Welcome to ESPN Insider's 2014 ranking of the top 100 prospects in baseball.
This is my seventh such ranking for Insider, with a lot of movement within the list from last year's list but many of the same names still present. Six of last year's top 10 players are still on the list, and only 13 of last year's top 50 lost their eligibility for 2014. 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. First base is extremely weak, and the pitching talent in the minors is still skewed heavily toward right-handed arms.
The Guidelines
• The rankings are limited to players who still have rookie eligibility; that means they have yet to exceed 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the majors and have not yet spent 45 days on the active roster of a major league club, excluding call-ups during the roster expansion period after Sept. 1. That means St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez is ineligible, based on his days on the 25-man roster.
• Only players who have signed professional contracts are eligible.
• I do not consider players with professional experience in Japan or Korea "prospects" for the purposes of this exercise, which means no Masahiro Tanaka this year (among others). I've also excluded Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, as he's already 27 years old, too old for a list that by design is comprised of players who are almost all 22 and younger.
• When ranking players, I consider scouting reports on players -- usually my own, supplementing with conversations with other scouts and front-office executives as needed -- as well as performance, adjusted for age and context. I've made one adjustment in my ranking philosophy in recent years, favoring higher-upside prospects over lower-ceiling prospects who are closer to the majors. This better reflects how these players are valued now by front offices and scouting departments, and gives me a chance to deliver more information on prospects whose names or scouting reports might be new to you.
• I use the 20-80 grading scale in these comments to avoid saying "average" and "above average" thousands of times 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. Giancarlo Stanton has 80 raw power. David Ortiz has 20 speed. Carlos Gomez is an 80 defender. An average fastball for a right-hander is 90-92 mph, with 1-2 mph off for a lefty.
• I've included last year's rank for players who appeared in the top 100 in 2013. An "ineligible" player was still an amateur at this time last January, whereas an "unranked" player was eligible but didn't make the cut. I've also tagged players who were on last year's sleepers list or list of 10 players who just missed the cut.
Top 100 index
| No. 1-50 | No. 51-100
51. Jackie Bradley Jr., OF
Age: 23 | DOB: 4/19/90 | B/T: L/R
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 195
While Bradley Jr.'s Jackpot Wad took over Fort Myers last spring, with a .419/.507/.613 line in 62 at-bats, the push for his Hall of Fame induction might have been a touch premature, as Bradley wasn't the same guy when the bell rang in April as he was when the games didn't count.
Major league pitchers were able to beat him in the zone with plus velocity and down and away with off-speed stuff, but Bradley managed to perform as well as expected after a demotion to Pawtucket. His ideal game is plus-plus defense in center with a high OBP at the plate and fringy power, maybe 10 to 15 homers a year; when he tries to over-rotate to hit the ball out to right, he expands his zone and makes less contact as a result.
Staying short to the ball and focusing on going line-to-line rather than trying to hit for power should make him an above-average regular, with OBPs in the .360 to .380 range. He could also save 10 or more runs a year on defense, enough to make Red Sox fans say "Jacoby who?"
Top level: Majors (Boston) | 2013 rank: 40
52. Billy Hamilton, CF
Age: 23 | DOB: 9/9/90 | B/T: B/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 160
I was a little too optimistic about Hamilton's hit tool last year, and his 2013 season in Triple-A showed he's not quite ready to make an impact in the majors.
Hamilton's an 80-grade runner, perhaps the fastest man to step on a baseball field in a few decades, and his baserunning has improved to an unheard-of degree since he signed with the Reds, who've also taught him to switch-hit and switched him to center field, with the latter transition more successful so far than the former.
His issue is that pitchers have begun crowding him on the inner half because his wrists aren't strong enough to handle hard stuff in on his hands; you need a certain degree of hand/wrist strength to hit what major league pitchers are throwing, especially to that area of the zone. If he can find that missing strength, he has the other tools to be an impact player -- his speed is game-changing, and he's already an above-average defender in center.
I'm still concerned about Hamilton's ability to make this adjustment, as his frame is narrow, so his probability isn't great, while his upside still is.
Top level: Majors (Cincinnati) | 2013 rank: 30
53. Garin Cecchini, 3B
Age: 21 | DOB: 4/20/92 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200
Cecchini had a minor hamstring issue that slowed him down in 2013, but he showed he could really hit, projecting as a consistent .300-plus hitter whose future hit grade is a 65 or a 70. Now he just has to show he can stay at third base.
As a hitter, Cecchini has an extremely advanced approach at the plate, actually walking more than he struck out this year despite moving up a level midseason. He has some raw power but rarely shows it in games, preferring to use the middle of the field, although with no stride and a tendency to stay more linear and short to the ball, he'll have a hard time getting past 15 homers. His defense at third will never be pretty, but I believe he can stay there based on his instincts and game awareness, which will make up for a lack of first-step quickness.
His downside is a Bill Mueller-type of career, but I see Cecchini hitting for higher averages and OBPs while providing comparable defense at third base.
Top level: Double-A (Portland) | 2013 rank: Unranked
54. Rosell Herrera, SS
Age: 21 | DOB: 10/16/92 | B/T: B/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 180
Herrera was my sleeper prospect for the Rockies going into 2012 but ended up demoted to short-season ball that summer and looked like he might never capitalize on his prodigious talent. He turned it around in 2013 in a return to Asheville, showing more maturity in all aspects of his game, with speed and power and even a surprisingly high walk rate.
His offense is a function of his immense physical gifts, as his lower half is going to generate noise complaints from neighbors, from a comically high leg kick and late landing to a soft front side when he overswings. He has very quick hands and likes to get his arms extended to drive the ball out to the gaps, with good hip rotation once his legs are firmly on the ground.
He might not stay at shortstop; he has the actions and quickness, but his frame is big and he could end up outgrowing the position and moving to third. He should have the power for the position, 20-plus homers a year, with solid OBPs once the Rockies can smooth him out at the plate.
Top level: Low Class A (Asheville) | 2013 rank: Unranked
55. Colin Moran, 3B
Age: 21 | DOB: 10/1/92 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 190
Moran went fifth overall in the 2013 draft, the first time the Marlins selected a college position player with their first-round pick since taking Mark Kotsay in 1996. In doing so, the Marlins passed on better athletes and players with more upside to take a very strong college performer who did almost everything you'd want from an amateur player at the plate.
His swing isn't pretty the way you'd expect from a left-handed hitter with his pedigree; he takes a long stride forward in the box but keeps his weight back, also keeping his hands very deep, with good hip rotation as well. His hands come set in a different spot from swing to swing, and he can get locked into a "grooved" path that has him cutting up too much through the ball. What he does have, beyond performance, are very strong wrists and forearms that allow him to drive the ball even when he's a half-tick behind in his timing, as well as excellent plate discipline and a willingness to lay off pitches he can't drive.
At third base, he has the hands and arm but is rough getting his feet started, in part because he always starts on his heels, and in part because he's not a quick-twitch athlete.
He'll have many questions to answer in the Florida State League in 2014, from his defense to his ability to hit better pitching, but if he answers most of those, he's a potential No. 3 or No. 5 hitter and above-average regular at third base.
Top level: Low Class A (Greensboro) | 2013 rank: Ineligible
56. Blake Swihart, C
Age: 21 | DOB: 4/3/92 | B/T: B/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175
Swihart, the No. 100 prospect on my list before the 2012 season, had a slow start that year but finished strong, and then carried it over with a breakout season in 2013 that saw him improve on offense and defense.
He is a tremendous athlete who played all over the field in high school, but last year the athleticism started to translate into very good defensive skills, with a plus arm that's quite accurate to go with better actions and receiving behind the plate. As a hitter, Swihart started to control the zone more effectively in 2013, with a 20 percent drop in his strikeout rate and a 33 percent hike in his walk rate even with the move up to high-A. He's a switch-hitter who lacked reps from the left side before entering pro ball but made substantial progress in his approach from that side last year, taking more than 80 percent of his plate appearances from that side.
Right now, Swihart is more of a line-drive hitter with doubles power but still projects to have average to above-average power when he peaks, 15 to 20 bombs a year, along with a strong OBP and plus defense behind the plate. He wasn't young for his level in either of the past two years, as he graduated high school at 19, but he's ready for Double-A now. With defensive wizard Christian Vazquez ahead of him, Swihart should get plenty of time in the high minors to continue to work on hitting left-handed and keeping his arm stroke short and simple behind the plate.
Top level: High Class A (Salem) | 2013 rank: Unranked
57. Stephen Piscotty, OF
Age: 23 | DOB: 1/14/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 210
Piscotty was the Cardinals' supplemental first-round pick in 2012, their third overall selection after Michael Wacha and James Ramsey, an upside play on a player with ability who came from a program at Stanford that didn't make full use of his skills.
Freed from those constraints, Piscotty finished his first full year in pro ball in Double-A, striking out in less than 10 percent of his plate appearances on the year, then tearing up the Arizona Fall League in a hint of more production to come. Piscotty has a line-drive approach right now with hard contact to all fields, but he'll show plus pull power in batting practice, and you could see him becoming more comfortable dropping the bat head to drive the ball out to left as the season went on.
He's adequate in the outfield, better with reads and routes than with quickness or raw range, with a strong arm to stay in right. He's not a great athlete and is a below-average runner, but there's All-Star upside in the bat, a future No. 2 hitter profile who hits for average and power.
Top level: Double-A (Springfield) | 2013 rank: Sleeper
58. Marcus Stroman, RHP
Age: 22 | DOB: 5/1/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 185
As a relatively short, African-American pitcher, Stroman will get compared to Tom Gordon until the day he retires, but that might sell short the breadth of his arsenal and his chance to at least work as a starter in the majors for longer than Gordon did.
Stroman is an outstanding athlete who was drafted as a position player out of high school by the Nationals. He shunned Washington to attend Duke and made himself into a 2012 first-round pick on the mound, with a fastball that consistently sits 92-95 mph for 100 or so pitches. He'll now show three average-or-better secondary offerings in a hard slider/cutter at 86-88 that touched 91 for me in a short Arizona Fall League stint, a power slurve at 83-85 and a changeup with good tailing action in the 84-86 range. He has a very quick arm, and hitters don't pick up the ball well out of his hand, especially right-handed hitters who have to face his under-three-quarters slot coming right at them.
The knock on Stroman is his height. He's listed at 5-foot-9 and could be an inch under that, which makes it hard for him to get downhill plane on anything and will probably always leave him fly ball- and homer-prone. You can survive like that in the majors if you don't walk anyone, which Stroman doesn't, and if you miss a lot of bats, which so far he has. He's either a top-tier reliever, up in the Craig Kimbrel/Aroldis Chapman stratosphere, or a midrotation starter if he can keep the ball from leaving the park more than 25 to 30 times a year.
Top level: Double-A (New Hampshire) | 2013 rank: Unranked
59. Erik Johnson, RHP
Age: 24 | DOB: 12/30/89 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 235
Johnson built on a solid full-season debut in 2012 with an even better 2013 that saw him move from Double-A to Triple-A and reach the majors in September, racking up a full workload of 170 innings with just 51 walks across the three levels.
His stuff was better most of the year than what you might have seen from him in September, but when he isn't overthrowing his slider, he gets more depth to the pitch and misses a lot of bats with it. The slider is new to Johnson since his college days at California, replacing the mid-70s curveball that had a sharp break but was less effective against better hitters. He sits best at 92-93 mph, able to throw harder but with less life and command. His main developmental need is to improve his changeup, which looks good out of his hand but has not been effective enough against left-handed hitters since he reached Double-A.
He's built like a workhorse who can handle 220-plus innings in his peak years, with the fastball and swing-and-miss pitch to get him there if he can find a solution to get left-handed hitters out more consistently.
Top level: Majors (Chicago) | 2013 rank: Unranked
60. Rafael Montero, RHP
Age: 23 | DOB: 10/17/90 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 170
Montero has a lower ceiling than the pitchers ahead of him on this list -- and even many of the pitchers behind him -- but he's extremely advanced right now and has better stuff than your standard "command right-hander," which is often a euphemism for a guy with a light fastball.
He will show plenty of 93s and 94s and commands the heck out of it to both sides of the plate, pairing it with an above-average slider and an above-average changeup, nothing knockout but all very effective because he can locate. His arm is quick, and while he's got a slight build for a starter, there isn't much effort involved in his delivery. My one concern on Montero is that he's a fly ball guy and could be homer-prone in the majors, although in his favor is the fact that in Las Vegas, a brutal park for a fly ball pitcher, he gave up just four homers in 88 innings.
He has the stuff and control (walking just six men in his final six starts of 2013) to contribute in the majors right now, and if the Mets need an extra starter in April or May, he should get the call before Noah Syndergaard.
Top level: Triple-A (Las Vegas) | 2013 rank: Sleeper
61. Mookie Betts, 2B
Age: 21 | DOB: 10/7/92 | B/T: R/R
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 156
Betts was one of the year's biggest breakout prospects, a 2011 fifth-round pick who had an unremarkable pro debut in short-season Class A Lowell in 2012, but ripped through both full-season A-ball levels last year and established himself as one of the best middle infield prospects in the game.
He has some early hand movement before he loads his swing, but it's window-dressing and doesn't prevent him from being short and direct to the ball, with good hip rotation and some loft in his finish that could eventually produce 20-homer power. He's a plus runner and at least a 55-grade defender at second, with good range to his right and the athleticism to end up plus there; I know some scouts see him as a potential shortstop if the opportunity were to arise. His best attribute might be his feel for the strike zone; he's very balanced at the plate, even when he sees off-speed stuff, and makes quick adjustments within each at bat like a player with more pro experience would.
He could be an All-Star at second, maybe close to that at short, and despite his short stature there's still upside here because he's such a good athlete that he has untapped potential on both sides of the ball.
Top level: High Class A (Salem) | 2013 rank: Unranked
62. Alex Meyer, RHP
Age: 24 | DOB: 1/3/90 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-9 | Weight: 220
When Meyer is on, he looks like a top-of-the-rotation guy, sitting in the upper 90s with sink and a slider sharp enough to sever someone's femoral artery on its way to the plate. He doesn't throw his changeup enough yet, and it's a grade-45 on bad days and a 50 (average) to 55 on good days, just something he needs to throw more and more to improve his feel for it, since his low-three-quarters arm slot gives left-handed hitters a nice long look at the ball out of his hand.
He is very lanky, and long-levered pitchers don't have a great history in MLB, as they often take more time to learn to repeat their deliveries and seem, anecdotally, to be injury-prone; only Randy Johnson and J.R. Richard have reached 20-plus WAR among pitchers 6-foot-8 or taller, and only Johnson has made 250 starts.
Meyer does have exceptional stuff, however, and there's not a lot of effort involved in him throwing 97 mph lawn darts, so there's cause to believe he can be a starter and potentially a No. 2 given enough time and patience.
Top level: Double-A (New Britain) | 2013 rank: 61
63. Maikel Franco, 3B/1B
Age: 21 | DOB: 8/26/92 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Franco had a huge year at the plate in 2013, showing power and outstanding plate coverage, ripping through two levels just a year after he looked like he might need a late-spring demotion to short-season ball.
The 20-year-old punched out just 70 times in nearly 600 plate appearances, so while his recognition of off-speed stuff is poor, he has enough hand-eye coordination to foul off some of those pitches and keep himself alive to hunt for another fastball. His hands get very high and deep, and between that and his raw strength he has at least grade-65 power, although he doesn't always get to it between that deep load and inconsistent hip rotation.
Franco's main problem right now is position; he is a poor defender at third, a well below-average runner with thick lower legs whose first step was too slow for the position, although he has a 70 or so arm. The Phillies have indicated they intend to move him to first base, likely because they see Cody Asche as their third baseman of the future, limiting Franco's potential peak value.
He's an everyday player as a first baseman who should hit .290 or so with a low OBP but 25-30 homers a year, which might get him into the occasional All-Star game along the way.
Top level: Double-A (Reading) | 2013 rank: Sleeper
64. Rougned Odor, 2B
Age: 20 | DOB: 2/3/94 | B/T: L/R
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 170
Odor doesn't have huge tools, but he has the one that counts, the hit tool, and tremendous feel for the game that has always had him playing above his raw abilities.
His swing isn't textbook, with a lot of extraneous movement in his front leg and in his hands before he loads, and he never really comes set, but still manages to whip the bat through the zone and generate lots of hard contact, mostly doubles power now but probably growing into 10-15 homers down the road. He's a very good defender at second base and an above-average runner with good instincts on the bases -- and pretty much everywhere else on the diamond. He's an aggressive, intense player, one who is now learning how to channel that into consistent production at the plate.
I'd like to see a quieter approach, but you can't change a kid who's had this much success as is and may never need to make that kind of adjustment; he's a potential All-Star at second, most likely a consistently above-average regular whom coaches love for his energy as well as his talent.
Top level: Double-A (Frisco) | 2013 rank: Unranked
1. A.J. Cole, RHP
Age: 24 | DOB: 1/5/92 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 193
Cole was traded to Oakland in the Gio Gonzalez deal before 2012, flopped in high Class A for the Athletics, then went back to Washington in the three-team John Jaso/Michael Morse deal, after which he seemed to right the ship somewhat, even working his way up to Double-A by year-end.
His best pitch is still his fastball, 93-97 mph without a lot of effort, a little true but also one that gets in on right-handed hitters quickly. His curveball is more of a power slurve, 77-84 mph and varying in shape as he tries to maintain a consistent arm slot for the pitch; when he stays up toward three-quarters, it has angle and depth, and when he finishes it out front, it's a real weapon for him in pitchers' counts.
He began using his changeup more in Harrisburg and it was approaching average by the end of August, although he still showed a large platoon split in Double-A. His control is well ahead of his command, but the latter will come as he gets more consistency with his arm slot and release point.
Cole's still on the thin side with room to add some muscle, more for stamina than for added velocity, but the key for him is body control and repeating that delivery. With the Nats having one of baseball's best rotations, they can take their time to get Cole right, and develop him into a good midrotation starter.
Top level: Double-A (Harrisburg) | 2013 rank: 89
66. Taylor Guerrieri, RHP
Age: 21 | DOB: 12/1/92 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195
Guerrieri was off to an excellent start in low Class A Bowling Green, running his career line to a 1.59 ERA in 119 innings with just 17 walks and 96 punchouts before his elbow snapped, requiring Tommy John surgery that will put him out of action until at least late summer.
He was a power arm out of the 2011 draft, but showed right away he had feel for pitching beyond anyone's evaluations of him in high school, locating down in the zone and throwing strikes with his fastball and breaking ball. Guerrieri will run it up to 97 mph but can find success a grade below that because he can sink it and work side to side, and the Rays have made him work more on the changeup since his curveball was already a plus pitch. He tested positive for marijuana while injured, leading to a 50-game suspension that will be covered by his time on the disabled list; it has little bearing on his on-field projection, but tells us something about a player's desire to reach the majors.
If Guerrieri can keep himself clean and get back on the field by August, he could be just a couple of years from a rotation spot, with No. 2 starter upside once he develops more feel for his change.
Top level: Low Class A (Bowling Green) | 2013 rank: 47
67. C.J. Edwards, RHP
Age: 22 | DOB: 9/3/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 155
The Cubs acquired Edwards in the Matt Garza trade last July after which we quickly saw the return of his electric stuff and athletic, if slight, build.
Edwards will sit 91-96 mph with little effort, getting natural cutting action on the pitch as well as some downhill plane, and he has a big, old-school curveball that's a 55 or 60 on the 20-80 scale, and both pitches have missed bats in the minors. His changeup has made progress and was solid-average by year-end, giving him a three-pitch mix along with average control, similar in total package to Chris Archer at a similar stage of development.
Where Archer had size to go with his athleticism, Edwards is a rake, listed at 6-foot-2, 155 pounds, and while he's not that emaciated, he's still on the skinny side for a potential 200-inning starter. He's been healthy so far, and he has No. 2 starter upside if he can handle the workload associated with making 33 starts a year in the majors, a tremendous get for the Cubs for two months of Matt Garza's time.
Top level: High Class A (Daytona) | 2013 rank: Unranked
68. Gary Sanchez, C
Age: 21 | DOB: 12/2/92 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 220
Sanchez shows flashes of star potential but has yet to put any of it together for an extended stretch of time -- although in his defense, he played all of 2013 at age 20 and has already reached Double-A, where he'll probably spend most or all of this season.
He has huge upside as a hitter, with plus-plus raw power and very hard contact, even with a slightly noisy approach, thanks to huge hip rotation and great strength in his wrists and forearms. His recognition of secondary stuff needs work, but his hand-eye coordination is so good that he's always had good contact rates, even striking out less often in the Florida State League than fellow young'uns Miguel Sano, Javier Baez and Byron Buxton.
Sanchez is often compared, unfairly, to former Yankees prospect Jesus Montero, but Sanchez has always been a better catcher across the board -- catching, throwing, agility -- and just needed to show the commitment and a better work ethic, which he did in 2013. He has a cannon, at least a 70-grade arm, and has improved his release over the past few years, but the finer points of catching like game-calling are still a ways off, and he may never be a good framer.
Even a grade-45 defender back there with Sanchez's potential offensive upside will be an MVP candidate, and if he continues to work at receiving and on his plate discipline he'll be ready to take over and make a real impact for the Yankees by 2016.
Top level: Double-A (Trenton) | 2013 rank: 18
69. Kyle Crick, RHP
Age: 21 | DOB: 11/30/92 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 220
Crick has two huge pitches in his fastball and slider, and hitters have a hard time connecting with either pitch, as his 34 percent strikeout rate in high Class A attests (43 percent in the Arizona Fall League).
The fastball is 92-97 and the mid-80s slider has average tilt but plays up because it's hard and hitters pick up the break late. He's got the size to be a starter as well, country strong and already looking like a big leaguer physically. There's a lot of refining to do from here, however, starting with his well below-average command, thanks to a high-effort delivery that he still hasn't gotten under control. His changeup remains a below-average pitch, hard and straight and easy to pick up, leading to big platoon splits. Crick missed time in the regular season with an oblique strain, throwing just 83 innings on the season including the AFL, so he may spend 2014 facing an innings cap.
Double-A will be a key test for Crick, who will have to command his fastball better and find a way to get lefties out now that he'll be facing a higher caliber of hitter. I know many scouts who see him as a potential No. 2 starter, but his probability right now is low and he may be more of a power reliever instead.
Top level: High Class A (San Jose) | 2013 rank: 76
70. Mike Foltynewicz, RHP
Age: 22 | DOB: 10/7/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 200
Foltynewicz, which is Polish for "throws gas," had a strong showing in his second season at low Class A in 2012, and came into last season needing to show that his success there had nothing to do with his experience level. It's fair to say now that that's the case, as Foltynewicz was quickly promoted out of high Class A and pitched fairly well as a 21-year-old in Double-A, hitting 100 mph in every start of the year but his final one (when he topped out at 99, he must have been exhausted) and showing improvement in both secondary pitches.
His curveball and changeup are both developing, the curve (present grade of 55, future 60) more than the change (45/50), although with his impressive arm speed he could probably pick up a slider like it was a $20 bill lying on the pavement. For Foltynewicz, it's now about refinement -- improving his fastball command, working more to the bottom of the zone, and getting consistency with the two off-speed weapons.
It's an ace's fastball, but I think the overall package is more of a league-average to above-average starter, 200-plus innings of better performance than the Astros have seen from a starter in quite some time.
Top level: Double-A (Corpus Christi) | 2013 rank: Unranked
71. Arismendy Alcantara, 2B
Age: 22 | DOB: 10/29/91 | B/T: B/R
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 160
Alcantara was a bit of a surprise pick for the 2013 Futures Game, given how many higher-profile prospects the Cubs have, but homered from the left side and impressed scouts with his range of tools; he had a cold spell right after the game, but bounced back in August for a solid seasonal line that still doesn't give you a great idea of his upside as a potential All-Star at second base.
He can run and is a legitimate switch-hitter with sneaky power thanks to very strong wrists. He's a versatile athlete who could back up shortstop but probably shouldn't play it every day; he could also likely handle center or third base if needed, and might be a candidate for a Tony Phillips-type super-utility role.
He needs to tighten up his control of the strike zone and a full year of playing second base would help him substantially. Of note: He bears a striking resemblance to Chris Paul.
Top level: Double-A (Tennessee) | 2013 rank: Sleeper
72. Chris Owings, SS
Age: 22 | DOB: 8/12/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 180
Owings returns to the rankings after an absence of two years; he ranked 84th in 2011 but comical walk rates and a lack of development in his approach at the plate seemed to slow his progress.
His 2013 line was boosted by playing in hitter-friendly Triple-A Reno, but Owings' bat speed is undeniable and his swing is simple and direct. I don't see loft in the swing for home-run power, but he's an above-average runner and I think he'll hit plenty of line-drives to the gaps for 30-40 doubles a year. At shortstop, he has great instincts, quick feet, and a plus arm, everything required to be at least a 60-grade defender there -- very much what Didi Gregorius was supposed to be, but with better hit and run tools.
Owings was 17 years old when he signed, so he had 2,000 pro plate appearances before he turned 22 and is more than ready to take over as the everyday shortstop in Arizona now, where he might walk once a week but will contribute in plenty of other ways to keep the job.
Top level: Majors (Arizona) | 2013 rank: Unranked
73. Nick Kingham, RHP
Age: 22 | DOB: 11/8/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 220
Kingham was the Pirates' fourth-round pick in 2010 out of Las Vegas powerhouse Sierra Vista High School, which has also recently produced Astros first baseman Chris Carter and Tampa Bay's 2011 first-round pick Jake Hager.
Kingham looks like the best prospect the school has churned out so far, a command right-hander with three solid to above-average pitches and a fluid delivery that's easy for him to repeat. He'll sit in the low 90s with an above-average curveball, and his changeup has gradually improved over the past two seasons to the point at which it's consistently average or better -- at times the superior weapon to the breaking ball. Kingham comes from a slot just below three-quarters but gets on top of the ball well; his stride is moderate, but there's so little effort to his arm swing it's hard to believe he can reach the 93-94 range.
I wish he had a little more life or plane on the fastball, as he's a moderate fly ball pitcher, but all of the other elements are in place for a league-average, 200-inning starter once he gets a few reps in the majors.
Top level: Double-A (Altoona) | 2013 rank: Sleeper
74. Alen Hanson, SS
Age: 21 | DOB: 10/22/92 | B/T: B/R
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 170
The 2013 season was a mixed bag for Hanson, who came into the season needing to work on his defense at shortstop. He did so, but perhaps to the detriment of his offensive performance.
At the plate, Hanson has a compact left-handed swing that makes a lot of contact with below-average power, while his right-handed swing has more loft but has produced less contact as he's moved up the minor league ladder. He's patient enough to work deep counts but isn't at the point at which he can convert that into either a high OBP or hard contact in hitter's counts; in the Arizona Fall League, in which he was clearly tired, he was chasing fastballs up and sliders down and away, looking completely overmatched as a result.
His defense improved substantially over the course of 2013; he was always athletic enough for the position but worked on his footwork and his mental approach at short, reducing the mistakes that bedeviled him in 2012.
His ceiling is an average defender at short who hits .300 with 50-60 walks per season and doubles power, which would be an above-average or better regular, but to get there, he'll have to shorten up from the right side and continue to improve his ball-strike recognition.
Top level: Double-A (Altoona) | 2013 rank: 34
75. Zach Lee, RHP
Age: 22 | DOB: 9/13/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190
I like Lee a little more than this ranking indicates, in part because I believe in betting on superior athletes to improve, even when a comparable player of less athletic ability would have plateaued.
If Lee never gets better, he's still a future No. 3 starter with a solid, average fastball at 90-94 mph which he can locate and an average-to-tick-above curveball that could be a little sharper. He'll also show a changeup with good action and a slider that, depending on the day, can look better than the curveball, although the consensus is that the latter will be his primary breaking ball.
Lee's an excellent athlete -- formerly committed to play quarterback at LSU -- with an easy, fluid delivery and superlative body control. I still think there's another gear in there when he gets to age 24 or so, maybe another grade of fastball, maybe a little quicker arm that makes the curveball sharper. He has a high floor thanks to his command and feel, but there is plenty of reason to hope for a little more.
Top level: Double-A (Chattanooga) | 2013 rank: 67
76. Kohl Stewart, RHP
Age: 19 | DOB: 10/7/94 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195
Stewart, a two-sport star who turned down a scholarship to play quarterback at Texas A&M to try his luck at baseball instead, was the fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft and the first high school player taken.
He is a great athlete with exceptional arm strength but has a long way to go to develop into a frontline starter because his delivery is so crude. He's up to 97 mph without a lot of effort, sitting at 92-94 with good downhill plane and a little arm-side run. His slider is his best pitch right now: 85-88 with good, late tilt, but his command of the pitch is below average, not where his command of his power 79-82 mph curveball is. He does throw a changeup, making him an unusual prep pitcher with the full four-pitch mix, and has good arm speed at 83-85 with no action.
Stewart's delivery doesn't reflect his athleticism, as his hips are stiff and he gets his pitching arm turned over late, drifting off the rubber rather than striding with more force. All of those factors mean he has ace stuff, with a chance for at least two plus-plus pitches and four that are average or better but lacks the command or control right now to put them to good use.
The Twins will likely spend a lot of time with Stewart this spring, working on making him into a pitcher rather than a thrower, so he might be a good five years away from the majors, though he is the system's most exciting pitching prospect.
Top level: Rookie (Elizabethton) | 2013 rank: Ineligible
77. Jesse Biddle, LHP
Age: 22 | DOB: 10/22/91 | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 225
Biddle is the Phillies' top pitching prospect, a local product who was outstanding early in the season before he came down with whooping cough.
When healthy, Biddle will sit at 90-92 mph but has 93-94 potential when he needs it. He complements the fastball with a big, slow curveball that lefties do not pick up at all, as well as solid-average changeup that he's continuing to improve his feel for. His fastball command came and went this season, with the illness -- which didn't prevent him from making every start until his last scheduled one of the season -- one factor behind that, but in his favor was an increased ability to get swings and misses on the fastball, something he'll need as neither the curve nor the change is a bona fide out pitch.
He's a solid No. 3 starter -- a little above league average -- with the potential for more if he doesn't contract diphtheria this summer.
Top level: Double-A (Reading) | 2013 rank: 95
78. Jonathan Singleton, 1B
Age: 22 | DOB: 9/18/91 | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 235
Singleton missed the first 50 games of 2013 after testing positive for marijuana, a drug for which players on the 40-man roster aren't tested, meaning this is no longer an issue for Singleton going forward. After his return, however, he wasn't in great shape and never got going at the plate until going to Puerto Rico for winter ball. He's probably in line to return to Triple-A to start 2014.
Everything the industry liked about Singleton in 2012 is still there -- a beautiful left-handed swing with extension through contact for power and great balance from start to finish. He's ready to face right-handed major league pitching right now, but his recognition against lefties has long been a weakness, with 48 punchouts in 120 plate appearances against them in 2013.
The floor here is a platoon regular who destroys right-handers but needs a caddie against southpaws; he has just 600 plate appearances against lefties in his pro career, though, and might just need more reps to become a complete player who is capable of hitting .270-280 with 25-plus homers and a strong OBP.
Top level: Triple-A (Oklahoma City) | 2013 rank: 32
79. Hak-Ju Lee, SS
Age: 23 | DOB: 11/4/90 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 170
I saw Lee play on April 18 and was pleased to see a much better setup and swing from him at the plate than he'd showed in the Arizona Fall League in 2012. In his next game, however, he suffered a tramautic knee injury that knocked him out for the season and leaves his future potential up in the air.
So much of Lee's game revolves around his speed that if the injury reduces his ability to run or limits his lateral quickness at shortstop, he might lose any chance to be an impact player. That would be a shame because, prior to the injury, he looked like a star at shortstop, a potential plus defender and runner who has a very good approach at the plate with a line-drive swing, lacking only power among the five tools.
He's ranked in a holding pattern here until we see how much of his quickness remains, and for his sake and baseball's in general -- another Korean star player in MLB would only help grow the game globally -- I hope his tools are all intact.
Top level: Triple-A (Durham) | 2013 rank: 78
80. Delino DeShields, OF
Age: 21 | DOB: 8/16/92 | B/T: R/R
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 205
DeShields didn't steal 100 bags again in 2013 but did have a solid season as a 20-year-old in hitter-friendly Lancaster, although, at this point, it's looking more like he'll end up in the outfield, most likely in left.
He can hit, with a short swing and strength to drive the ball to the gaps and maybe peaking as a 10-12 homer guy. An 80-grade runner in high school, he's more of a 65 runner now when underway, which is still plenty fast to rack up high stolen-base totals in the majors. His defense at second and in center remains below average, and his arm might limit him to left field down the road, where the Astros would hope he'd be a modern-day Tim Raines: getting on base with good defense and baserunning value.
His main issue, however, is a lack of effort -- his on-field effort level is often embarrassing and has many scouts I've talked to dismissing him as a top prospect entirely. I see a 21-year-old with a lot of physical ability who needs to grow up to reach his ceiling, but he's far too young to assume he'll never be able to do it.
Top level: High Class A (Lancaster) | 2013 rank: 83
81. Miguel Almonte, RHP
Age: 20 | DOB: 4/4/93 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180
Almonte was one of several sleepers I mentioned in the still-exciting Royals system last season and should join fellow top-100 prospect Raul Mondesi in high Class A Wilmington this April on a club that might have half of the Royals' top 10 prospects on its Opening Day roster.
Almonte's potential is tremendous, with the upside of a No. 1 or 2 starter if everything clicks for him. He'll show an above-average fastball every time out now, but he'll flash a 70-grade fastball in some starts, hitting 95-96 mph on those nights, and his changeup is plus right now -- so good, in fact, that he might use it too often when he needs to work on his breaking ball and fastball command. He likes to throw two variations on the curve -- one a spike that he can't command (almost nobody can) -- and it's going to be time for him to pick one and focus on developing it to the exclusion of the other. Almonte's arm is very quick but he's still learning how to generate that speed from his lower half instead of just relying on his arm quickness.
That's about three major areas for him to improve on to reach that ceiling, which sounds like a lot until you see his birth date and consider that he started 2012 still in the Dominican Republic. He's a player Royals fans can dream on.
Top level: Low Class A (Lexington) | 2013 rank: Sleeper
82. Vincent Velasquez, RHP
Age: 21 | DOB: 6/7/92 | B/T: B/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 203
My sleeper prospect for Houston going into 2012 came back late in that season from 2010 Tommy John surgery but was back at full strength last season and quietly had an outstanding season for a kid making his full-season debut, even if it was a year later than expected.
Velasquez has filled out nicely since high school and now sits at 93-94 mph with his fastball -- touching 96. He's always had a good changeup, which now shows plus at times, with average command of both pitches and above-average control overall. Velasquez's biggest issue now is the breaking ball, which ranges from well below average to above average within the same game -- sometimes within the same inning -- because he hasn't found consistent feel for his release of that pitch -- a little surprising given his three-quarters arm slot and ability to stay on top of the ball.
He needs more reps -- he is 21 and has fewer than 200 innings of pro experience across three-plus seasons -- to see if the curve can become an average or better pitch; if it does, he's at least a mid-rotation guy, and, if not, I think he has the control and changeup to still be a No. 4 starter.
Top level: High Class A (Lancaster) | 2013 rank: Unranked
83. Brian Goodwin, CF
Age: 23 | DOB: 11/2/90 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 195
Goodwin skipped high Class A in the summer of 2012, largely because the field conditions at Potomac are so poor that the Nats don't like sending outfield prospects there. Instead, he went right to Double-A Harrisburg, where he showed flashes of all five tools but never put everything together like I'd hoped, and returned there for all of 2013.
His season was uneven -- not bad -- as he did a lot of smaller things well, like working the count more effectively and improving his reads on defense. Goodwin is a plus-plus runner with quick wrists and generates plenty of bat speed for doubles and triples power with enough rotational action for maybe 10-15 homers per season. His arm would play in right or center, and with his speed, I think he's a lock to stay in center. His approach against right-handers is good, and his recognition problems with breaking stuff show up mostly against lefties, resulting in a growing platoon split.
When he's "on," there's an explosive aspect to his game that makes me think there's more production coming down the road and that he'll put everything together and end up a 70-grade defender who hits .280 with 70-80 walks per season and a slew of extra-base hits. He's just progressing in fits and starts and might be a guy who needs an extra 500 at-bats before the tools fully translate into results.
Top level: Double-A (Harrisburg) | 2013 rank: 44
84. Jake Marisnick, CF
Age: 23 | DOB: 3/30/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 225
Marisnick didn't belong in the majors in 2013; it seems like the Marlins might not have realized that he and Christian Yelich could play on separate teams, so when they promoted Yelich in July, they brought Marisnick up at the same time, but Marisnick hit just .183/.231/.248 in 118 plate appearances.
He's a very good athlete who already plays an excellent center field and whose power-speed combination might make him a better fantasy hitter than real-baseball hitter. Marisnick has a lot of swing and miss in his approach -- from poor pitch recognition to timing problems -- but when he gets his arms extended, he has above-average-to-plus power out to left and left-center and has the speed to turn some singles into doubles.
Rushing him a half-season too early won't help him work on his ability to pick up breaking stuff; he could probably use three months in Triple-A, if not more. Even if the Marlins feel like his defense will help them now, they might be leaving some potential untapped by forcing him to sink or swim against major league arms.
Top level: Majors (Miami) | 2013 rank: 44
85. Tyler Austin, OF
Age: 22 | DOB: 9/6/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 220
Austin's all about the bat -- he can play right field but is nothing special there, and two seasons removed from any time at third base means he has no real chance to return to the dirt.
Unfortunately, he suffered a bone bruise in his wrist in late April, which he tried to play through it into July, that wrecked his first season in Double-A. He returned briefly in August and went to the Arizona Fall League but left there after two weeks with further discomfort in the joint. When healthy, Austin has a very sound swing that is geared both toward contact and power and is short to contact with good extension. He rotates his hips well to generate power, all with enough patience to keep his OBP in the .350 range. The wrist injury left his bat speed slower -- you see he was late on fastballs he'd have squared up a season before -- and it sapped most of his power as well.
He'll be only about average in right field -- making the necessary plays but not much more -- so he needs to hit and hit for power to be a regular. Like Hak-Ju Lee, he's still on this list as I wait to see if he's back to full strength in 2014, because I do believe in his potential with the bat.
Top level: Double-A (Trenton) | 2013 rank: 52
86. Jonathan Schoop, SS
Age: 22 | DOB: 10/16/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 210
Schoop's season was all but ruined by a stress fracture in his lower back, so while he appeared for six different clubs in 2013 (including the Dutch World Baseball Classic team and Surprise in the Arizona Fall League), he was never quite himself anywhere he played.
He is a monster physically, and when he's healthy, he has plus to plus-plus power already, with 25-30 homer potential in a few years. He had some trouble with his swing this season after the back issue cropped up but looked better in the AFL -- more balanced throughout his swing and looser than he had been all season. But his timing was off and he didn't perform any better in Arizona than he had in Triple-A.
Schoop has played shortstop, but he's too big for the position, and after the back injury, Baltimore moved him to second base full time. I think he's a better fit at third; he has a 55- or 60-grade arm, and his hands are more than good enough for the infield, and the power will play at third base. Schoop needed the reset button of an offseason, and if he's healthy to start 2014, he could be in Baltimore by midseason at the keystone.
Top level: Majors (Baltimore) | 2013 rank: 50
87. Mason Williams, OF
Age: 22 | DOB: 8/21/91 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Williams was one of several top Yankee prospects to get hurt and have a disappointing 2013 season; the biggest knock of all on Williams was that he was out of shape to start the season and seemed to be playing and moving without energy. He did look more like his old self in the Arizona Fall League, having dropped some weight and running sub-4.2 seconds down the line again while playing better in center field.
He is a potential Gold Glove defender in center, a future 70 on the 20-80 scale with good reads off the bat and bursting speed to chase down balls in the gaps. He's not a hacker at the plate, but he's not as selective as he should be; he can make contact so easily that he often chases pitches he should let go by and needs to be willing to work the count more to his advantage. Williams also had some mechanical issues at the plate in 2013, finishing too closed after striding and sometimes getting his front hip out too early, all of which need to be reined in to maximize his production.
His ultimate outcome should be a high-average, doubles-power guy who might hit 15 homers in his best season, but even .290-plus with 50-60 walks and 10 homers with great defense is an above-average regular.
Top level: Double-A (Trenton) | 2013 rank: 35
88. Matt Davidson, 3B
Age: 23 | DOB: 3/26/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 225
Davidson has been on this list for four straight years and appears ready to take over as the White Sox's regular third baseman after they acquired him from Arizona in December.
He has a sweet right-handed swing: very simple and repeatable, with moderate loft in his finish. He is more of a 35-doubles candidate than a plus-power guy; he'll likely hit 15-20 homers per season if he doesn't get too pull-conscious, which, given his swing and approach would hurt him too much in the batting average and contact departments. He's an adequate third baseman, having worked substantially on his reads and getting his feet moving more quickly; you'd like to see him be more aggressive on balls in front of him -- especially ones he should play with one hand -- but he'll make the plays he has to make to be a solid defender.
He'll play at 23 years old in 2014 and still has a little development ahead of him -- mostly in pitch recognition -- but he should be an above-average regular at third base given a season or two there to continue to progress.
Top level: Majors (Arizona) | 2013 rank: 75
89. Matt Barnes, RHP
Age: 23 | DOB: 6/17/90 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205
Barnes had a very strong season in Double-A, missing a ton of bats and continuing to develop his curveball and changeup. He's still not at the point at which he's likely to have all three offerings working on the same day.
He shows a low-90s fastball and can add a little more when needed; hitters don't see the ball well out of his hand at all, so he gets a ton of swings and misses on his fastball, even within the zone. His curveball was much better in the second half of the season, a downer breaking ball that he didn't command early but was more effective with later in the season, while his changeup was probably better in the spring and might be a little too hard to be more than an average pitch. He continues to command his fastball better than his off-speed stuff and will probably spend most of 2014 in Triple-A working on the latter.
I see at least a mid-rotation starter here, with a chance to play above that if the secondary pitches come along. Guys who miss bats with fastball strikes like this are pretty uncommon, so I could be easily selling him short.
Top level: Triple-A (Pawtucket) | 2013 rank: 79
90. Christian Bethancourt, C
Age: 21 | DOB: 9/2/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 215
Bethancourt repeated Double-A after an inexcusably bad season at the plate there in 2012 but seemed to make enough minor adjustments at the plate to at least get to his power more often and project as an everyday catcher in the majors.
His calling card is his defense -- perhaps the best in the minors right now -- which is good enough to challenge Yadier Molina's for the best in MLB when the time comes. He's a plus-plus receiver with an 80-grade arm that is strong, quick and accurate. At the plate, Bethancourt has plus power, but he's a relentless hacker, with just 78 walks in 1,824 career plate appearances (4.2 percent, if you didn't want to bust out Excel for that), and that lack of patience has held back his ability to get pitches he can drive.
If he gets a full season in the majors in 2015, he'll probably post an OBP of less than .300 but with 10-15 homers and two wins worth of defensive value. And if he ever figures out how to take a couple of pitches, there's more power in there -- enough to make him a fringe All-Star.
Top level: Double-A (Mississippi) | 2013 rank: Unranked
91. Kolten Wong, 2B
Age: 23 | DOB: 10/10/90 | B/T: L/R
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 185
Wong has one above-average tool: his ability to hit. He combines that with very good instincts, so, despite his lack of any plus tools, the Cardinals are comfortable penciling him in as their everyday second baseman for 2014.
He has a short swing with above-average bat speed, letting the ball travel well and going for contact rather than power. His walk rates in pro ball haven't been great, but he doesn't strike out much and, in general, has been successful at putting the ball in play rather than just working the count for walks. His defense is average at second base; his arm is just a tick below average and his footwork is OK, but the Cardinals have done a great job at developing defenders and have improved Wong's reads and lateral range to the point at which he's more than fringy at the position. He's pretty much an average runner but massively improved his baserunning acumen last season.
I see an average regular here -- maybe a tick above -- with a little bit of upside if he develops a better on-base ability after some time in the majors.
Top level: Majors (St. Louis) | 2013 rank: 96
92. Brandon Nimmo, OF
Age: 21 | DOB: 3/27/93 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 185
Nimmo was the Mets' first-round pick in 2011 out of a high school in Wyoming that didn't have a baseball team, which left him with limited experience, mostly Americal Legion ball and some showcases the summer before his senior year. Despite having several above-average tools, he didn't have a lot of reps against decent pitching and moved slowly through short-season ball before reaching the hitter's graveyard of Savannah this season.
He raked away from Savannah (.302/.421/.405) and showed great patience at the plate, a hugely positive marker for a player as inexperienced as he is. Nimmo has great rotation in his swing but can be a little long to the ball because he loads his hands high, behind his left shoulder. He's a fringe-average defender in center -- better with reads than with range -- but he'll be plus in either corner. The main areas for improvement for Nimmo are against left-handed pitchers -- against whom he was better this season but still not where he'll need to be to play every day -- and staying healthy, as he had a nagging wrist injury last summer on top of knee surgery in high school.
High-OBP guys with other tools, especially defensive ability, are pretty uncommon, and a healthy Nimmo should be an average to above-average regular by the time he's 24.
Top level: Low Class A (Savannah) | 2013 rank: Just missed
93. Justin Nicolino, LHP
Age: 22 | DOB: 11/22/91 | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190
Nicolino is the same guy he was a season ago, but the failure to miss bats this season was a disappointment given his combination of command and stuff.
He has a quiet delivery, extremely easy to repeat, which allows him to throw all three of his pitches for strikes with above-average command that will end up plus. His fastball is just average, but his changeup is already plus, if not better, and he'll show a 55-grade curveball that is a little short but plays up because he can locate it well. He's also played around with a slider, which isn't a viable weapon for him yet but could give him another way to keep hitters off balance.
Nicolino keeps his walk rates low and posts good (not huge) groundball rates, so his floor is high, but his ceiling isn't more than a slightly above-average starter until he shows he can strike more hitters out.
Top level: Double-A (Jacksonville) | 2013 rank: 62
94. Hunter Renfroe, OF
Age: 22 | DOB: 1/28/92 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 200
Renfroe had two nondescript seasons at Mississippi State before breaking out in the spring of 2013, which helped push him to the top half of the first round of the draft once he had some results to go with his plus power and speed tools.
He is broad-shouldered with a solid build and has the plus-plus power you'd expect from a guy that size. His swing is very rotational, with a good stride into the ball and excellent follow-through to generate all of that power. He lifts his back foot off the ground at contact, which isn't ideal since it means he's hitting entirely off his front foot, something a few good big league hitters have done but that most don't.
He's a plus runner with a strong arm and should be an excellent defender in right, saving up to 10 runs per season between his glove and his arm. The question on Renfroe, and it's a significant one, is his pitch recognition and the resulting trouble he has making contact; he doesn't pick up spin that well, and pitchers can change speeds on him to get him off balance, all of which (plus fatigue) seemed to catch up to him in his very brief time in low Class A last season.
Right now, he projects as a low-average, power-speed guy, a No. 5- or 6-hole hitter who adds a lot of value on defense and on the bases -- but he'll have to improve his contact rates to get there.
Top level: Low Class A (Ft. Wayne) | 2013 rank: Ineligible
95. Nick Ciuffo, C
Age: 19 | DOB: 3/7/95 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205
The best receiving catcher in the 2013 draft has some work to do in other aspects of his game but offers a high floor thanks to his good hands and above-average raw power.
As a hitter, Ciuffo has a simple left-handed swing, with very little stride and a consistent path. He rotates his hips well and has the hand strength to pull the ball, even when he rolls over his front foot through contact; that power makes him pull-conscious at times, something he'll have to avoid to keep his contact rate and batting average up.
Behind the plate, Ciuffo should be an excellent framer thanks to strong, yet soft, hands, and he's already improved his footwork since signing. He has plus arm strength but a long throwing stroke -- like he's winding up to pitch -- which he'll need to cut down to help him control the running game. I'm less concerned with his fielding than with his hit tool, as he has more work to do to use the whole field so he can keep his average up.
He's a potential above-average regular, a plus defender across the board who might hit .240-250 with 18-20 homers per season in a position at which a pulse is enough to put you above replacement level.
Top level: Rookie (Gulf Coast League) | 2013 rank: Ineligible
96. Chris Anderson, RHP
Age: 21 | DOB: 7/29/92 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 215
The Dodgers' first-round pick in 2013 had an up-and-down spring at Jacksonville University -- blowing everyone away early in the spring with a plus slider and a fastball up to 95 mph -- but the coaching staff worked him hard and he couldn't maintain it through the end of the college season.
His velocity was better this summer after a brief layoff and some lighter use in pro ball, with his fastball touching 98 mph and his changeup solid-average or a tick below.
Anderson is physically imposing -- built for big workloads -- with a strong lower half and a good, long stride to the plate. He doesn't have the command or poise of system-mate Zach Lee but has a higher ceiling as a potential No. 2 starter if he can locate better and maintains his composure when something goes wrong behind him.
Top level: Low Class A (Great Lakes) | 2013 rank: Ineligible
97. Josh Bell, OF
Age: 21 | DOB: 8/14/92 | B/T: B/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 213
Bell was on my 2012 list but suffered a season-ending knee injury that April and missed key development time, especially given how much work he had to do at the plate.
He is a switch-hitter with well-above-average power, even to the opposite field. He is far more advanced from the left side of the plate than the right side, from which his swing gets longer and his swing path is much less consistent. His ball-strike recognition was solid in high school and remains a strength; his walk rate was only fair in West Virginia last season, but part of that is the result of his strong plate coverage, not a lack of patience. His ability to drive pitches on the outer half out to left field when batting left-handed is unusual, especially for his age and for a hitter who doesn't strike out at an alarming rate.
The Pirates have kept Bell in right field, but he's far more likely to end up in left because he's a below-average runner with a below-average arm. If the bat comes along now that the lost season is behind him, though, he'll still profile as an average to above-average regular in left, getting on base at a .350-plus clip with 20-25 homers per season.
Top level: Low Class A (West Virginia) | 2013 rank: Unranked
98. Tim Anderson, SS
Age: 20 | DOB: 6/23/93 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Praise be the White Sox for finally being aggressive with their top draft picks; while it didn't work out for Courtney Hawkins in 2013, a raw high school kid who should have gone to low Class A rather than high A, pushing the 20-year-old Anderson to low A got him needed at-bats against better pitching.
Anderson held his own there, striking out a little more than you'd like but showing off his gap power and speed without ever looking overmatched. He has a very quick but mostly flat swing, more from his hands than his hips or legs, so he can slap the ball all over but isn't well set up to drive it in any direction. He drifts a little on to his front foot, which, combined with the lack of hip rotation, makes it hard to get maximum force into any contact he makes. He's a plus runner, and questions about his defense while in junior college were less evident in pro ball as the White Sox helped clean up his arm stroke, and his footwork has already improved.
He's a great athlete overall and does have the strength to surprise us down the road with 15-homer pop, but it's more likely he settles in as a slap-hitter/speed guy who plays above-average defense at short.
Top level: Low Class A (Kannapolis) | 2013 rank: Ineligible
99. Jose Peraza, SS
Age: 19 | DOB: 4/30/94 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 165
Peraza is an above-average defensive shortstop and a 70-grade runner who played well as a 19-year-old in the South Atlantic League in 2013 but will have to show he can hit for enough power to keep up that performance into the big leagues.
He has a very short, direct swing with almost no load and very little follow-through and has posted very high contact rates across his three seasons in pro ball but virtually no power -- a concern because, by the time a player like this reaches Double-A, pitchers will start to try to pound him inside with velocity, and he needs to find enough strength to fight that stuff off.
Peraza is slight, but not weak, and might end up with 10-homer power if he can relax his swing's finish and get more loft in it. In the field, Peraza has very quick feet and good actions for a shortstop; he projects as a 65 or better defender at second, where he might end up because of Andrelton Simmons' presence at shortstop and where Peraza would be a potential All-Star.
Top level: Low Class A (Rome) | 2013 rank: Unranked
100. Rob Kaminsky, LHP
Age: 19 | DOB: 9/2/94 | B/T: R/L
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 191
Kaminsky was one of the most polished high school arms in last year's draft, boasting already impressive stuff and good feel for pitching to make up for his lack of projection.
The New Jersey prep product sits at 90-92 mph with his fastball as a starter now, but his current money pitch is a grade-65 curveball with tight rotation and good depth; he has some feel for a changeup, but it's well behind the other two pitches due largely to lack of use in high school. He has a strong lower half and makes good use of it with a long "step-over" stride, moderate hip rotation and an arm swing by which he pronates his forearm quickly after an early Lincecum-like plunge. He's athletic for his build and finishes well over his front side, which he has to do to avoid the plague of the undersized starting pitcher -- a fly ball tendency from a fastball that doesn't sink or tail.
He doesn't offer any physical projection and will probably peak in the 90-94 mph range at best, but hitters say he's extremely hard to hit because they don't see the ball and can't distinguish between the fastball and the curve. If that changeup comes along, he's a potential No. 3 starter, and he should fare very well in the low minors as he's learning.
Top level: Rookie (Gulf Coast) | 2013 rank: Ineligible