likely leaves as a free agent over the winter.
25. Albert Almora, OF | Chicago Cubs (age 19)
Current level: Low Class A (Kane County)
Preseason ranking: 33
The irony of one of the game's most prominent sabermetrically-inclined front offices overseeing a farm system of guys who walk once a month deserves more attention than it's gotten so far; I wonder if Kris Bryant, who walked a ton in college this spring, will become an unrepentant hacker the moment he gets to Daytona.
Anyway, Almora doesn't walk much, but he's got great feel for the bat, making a lot of hard contact, and plays plus defense in center.
26. Robert Stephenson, RHP | Cincinnati Reds (age 20)
Current level: Low Class A (Dayton)
Preseason ranking: 48
Stephenson has torn apart Midwest League hitters with just two pitches, a plus-plus fastball and plus-plus breaking ball, and may need to move up a level just to force him to work on his changeup and to continue to refine his fastball command.
He's had no trouble with lefties thus far and has gone eight straight starts where he's walked two batters or fewer. I understand caution with a young pitcher, but Stephenson has ace potential and should be pushed a little to help him achieve it.
27. Javier Baez, SS | Chicago Cubs (age 19)
Current level: Double-A (Tennessee)
Preseason ranking: 31
The player with the best bat speed in the minors should be higher on this list, in theory, but Baez operates under the strong belief -- not entirely unfounded -- that he can hit anything within a foot of the strike zone, which results in low walk rates and a tendency to give away at-bats when he doesn't get a pitch he can crush right away.
He continues to play solid defense at shortstop, and the power is insane, but it would be nice if someone in this farm system would walk more than twice a month.
28. Eddie Butler, P | Colorado Rockies (age 20)
Current level: High Class A (Modesto)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Butler was the one player at this year's MLB Futures Game who exceeded expectations. He's got big-time sinking life on his mid-90s fastball, thanks to a low three-quarters arm slot, and pairs it with an upper-80s slider that wipes out right-handed hitters and that he can throw at the back foot of a left-handed hitter.
His changeup has already improved substantially since he entered pro ball last year, and if that continues, he's a potential No. 2 starter or better who gets ground balls and misses bats.
29. George Springer, OF | Houston Astros (age 23)
Current level: Triple-A (Oklahoma City)
Preseason ranking: 43
Springer's a true five-tool player with big raw power and plus speed and absolutely no two-strike approach, which is the one thing keeping him out of the top 10 on this list; only a handful of players in major league history have played full seasons and struck out at the rate at which Springer has struck out in Double- and Triple-A this year.
If he develops any kind of two-strike approach, though, he's a potential monster, a 30/30 candidate who can get on base and provide solid defense in center or plus defense in a corner.
30. Kohl Stewart, RHP | Minnesota Twins (age 18)
Current level: Rookie (Gulf Coast)
Preseason ranking: Ineligible
The fourth overall pick in this year's draft, Stewart walked away from a commitment to back up Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M to join the Twins' system as their best pitching prospect, a four-pitch starter up to 97 with a plus slider who needs to work on fastball command and using his lower half more in his delivery.
31. Henry Owens, LHP | Boston Red Sox (age 20)
Current level: High Class A (Salem)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Owens' fastball has ticked up this year to consistently above-average velocity for a lefty, to go along with the plus changeup, slow curveball and great deception. His main issue now is just a lack of strikes, giving hitters opportunities they wouldn't have if he were getting ahead in the count more frequently and could use his secondary stuff.
He's probably a No. 3 starter, maybe a little more if he's got more velocity in the tank.
32. Michael Wacha, RHP | St. Louis Cardinals (age 21)
Current level: Triple-A (Memphis)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Wacha's brief call-up didn't tell us much about his potential, other than that he doesn't, or the Cardinals don't, believe in his breaking ball enough to use it more than five or six times a game right now. As an above-average fastball/plus-plus changeup guy with plus command, Wacha is a back-end starter already, but could end up a solid mid-rotation guy if that curveball gets just a little bit sharper.
33. Jonathan Singleton, 1B | Houston Astros (age 21)
Current level: Triple-A (Oklahoma City)
Preseason ranking: 32
Singleton missed the first 50 games of the season after he tested positive for marijuana, a pointless exercise for everyone involved that may explain why he's struggled so badly in Triple-A after the long layoff, striking out 40 times in his first 105 at-bats. He remains a potential impact bat at first base who gets on base and hits for power, although it would be nice to at least see a better contact rate from him this year.
34. Noah Syndergaard, RHP | New York Mets (age 20)
Current level: Double-A (Binghamton)
Preseason ranking: 97
Syndergaard has an easy 70-grade fastball, sitting mid-90s and touching 98 regularly, with a great pitcher's build and repeatable delivery. His secondary stuff is just average, both the curveball and changeup, with a fringy slider that's kind of flat and doesn't suit his arm slot as well as the curve and change do.
The worst-case scenario here is probably a league-average starter between the velocity and outstanding control, with No. 2 starter upside if the breaking ball improves a little more and the fastball command continues to develop. He's become the key guy for the Mets in the R.A. Dickey deal, passing the always-hurt Travis d'Arnaud, whose talent may end up unfulfilled because he can't stay on the field.
35. Taylor Guerrieri, RHP | Tampa Bay Rays (age 20)
Current level: Low Class A (Bowling Green)
Preseason ranking: 47
Guerrieri's velocity has been off a little this year -- he was up to 97 mph last year and in high school, but has been 89-93 this season with a stiffer delivery and a recent bout of arm trouble, with shoulder fatigue taking him off the Futures Game roster and elbow soreness taking him out of his last start for Bowling Green.
He still has the potential out-pitch curveball and fills up the strike zone, but the lost velocity, hints of arm trouble and makeup questions going back to his prep days all push him down the rankings.
36. Alen Hanson, SS | Pittsburgh Pirates (age 22)
Current level: High Class A (Bradenton)
Preseason ranking: 34
Overshadowed this year by teammate Gregory Polanco, Hanson remains a work in progress at shortstop; his footwork has been less erratic this year -- he's always had the hands and foot speed for it -- while his throwing has been more so. He has great bat speed and a strong approach, and has bounced back after a rough start to the season in high Class A.
He can run, work the count and square up good stuff, so if he can hit like he did in May and June over a full season, and proves he can stay at shortstop, he's a potential above-average regular for a team that needs a long-term answer at short.
37. Kyle Crick, RHP | San Francisco Giants (age 20)
Current level: High Class A (San Jose)
Preseason ranking: 76
Crick has flown past teammate Clayton Blackburn this year; Blackburn has better command and control, but Crick has huge stuff, sitting mid-90s and touching 98 with a plus breaking ball but, as you saw in the Futures Game, less than perfect command. He missed two months this year with an oblique strain, punching out 32 and walking 10 across four starts since his return.
38. Alex Meyer, RHP | Minnesota Twins (age 23)
Current level: Double-A (New Britain)
Preseason ranking: 65
Meyer continues to generate ground balls and miss bats, so while it's not a perfect starter's package, as long as he does the two most important things a starter can do, he should get the chance to work in a major league rotation.
His fastball remains 94-95, up to 97, with heavy sink, and his slider is a bona fide out pitch against right-handed batters. His command will never be great, the hazard of being 6-9 and trying to keep those long limbs in check, and his changeup is a work in progress at best. If that changeup comes along, even without good command he's at least a good No. 3 starter, with a chance to be a legitimate No. 2.
39. Jake Marisnick, OF | Miami Marlins (age 22)
Current level: Double-A (Jacksonville)
Preseason ranking: 82
Marisnick should be the Marlins' long-term answer in center field, if by "long-term" we mean until his first year of arbitration, after which he'll be far too expensive for Jeff Loria's parsimonious tastes.
He (Marisnick, that is) is a four-tool guy who can run and plays a great center field, with emerging power, still needing work on that fifth tool, the ability to hit, part of which is tied up in mediocre recognition of breaking stuff.
Even if he never improves, he's a big league regular because of his glove, raw power and speed, but he has star potential if he can tighten up his plate discipline.
40. Raul Mondesi Jr., SS | Kansas City Royals (age 17)
Current level: Low Class A (Lexington)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Formerly known as Adalberto Mondesi, the Sally League's youngest everyday player (he'll turn 18 on July 27) has held his own against much older competition, boosting his season line with a brief .349/.440/.512 run over his past four series, all while showing tremendous instincts at shortstop.
At worst, he might turn into Elvis Andrus, a fine hitter for a shortstop whose value comes more from defense and position, but Mondesi's feel for the game and hand strength should lead to better results at the plate, including more pop.
41. Eddie Rosario, 2B | Minnesota Twins (age 21)
Current level: Double-A (New Britain)
Preseason ranking: 65
Rosario doesn't have the star power of the other Twins prospects on this list, but he does have a long track record of hitting for average, with doubles power and adequate walk rates, to go along with gradually improving defense at his new position of second base.
The former center fielder may never be above average at second, but his bat will be. Rosario's ceiling is a .290-.310 hitter with 30-35 doubles, 10 homers and 50-60 walks a year, which would make him one of the best at that position in the game.
42. Jessie Biddle, LHP | Philadelphia Phillies (age 21)
Current level: Double-A (Reading)
Preseason ranking: 95
Biddle has slowed down some after a hot start that saw him punch out 26 guys over his last two starts in April, but the swing-and-miss potential of his low-70s breaking ball is real, as long as he can command the fastball well enough to get to curveball counts.
He'll need to continue to improve the changeup and there's always some hope that a pitcher of his size (6-4, 225 pounds) will find one more half-grade of velocity before he's done filling out; if not, he's probably a solid league-average or slightly better starter for a long time who has added value in trade because he's left-handed.
43. Luc Giolito, RHP | Washington Nationals (age 19)
Current level: Rookie (Gulf Coast)
Preseason ranking: 77
Giolito is just back from Tommy John surgery, less than 12 months after going under the knife, and has regained his velocity, sitting 95-98 mph in short outings in the Gulf Coast League as the Nats build him back up.
The curveball should be next, and command last; as those return, which they should given how well his recovery has gone, he'll continue to move up these rankings, and could easily finish the year in the top 20 because of his No. 1 starter ceiling.
44. Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP | Baltimore Orioles (age 20)
Current level: Double-A (Bowie)
Preseason ranking: 100
After an aggressive promotion to Double-A, Rodriguez appears to be the next starting pitcher in line for a rotation spot in Baltimore after Kevin Gausman, and with the chance for three above-average pitches could be a pretty good one in his own right.
Rodriguez will sit 92-94 with a hard upper-80s changeup that gets swings and misses more from tailing action than from deception, and his breaking ball has a chance to be at least a solid grade 55. He'll pitch the whole year at 20 and shouldn't see the majors until this time next year at the earliest.
45. Austin Hedges, C | San Diego Padres (age 20)
Current level: High Class A (Lake Elsinore)
Preseason ranking: 38
There's little elite catching in the minors right now, in case you hadn't noticed, with Hedges the leading catching prospect in the minors by default. He's a plus-plus defender in all aspects of the game, and has surprising raw power that doesn't play in games yet because he's still on the raw side as a hitter.
Even if he ends up just a .250/.310/.430 guy, with his defense that's a potential All-Star, and if you believe catchers do develop later as hitters you can easily dream on him to become something more.
46. Mike Foltynewicz, RHP | Houston Astros (age 21)
Current level: Double-A (Corpus Christi)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Foltynewicz has been hitting triple digits as a starter this year and sitting in the 95-98 range, missing bats and even getting some ground balls since the Astros wisely shipped him out of the hitters' paradise of Lancaster and sent him to Corpus Christi.
His secondary stuff isn't as advanced, with the changeup the most promising of his off-speed weapons, and his feel for pitching and command are both far above what they were when the Astros drafted him in 2010. There's some sentiment among scouts that he might end up a closer, due to the lack of a plus second pitch and the command, which still has a ways to go, but in a starter's role he might have a No. 2 ceiling.
47. Andrew Heaney, LHP | Miami Marlins (age 22)
Current level: High Class A (Jupiter)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Heaney should be in the Southern League by now -- and he should have been in the Futures Game -- as a major-college product dominating high Class A in his first full pro season. He works with two plus pitches in his fastball and slider, and has actually been even more effective against right-handed hitters this year (sample-size caveats apply).
He's on the slight side for a starter -- 6-2, 190 pounds -- and probably isn't a 210-220 inning guy, but as a potentially strong No. 3 starter from the left side he's jumped up into the top tier of prospects this year.
48. Max Fried, LHP | San Diego Padres (age 19)
Current level: Low Class A (Ft. Wayne)
Preseason ranking: 51
Fried, the Padres' first pick in the 2012 draft, is still mostly potential at this point, with a solid performance for low Class A Fort Wayne but not the kind to push him up the rankings yet. He's an outstanding athlete who repeats his delivery well, throwing in the low 90s with a sharp curveball and feel for a changeup, but needs to work on his command and feel for pitching, typical stuff for a 19-year-old in his first full pro season.
49. Gary Sanchez, C | New York Yankees (age 20)
Current level: High Class A (Tampa)
Preseason ranking: 18
What a dismal year for the Yankees' top prospects; Tyler Austin has struggled and is now out with a wrist injury, Mason Williams has been worse and Slade Heathcott has underperformed, while Ty Hensley has been out after hip surgery.
Sanchez is the best of the group but his stock has taken a hit as his receiving, much improved last year, has regressed, while his explosive hands and raw power haven't produced offensive results yet, either. He's a stretch to make the top 50 at this point, but I still see too much potential here, mostly on offense, to walk away from him entirely.
50. Lucas Sims, RHP | Atlanta Braves (age 19)
Current level: Low Class A (Rome)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Sims has blown up since Atlanta moved him into the rotation after a stint in the pen to limit his innings for the year, now sitting 91-96 with a plus curveball and much-improved changeup.
His walk rate dropped by nearly half when he returned to starting, and other than the lack of life on his fastball he doesn't have any major concerns besides the usual command/control questions on any teenaged starter. He's starting to look at least like a potential No. 3 starter, and is now the team's best starting pitching prospect on the farm.
Honorable mentions/just missed/names to make you feel better: Julio Urias, LHP (Dodgers); Yordano Ventura, RHP (Royals); Miguel Almonte, RHP (Royals); David Dahl, OF (Rockies); Lance McCullers Jr., RHP (Astros); Zach Lee, RHP (Dodgers); Arismendy Alcantara, SS (Cubs); Blake Swihart, C (Red Sox)
These rankings are based primarily on upside or ceiling, not on proximity to the majors, so the list includes a mixture of players as high as Double-A or Triple-A and a few who have signed but either have yet to make their professional debuts or who have just a few appearances in the low minors.
Players who have already passed the cutoff for Rookie of the Year eligibility are ineligible, as is anyone currently on a major league roster.
Note: I use the 20-80 grading scale in these comments to avoid overuse of the terms "average" and "above average" across the 100 player comments. On that scale, a grade of 50 equals major league average, 55 is above average, 60 is plus, 45 is fringy or below average and so on.
1. Byron Buxton, CF | Minnesota Twins (age 19)
Current level: High Class A (Fort Myers)
Preseason ranking: 22
I've been a Buxton fan for a while and thought he was the best talent in the 2012 draft, although even I'm a little uncomfortable with the extent of the hype around him right now.
He's explosive across the board, with 80-grade running speed, an 80 arm and the potential for 70 or 80 defense in center, as well as great bat speed and a slightly quieter approach than he had in high school. He has the upside of a top-five overall player in the majors, and I would just like to see him maintain his strong contact rates and patient approach as he faces better pitchers this year and next.
2. Oscar Taveras, OF | St. Louis Cardinals (age 20)
Current level: Triple-A (Memphis)
Preseason ranking: 2
Taveras might have appeared in the majors by now were it not for recurrent ankle trouble this year, an injury that also knocked him out of the Futures Game. He's still a very high-impact bat, probably the Cardinals' opening day right fielder next April, with big power and tremendous plate coverage.
3. Xander Bogaerts, SS | Boston Red Sox (age 20)
Current level: Triple-A (Pawtucket)
Preseason ranking: 5
I still see no reason Bogaerts can't stay at short, and he continues to impress with his very quiet setup and swing and strong plate discipline. He's 14 months older than Byron Buxton, but two full levels higher in the minors right now. Jose Iglesias' glove is special, but he's no match for the overall package Bogaerts offers the Red Sox at shortstop.
4. Miguel Sano, 3B | Minnesota Twins (age 20)
Current level: Double-A (New Britain)
Preseason ranking: 11
He'll always strike out a lot, but that's the nature of the game today, especially when you have this kind of prodigious raw power. When Sano squares one up, Twins fans feel the earth move.
5. Francisco Lindor, SS | Cleveland Indians (age 19)
Current level: Double-A (Akron)
Preseason ranking: 7
It might be unfair to call Lindor a lower-ceiling guy, although he lacks the MVP or superstar potential of the four guys ahead of him, projecting more as a regular All-Star who gets on base at a high clip with plus defense at short and who boasts a very high probability of becoming that, and soon.
He's just a month older than Buxton, and just moved up to Double-A, which doesn't speak much to their relative ceilings but says a little about Lindor's polish.
6. Addison Russell, SS | Oakland Athletics (age 19)
Current level: High Class A (Stockton)
Preseason ranking: 10
A slow start due to a back injury masks what a strong season Russell has had as a 19-year-old in the California League, typically a hitters' league but one with very high strikeout rates.
He's hitting .326/.379/.565 since June 1, to choose one arbitrary (Gregorian) endpoint, and continues to impress with his range and especially his hands at shortstop.
7. Carlos Correa, SS | Houston Astros (age 18)
Current level: Low Class A (Quad Cities)
Preseason ranking: 24
Lost in the hype over Buxton is the strong pro debut for Correa, just 18 years old and already in the Midwest League, posting a .421 OBP (third best in the league, 10 points behind Buxton) and a .455 slugging percentage even though he's barely begun to grow into his 6-foot-4 frame.
He's also been better than expected at shortstop, keeping his body lean and showing better range and hands than he had in high school. He may still outgrow the position, but even at third this could be a special bat.
8. Archie Bradley, RHP | Arizona Diamondbacks (age 20)
Current level: Double-A (Mobile)
Preseason ranking: 29
His command has improved over last year, as well as the control, while he's still in the 93-98 mph range with his heater.
His curveball has been a little less consistent this year, still hard at 79-83 but not quite as sharp as last year, while the changeup continues to improve and should be no worse than a solid-average pitch. The curve is still a swing-and-miss pitch for him, and with the huge fastball and his No. 1 starter build, he's the minors' best pitching prospect.
9. Mark Appel, SP | Houston Astros (age 18)
Current level: Low Class A (Quad Cities)
Preseason ranking: Ineligible
This year's top draft prospect is now in Class A, still sitting in the mid-90s with above-average command, although I expect Houston will keep his outings short this year to try to build him up slowly for next year. He also has ace potential, with three above-average to plus pitches and an easy delivery he can repeat all day.
10. Taijuan Walker, RHP | Seattle Mariners (age 20)
Current level: Triple-A (Tacoma)
Preseason ranking: 9
Walker's mid-90s fastball, up to 97 regularly, is incredibly easy, and he still has the loose, athletic body that scouts love to see. This year, he's using a very good cutter as his out pitch, which is good because it's the best secondary weapon he's ever had, but not good because it's come at the expense of his curveball, which has become less tight and is now just a fringy third pitch.
He's still so young and athletic that I wouldn't bet against him, but as close as he is to the majors, he should have a stronger third offering in his arsenal.
11. Dylan Bundy, RHP | Baltimore Orioles (age 20)
Current level: Has not played (injury)
Preseason ranking: 3
Bundy is out for the year after Tommy John surgery, and probably won't pitch again until mid-2014, pushing his timetable for a return to the majors back significantly.
There's at least an 80 percent chance that he comes back as good as he was before the elbow injury, and probably another 10 percent or so that he comes back as something almost as good, so the odds are the Orioles still have an elite pitching prospect on their hands. We just won't know for a while.
12. Christian Yelich, OF | Miami Marlins (age 21)
Current level: Double-A (Jacksonville)
Preseason ranking: 6
I love Yelich's swing, one of the best in the minors, but he's had trouble staying healthy this year and, more importantly for these rankings, his inability to hit left-handers isn't going away at all -- he's hitting .182 against southpaws this season.
For a hitter as gifted as he is, he should be making some adjustments, even small ones, against lefties by now.
13. Jameson Taillon, RHP | Pittsburgh Pirates (age 21)
Current level: Double-A (Altoona)
Preseason ranking: 20
Much like his fellow Pirate Gerrit Cole, Taillon throws gas that's too easy to hit given its velocity, due to a lack of life on the pitch. His season line may be a touch misleading, as his last outing (3 1/2 innings, 10 runs) added eight-tenths of a run to his ERA; he'd allowed just nine earned runs in his previous six outings combined.
14. Kyle Zimmer, RHP | Kansas City Royals (age 21)
Current level: High Class A (Wilmington)
Preseason ranking: 27
I saw Zimmer recently and wrote about the electric stuff he showed -- a 70-grade fastball, 70 curveball and 60 changeup -- and he's had better results since then, with 36 strikeouts and 3 walks in his past four starts, covering 25 innings. He should be unhittable, but wasn't for almost three months, so the Royals can only hope he's just now approaching his ace potential.
15. Kris Bryant, OF | Chicago Cubs (age 21)
Current level: Short-season Class A (Boise)
Preseason ranking: Ineligible
Signed to the biggest bonus in this year's draft (as predicted in this space), Bryant has huge raw power from the right side, a rare and valuable commodity in and of itself, and profiles as a middle-of-the-order bat whether he's at third base or in right field.
16. Corey Seager, SS | Los Angeles Dodgers (age 19)
Current level: Low Class A (Great Lakes)
Preseason ranking: 46
Although he's still most likely a third baseman in the end, Seager has been the best hitter in the Midwest League since his return from a DL stint in early June, hitting .342/.439/.586 in that span. He's going to be big -- at 6-4, 215 pounds, he's already bigger than every full-time shortstop in MLB history -- but that's going to produce plus power that makes him a potential All-Star.
17. Gregory Polanco, OF | Pittsburgh Pirates (age 21)
Current level: Double-A (Altoona)
Preseason ranking: 55
Polanco's BP before Sunday's Futures Game was one of the best of any hitter, showing more power than scouts had seen from him before; it counts more when it shows up during a game, but even knowing he has that raw ability is useful.
I think he's a center fielder long term, although I've heard dissenting opinions on that point; what everyone agrees on is that his swing and advanced plate discipline make him a high-probability hitter.
18. Aaron Sanchez, RHP | Toronto Blue Jays (age 20)
Current level: High Class A (Dunedin)
Preseason ranking: 19
His season's been slowed since a minor shoulder injury in late May led the Jays to shut him down rather than risking structural damage, so he's still more pure potential than results, showing very easy mid- to upper-90s velocity with the chance for two plus secondary pitches.
The lack of reps hurts him most in command, where the clean delivery has yet to translate to above-average location and feel.
19. Kevin Gausman, RHP | Baltimore Orioles (age 21)
Current level: Triple-A (Norfolk)
Preseason ranking: 26
In hindsight, Gausman came to the majors too soon, but it doesn't tell us much about his long-term potential other than that he's not ready yet. He didn't use his changeup, which is plus (if not better), enough, and his slider was a little worse than it had been in the minors and last year.
He's back at Triple-A and still projects as at least a solid No. 2 starter as long as all three pitches are there, with no reason they won't be in time.
20. Jorge Soler, OF | Chicago Cubs (age 21)
Current level: High Class A (Daytona)
Preseason ranking: 42
Soler would have been in the Futures Game and likely in Double-A were it not for a stress fracture that has him on the shelf until at least early August and possibly until instructional league, although he could pick up some needed at-bats in the Arizona Fall League.
He remains a very high-ceiling player, with a quick bat, easy power and running speed, but losing a half-season of reps doesn't help.
20. Garin Cecchini, 3B | Boston Red Sox (age 22)
Current level: Double-A (Portland)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Cecchini has just one plus tool, but it's the most important one for a position player -- he can hit, showing an impressive, innate ability to barrel up the ball throughout 2013 now that he's regained the strength he lost after a July 2011 wrist fracture.
He hasn't been running as often this year after rolling his ankle in mid-May, but his base stealing was less about speed than about instincts, as he's become one of the best readers of pitchers' deliveries in the minors.
22. Nick Castellanos, 3B/OF | Detroit Tigers (age 21)
Current level: Triple-A (Toledo)
Preseason ranking: 38
Castellanos is now a full-time right fielder, which hurts his potential value relative to what it might have been had he stayed at third base, but he's putting together a solid season as one of the International League's youngest everyday players, working the count more effectively while already setting a career high in home runs.
He might be more above-average regular than superstar after the position switch, which still makes him very valuable and a likely trade target for sellers this month.
23. Jonathan Gray, RHP | Colorado Rockies (age 20)
Current level: Rookie (Grand Junction)
Preseason ranking: Ineligible
The third overall pick in this year's draft, Gray will touch triple digits with his fastball and complements it with a plus slider. He should be able to reach a full-season league later this summer -- a desirable move for the team, too, since the Rockies' lowest affiliate, Grand Junction, plays at more than three-quarters of a mile above sea level.
Gray is a potential No. 1 starter due to his sturdy 6-4 build and two primary pitches, and should be able to put the mini scandal over his positive amphetamine test from before the draft behind him.
24. Jackie Bradley Jr., OF | Boston Red Sox (age 20)
Current level: Triple-A (Pawtucket)
Preseason ranking: 40
Hyped way beyond the point of reason after hitting .419/.507/.613 in 62 spring training at-bats, Bradley hit .155/.258/.310 in 58 regular-season at-bats before being demoted and everyone should really remember this next March but won't because reality is boring.
Anyway, Bradley still projects as a plus-plus defender in center who hits for average and gets on base, with just a little power. He'll be an above-average everyday player who'll make a solid, cheap replacement for Jacoby Ellsbury when he likely leaves as a free agent over the winter.
25. Albert Almora, OF | Chicago Cubs (age 19)
Current level: Low Class A (Kane County)
Preseason ranking: 33
The irony of one of the game's most prominent sabermetrically-inclined front offices overseeing a farm system of guys who walk once a month deserves more attention than it's gotten so far; I wonder if Kris Bryant, who walked a ton in college this spring, will become an unrepentant hacker the moment he gets to Daytona.
Anyway, Almora doesn't walk much, but he's got great feel for the bat, making a lot of hard contact, and plays plus defense in center.
26. Robert Stephenson, RHP | Cincinnati Reds (age 20)
Current level: Low Class A (Dayton)
Preseason ranking: 48
Stephenson has torn apart Midwest League hitters with just two pitches, a plus-plus fastball and plus-plus breaking ball, and may need to move up a level just to force him to work on his changeup and to continue to refine his fastball command.
He's had no trouble with lefties thus far and has gone eight straight starts where he's walked two batters or fewer. I understand caution with a young pitcher, but Stephenson has ace potential and should be pushed a little to help him achieve it.
27. Javier Baez, SS | Chicago Cubs (age 19)
Current level: Double-A (Tennessee)
Preseason ranking: 31
The player with the best bat speed in the minors should be higher on this list, in theory, but Baez operates under the strong belief -- not entirely unfounded -- that he can hit anything within a foot of the strike zone, which results in low walk rates and a tendency to give away at-bats when he doesn't get a pitch he can crush right away.
He continues to play solid defense at shortstop, and the power is insane, but it would be nice if someone in this farm system would walk more than twice a month.
28. Eddie Butler, P | Colorado Rockies (age 20)
Current level: High Class A (Modesto)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Butler was the one player at this year's MLB Futures Game who exceeded expectations. He's got big-time sinking life on his mid-90s fastball, thanks to a low three-quarters arm slot, and pairs it with an upper-80s slider that wipes out right-handed hitters and that he can throw at the back foot of a left-handed hitter.
His changeup has already improved substantially since he entered pro ball last year, and if that continues, he's a potential No. 2 starter or better who gets ground balls and misses bats.
29. George Springer, OF | Houston Astros (age 23)
Current level: Triple-A (Oklahoma City)
Preseason ranking: 43
Springer's a true five-tool player with big raw power and plus speed and absolutely no two-strike approach, which is the one thing keeping him out of the top 10 on this list; only a handful of players in major league history have played full seasons and struck out at the rate at which Springer has struck out in Double- and Triple-A this year.
If he develops any kind of two-strike approach, though, he's a potential monster, a 30/30 candidate who can get on base and provide solid defense in center or plus defense in a corner.
30. Kohl Stewart, RHP | Minnesota Twins (age 18)
Current level: Rookie (Gulf Coast)
Preseason ranking: Ineligible
The fourth overall pick in this year's draft, Stewart walked away from a commitment to back up Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M to join the Twins' system as their best pitching prospect, a four-pitch starter up to 97 with a plus slider who needs to work on fastball command and using his lower half more in his delivery.
31. Henry Owens, LHP | Boston Red Sox (age 20)
Current level: High Class A (Salem)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Owens' fastball has ticked up this year to consistently above-average velocity for a lefty, to go along with the plus changeup, slow curveball and great deception. His main issue now is just a lack of strikes, giving hitters opportunities they wouldn't have if he were getting ahead in the count more frequently and could use his secondary stuff.
He's probably a No. 3 starter, maybe a little more if he's got more velocity in the tank.
32. Michael Wacha, RHP | St. Louis Cardinals (age 21)
Current level: Triple-A (Memphis)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Wacha's brief call-up didn't tell us much about his potential, other than that he doesn't, or the Cardinals don't, believe in his breaking ball enough to use it more than five or six times a game right now. As an above-average fastball/plus-plus changeup guy with plus command, Wacha is a back-end starter already, but could end up a solid mid-rotation guy if that curveball gets just a little bit sharper.
33. Jonathan Singleton, 1B | Houston Astros (age 21)
Current level: Triple-A (Oklahoma City)
Preseason ranking: 32
Singleton missed the first 50 games of the season after he tested positive for marijuana, a pointless exercise for everyone involved that may explain why he's struggled so badly in Triple-A after the long layoff, striking out 40 times in his first 105 at-bats. He remains a potential impact bat at first base who gets on base and hits for power, although it would be nice to at least see a better contact rate from him this year.
34. Noah Syndergaard, RHP | New York Mets (age 20)
Current level: Double-A (Binghamton)
Preseason ranking: 97
Syndergaard has an easy 70-grade fastball, sitting mid-90s and touching 98 regularly, with a great pitcher's build and repeatable delivery. His secondary stuff is just average, both the curveball and changeup, with a fringy slider that's kind of flat and doesn't suit his arm slot as well as the curve and change do.
The worst-case scenario here is probably a league-average starter between the velocity and outstanding control, with No. 2 starter upside if the breaking ball improves a little more and the fastball command continues to develop. He's become the key guy for the Mets in the R.A. Dickey deal, passing the always-hurt Travis d'Arnaud, whose talent may end up unfulfilled because he can't stay on the field.
35. Taylor Guerrieri, RHP | Tampa Bay Rays (age 20)
Current level: Low Class A (Bowling Green)
Preseason ranking: 47
Guerrieri's velocity has been off a little this year -- he was up to 97 mph last year and in high school, but has been 89-93 this season with a stiffer delivery and a recent bout of arm trouble, with shoulder fatigue taking him off the Futures Game roster and elbow soreness taking him out of his last start for Bowling Green.
He still has the potential out-pitch curveball and fills up the strike zone, but the lost velocity, hints of arm trouble and makeup questions going back to his prep days all push him down the rankings.
36. Alen Hanson, SS | Pittsburgh Pirates (age 22)
Current level: High Class A (Bradenton)
Preseason ranking: 34
Overshadowed this year by teammate Gregory Polanco, Hanson remains a work in progress at shortstop; his footwork has been less erratic this year -- he's always had the hands and foot speed for it -- while his throwing has been more so. He has great bat speed and a strong approach, and has bounced back after a rough start to the season in high Class A.
He can run, work the count and square up good stuff, so if he can hit like he did in May and June over a full season, and proves he can stay at shortstop, he's a potential above-average regular for a team that needs a long-term answer at short.
37. Kyle Crick, RHP | San Francisco Giants (age 20)
Current level: High Class A (San Jose)
Preseason ranking: 76
Crick has flown past teammate Clayton Blackburn this year; Blackburn has better command and control, but Crick has huge stuff, sitting mid-90s and touching 98 with a plus breaking ball but, as you saw in the Futures Game, less than perfect command. He missed two months this year with an oblique strain, punching out 32 and walking 10 across four starts since his return.
38. Alex Meyer, RHP | Minnesota Twins (age 23)
Current level: Double-A (New Britain)
Preseason ranking: 65
Meyer continues to generate ground balls and miss bats, so while it's not a perfect starter's package, as long as he does the two most important things a starter can do, he should get the chance to work in a major league rotation.
His fastball remains 94-95, up to 97, with heavy sink, and his slider is a bona fide out pitch against right-handed batters. His command will never be great, the hazard of being 6-9 and trying to keep those long limbs in check, and his changeup is a work in progress at best. If that changeup comes along, even without good command he's at least a good No. 3 starter, with a chance to be a legitimate No. 2.
39. Jake Marisnick, OF | Miami Marlins (age 22)
Current level: Double-A (Jacksonville)
Preseason ranking: 82
Marisnick should be the Marlins' long-term answer in center field, if by "long-term" we mean until his first year of arbitration, after which he'll be far too expensive for Jeff Loria's parsimonious tastes.
He (Marisnick, that is) is a four-tool guy who can run and plays a great center field, with emerging power, still needing work on that fifth tool, the ability to hit, part of which is tied up in mediocre recognition of breaking stuff.
Even if he never improves, he's a big league regular because of his glove, raw power and speed, but he has star potential if he can tighten up his plate discipline.
40. Raul Mondesi Jr., SS | Kansas City Royals (age 17)
Current level: Low Class A (Lexington)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Formerly known as Adalberto Mondesi, the Sally League's youngest everyday player (he'll turn 18 on July 27) has held his own against much older competition, boosting his season line with a brief .349/.440/.512 run over his past four series, all while showing tremendous instincts at shortstop.
At worst, he might turn into Elvis Andrus, a fine hitter for a shortstop whose value comes more from defense and position, but Mondesi's feel for the game and hand strength should lead to better results at the plate, including more pop.
41. Eddie Rosario, 2B | Minnesota Twins (age 21)
Current level: Double-A (New Britain)
Preseason ranking: 65
Rosario doesn't have the star power of the other Twins prospects on this list, but he does have a long track record of hitting for average, with doubles power and adequate walk rates, to go along with gradually improving defense at his new position of second base.
The former center fielder may never be above average at second, but his bat will be. Rosario's ceiling is a .290-.310 hitter with 30-35 doubles, 10 homers and 50-60 walks a year, which would make him one of the best at that position in the game.
42. Jessie Biddle, LHP | Philadelphia Phillies (age 21)
Current level: Double-A (Reading)
Preseason ranking: 95
Biddle has slowed down some after a hot start that saw him punch out 26 guys over his last two starts in April, but the swing-and-miss potential of his low-70s breaking ball is real, as long as he can command the fastball well enough to get to curveball counts.
He'll need to continue to improve the changeup and there's always some hope that a pitcher of his size (6-4, 225 pounds) will find one more half-grade of velocity before he's done filling out; if not, he's probably a solid league-average or slightly better starter for a long time who has added value in trade because he's left-handed.
43. Luc Giolito, RHP | Washington Nationals (age 19)
Current level: Rookie (Gulf Coast)
Preseason ranking: 77
Giolito is just back from Tommy John surgery, less than 12 months after going under the knife, and has regained his velocity, sitting 95-98 mph in short outings in the Gulf Coast League as the Nats build him back up.
The curveball should be next, and command last; as those return, which they should given how well his recovery has gone, he'll continue to move up these rankings, and could easily finish the year in the top 20 because of his No. 1 starter ceiling.
44. Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP | Baltimore Orioles (age 20)
Current level: Double-A (Bowie)
Preseason ranking: 100
After an aggressive promotion to Double-A, Rodriguez appears to be the next starting pitcher in line for a rotation spot in Baltimore after Kevin Gausman, and with the chance for three above-average pitches could be a pretty good one in his own right.
Rodriguez will sit 92-94 with a hard upper-80s changeup that gets swings and misses more from tailing action than from deception, and his breaking ball has a chance to be at least a solid grade 55. He'll pitch the whole year at 20 and shouldn't see the majors until this time next year at the earliest.
45. Austin Hedges, C | San Diego Padres (age 20)
Current level: High Class A (Lake Elsinore)
Preseason ranking: 38
There's little elite catching in the minors right now, in case you hadn't noticed, with Hedges the leading catching prospect in the minors by default. He's a plus-plus defender in all aspects of the game, and has surprising raw power that doesn't play in games yet because he's still on the raw side as a hitter.
Even if he ends up just a .250/.310/.430 guy, with his defense that's a potential All-Star, and if you believe catchers do develop later as hitters you can easily dream on him to become something more.
46. Mike Foltynewicz, RHP | Houston Astros (age 21)
Current level: Double-A (Corpus Christi)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Foltynewicz has been hitting triple digits as a starter this year and sitting in the 95-98 range, missing bats and even getting some ground balls since the Astros wisely shipped him out of the hitters' paradise of Lancaster and sent him to Corpus Christi.
His secondary stuff isn't as advanced, with the changeup the most promising of his off-speed weapons, and his feel for pitching and command are both far above what they were when the Astros drafted him in 2010. There's some sentiment among scouts that he might end up a closer, due to the lack of a plus second pitch and the command, which still has a ways to go, but in a starter's role he might have a No. 2 ceiling.
47. Andrew Heaney, LHP | Miami Marlins (age 22)
Current level: High Class A (Jupiter)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Heaney should be in the Southern League by now -- and he should have been in the Futures Game -- as a major-college product dominating high Class A in his first full pro season. He works with two plus pitches in his fastball and slider, and has actually been even more effective against right-handed hitters this year (sample-size caveats apply).
He's on the slight side for a starter -- 6-2, 190 pounds -- and probably isn't a 210-220 inning guy, but as a potentially strong No. 3 starter from the left side he's jumped up into the top tier of prospects this year.
48. Max Fried, LHP | San Diego Padres (age 19)
Current level: Low Class A (Ft. Wayne)
Preseason ranking: 51
Fried, the Padres' first pick in the 2012 draft, is still mostly potential at this point, with a solid performance for low Class A Fort Wayne but not the kind to push him up the rankings yet. He's an outstanding athlete who repeats his delivery well, throwing in the low 90s with a sharp curveball and feel for a changeup, but needs to work on his command and feel for pitching, typical stuff for a 19-year-old in his first full pro season.
49. Gary Sanchez, C | New York Yankees (age 20)
Current level: High Class A (Tampa)
Preseason ranking: 18
What a dismal year for the Yankees' top prospects; Tyler Austin has struggled and is now out with a wrist injury, Mason Williams has been worse and Slade Heathcott has underperformed, while Ty Hensley has been out after hip surgery.
Sanchez is the best of the group but his stock has taken a hit as his receiving, much improved last year, has regressed, while his explosive hands and raw power haven't produced offensive results yet, either. He's a stretch to make the top 50 at this point, but I still see too much potential here, mostly on offense, to walk away from him entirely.
50. Lucas Sims, RHP | Atlanta Braves (age 19)
Current level: Low Class A (Rome)
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Sims has blown up since Atlanta moved him into the rotation after a stint in the pen to limit his innings for the year, now sitting 91-96 with a plus curveball and much-improved changeup.
His walk rate dropped by nearly half when he returned to starting, and other than the lack of life on his fastball he doesn't have any major concerns besides the usual command/control questions on any teenaged starter. He's starting to look at least like a potential No. 3 starter, and is now the team's best starting pitching prospect on the farm.
Honorable mentions/just missed/names to make you feel better: Julio Urias, LHP (Dodgers); Yordano Ventura, RHP (Royals); Miguel Almonte, RHP (Royals); David Dahl, OF (Rockies); Lance McCullers Jr., RHP (Astros); Zach Lee, RHP (Dodgers); Arismendy Alcantara, SS (Cubs); Blake Swihart, C (Red Sox)
