If you Google the phrase "be present" you will get about 3,630,000,000 results in 0.49 seconds. Being present is great. The mindset has helped me immensely in life. Being present is also why I write my fantasy prospect columns on ESPN. My entire purpose here is looking for prospects that can help you in the present day -- or pretty close to it.
Today, however, we are not present. Today, we are looking to the future. Re-drafters can feel free to read along and get a jump start on 2020's plan, but this one is for the marathon runners; the dynasty and keeper league managers who won it all in 2016, have struggled to keep pace in recent years, and are ready to break it down and build it back up for the 2020 championship.
Some, likely all, of the names below are already rostered in dynasty settings. That said, everyone has a different goal for the upcoming season. Just like in the MLB, a non-contender may have just the piece a contender is missing for this season and will be more than willing to part with that piece for a future asset. I gave you my top 50 for 2019. Now, I give you 10 names to target for 2020.
1. Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels
You will often hear me say something to the effect that certain pitching prospects are currently "throwers" and must learn how to become pitchers. A similar thing can be said for "athletes" that must learn how to become baseball players. Adell, a tremendous athlete, is a baseball player. The 10th overall pick in 2017 has matured tremendously over the past 18 months and has refined his natural ability into a viable skill set between the lines. He has raw power and speed; the type to get 25/20 seasons. He should rack up 60 extra-base hits with a decent average. Some see him as a center fielder. Others have him moving to right with a plus arm. It doesn't really matter either way as the bat has middle-of-the-order potential.
2. Michael Kopech, SP, Chicago White Sox
Kopech is no stranger around these parts. The fireballer would be a top-10 consensus on every prospect list if not for the sizable scar on his right arm. Kopech underwent Tommy John surgery in September of 2018 and will not throw a meaningful pitch in 2019. That said, the timeline puts him on track for a 2020 debut. He has an upper-echelon fastball that pairs with a plus slider along with a decent changeup and a slower breaking ball. His control has been up and down, but he showed improvements in Triple-A and was on the cusp of a call up for most of last summer. It is an ace profile that should maintain its' status through the rehabilitation time.
3. Brendan McKay, SP/DH, Tampa Bay Rays
Drafted as the first, legitimate two-way player in decades, the Rays will take away one of McKay's gloves in hopes to advance his progression. McKay will continue to get at-bats as a designated hitter between starts, but for now he will not take the field at first base, allowing him more time to focus on pitching. Speaking of, there is a good number of evaluators that feel he could pitch in the majors right now. He has the size and feel for the craft to go along with a full assortment of above-average pitches and control bordering on command from the left side. Any value at the plate would be a bonus at this point because he has No. 2 starter potential as is.
4. Royce Lewis, SS, Minnesota Twins
The top overall pick in 2017 is looking worthy of that selection after an impressive full-season debut which ended up with a promotion and an accelerated timeline to the majors. Lewis is an above-average hitter with 70-speed and at least average pop. Despite being a teenager, he has a feel for the strike zone, and is not just a fast baserunner, but a smart one. There are questions about his home on the diamond. He projects to be no worse than average at shortstop, but could be even better in center field. The Twins have a bunch of outfielders. As a shortstop, he would have tremendous value because of the bat and speed projections.
5. Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays
OK, this ranking is extremely ambitious. First, Franco is 17 and has not even received a full-season assignment yet. Second, the Rays are notorious for slow-roasting prospects and we may not see Franco until 2022 let alone 2020. That said, if everything goes right -- that always happens with prospects -- this is the top prospect in baseball in 2020 and likely 2021 too. He has a plus bat, plus power, above-average speed and the tools to stick at shortstop -- at least as he is packaged right now. He is what people feel about Vladimir Guerrero Jr. right now, but with middle infield eligibility.
6. Mackenzie Gore, SP, San Diego Padres
Gore, who recently turned 20 years old, had some ups and downs in his first full season of professional baseball, but is likely the best left-handed pitching prospect in the game right now. His fastball can reach the mid-90s with a changeup that will break bats and hearts alike. He spins a pair of breaking ball -- including a very good hook -- with some command and is a standout athlete on the mound. The Padres accelerated their own timeline with the signing of Manny Machado. Gore is not going it make it to San Diego this year, but they are going to want to get this potential ace paired up with Machado's bat and glove sooner than later.
7. Taylor Trammell, OF, Cincinnati Reds
Trammell is a baseball prototype. He has ideal size with a combination of both power and speed. He has a legitimate feel for the zone at the plate with bat speed and contact skills to post .300 averages on an annual basis. The one downside is he will probably be a left fielder long-term due to a wet noodle attached to his left side. That said, for our purposes that does not mean much. There is 30/30 potential with a high average and on-base percentage in what is shaping up to be an extremely talented lineup in a home park that promotes offensive production.
8. Alex Kirilloff, OF/1B, Minnesota Twins
Most of what was said about Trammell applies to Kirilloff in terms of hitting ability. Both have the size and raw power to hit in the middle of the order while not selling out their batting averages. Kirilloff is actually the better overall prospect as he could be a standout defender at first base or in right field. His speed is mostly average which is why Trammell leaps him here. Kirilloff is a better bet for being the better player, but Trammell's stolen base potential give him the nod for the purpose of these rankings.
9. Casey Mize, SP, Detroit Tigers
The top pick in the 2018 draft could he one of several classmates to make the leap to the majors in 2019; however, with Detroit unlikely to contend, and Mize being a pitcher, there is no need to rush him unnecessarily. Still, he has the stuff and pedigree to make the jump without lengthy stays at every level or even a stopping at all of them. He works in the low-90s with a plus cutter and a slower breaking ball. Three pitches with command is an ace's profile.
10. Hunter Greene, SP, Cincinnati Reds
One of the most hyped prospects in recently memory, Greene is still finding himself as a pitcher. He did make big strides toward the end of last season after some mechanical adjustments; although a minor elbow injury shut him down a little early. His fastball remains one of the hardest in the game and he improved upon his slider to not be just a one-trick pony. Obviously, a functional changeup would be a nice addition as well. Greene is probably a little bit behind some pitchers on this list developmentally, but he has the talent and upside to surpass everyone above him.