Welcome to ESPN Insider's 2015 ranking of the top 100 prospects in baseball.
This is my eighth such ranking for Insider, with a lot of the same names near the top of last year's list but in a different order based on what we learned from those players' 2014 seasons. Just 10 players from last year's top 50 lost their eligibility for this year's list due to exceeding the limits for rookie of the year eligibility. 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, as with the previous year's ranking. A number of the top arms from last year's list were hit by the injury bug, including a few Tommy John surgeries and a number of other arm problems that kept them off the mound, some for almost the entire season.
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 Milwaukee Brewers infielder Luis Sardinas, for instance, 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 purpose of this exercise, which means no Jung-Ho Kang this year (among others). I also exclude Cuban players who are considered professional free agents by Major League Baseball by virtue of their experience in Cuba's Serie Nacional de Béisbol. This list includes Rusney Castillo and Yasmany Tomas, but will consider Cuban players whom MLB treats as amateurs, like Roberto Baldoquin (who just missed this list) and Yoan Lopez.
• When ranking players, I consider scouting reports on players -- usually my own, supplemented 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 2014. 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
| Nos. 1-50 | Nos. 51-100 | Top-10 prospects by team
51. Aaron Sanchez, RHP
Age: 22 | DOB: 7/1/92 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 200
Sanchez was filthy as a short reliever for the Jays (stats listed above) at the end of the year, pumping 96-98 mph bat-breaking fastballs that hitters just pounded into the ground when they could hit them at all, throwing the occasional plus breaking ball just for kicks and leaving his changeup, itself not a bad pitch, in the minors. Sanchez has shortened his stride substantially in the past two years, and although it hasn't impacted his stuff, his command isn't what it once was and he's putting the health of his arm at unnecessary risk. The Blue Jays are working on trying to get his arm back up a tick so that his elbow isn't so low and so he can work downhill more by staying on top of the ball through his delivery, a process that coincidentally means lengthening his stride a little. (Two other notable prospects to have this problem in recent years: Tyler Skaggs, who blew out his elbow out after the Angels restored his old stride, and Taijuan Walker, who has had a few bouts of shoulder soreness since shortening his own stride.)
The Blue Jays believe he can be a starter, and they should, given his chance for three plus pitches. Sanchez has shown the capability to become a shutdown reliever, but that's a waste of his ultimate potential to pitch near the front of a rotation.
Top level: Majors (Toronto) | 2014 rank: 30
52. Jake Thompson, RHP
Age: 20 | DOB: 1/31/94 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 235
Thompson, who ranked fifth in Detroit's system last offseason, was a slider-heavy monster in 2013, posting strong results but worrying scouts with his over-reliance on that pitch in the Midwest League. The Tigers did an excellent job fashioning him into a more traditional starting pitching prospect last spring, getting him to pitch more with his fastball, a shift that increased his value and allowed them to trade him for Joakim Soria in July.
Thompson is a big, physical horse with above-average velocity and that slider, which is a swing-and-miss pitch against right-handed batters and good enough to get some left-handed batters as well. It has power and tilt at 83-84 mph, but having him use it less often so he can work on his still-developing changeup, not yet an average pitch, would better set him up to join the rotation in 2016 or 2017. One concern is that despite his size, there's still some effort to his delivery, with no pause at his leg kick and slight stiffness at release. He looks the part of a mid-rotation starter and has the necessary out pitch to get there.
Top level: Double-A (Frisco) | 2014 rank: Unranked
53. Kohl Stewart, RHP
Age: 20 | DOB: 10/7/94 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195
Stewart was a top football recruit, signed to Texas A&M to succeed Johnny Whatever We're Calling Him These Days, but always had a huge ceiling as a pitcher once he committed to baseball full-time and started receiving some real instruction on his delivery. He'll show four pitches, any or all of which could end up as plus, with a fastball already up to 97 mph and a slider that is probably closest to being a true swing-and-miss offering. He's a great athlete, as you'd expect, and the Twins have already started to refine his delivery to the point he can at least throw more strikes, although it is control over command, because in low Class A, he can pump it down the middle and the hitters might not even see it.
Stewart has the potential to front a rotation given a few more years of development; he might have to learn to pitch at 92-94 first so he can develop some command, and he needs to work in particular on his changeup before Double-A hitters force him to do so.
Top level: Class A (Cedar Rapids) | 2014 rank: 76
54. Orlando Arcia, SS
Age: 20 | DOB: 8/4/94 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 165
The younger brother of Twins outfielder Oswaldo, Orlando fell off the map briefly when he broke his ankle in extended spring training in 2012, missing that entire season and requiring much of 2013 just to shake off the rust, even though he was quite young for low Class A that year. The 2014 season was his coming-out party, with a strong showing as the Florida State League's youngest full-season regular, then a seven-homer outburst in the Venezuelan Winter League. His plan at the plate is straightforward: He's there to hit, not to walk, so he's after the first pitch he can hit, and he has the hand-eye coordination to get away with that. He has more pop than his regular-season stat line might indicate, as Brevard County is brutal for right-handed hitters, and he hit all four of his homers on the road.
Arcia's value is boosted by his defense, as he's an above-average defender, not as flashy as former Brewers prospect Alcides Escobar but steadier, with the arm for everything except the play deep in the hole, but the hands and instincts to make every routine play. He projects as a clear everyday shortstop, the kind of high-contact player who can develop into a .300 hitter in time, with 15-homer peaks once he fills out.
Top level: High Class A (Brevard County) | 2014 rank: Unranked
55. Rafael Devers, 3B
Age: 18 | DOB: 10/24/96 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195
Devers signed in July 2013 for $1.5 million, and the Red Sox, believing his approach was mature enough to handle it, pushed him to the Gulf Coast League midway through this summer. Despite his youth -- he was the third-youngest regular in the GCL -- and his late arrival, he finished tied for eighth the league in homers, and was also 12th in slugging percentage. Everything he does at the plate is easy; his wrists are extremely strong and quick, so he can backspin the ball all over the field, crush it to right-center or drive it out to the left-field wall, and he adjusts very well to changing speeds. He's very capable at third base despite his broad frame, with quick feet and more agility than you'd expect from his build, although he split time at the position last year with first-round pick Michael Chavis.
Devers turned 18 in October and is probably three years away from the majors in an optimistic scenario, but he has All-Star upside, with the bat speed and strength to hit 30 homers and still post high batting averages while staying at third base.
Top level: Rookie (GCL Red Sox) | 2014 rank: Unranked
56. Vincent Velasquez, RHP
Age: 22 | DOB: 6/7/92 | B/T: B/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 203
Velasquez will flash the repertoire of a No. 2 starter but so far has had trouble staying on the field enough to demonstrate he can handle that workload. To continue to develop the breaking ball, he'll need to profile as that kind of pitcher. When he's healthy, Velasquez will pitch 93-96 mph from a low, three-quarters slot, cutting himself off slightly at landing but getting great extension over his front side, pairing the fastball with a plus changeup that has both good arm speed and late movement. That same slot puts him on the side of his slider too often, so it's often flat at 82-84 mph and he tends to try to guide it toward the plate.
He was hurt twice in 2014, but neither injury was arm-related. The concern is that he's missed a lot of development time, with only 263 pro innings scattered over parts of four seasons, rather than that there's something wrong with his delivery or arm action. The fastball/changeup combo gives him a solid ceiling of an above-average major league starter. The key now is for him to make his 25-odd starts this year and find a third pitch that works from his slot.
Top level: High Class A (Lancaster) | 2014 rank: 82
57. Aaron Nola, RHP
Age: 21 | DOB: 6/4/93 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 195
Nola was the most advanced college arm in the 2014 draft, at least in terms of readiness for the big leagues, with three years of success in the SEC behind him. Nola has grade-70 command of his 91-94 mph fastball, with very good life on the pitch, locating it where he wants to either side of the plate and showing little fear when working with it. He pairs it with an above-average slider at 79-82 that he just needs to work to stay on top of and an above-average changeup, which is very difficult for left-handed hitters to pick up out of his hand at 83-85 with some tailing life. Nola works from a low, three-quarter slot, and his arm action is somewhere between unorthodox and bizarre; he has a short stride and appears to be hypermobile given how far back he can rotate his pitching elbow and forearm, but he finishes well out front and seems to have no problem repeating the delivery.
His upside is that of an above-average starter -- maybe a quality No. 3 in a good rotation, not an ace or a No. 2 -- but his floor is also quite high as long as he remains healthy. I believe he could make the Phillies' rotation in April on merit, not just on team need.
Top level: Double-A (Reading) | 2014 rank: Ineligible
58. Andrew Heaney, LHP
Age: 23 | DOB: 6/5/91 | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185
The Marlins seemed to give up on Heaney quickly after his disappointing trial in the majors last year, during which his velocity was a tick below what it had been in 2013 and he was very susceptible to the long ball. Their loss -- they dealt him to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Dee Gordon -- appears to be the Angels' gain, as Heaney is now their second-best prospect. Heaney is a control lefty with excellent secondary stuff, and as he learns to command his fastball more, particularly working to keep it down in the zone, since hitters have shown they'll give it a ride if he leaves it up, he'll develop into at least a solid to average big league starter.
Heaney will show a plus slider and plus or better changeup, coming from just below three-quarters and using the slider against hitters on both sides of the plate, with an aggressive approach that probably didn't serve him well in the majors because he was too willing to attack hitters over the plate with his fastball. He might need to pitch less off his fastball given how good his off-speed stuff is, and as the fastball command develops, he has the ceiling of a No. 2.
Top level: Majors (Miami) | 2014 rank: 34
59. Alex Jackson, RF
Age: 19 | DOB: 12/25/95 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 215
The No. 6 overall pick in the 2014 draft, Jackson was a catcher in high school but moved to the outfield immediately upon signing with the Mariners because they believe his bat is advanced the way the bats of ex-catchers Wil Myers and Bryce Harper were out of the draft. Jackson is definitely a hitter first and foremost, with a clean, powerful swing that should work to all fields and more home run power to his pull side but enough hand strength that he'll drive a few out the other way. He generates that power from his lower half, with good extension through contact, so while his bat speed is above average rather than elite, he should make a lot of loud contact.
He struggled a bit to pick up spin during his brief time in the AZL, and his summer ended early when he misjudged a fly ball and suffered a broken bone in his cheek. I think he'll be fine in the outfield, with a 70-grade arm and maybe average range. The bat should play, assuming his trouble with breaking balls was just a small-sample fluke.
Top level: Rookie (Arizona League) | 2014 rank: Ineligible
60. Josh Bell, OF
Age: 22 | DOB: 8/14/92 | B/T: B/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 235
Bell made up for lost time with a breakout campaign in the Florida State League to start 2014, reaching Double-A in late summer at age 21, making up for the season he lost to a knee injury in 2012. Bell is a gifted hitter who has great bat-to-ball skills and is a natural left-handed hitter who has worked hard to refine his right-handed swing since the Pirates signed him. He still does not get quite the same extension from that side but is improving to the point at which he'll reach the majors as a switch-hitter. His plate coverage is outstanding, so while he hasn't been a selective hitter, it hasn't limited his ability to make contact or get on base. He's strong top to bottom, with the left-handed swing to produce above-average to plus power, and should eventually reach 20-25 homers a year with a high batting average.
In a neutral scenario, Bell would be a left fielder because he doesn't have the speed for center or the arm for right, but PNC Park is replete with outfielders -- the proper collective noun here is a "henderson," so it's "a henderson of outfielders," like "a business of ferrets" or "a memory of elephants" -- so the Pirates have to find another place for Bell to play. He tried first base in the Arizona Fall League, and well, he's going to have to try it again. The bottom line for Bell is that he's going to play a position in which he has to hit, but all signs so far are that he will do so for average and with some thump.
Top level: Double-A (Altoona) | 2014 rank: 97
61. D.J. Peterson, 1B
Age: 23 | DOB: 12/31/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 190
Peterson just missed my top 100 last year, moving up to the middle of the list this offseason thanks to a strong debut campaign that saw him perform well at two levels despite a series of nagging injuries. This says nothing of the broken jaw that ended his 2013 campaign; Peterson showed no ill effects from that injury. (It was caused by a 96 mph fastball, and he never flinched or bailed out on inside pitches thereafter.) He's more of a pure hitter than a power guy but can get a little homer-happy and lose some of his knack for making hard contact. He has dropped his load further down toward his rear hip since college, which gives him a little more loft through contact but also puts him on top of the ball too often. I'd rather see him keep his hands a little higher and hit more line drives, even at the cost of five homers per year.
He's played more third base than first in pro ball, but first is his ultimate position. He can be a high-average, 15-20-homer hitter or a lower average, 20-25-homer hitter. The latter would make him more of an average regular, but the former gives him a chance to be a full grade higher.
Top level: Double-A (Jackson) | 2014 rank: Just missed
62. Stephen Piscotty, OF
Age: 24 | DOB: 1/14/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 210
Piscotty looks like he should be a masher, and it's possible he'll still get to that point. For now, he has a high floor as a regular in right field who plays solid defense and hits for average and a slew of doubles. Piscotty has a strong sense of the strike zone and a confident, whole-field approach that might just mean he's trading some pull power for more singles the other way. His pitch recognition is strong, and he's among the best prospects at hitting the ball where it's pitched rather than trying to pull something he can't.
He'll show 65-grade power in BP, so it may develop in time, although given his performance to date, I think it's more likely he'll hit 40-plus doubles than 20 homers. A former third baseman, Piscotty has taken well to right, with a plus arm and roughly average range. If the power doesn't develop, he'll still be a regular, likely the Cardinals' right fielder of the future, and a player whose skill set St. Louis tends to value very highly. If the power comes, he will be a potential All-Star.
Top level: Triple-A (Memphis) | 2014 rank: 57
63. Joe Ross, RHP
Age: 21 | DOB: 5/21/93 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205
Ross, the younger brother of Padres pitcher Tyson, had a mediocre 2013 season after missing much of 2012 with a sore shoulder, as neither his stuff nor command was consistent and his performance was disappointing. Last year he moved up to a tougher environment for pitchers, and everything ticked up, resulting in a late-season promotion to Double-A and his inclusion in the big, three-team trade that sent Wil Myers to San Diego. Ross will hit 97 mph but is most comfortable at 92-94 with good two-seam tailing life, the latter the result of a slightly lower arm slot the Padres hoped would take some pressure off his shoulder as well. He always has had excellent feel for a changeup, but the lower slot also gave him more tilt on his slider, an above-average to plus pitch, whereas he'd previously been caught between a slider and a curve.
Hitters find Ross' stuff hard to square up, and he's a slight ground ball pitcher. He's a good athlete and competitor who throws strikes, although his control is still ahead of his command. I thought he had a chance to be a No. 2 starter before his shoulder barked, and there's probably less of a chance now that he evolves into a 200-inning starter, but he could be a very effective No. 3 who throws 180 or so innings in peak years.
Top level: Double-A (San Antonio) | 2014 rank: Unranked
64. Marco Gonzales, LHP
Age: 22 | DOB: 2/16/92 | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 195
Gonzales does it backward: He'll sit in the upper 80s with the fastball, maybe touching average velocity at best, but he still manages to get hitters out -- even make them look foolish -- because he has all the other things you could want a pitcher to have. Gonzalez's changeup is a 70 grade, he has an above-average curveball, and he throws all three pitches for strikes. It's more control than command right now; his delivery is simple and fluid enough for him to have outstanding command, but in his major league trial last year, he tried to nibble too much rather than trusting his stuff and his command within the zone.
He's a great athlete and competitor who can swing the bat a little, too, going 6-for-27 across three levels last year with two doubles and a homer, showing he's at least capable of putting the ball in play more often than most NL pitchers can. He's ready to pitch in a major league rotation now, assuming the Cardinals have a place for him, and I envision him having a long career as an average to slightly above-average starter, mostly under the radar until we all look up in 10 or 15 years and wonder how he did it.
Top level: Majors (St. Louis) | 2014 rank: Unranked
65. Dominic Smith, 1B
Age: 19 | DOB: 6/15/95 | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185
Smith's superficial stats don't give Mets fans a lot of confidence in his future, but he actually had a very solid year considering his age, experience and home ballpark. Smith was just 19 years old in Class A Savannah, going to a full-season league less than a year out of high school, whereas other recent Mets first-rounders, such as Brandon Nimmo and Gavin Cecchini, spent a second summer in short-season ball first. Savannah is a terrible park for left-handed hitters, especially for pull power, so Smith worked on going the other way much of the season, with far more of his extra-base hits going to left than to right.
He has grade-70 raw power, but we may not see much of it until he reaches Binghamton late in 2015, or more likely 2016. He's an excellent defensive first baseman with a 70-grade arm, although defense at that position is secondary to offense. Don't be alarmed if his home run total is still low in the Florida State League this year, but once he reaches Double-A, I expect Smith to hit double-digit homers and peak at 20-plus per year in the majors, with high batting averages and OBPs north of .350, making him an above-average or better regular at first.
Top level: Class A (Savannah) | 2014 rank: 37
66. Ozhaino Albies, SS
Age: 18 | DOB: 1/7/97 | B/T: B/R
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 150
It's hard to picture the diminutive Albies -- he's listed at 5-foot-9, 150 pounds, and that's a generous number on the height -- on a major league diamond, but his tools are outstanding for a player so small and young. Atlanta signed Albies out of Curacao in July 2013 for $350,000, a bold bet since he was probably 5-6, 130 pounds at the time, but they liked his combination of plus running speed, an above-average arm, very good hands and a compact (how could it not be?) stroke at the plate.
Albies projects as an everyday shortstop if he hits enough for it. His hands are soft and he has good instincts at the position, with enough arm for all but perhaps the play deep in the hole. He used to have a wide base with no stride at the plate, but Atlanta has added a little toe-tap to force him to transfer some weight. He'll never have much power, but at least he showed he could make hard contact this year, hitting .364/.446/.444 at age 17 across two short-season leagues. As the youngest player in the Appalachian League, Albies finished fourth in batting average and OBP, and his pace would have led the league in singles if he'd kept it up for a whole summer. It's hard to call a player this age a high-floor guy, but I'd be shocked if he didn't at least turn into a quality utility infielder. If he has the strength to maintain these high contact rates and OBPs and develop doubles power, he'll be an above-average everyday player at short.
Top level: Rookie (Danville) | 2014 rank: Unranked
67. Tim Anderson, SS
Age: 21 | DOB: 6/23/93 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Anderson showed rapid progress with the bat in 2014 as the White Sox continued to overhaul almost every aspect of his game to mold him into a future regular at short. Anderson didn't play a ton of baseball in high school in Mississippi, and without a Division I scholarship offer, he headed for junior college, from which the White Sox plucked him in the first round in 2013. His inexperience has shown on both sides of the ball, but so has his tremendous athleticism, which is why Chicago's faith in him is justified.
They've balanced him out more at the plate, so while he still has no stride, he's added a toe tap for timing and to get a little hip rotation for better power to the gaps. His plate coverage is strong to a fault, since he's almost impossible to walk; he was bottom five among full-season regulars in walk rate in the minors last year. He's athletic enough to handle center field, second base or probably anywhere other than catcher, but the White Sox have worked extensively to improve his footwork and his transfer, as he has the hands and the plus arm to handle shortstop and really should stay there. He's still very much a work in progress, with the upside of an average defender at short who hits for a high average and some doubles power.
Top level: Double-A (Birmingham) | 2014 rank: 98
68. Raimel Tapia, OF
Age: 20 | DOB: 2/4/94 | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 160
You'd never teach a hitter to hit the way Tapia does, but as long as it's working for him, why try to change it? Tapia starts with a base so wide that he nearly loses his balance on every swing, but his hand-eye coordination ranks among the best in the minor leagues, leading to strong contact rates and high batting averages everywhere he has played so far. His power is an open question and may not come until he changes his stance to allow more leg into his swing; he hit nine homers last year -- all at hitter-friendly Asheville -- with an ISO of just .073 on the road. He does have a wiry, projectable frame and could add another 10-15 pounds of muscle, but it won't result in a ton of home runs if he can't get his lower half involved.
Tapia is a plus runner who has the speed for center field but remains a work in progress in terms of reads and routes, splitting time in center last year with David Dahl. He might be good enough for center field but ended up pushed to a corner by better candidates within the Rockies system. A hitter with his bat-to-ball skills will get his chance to play, regardless of position; he's among the minors' best bets to hit .300 in the majors though without much power, so the question for Tapia will be how much he can change his setup at the plate without costing himself too many hits.
Top level: Class A (Asheville) | 2014 rank: Just missed/Sleeper
69. Amed Rosario, SS
Age: 19 | DOB: 11/20/95 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 170
Rosario was my sleeper prospect for the Mets last year, and the $1.75 million the Mets paid him in 2012 looks like it's going to more than pay off. Rosario is a toolshed, with athleticism, strength, plus raw power and a laser arm. He's a true shortstop with very good actions at the position, including soft hands and excellent reads on balls in front him on which he has to come in or in front of the bag. His bat is a blur through the zone, and he keeps his hands inside the ball exceptionally well. His approach is very mature for his age, atypical of an 18-year-old playing with much older competition; he'll hit the other way and show power there as well, with more than half of his career home runs going out to right-center.
He has broad shoulders and might fill out some but doesn't project to outgrow the position. He'll need to be challenged by better pitching, especially pitchers who can locate their off-speed stuff, which he might not see until high Class A or Double-A. Savannah has a brutal park for power, so his superficial stats might not show much progress this year, but if he keeps his contact rate up and works on adjusting to changing speeds, he won't be there for long.
Top level: Class A (Savannah) | 2014 rank: Sleeper
69. Amed Rosario, SS
Age: 19 | DOB: 11/20/95 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 170
Rosario was my sleeper prospect for the Mets last year, and the $1.75 million the Mets paid him in 2012 looks like it's going to more than pay off. Rosario is a toolshed, with athleticism, strength, plus raw power and a laser arm. He's a true shortstop with very good actions at the position, including soft hands and excellent reads on balls in front him on which he has to come in or in front of the bag. His bat is a blur through the zone, and he keeps his hands inside the ball exceptionally well. His approach is very mature for his age, atypical of an 18-year-old playing with much older competition; he'll hit the other way and show power there as well, with more than half of his career home runs going out to right-center.
He has broad shoulders and might fill out some but doesn't project to outgrow the position. He'll need to be challenged by better pitching, especially pitchers who can locate their off-speed stuff, which he might not see until high Class A or Double-A. Savannah has a brutal park for power, so his superficial stats might not show much progress this year, but if he keeps his contact rate up and works on adjusting to changing speeds, he won't be there for long.
Top level: Class A (Savannah) | 2014 rank: Sleeper
70. Manuel Margot, CF
Age: 20 | DOB: 9/28/94 | B/T: R/R
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 170
Margot isn't flashy or explosive like system mate Rafael Devers, but he has been very steady and performed very well last year in two full-season leagues, all before his 20th birthday. He's an above-average defender in center field with good reads, and he has a simple, selective approach at the plate that has allowed him to succeed even when facing older and more experienced competition. His swing has good rotation but produces only doubles power; he might peak at 12 to 15 homers but could be a 35-plus doubles guy because he's able to go the other way so effectively.
He's currently a plus runner and should be a stolen-base threat in the majors as long as he doesn't get too big, although that same issue would be the only reason he'd move out of center field. It's a strong leadoff profile with the chance for high OBPs and 30-odd steals a year along with grade-60 defense, as long as he continues to work on his patience and can maintain his conditioning to stay in center.
Top level: High Class A (Salem) | 2014 rank: Sleeper
71. Michael Taylor, CF
Age: 23 | DOB: 3/26/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 210
To their credit, the Nationals never lost faith in Taylor, not when he couldn't crack a .320 OBP until he was 22, not when he had to repeat high-A that year and still punched out 131 times. The former high school shortstop took to center field pretty quickly, but it took him a few years to fill out and grow into some power, with the help of a lot of work from the Nats' player development staff. Taylor's posture at the plate is better now, and he's better able to power through the baseball with significant torque from quick hip rotation. He hit 24 homers in 127 games across three levels last year, and he still could add some strength to his frame, although that might cost him some of his plus speed.
He has made a lot of progress at the plate, but it's all come fairly slowly, and given his contact issues and how quickly he gets the bat through the zone, I wouldn't be surprised if he took a year or two of major league at-bats to start posting adequate OBPs. He's a 70 defender in center and can impact the game with power and speed, with a chance to be a grade-60 regular in the majors once he gets 1,000 at-bats or so under his belt.
Top level: Triple-A (Syracuse) | 2014 rank: Unranked
72. J.T. Realmuto, C
Age: 23 | DOB: 3/18/91 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 215
Realmuto was my sleeper prospect for the Marlins going into the 2012 season, but his bat seemed to stagnate over the next two seasons and he appeared more likely headed for backup duty. He showed real improvement in 2014 while repeating Double-A, both on offense and defense, and was a popular target in offseason trade talks this winter. He's a great athlete who got a later start in baseball than most, playing two sports in high school and signing as a 19-year-old high school senior in 2010.
His arm is an easy plus with a career 38 percent caught-stealing rate, and he has developed into a solid-average receiver as well. He still has a lot less experience than most 24-year-olds, but he's major league-ready now and should be an average regular after a year or so of at-bats in Miami.
Top level: Majors (Miami) | 2014 rank: Unranked
73. Colin Moran, 3B
Age: 22 | DOB: 10/1/92 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 215
I think most people in the industry were surprised to see the Marlins move Moran just 13 months after making him the No. 6 pick in the draft, but the Astros have to be thrilled to end up with a player they were seriously considering with the first overall pick that year (with which they took Mark Appel). Moran is a very high-probability regular, a left-handed hitter with a great feel to hit and more than adequate defense at third, showing great instincts across the board that help him play above his tools. Moran's swing isn't classic; he has a long stride without a big weight transfer but rotates his hips well and has very strong wrists and forearms for unexpected power, which he put on display against future playoff hero Brandon Finnegan in a Double-A contest in August.
At third base, he has improved his footwork since signing, and while his arm is just a 50 grade, it's very accurate, so on balance, he should be at least a league-average defender. In the long run, Moran is probably more a hitter for average and contact than big power, but he has 15-20 homer juice if he wants to get to it. He has a high floor as an average regular at third but one who'll make some All-Star teams in years during which he hits .310 or so in the first half.
Top level: Double-A (Corpus Christi) | 2014 rank: 55
74. Austin Hedges, C
Age: 22 | DOB: 8/18/92 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 190
Hedges is one of a number of premium defensive catchers bubbling up through the minors, all of whom could probably catch and throw in the majors right now but whose ultimate ceiling is uncertain because of questions about their ability to hit. Hedges is the best pure receiver of the bunch, with great hands, an advanced feel for the game and what should end up as strong framing skills. He has a plus-plus arm that's quick and accurate, and he's improved his caught-stealing percentage slightly each year in pro ball, with a 38 percent figure in 2014 for Double-A San Antonio.
At the plate, he's power before hit, and he's not doing enough hit for the power to play, with a .225/.272/.314 line across 532 plate appearances in Double-A. However, he turned 22 in August and was young for the level, which gives the Padres plenty of justification to send him back there rather than push him to the strong hitters' environment of El Paso. He's too much of a dead-pull hitter right now, and while he has the bat speed and the hip rotation to drive balls to the gaps, he's just as likely to roll one over to the shortstop, especially since he often hits the top of the ball when he can't square it up. A year of trying to go the other way more would help, as his contact rates themselves are fine, and he has to hit only about .240 to get to that 15-18 homer plateau that would make him an above-average regular.
Top level: Double-A (San Antonio) | 2014 rank: 33
75. Reynaldo Lopez, RHP
Age: 21 | DOB: 1/4/94 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185
Lopez was throwing just 87-90 mph when he first signed for a pittance as an 18-year-old amateur in 2012, but his velocity picked up rapidly once the Nationals got a hold of him, to the point where they had to shut him down for nearly all of 2013 to keep him healthy. He stayed on the mound for all of 2014, and his talent exploded: He'd reach 100 mph in many starts, wouldn't throw a pitch under 94 and would show a 60 or 70 grade curveball as long as he could stay at the top of his release point. Lopez had been a more lateral front-side guy, but the Nats raised his front side when he was with Auburn this summer so he could get on top of that breaking ball and generate more plane on the fastball, producing more ground balls and more consistent strikes as well. He gets good action on his nascent changeup but lacks feel for the pitch because he has barely used it.
After he returned to Hagerstown from Auburn in late July, he allowed one run in 39 innings, on a solo homer, punching out 34 guys against 23 total baserunners, with that homer being the only extra-base hit he surrendered. His ceiling is second only to Lucas Giolito among Nationals' starter prospects, and the main hurdle for him to get there is to build up the stamina to be a 30-start guy.
Top level: Class A (Hagerstown) | 2014 rank: Unranked
76. Brett Phillips, OF
Age: 20 | DOB: 5/30/94 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 175
Phillips was a sixth-round pick in 2012, a draft in which I rated him as a third-rounder (he was 98th on my final board), and signed for just $300,000. After two quiet summers in short-season ball, during which he didn't hit a single home run, Phillips exploded in 2014, hitting 17 homers while showing off two other plus tools in his speed and his arm.
Phillips can play center field, and might end up a 60- or 70-grade defender there, but has a cannon for an arm and wouldn't be out of place in right. Phillips didn't get bigger, but he made some adjustments to his swing that unlocked a lot of power, reducing a wrist lock he had when he loaded that made it all but impossible for him to drive the ball. Now he has a real power/speed combo that would play anywhere, with that upside on defense as well. Don't be surprised if he sets the Cal League on fire this year because of his tools and the hitters paradise he'll play in at Lancaster.
Top level: High Class A (Lancaster) | 2014 rank: Unranked
77. Alex Reyes, RHP
Age: 20 | DOB: 8/29/94 | B/T: r/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 185
Reyes is a U.S.-born right-hander who relocated to the Dominican Republic and signed as an amateur free agent, developing quickly as a potential high-end starter through two summers in pro ball. Reyes will show a 70 fastball and his curveball will flash plus, although he doesn't have great command of either pitch yet. His changeup is improving, with some tailing life to it, and he's better able to execute it consistently pitch to pitch now than he could last spring.
He's a big kid and needs to tighten up his body to avoid becoming too heavy. Reyes already has the potential for the three pitches he'll need as a starter, and he has shown he can miss bats. Learning to repeat his delivery better, maintaining his conditioning and eventually throwing more and better strikes are the key benchmarks to get him to be a No. 2 starter in the big leagues.
Top level: Class A (Peoria) | 2014 rank: Sleeper
78. Justin O'Conner, C
Age: 22 | DOB: 3/31/92 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190
Everything I said about Austin Hedges (above) applies to O'Conner, even though they've taken different paths to this point. O'Conner was a two-way player who had almost no experience behind the plate until the Rays signed him, but has worked himself into above-average to plus tools across the board as a defender. He nailed 55 percent of runners over the two years since he came back from hip surgery, as well as 16 pickoffs, which is enough that he probably needs some kind of Fernando Rodney-style celebration move for them.
At the plate, O'Conner is another power-before-hit guy, showing more power than Hedges (although their raw-power grades are similar) but worse plate discipline. If Hedges projects as a guy who'll hit .240-.250, O'Conner projects as more of a .220-.230 hitter, but with 15 or so homers, and his defense will play every day in the big leagues. There is still room for more with both of these guys if they can become more selective as hitters.
Top level: Double-A (Montgomery) | 2014 rank: Unranked
79. Grant Holmes, RHP
Age: 18 | DOB: 3/22/96 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 215
Holmes probably would have gone among the top 10 picks if he were a little taller, but even at 6-foot-nothing, he's definitely a baller, a highly competitive right-hander with good stuff who needs to work on location and learning how to work against better quality hitters. Holmes touched 100 mph this spring, but I doubt he'll ever do that as a pro. He's likely to work between 92 and 94 when pitching every fifth day, with 96 mph or so available if he needs it but better off throwing a little softer and trying to work down in the zone. He has a sharp power curveball with tight rotation and depth and a future average changeup that he's going to need to use more to develop a feel for it.
Holmes' biggest issue is that he's a control-over-command guy. He can fill up the zone with his fastball, but he throws too many strikes at the letters, and the lack of plane or movement on his fastball means the pitch will get hit. That adjustment will be the difference between being an above-average starter and one at the back of a rotation.
Top level: Rookie (Ogden) | 2014 rank: Ineligible
80. Greg Bird, 1B
Age: 22 | DOB: 11/9/92 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 215
Bird was Kevin Gausman's high school catcher and signed as a fifth-rounder in 2011 for an over-slot bonus of $1.1 million, moving to first base almost immediately because his defense was weak and he had back trouble in 2012. He's now had two strong seasons playing every day, showing patience and power across three levels of full-season ball. Bird's swing is very short to the ball, and he accelerates his hands quickly for hard contact to all fields, rarely putting the ball on the ground because he squares it up so frequently. He's a high-IQ hitter with outstanding plate discipline and understanding of how to work a pitcher, giving reason to think he'll continue to post high OBPs even though he'll probably hit only .250-260 with a lot of strikeouts.
My real concern with him is at first base, where he still needs work on fielding ground balls, and of course the fact that the back flared up on him again in late March is worrisome. He's lined up to be Mark Teixeira's replacement at first base as long as the glove improves and his back problems don't turn out to be chronic.
Top level: Double-A (Trenton) | 2014 rank: Unranked
81. Matt Olson, 1B
Age: 20 | DOB: 3/29/94 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 236
Olson led the minors in walks last year, and that, combined with his plus power, earns him some fairly easy comps to Adam Dunn, another patient, all-or-nothing type of hitter, but that might sell Olson a bit short. He's very selective but will hunt pitches early in the count he can crush, and he doesn't go up there just looking for walks. He's a power/strength guy who muscles the ball despite fringy bat speed, and he has to be this selective in his approach to be an impact player on offense; without that kind of discipline, he'd be an up-and-down guy, or even an organizational depth player. As long as he can get himself in good counts, he should get to 60-odd extra-base hits a year.
He's a mediocre defender at first, with stiff hands but adequate footwork around the bag, good enough that he shouldn't have to move to designated hitter. His value as an asset is mixed because his floor is so low. If it turns out he can't catch up to better velocity in the zone, I'm not sure if he'll be able to play every day. So far he has been able to make it work for him, and he projects as a .230/.370/.500 hitter who is average on defense.
Top level: High Class A (Stockton) | 2014 rank: Unranked
82. Tyrell Jenkins, RHP
Age: 22 | DOB: 7/20/92 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 204
Jenkins was off the prospect map for two years while he tried to come back from shoulder surgery, but it wasn't until the second half of 2014 that he finally felt fully healthy, and it showed when he pitched in the Arizona Fall League. Out in the desert, his fastball was at 93-96 mph with good downhill plane, really turning over well even at 95 mph and generating lots of ground balls. His slider was plus at 83-87 mph -- with curveball depth -- while his changeup was fringy, straight at 86-88 and effective because his delivery of the pitch is close to the fastball's but lacking any life or action.
He's an excellent athlete who repeats his delivery very well, with outstanding makeup and a very competitive approach on the mound. Jenkins has yet to throw 100 innings in a calendar year as a pro, with his 98⅓ in 2014 (including the AFL) a new career high. He has to show he can hold up for a full season, and with his arsenal, he should miss more bats; I project he'll do more of the latter than ever before now that his shoulder is as good as new.
Top level: High Class A (Palm Beach) | 2014 rank: Unranked
83. Daniel Robertson, SS
Age: 20 | DOB: 3/22/94 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190
Robertson was Oakland's sandwich-round pick in 2012, going to Tampa Bay this winter as the main piece of the package that sent Yunel Escobar and Ben Zobrist to the A's. Robertson immediately became Zobrist's most likely long-term replacement, a current shortstop who won't stay there in the majors but who should be able to play second or third (and well) while getting on base at an excellent clip. Robertson has a short, direct swing that starts with an open stance and barely transfers his weight; he doesn't have much rotation in his swing and is likely to be a line-drive hitter with below-average power, making a lot of contact and getting on base at a high clip given his strong walk rates so far in pro ball. He's a 40-grade runner and his footwork isn't good enough for shortstop, but he has the arm for third base and the hands to play third or second.
He has earned praise for his baseball acumen since high school, and if the Rays choose to make him a multi-position player, as they did with Zobrist, Robertson should be more than capable of handling it. Guys who project for a .400 OBP are pretty valuable commodities, and you can see from this ranking how rare Robertson's skill really is.
Top level: High Class A (Stockton) | 2014 rank: Unranked
84. Brad Zimmer, CF
Age: 22 | DOB: 11/27/92 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 185
Zimmer threw some scouts for a loop last spring while at the University of San Francisco, because he didn't seem like he'd have the power to play a corner but was tall and broad enough that they didn't think he'd stay in center. His game is so well-rounded overall, however, that he might stay in center and hit for more power than anyone expected. He's an above-average runner with long strides that help him cover more ground in center than you might expect at first glance.
My concern at the plate is less about power -- he's going to fill out well and has good extension in his swing's finish -- and more about contact, as he has long levers and loads deep enough that it adds some unnecessary length to the early part of his swing. He projects as an above-average regular in center, with 20-plus homers, high walk and strikeout totals, and a few runs saved a year on defense. He's perhaps two full years away from being ready for everyday duty.
Top level: Class A (Lake County) | 2014 rank: Ineligible
85. Derek Hill, CF
Age: 19 | DOB: 12/30/95 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 195
The son of longtime scout Orsino Hill and cousin of Darryl Strawberry, Derek Hill is already a plus defender in center at age 19 and a plus runner with an average or slightly above-average arm, but the question scouts had this spring was about his bat. Hill played only two years of high school baseball in California, moving there from Iowa, where he hadn't faced the same caliber of pitching. But he showed last spring that he could make rapid adjustments at the plate thanks to a simple swing. He has an exaggerated leg kick that helps give him some rhythm, but his hand path is very short, and he's as consistent swing to swing as almost anyone on this list. He's more likely to hit for average and contact than power; the way he swings now might get him to eight to 10 homers a year and probably nothing more without a mechanical change.
The Tigers promoted him to the advanced New York-Penn League in August and he was overmatched. Given his history, he might be a candidate to start the year in extended spring training and return to that league in June. Given the paucity of true up-the-middle position players with defensive chops, the Tigers should be thrilled they got Hill with the 23rd pick, as long as they're willing to take it slow with him at the plate to maximize his chances to become a leadoff type.
Top level: Low Class A (Connecticut) | 2014 rank: Ineligible
86. Alex "Chi Chi" Gonzalez, RHP
Age: 23 | DOB: 1/15/92 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 195
The 23rd overall pick in the 2013 draft -- he was ranked 16th on my final draft board -- does a bit of everything well and (so far) nothing poorly, making him one of the highest-probability starter prospects in the minors. Gonzalez will sit 90-94 with good sink, but he has a major league out pitch in his cutter that makes him so effective, including a 55 percent ground ball rate across two levels last year.
His command has turned out to be even better than expected on draft day, and he rarely walks anyone; he walked two men or fewer in 14 of 15 Double-A starts. I'm a bit surprised he didn't miss more bats in high-A Myrtle Beach, but there isn't anything missing from the package here, as three of every five hitters he faced last year either struck out or put the ball on the ground, he doesn't walk guys, he has proven durable, and he gets left-handed hitters out as well as right-handed hitters. If the Rangers need a starter in the second half, he should be ready for the call.
Top level: Double-A (Frisco) | 2014 rank: Just missed
87. Rob Kaminsky, LHP
Age: 20 | DOB: 9/2/94 | B/T: R/L
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 191
What Kaminsky lacks in size or projection, he more than provides in frustration for hitters, who say he's tough to face because of his deception, something borne out in the high ground ball rates he posts and the infrequent line drives he surrenders. Kaminsky will sit 90-92 mph, occasionally bumping 94 but unlikely to ever pitch at that mark, with a plus curveball that he's been able to use against hitters on both sides of the plate. His changeup has improved over the past year, in part because he has spent time with Marco Gonzales (who has the best changeup of any Cardinal farmhand), and he gave up almost no power last year, just 16 extra-base hits allowed to 407 batters faced, with more than half of the balls he allowed in play going on the ground.
With that third pitch well on its way, Kaminsky needs primarily to work on command and control, but his 2014 was very promising for a 19-year-old from a cold-weather state pitching in full-season ball. I still see a future No. 3 starter here, one who'll have a long career because hitters will always have a hard time picking up the ball out of his hand.
Top level: Class A (Peoria) | 2014 rank: 100
88. Trea Turner, SS
Age: 21 | DOB: 6/30/93 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175
Turner is technically still a Padre, because MLB is operating under a Dark Ages rule that prohibits teams from trading drafted players for a full year after they sign their first pro contracts, a rule that conflicts with the way a "player to be named" can be traded up to six months after the deal is completed. So now Turner gets to spend spring training and the first two months or so of 2015 playing for an organization that no longer has any stake in his future, and that's both wrong and dangerous. Turner himself is in an awful spot, because he's a good prospect who needs work in specific areas to become an above-average regular at shortstop.
He's a plus runner with the speed to stay at short but needs help on footwork to be able to make plays that require him to move well out of position and to be able to throw accurately from any spot. He has the bat speed to catch up to a good fastball but wraps his bat behind his head and can be a tick late getting the bat head into the zone. He could end up an average or slightly better defensive shortstop who hits .280-.300 with 40 steals a year, as long as he gets into an organization that is fully invested in his development.
Top level: Class A (Fort Wayne) | 2014 rank: Ineligible
89. Alen Hanson, 2B/SS
Age: 22 | DOB: 10/22/92 | B/T: B/R
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 170
The Pirates moved Hanson to second base in August, as he remained erratic at short despite having all of the physical tools required to play it, which could in turn speed up his path to the big leagues. Hanson continued to have good at-bats and maintain a strong contact rate, improving as the season went on, faring well as one of the Eastern League's youngest regulars. He's a true switch-hitter with plenty of bat speed on both sides of the box, shorter from the left side for more contact, with fringe-average power overall that's more geared toward doubles than home runs. He's a plus runner who can have an impact on the bases as well as at the plate, although he's plagued by the same inconsistency in those aspects of his game as well.
He could have been an above-average regular at short if his glove had come along, but he profiles as a solid-average to slightly better regular at second, perhaps more if the shift to an easier position leads to positive defense and frees him up to focus more on tightening up his approach at the plate.
Top level: Double-A (Altoona) | 2014 rank: 74
90. Kyle Schwarber, C/LF
Age: 21 | DOB: 3/5/93 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 235
Schwarber was the fourth overall pick in the 2014 draft as a power-hitting catcher from Indiana University, then went and destroyed three different leagues after signing, ending the year in high-A just a few months out of college. Schwarber has very little chance to catch in the majors, as he's a poor receiver and is very muscular for the position, but his bat should make him a regular at another position, possibly first base, but most likely left field.
He has a chance to end up with a plus hit tool and plus power, showing much better plate discipline this summer than he did as an amateur, although his front side can get soft and he can be vulnerable to soft stuff away because his typical swing is so hard. If he hits .280 or so with a strong OBP and 25-30 homers, he'll be a good everyday player even if he ends up as a bad left fielder, and the Cubs certainly believe he has a chance to exceed even those marks.
Top level: High Class A (Daytona) | 2014 rank: Ineligible
91. Brandon Nimmo, OF
Age: 21 | DOB: 3/27/93 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 205
Nimmo started slowly in pro ball, the result of limited experience as a high school draft pick out of Wyoming, where there is no high school baseball, leaving an American Legion team as his only opportunity to play. He has had a great plan at the plate since day one, patient without being passive, and earns a lot of comparisons to similarly athletic, smart hitters in the big leagues for his advanced approach at such a young age. Nimmo reached Double-A this year at 21, doubling his career home run total after he escaped the power sink that is Savannah's home park. As he fills out, he should get up to 15 to 18 homers a year.
He spent most of his time in center field in 2014, but between his own average range there and the presence of Juan Lagares, he'll most likely end up in right field, where I expect his defense to be plus. He profiles as an everyday right fielder between his defense and potential for .380-.400 OBPs, but I'd like to see better results when he puts the ball in play against lefties, possibly shortening up his load so that he can adjust better when they spin something away from him.
Top level: Double-A (Binghamton) | 2014 rank: 92
92. Clint Frazier, OF
Age: 20 | DOB: 9/6/94 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 190
Frazier showed both his strengths and his deficiencies in his first full season in pro ball, and probably left 2014 with as many questions about his ultimate role in the majors as he had when he entered it. He still has the insane bat speed and quick-twitch reactions that give him 30-homer potential. He also led the Midwest League in strikeouts, chasing a lot of first pitches out of the zone, expanding too early in the count, struggling to react to breaking stuff, diving into the plate and cutting off his ability to drive some stuff on the inner half. He played center field for Lake County, and while Cleveland was happy with his progress there, he's going to end up in one of the corners by the time he reaches the big leagues.
Frazier was young for low-A last year, so the stat line itself shouldn't alarm Cleveland fans too much, but he needs to show he can make better adjustments at the plate and put himself into better situations to get a fastball he can murder. The power is there; it's an evolutionary process to get to where he can use it in games.
Top level: Class A (Lake County) | 2014 rank: 45
93. Rio Ruiz, 3B
Age: 20 | DOB: 5/22/94 | B/T: L/R
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 215
Ruiz has matured quickly both in terms of his body and his plate discipline; his walk rate put him among the top 10 percent of minor league hitters this year, even though he was just 20 in high-A. Lancaster is a tremendous place to hit, however, and his power output was a little light given his home environment. He has good natural feel to hit and much of his contact is hard, but his load gets too deep with his weight too much on his back side, interfering with his timing and reducing his ability to drive the ball.
At third base, he has the hands and arm, but he lacks rhythm in his feet and the ball tends to play him unless he's coming in on it; I'd leave him at third for now, but it's at least 50-50 that he moves to first. Unlike a lot of young, left-handed hitters, he has no real problem facing lefties. He projects as something similar to what Matt Carpenter has become for the Cardinals -- a high-OBP doubles hitter, a little less glove, a little more pop -- if he can stay at the hot corner.
Top level: High Class A (Lancaster) | 2014 rank: Unranked
94. Spencer Adams, RHP
Age: 18 | DOB: 4/13/96 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 171
Adams was Chicago's second pick in the 2014 draft, 44th overall, but no draftee from after the first round made a stronger impression last summer than he did, toying with the Arizona Rookie League with just four walks and 59 strikeouts in his 41-plus innings there. Adams throws three pitches and has above-average present command, throwing all three offerings for quality strikes, including a fastball that reaches 95 and an above-average breaking ball with good depth.
Adams is very athletic and has a lot of physical projection remaining, having barely begun growing into his shoulders. He could sit mid-90s with two plus secondary pitches when it's all said and done. Given how advanced his command is already, he should go right to full-season Kannapolis and is a candidate to move quickly despite his youth.
Top level: Rookie (Arizona White Sox) | 2014 rank: Ineligible
95. Franklin Barreto, SS
Age: 18 | DOB: 2/27/96 | B/T: R/R
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 174
Barreto is on the small side, and projects as an everyday middle infielder who can hit and get on base with added value on the bases. Barreto plays shortstop now, with the agility and arm to stay there long-term, but he lacks consistency on the routine play. If he has to move to second base, he should be no worse than above-average there, and he's quick enough that he could end up a 65 or better glove. He's going to hit, with a very short, direct path to the ball, and good hand-eye coordination that leads to copious contact. He's a plus runner, finishing third in the Northwest League in steals.
He was that league's youngest position player and finished in the top 20 in average, OBP, walks and slugging, plus he tied for the league lead in doubles. I don't think he'll hit for any home run power, probably peaking in the high single digits, but he should hit for average with a solid OBP and 30-35 doubles a year, which would make him at least a regular at second base and might make him an All-Star at short.
Top level: Low Class A (Vancouver) | 2014 rank: Sleeper
96. Luis Ortiz, RHP
Age: 19 | DOB: 9/22/95 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 230
Ortiz was 10th on my 2014 MLB draft board but fell to 30th in large part because teams were concerned about the time he missed during the spring with a forearm strain. The strain wasn't serious but happened in the middle of a rash of Tommy John surgeries that took out three other top talents in the draft class. Ortiz has a physically mature body already, but the Rangers aren't waiting on future velocity, as he's already 92-95 with some downhill plane and an easy arm stroke he repeats very well. His slider, a sort of power slurve, flashes plus at 81-85, and while he doesn't have much feel for his changeup, he can turn it over pretty well out of his hand in the 83-86 mph range.
Ortiz throws his fastball for strikes and fields his position well for a big guy. He stays over the rubber well, with good momentum toward the plate and a clean arm action, just with a slightly abrupt finish that might require a little touchup to keep him healthy. He looks like a future No. 2 starter and could move way up this list with a full, healthy 2015 season.
Top level: Class A (Hickory) | 2014 rank: Ineligible
97. Jose Berrios, RHP
Age: 20 | DOB: 5/27/94 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 187
Berrios was the Twins' second first-round pick in 2012, going 30 picks after Minnesota took Byron Buxton, and he has blown through the low minors with impressive strikeout rates. He'll pitch at 93-96 with his four-seamer, working up in the zone with it because he can blow it by a lot of minor league hitters, pairing it with a 75-79 mph curveball and a hard changeup in the mid-80s. The curveball is his best secondary pitch, tight when he finishes it but not consistent enough yet, while his changeup works when he keeps it down, but overall it's too firm. His arm action reminds me of Yordano Ventura's; it's loose, quick, very easy, maybe a little too arm-heavy (meaning he doesn't use his legs as much as he could). As a six-foot right-hander, Berrios doesn't get any plane on his four-seamer, so he's fly ball-prone and will probably run into more trouble with home runs as he moves up the ladder. Also, he left a start in late July with a sore shoulder. He skipped just one turn in the rotation, but he was just less sharp in general late in the season.
I've seen Berrios a number of times, dating back to the Excellence Games in his native Puerto Rico in 2012, and I've always had a sense Berrios' height and lack of life or plane on his fastball would push him to the bullpen. He has the ceiling of a third or fourth MLB starter if he keeps missing bats and can tighten up both off-speed pitches.
Top level: Triple-A (Rochester) | 2014 rank: Unranked
98. A.J. Cole, RHP
Age: 23 | DOB: 1/5/92 | B/T: R/R
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 200
Is there a worse place to be as a prospect than to be a starting pitcher at the top of Washington's farm system? All Tanner Roark did last year was post a 2.85 ERA in 198 2/3 innings, and he's expected to be out of the Nats' rotation. Cole could probably be someone's fifth starter now, certainly by midyear, but at the moment he's as blocked as any pitching prospect in baseball. Cole's results haven't quite matched his stuff -- the whole is less than the sum of the parts -- but both his slider and changeup have come a long way in the past 18 months, to the point where he looks like a true four-pitch pitcher who has the control to be at least a fourth starter. He works at 93-97 but still doesn't locate it that well within the zone; he could get all the way up to a No. 2 starter if he improves his fastball command and pitches more aggressively. He has also found a consistent arm slot that works for both his curveball, his main out pitch in high school, and his slider, which helps keep hitters from identifying pitches too easily.
Another half-season or so in Triple-A would probably help him, as he'll face a lot of hitters who have major league experience and will force him to work on his weaknesses. Once he gives up a little less hard contact, he'll be ready for someone to call him up, even if it takes a trade for that to happen.
Top level: Triple-A (Syracuse) | 2014 rank: 65
99. Kyle Freeland, LHP
Age: 21 | DOB: 5/14/93 | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 170
Freeland went No. 8 overall in the 2014 draft after an outstanding spring that saw him walk just 13 batters in 99 2/3 innings, after which he walked six more in 39 pro innings, even though he was throwing harder than ever as a Rockie. Freeland comes from a tough, low, three-quarter slot and was up to 95 mph in college, bumping 97 over the summer in pro ball, but it's the slider that stands out among his pitches. It comes at hitters from the same slot and on the same plane as the fastball, so lefties would have better luck if they dropped to their knees and prayed. (They went 4-for-35 against him in pro ball, striking out 13 times, without a walk.)
He has an average changeup now, one that the Rockies had him work on more over the summer; given his slot, he'll need that third pitch when he faces better right-handed hitters in Double-A and up. He should move quickly given his ability to throw strikes, and he might not face much of a challenge until he reaches the upper levels, with the chance to be a quality mid-rotation starter as long as he stays healthy.
Top level: Low Class A (Ashville) | 2014 rank: Ineligible
100. Max Fried, LHP
Age: 21 | DOB: 1/18/94 | B/T: L/L
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 185
Fried was the seventh overall pick in the 2012 draft, going nine picks ahead of high school teammate Lucas Giolito after the latter hurt his elbow in March of his senior year. Giolito needed Tommy John surgery that summer, while Fried stayed healthy until the spring of 2014, when his elbow snapped and he had the same operation. It'll cost him all of 2015 other than a possible return for instructional-league work if he doesn't suffer any setbacks.
When healthy, Fried would sit in the low 90s with a plus curveball and an above-average to plus changeup; he's an excellent athlete with a long stride toward the plate but a slightly long arm action. The Padres had become a bit frustrated with Fried's approach to pitching, trying to throw the perfect pitch rather than trusting his stuff, and the change of scenery might help him, as Atlanta has had a lot of success in recent years developing young arms. If the surgery and rehab go well, he still has the ceiling of a No. 2 starter.
Top level: Class A (Fort Wayne) | 2014 rank: 48