Organization Ranking: 8
I've ranked every farm system, as well as the top 100 MLB prospects for 2015. Below, I've ranked at least the top 10 Rockies prospects, plus an overview of the system and any other names of note beyond the first 10. I also discuss any prospects who might help the big league club in 2015, one or two prospects whose stock has taken a big hit in the past year, and a sleeper prospect who I think can jump into the main top-100 list for 2016.
Non-Insider subscribers: Check out the free Tampa Bay Rays top-10 prospects report to see what these entail.
Top 10 prospects
1. Jonathan Gray, RHP
2. David Dahl, OF
3. Eddie Butler, RHP
4. Ryan McMahon, 3B
5. Raimel Tapia, OF
6. Kyle Freeland, LHP
7. Forrest Wall, 2B
8. Tom Murphy, C
9. Rosell Herrera, SS
10. Dom Nunez, C
Overview
The Rockies' system doesn't get a lot of publicity, but over the next three years it should provide a lot of cheap, young, high-upside talent to the major league squad. Dahl had a solid bounce-back year after losing 2013 to injury, and McMahon, their second pick from 2013, established himself as a top-50 overall prospect. Wall, their second-round pick in 2014, can hit and run but has had issues with both shoulders, including surgery on his throwing shoulder that limits him to second base. Murphy's year was wrecked by a shoulder injury of his own, but no surgery was required and he should be ready to go in March; he could be their everyday catcher by the end of the year. Herrera was also hurt last year, playing through a wrist problem that took away a lot of his strength; he might end up in center field, where he showed good instincts last year and would have a clearer path to the majors. Nunez nailed 36 percent of runners last summer and is an above-average or better receiver; he's a left-handed-hitting catcher, which alone makes him a valuable property, but he was repeating Grand Junction so his numbers might be a bit inflated.
Shortstop Trevor Story (11) repeated high Class A Modesto and raked but struggled for the second promotion in a row, chasing more stuff out of the zone as he faced pitchers who could better locate off-speed stuff. His raw ability is still present, but he's been slow to make adjustments at the plate. Lefty Tyler Anderson (13) could get to the big leagues this year if his health permits, but his elbow flared up again in his playoff start in Double-A; he didn't need surgery but his trouble staying on the mound holds back his value and development. Antonio Senzatela (14) is a strike-thrower with good feel but needs to tighten up his secondary stuff; Johendi Jiminian (15) is the inverse, with a bigger arm and a solid/average breaking ball, behind the curve a little in feel and command. Ryan Castellani (16) is a strike-thrower with a good bit of projection remaining to his 6-foot-3 frame. Cristhian Adames (17) looks like a solid utility infielder, but I don't think he'll have the bat to play every day.
2015 impact
Butler should get another crack at the big league rotation, and both Gray and Anderson are fairly close. Freeland could probably pitch in a major league bullpen today, although 2016 is more likely for him as a starter.
The fallen
Kyle Parker, their 2010 first-round pick, did reach the majors last year but punched out in 14 of 26 at bats, and that came on top of a very mediocre showing in hitter-friendly Colorado Springs, at which he hit just 15 homers in more than 500 at bats.
Sleeper
Third baseman Kevin Padlo (12) was an all-CIF basketball player three times at Murrieta Valley (Calif.) High School, an excellent all-around athlete who was the youngest player in the Pioneer League last summer yet still finished ninth in the league in OBP and fourth in slugging.