Kiley McDaniel's top 100 MLB prospects for 2021

This year's top 100 MLB prospects list is unlike any other, and it's for the reason you're probably thinking of -- there wasn't a minor league season.

Players certainly improved from last year, and there were trades, a draft and an international signing period, but there isn't as much movement because there isn't anywhere near as much new information as I'm used to having.

Much of what did happen was seen only by a player's own team (so I'm hesitant to take the club's word for it), with some sharing of alternate site video/data and some rival scouts at fall instructional league, along with prospect-eligible players playing in the big leagues. I'll note when there's a real piece of new information that moved a player, but assume until I point out otherwise that it was some version of "largely stayed healthy, appeared to get a little better (as expected), didn't play in many if any 'real' game situations, so we'll see next year if these observations were correct."

The Future Value (book on sale now!) explanation is the same as last year, but I've added Present Value as a concept for the top 25 prospects to measure how good a player would be in the big leagues right now. I'm making a concerted effort to illustrate the gap between prospects and actual big leaguers this season, so consider this an appetizer.

Here are the top 100 prospects in baseball heading into the 2021 MLB season.

1. Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays

Age: 19 | Bats: Both | Throws: Right

Tools: Hit 50/70, Game Power 45/60, Raw Power 55/60, Speed 60/60, Fielding 50/55, Throw 65/65

Present/Future Value: 50/70

Franco has been the best prospect in baseball for almost two years because of his unique combination of pedigree, tools and performance. He was the best international prospect in his signing class at least two years before he signed and is the best prospect baseball has seen in at least five years.

He's plus (well above average compared to major leaguers) at basically everything on a baseball field, and his performance alone is hard to find comparables for. He's probably big-league-ready right now -- the present value of 50 means he'd be an average every-day player -- but he hasn't even played in Double-A yet. The Rays tend to take it slow in promoting their prospects, and they're loaded in middle-infield talent at every level, but you could consider waiting until the All-Star break to call him up a little slow.

He'll likely get reps all over the field in 2021 because the first longer-term opening in the big league lineup is all Tampa Bay needs to call him up, and it could be anywhere on the field.

2. Adley Rutschman, C, Baltimore Orioles

Age: 23 | Bats: Both | Throws: Right

Tools: Hit 45/60, Game Power 40/60, Raw Power 60/60, Speed 45/40, Fielding 55/60, Throw 65/65

Present/Future Value: 45/60

The report on Rutschman is still basically the same: four plus tools with performance and feel for the game to match. He's about to turn 23 and has played in only 37 official pro games, but that lack of experience is the only real negative.

There is some trepidation industry-wide about projecting catchers in general, due to the various effects of wear and tear on durability and offensive output, but Rutschman is the best catching prospect in some time.

3. Jarred Kelenic, RF, Seattle Mariners

Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Tools: Hit 45/60, Game Power 45/55, Raw Power 60/60, Speed 55/50, Fielding 45/50, Throw 60/60

Present/Future Value: 40/60

It's worth noting everywhere from Kelenic here at No. 3 all the way down to my 10th-ranked prospect are position players who could really be put in almost any order, with Rutschman's positional value putting him just ahead of the others for me.

Kelenic is probably a corner outfielder for Seattle and is just fill-in quality at center field right now, as he's gotten a bit bigger in pro ball. That puts some pressure on his bat to carry his value, but every indication is he has a real shot of reaching above-average hit and power tools to go with some actual defensive value.

Kelenic performed well in a 21-game Double-A sample in 2019. He first stood out on the national stage after his sophomore year in high school, so he has a long track record of standout offensive performances that gives scouts some certainty that it will continue.

4. Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Detroit Tigers

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Hit 35/55, Game Power 40/65, Raw Power 70/70, Speed 40/40, Fielding 45/50, Throw 50/50

Present/Future Value: 35/60

Tork was the No. 1 overall pick in June's MLB draft and ranks just behind Rutschman, who was the top overall pick from 2019, on this list.

The former Arizona State star has done everything he can at the plate, posting record-setting performances everywhere he goes and showing elite plate discipline, surprisingly good contact skills and massive raw power that he gets to in games. He'll play some third base in pro ball but hasn't done it in years, so there's really no way to know how it'll play out. I'm assuming he eventually lands back at first base.

He doesn't have much margin for error offensively and hasn't done anything in the minors yet, but there's every indication that he'll pretty quickly mash his way into the middle of the Tigers' lineup.

5. CJ Abrams, CF, San Diego Padres

Age: 20 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Tools: Hit 30/65, Game Power 20/50, Raw Power 55/60, Speed 70/70, Fielding 45/55, Throw 50/50

Future Value: 30/60

Abrams hasn't necessarily had a huge influx of new information causing his rise up the rankings, but I think he has steadily improved, and I was probably underrating him a bit last year due to where he was drafted, how little pro data we have and some pre-draft concerns that don't sound relevant anymore.

At his best, Abrams looked to me to have the skill set of a young Kenny Lofton, with a similar overall skill set and slashing style at the plate. He's playing shortstop now and probably won't stay there long term, with some chance for a fit at second base, but I think center field is most likely, with his big league team's needs another factor when the time comes.

His pitch selection is still just OK, maybe a bit below average, but his bat control is still elite and his raw power continues to progress and find its way into games, with a couple of sources noting a mammoth instructional league shot to center field at Chase Field.

The data/evidence is low and there's some plate discipline risk and uncertainty on his position, but the certainty of a big league career of consequence is high for his level, and the upside is a perennial All-Star who could be the face of a franchise.

More ESPN+ prospect coverage: Top 100 for 2021 | Ranking all 30 systems | Breakout candidates | AL top 10s

6. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age: 24 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Hit 50/60, Game Power 40/50, Raw Power 50/50, Speed 55/55, Fielding 60/70, Throw 60/60

Future value: 50/60

Hayes hovered in the 20s or 30s on these lists in past years because it looked like he would lack the impact game power to be a star, relying on plus contact and defensive skills at the hot corner. His MLB debut in 2020 for a last-place Pirates club beat anyone's expectations and probably raised some fans' hopes a little too high, to be honest.

He is still probably just a plus hitter who gets to his average raw power via punishing mistake pitches and making regular hard contact -- rather than elite exit velocities that help muscle homers. If he ends up being a 70 hitter (i.e., elite hard-hit and contact rates, if you're a Baseball Savant savant), he could be the rare player whose game power (i.e., homers) outperforms his raw power (i.e., number of homers you'd expect from a maximum exit velocity or how far he hits homers in batting practice). Many said this about Joe Mauer, who topped 13 homers once in his career as a lifetime .306 hitter, but contemporary examples like Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, etc., have actually done this.

Hayes will have graduated from this list by the time we find out if he'll be a plus offensive player, but he's already a strong every-day player with big league performance to prove it, so there's a real argument to move him and Randy Arozarena up higher on this list -- and I almost did.

7. Marco Luciano, 3B, San Francisco Giants

Age: 19 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Hit 30/55, Game Power 35/65, Raw Power 65/70, Speed 50/45, Fielding 40/50, Throw 55/55

Present/Future Value: 30/60

A current shortstop I project to move to third base, Luciano could end up in right field as well. He has played 47 professional games, all in short-season leagues. The concerns essentially end there, as he arguably has the best combination of bat speed, raw power, in-game power and general feel to hit of almost any prospect in recent memory, maybe even including Wander Franco.

Sometimes 80 bat speed, 70 raw power and some sense of how to use it turns into Javier Baez, sometimes it's Clint Frazier, other times it's Gary Sheffield. The uncertainty is both the concern and the allure, as you can take Luciano's building blocks and imagine a Hall of Famer pretty easily, but then just as easily toss him in the bucket of power-over-hit, high-risk flameouts on prospect lists of the past.

Luciano has a shot for real defensive value and shows rare pitch selection and contact skills for someone with these loud raw tools, since they often just lean on their tools for so long that they don't learn the skills (pitch selection, swing adjustability, etc.) that you need in the big leagues.

A reasonable person could move both Luciano and Abrams down a bit on this list to hedge more on the risk, but if they turn into what they're supposed to turn into, they'll be in the big leagues in a couple seasons -- not four or five -- and that upside is deserving of a spot at the top of the list.

8. Andrew Vaughn, 1B, Chicago White Sox

Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Hit 45/65, Game Power 45/60, Raw Power 65/65, Speed 30/30, Fielding 40/45, Throw 45/45

Present/Future Value: 40/60

Vaughn may have the highest probability to be an above-average offensive performer in the big leagues of anybody on this list.

Similar to Torkelson, a fellow Pac-12 standout, he is a righty-hitting first baseman with big power and an elite, essentially unblemished performance record. Vaughn came one draft class earlier, so he has already made it to high-A, and he's also a slightly different type -- with a little better pitch recognition and a better contact profile but slightly lower power upside, though you can see from the scouting grades that this is splitting hairs.

The real difference is that Torkelson has a more athletic frame and projects to have a longer peak, while Vaughn is more compact and has older-player skills that may age quickly in terms of physical tools. He still has plenty in terms of soft skills like pitch recognition to be an average or better player for a while.

9. Julio Rodriguez, RF, Seattle Mariners

Age: 20 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Hit 30/50, Game Power 35/65, Raw Power 80/80, Speed 45/40, Fielding 45/50, Throw 55/55

Present/Future Value: 35/60

Rodriguez was a trendy pre-pandemic pick to go from very good prospect to the best prospect in baseball, given his goofy, Aaron Judge-level raw power, blazing 2019 performance and the chances that Franco would've graduated in a normal 2020 season. Obviously, almost none of what it would take for that to materialize happened in 2021, and the public data we got of Rodriguez was of a down performance in the Dominican Winter League.

It's a little unfair to harp on his tendency to chase out of the zone this winter when most other players aren't even playing, but that pitch-selection issue is the biggest one around Rodriguez, and those winter league pitchers are some of the best he has faced. It's also important to note that power-hitting prospects tend to take a little longer to develop, and there were more than a few pro scouts who weren't sold on Judge even when he was in Double-A.

As is, most in the industry think Rodriguez's unique blend of raw power and bat control to go with good-enough pitch selection will yield an above-average regular in right field, and maybe soon, but he lacks speed and defensive value, so the margin for error is smaller than you'd like to see for a prospect who has barely played above Low-A.

10. Randy Arozarena, CF, Tampa Bay Rays

Age: 25 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Hit 50/55, Game Power 55/60, Raw Power 60/60, Speed 55/55, Fielding 50/50, Throw 55/55

Present/Future Value: 50/60

If you think I under-ranked Hayes because I'm underrating players who have already done it in the big leagues, then Arozarena is your guy. I still can't type his last name without hearing Jeff Passan signing it to the tune of "Macarena."

You can see from the tool grades why Arozarena was a fringe top 100 prospect before his chicken-and-rice-aided pandemic power gains and subsequent playoff hot streak gave him a plus tool in raw power. Until then, he was a solid every-day-looking center fielder with a wide base of average-or-better tools. Now he's a well-known power hitter who can play all three outfield positions.

He likely won't play center field for the Rays given Kevin Kiermaier's and Manuel Margot's defensive prowess, but rival clubs still think he could be average there if needed.

Some teams would take Arozarena over Kelenic, bringing this whole jumbled run of 60 FV position players full circle and underlining why I use FV as a way to put players into tiers, as one month of real games will probably shuffle this group again.

11. Sixto Sanchez, RHP, Miami Marlins

Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Fastball 65/65, Slider 55/55, Changeup 60/65, Command 50/55

Present/Future Value: 55/60

I'll just get it out of the way here and say that I have real reservations about all of the pitchers on this year's list, more so than in any other recent year. Anderson and Gore have questions about whether their stuff is enough for them to be front-line starters, Gore wasn't called up last year when multiple prospects jumped him, Pearson and Patino had trouble with strikes in their MLB debuts, Kopech just returned from surgery, Mize's durability and injury history is worrisome, and Manning wasn't called up last season due to a forearm injury.

To me, Sanchez is right now the best bet of this group going forward because he has among the best raw stuff of the group, better than average command and was the second-best performer in a 2020 MLB look -- behind Anderson.

There have been some concerns about Sanchez, mostly that he was a big question mark durability-wise entering 2020 due to various somewhat minor injuries over the years and has been out of shape at times too. Sorry if this sounds depressing, but I'd bet one of the guys in this group turns out to be an ace or something close to it, and I just really have no idea which one it will be -- but Sanchez just barely has the best résumé of the group to me right now.

12. Ian Anderson, RHP, Atlanta Braves

Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Fastball 55/55, Curveball 50/50, Changeup 60/60, Command 50/55

Present/Future Value: 50/60

As mentioned in the Sanchez blurb above, Anderson had the best MLB debut among prospect pitchers this year, which included making four playoff starts for the Braves.

He was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 draft as a high school righty because he had all the surface stuff you look for (projectable frame, chance for three above-average to plus pitches, command to start) but also the stuff you'd find on a deeper dive (work ethic, big league mentality, understanding of pitching, etc.). Anderson has now delivered on that promise and seems like a safe bet to join Mike Soroka and Max Fried at the top of the Braves' rotation.

While there's no real durability concern, there are some risk factors.

First, Anderson's curve was plus at times in high school but has slowly regressed a bit in pro ball, with characteristics like low spin that have it play below even what eyeball accounts would tell you. It looks average to me now, and has for a few years, but on some days and to some analysts, it's below average. This profile can sometimes lead to struggles like Chris Paddack has had with San Diego, or with a little improvement, Anderson may turn into James Shields.

Anderson works at the top of the zone with a rising, four-seam fastball, so he may have spells when he's homer-prone, and that also leaves little margin for error with command. The downside is a No. 3 or No. 4 starter with an ERA hovering around 4.00, but I think he'll settle as a No. 3 starter with some No. 2 starter-type seasons. If the breaking ball becomes plus, there is still ace potential.

13. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, San Diego Padres

Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Tools: Fastball 55/55, Slider 55/60, Curveball 45/50, Changeup 55/60, Command 50/60

Present/Future Value: 45/60

Gore, like Anderson, is a pedigreed, former elite high school prospect who went in the top five picks, has all the elements you want to see ... but also may have more above-average stuff that makes him a mid-rotation fit than truly plus stuff for an ace-type outcome.

The explanation from San Diego on why he didn't pitch in the big leagues or playoffs last year while Patino and Weathers jumped ahead of him in the debut line is that Gore was a little out of whack with his delivery, so the timing wasn't right. He apparently had a real shot to start Game 2 if they advanced another round but didn't get the call against the Dodgers since his profile doesn't work as well out of the bullpen.

I saw him in a short look at the Futures Game, when he was a bit flat, and tended to agree with this logic. This doesn't stop other clubs from having conspiracy theories about something more serious going on with Gore, and because the Padres didn't share video and data from their alternate site, nobody really knows for sure.

I'm told Gore hit 96 mph recently in a bullpen and is all systems go for 2020. You can see the pitch grades above, and he's a plus athlete with advanced feel and a good delivery -- even if there isn't 100 mph or a 70-grade pitch to wow you. We'll find out in March and April if there's actually anything to worry about, so I downgraded Gore ever so slightly in this year's list until we learn more.

14. Nate Pearson, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Age: 24 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Fastball 70/70, Slider 65/70, Curveball 45/50, Changeup 50/55, Command 45/50

Present/Future Value: 45/60

If you want to dream on an ace from this list but would prefer a more heavy metal approach than a graceful orchestral number, Pearson is your guy. He's been up to 101 mph many times, 102 mph before, sitting 95-100 mph in many starts. His mid-80s power slider is hellacious, and he's a deceptively good athlete with enough body control and finesse that, even at 6-foot-6, 245 pounds, he has the ability and has shown an above-average changeup and average command.

In his MLB debut in 2020, he gave glimpses of this complete version of himself but more often would get in destructive patterns of missing by a bit, getting behind, then trying to overthrow, which would snowball on him.

While he may look like a future reliever at first blush, his outlook depends on how well he can dial down and adjust to make things work. Possessing 45-grade command (quality strikes) and 50-grade control (any kind of strike) may be enough to make Pearson a front-line starter, while almost anything more than that could make him an ace.

15. Royce Lewis, 3B, Minnesota Twins

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Hit 30/50, Game Power 40/60, Raw Power 60/60, Speed 60/55, Fielding 45/50, Throw 50/50

Present/Future Value: 40/60

First, I'll address why I have Lewis listed as a third baseman when he has played one professional game at the position. He is an above-average athlete who has mostly played shortstop in pro ball and he's OK there, but most evaluators think he'll leave you wanting a little more in terms of range and fluidity. He's played third a bit in showcases, and I think he'd fit best there, but the other common link is center field, where he's also played one pro game, and he'd probably be solid there as well.

Similar to Nick Senzel of the Reds, Lewis has the tools to play capably at almost any spot on the diamond, so when the spot opens in the Twins' lineup for him to be called up, he'll be versatile enough to fit there.

Lewis was the No. 1 overall pick in 2017 and has the tools to match, with plus raw power and speed. His upper-level performance hasn't quite matched, as he's been tinkering with swing adjustments, mostly in the area of stance, pre-contact movement and trying to emphasize athleticism rather than rigidity.

The raw tools, track record and makeup all point to him eventually working out as an above-average offensive threat, and that's why he leads off this second tier of position-player prospects, but the questions around both offense and defense are why he's not in the top tier.

16. Cristian Pache, CF, Atlanta Braves

Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Hit 40/50, Game Power 35/45, Raw Power 55/55, Speed 70/70, Fielding 70/70, Throw 70/70

Present/Future Value: 40/60

Pache has no such questions about his defense, as he's been a plus-plus runner, thrower and defender for years and has even drawn comparisons to Andruw Jones. Those comps continue to the plate because Pache just hasn't put it all together yet.

He has above-average raw power and has steadily improved his contact rate, swing decisions and mechanical consistency to help get to more power in games. Now he's on the 40-man and has made a brief MLB debut, and the Braves would like for him to become a steady big league option with Ender Inciarte fading in effectiveness.

Pache will probably be a solid MLB contributor in 2021, but the long-term question is if he ends up closer to his Kevin Pillar-type floor, a Kevin Kiermaier-type middle ground or a perennial All-Star-type upside

17. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Kansas City Royals

Age: 20 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Hit 20/45, Game Power 25/55, Raw Power 60/65, Speed 60/60, Fielding 55/60, Throw 60/60

Present/Future Value: 30/60

For me, Witt fits next to Pache because their profiles are similar, with Witt having more offensive upside and a more desirable position, but he is years behind in development.

Witt draws Trevor Story comparisons, and you can see the grades on the four plus tools above. He is the type who could hit for enough contact and draw enough walks to get to his 25-30-homer power in games while also providing premium value on the basepaths and on defense.

Witt has been posting big exit velos in pro games, but he hasn't quite dialed everything in yet. And when there are questions about his ability to make contact for a player in Rookie ball, that's a considerable risk regardless of the upside. A strong low-A performance that addresses these issues would move Witt up a good bit from his already lofty perch as the No. 2 overall pick in 2019.

18. Dylan Carlson, LF, St. Louis Cardinals

Age: 22 | Bats: Both | Throws: Left

Tools: Hit 45/55, Game Power 45/55, Raw Power 55/55, Speed 50/50, Fielding 50/55, Throw 45/45

Present/Future Value: 45/60

Carlson is more the subtle type of prospect, without gaudy plus-plus tools or top-10-pick pedigree. He only cracked the top 20 of this list after he'd already played 35 MLB games. Now that your expectations are lowered, he's really good!

He has above-average hit, power and fielding tools, which are the three you'd pick. After a tough start to his MLB debut stint, Carlson finished hot, with seven extra-base hits, elevated hard-hit rate and spiking expected stats in his last dozen games (check out the blue-to-red trend of his xwOBA in the graph at the top of this page. Carlson is good enough to fill in at center and has just enough arm utility to also do it in right field. Brandon Nimmo's Mets career is a decent expectation, but Carlson may have more feel to hit, which can also sometimes unlock more power.

19. Brandon Marsh, CF, Los Angeles Angels

Age: 23 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Tools: Hit 40/55, Game Power 40/55, Raw Power 55/60, Speed 55/55, Fielding 50/50, Throw 60/60

Present/Future Value: 40/60

Marsh popped up during his draft spring at a high school in the Atlanta suburbs because he was a multisport athlete, but his obvious tools -- plus bat speed, running speed, arm strength and power projection -- were too good to keep low on the board because of a lack of track record. The Angels took him No. 60 overall in 2016, from the same school that produced Joey Bart.

Marsh hit the ground running in pro ball even better than expected, with above-average walk rates and some feel for getting to power in games against older competition. He had a chance to play his way into a 2020 MLB debut if he had a minor league season, but Mike Trout, Justin Upton and Jo Adell are also ahead of him in the pecking order for outfield reps in Los Angeles. Adell is now on the clock with his contact issues, and Marsh is breathing down his neck; Marsh may merit a look in the second half of 2021, and I think there's a better chance he sticks than Adell did in his audition due to the hit tool disparity.

20. Casey Mize, RHP, Detroit Tigers

Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Fastball 55/55, Cutter 60/65, Slider 60/60, Splitter 60/65, Command 50/60

Present/Future Value: 45/60

Mize has some easy qualities to get on board with -- a 92-95 mph heater, projected plus cutter, slider, splitter and command -- and was the No. 1 overall pick out of Auburn in 2018 after steamrolling the best conference in amateur baseball.

On draft day, almost everyone saw him as a clear top prospect but was still concerned about his longevity. Some clubs took him off their board out of high school due to a shoulder issue, he had elbow soreness in his sophomore year of college, a PRP injection that summer, then missed time after the draft with a shoulder injury.

He's not the premium athlete you'd prefer if you're drawing up an elite pitching prospect, so you can easily connect these dots and wonder if he can maintain his excellent amateur and minor league performance for 200 innings a year in the big leagues throughout his 20s, even though there hasn't been a surgery or giant red flag.

He made seven big league starts as his debut in 2020 and was very good in his first start, then middling in the next six. He'll probably get a little more seasoning in the minors, but there aren't massive things here to address. If he stays healthy, he's probably at least a mid-rotation starter, and there's a real shot at a front-line starter.

21. Luis Patino, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Fastball 70/70, Slider 60/65, Changeup 45/55, Command 40/50

Present/Future Value: 40/60

Patino joins Nate Pearson as the most exciting to watch of this top tier of pitching prospects.

While Pearson is a giant velocity monster sort of like Noah Syndergaard, Patino is a 6-footer who arguably has the best raw stuff among all prospects. He works in the mid-90s and hits 99 mph with regularity using a four-seam rising-style fastball that induces a lot of whiffs. His slider is easily plus often and his changeup has progressed to also flash above-average quality.

Patino is an excellent athlete and has strong makeup, so you can see why Tampa Bay targeted him as the headliner in the Blake Snell deal after a decent (lots of whiffs and walks) bullpen-only MLB debut. The Rays have a long track record of optimizing pitchers and while Patino is much shorter than Tyler Glasnow, they were both premium pitching prospects with elite stuff, below-average current command and limited MLB success.

The upside here is another front-line starter like Glasnow, though there is still some concern that Patino may fit best at the back of a bullpen due to his size, current command, and explosive arm.

22. Alex Kirilloff, RF, Minnesota Twins

Age: 23 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Tools: Hit 50/60, Game Power 50/55, Raw Power 60/60, Speed 40/40, Fielding 45/45, Throw 60/60

Present/Future Value: 45/60

Kirilloff, like many of the domestic position players on this list, stood out on the showcase circuit, proving he had elite contact skills in games and his plus raw power also showed up in games. He wasn't much of an athlete at that point, already a corner-only fit, and that's only become more of an issue as Kirilloff has risen up the ladder and kept hitting. He's now a fringy outfielder or decent first baseman and looks like he'll take over Eddie Rosario's corner outfield spot in the lineup in 2021.

He's one of the rare prospects on this list for whom plus hit and power tools seem like a reasonable projection, but he's not a huge walk type as he relies more on bat control than pitch selection to make contact. The risk here would be that the pitch selection undermines his in-game power and he's worse than a 45 in left field, making him a platoon first base/designated hitter fit in the short and maybe long term. There's also a bit of an injury history, with a Tommy John surgery in 2017 and a wrist injury that muted his production in 2019.

He'll get a real shot in 2021 and will probably be a solid everyday type with All-Star upside if it all clicks, but there isn't a giant gulf between what he is now and what he could be.

23. Matt Manning, RHP, Detroit Tigers

Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Fastball 60/65, Curveball 55/60, Changeup 50/55, Command 45/50

Present/Future Value: 45/60

Like Gore, Manning looked set for a big league debut in 2020 as prospects around him got their looks, but ultimately never made his debut. That was due to a poorly timed forearm strain that he's now recovered from.

Like Michael Kopech, Manning seemed on the verge of commanding his high-octane stuff for years, with glimpses in 2018, then he finally broke through in 2019 over 133.2 innings in Double-A. His overall package is just as good as Kopech's while Manning hasn't had surgery, but Kopech has proven it at a higher level. It's basically a coin flip between these two, but I'll lean with Manning.

Manning and Mize may both break camp in Triple-A, getting looks in the majors at the first sign of trouble.

24. Michael Kopech, RHP, Chicago White Sox

Age: 24 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Tools: Fastball 70/70, Slider 55/60, Curveball 50/55, Changeup 45/50, Command 40/50

Present/Future Value: 45/60

Kopech and Yoan Moncada were the two major pieces the White Sox received from the Red Sox for Chris Sale, and both have worked out well thus far.

Kopech looked to be turning the corner in his big league debut late in 2018, displaying starter command to go with his premium stuff, but he blew out his elbow and hasn't played an official professional game yet since then. Everything has gone to plan so far, though, as he was back in the high-90s in fall instructional league in 2019, then opted out of the 2020 season when he looked prime to re-enter to big league rotation at some point early in the season.

The White Sox have added enough starter types to their major league roster that Kopech probably won't break with the team, but will likely be the first call-up when needed. Like basically all of the pitchers in this range, there is front-line starter upside if it all comes together, but we haven't seen enough game looks to know if Kopech's command and overall effectiveness will pick up where he left off in 2018.

25. Riley Greene, RF, Detroit Tigers

Age: 20 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Tools: Hit 30/60, Game Power 30/55, Raw Power 55/60, Speed 55/50, Fielding 50/55, Throw 55/55

Present/Future Value: 35/55

If you're sick of hearing it by prospect 25, gear up to hear it another couple dozen times because Greene also stood out on the national stage as a prep underclassman from a productive prep program (Zach Eflin, Ryan Mountcastle) and excelled on the showcase circuit with wood bats against top competition.

Similar to Kirilloff, Greene was seen as a corner-only, right-field fit with fringy speed, but actually got faster in his draft spring after working on it in the fall and winter. He's now a decent center fielder and 55 runner, but his 6-foot-3 frame probably adds more bulk and raw power which would make him slide back to right field.

The selling point here is the hit tool, more bat control than pitch selection driven though both are solid, and the kind of work ethic and feel for the game that have become evident in the past couple years. I feel a little more confident about Greene's total package turning out well in the big leagues than Kirilloff, but Greene has played only 24 games of full-season ball and Kiriloff will probably play all of 2021 in the big leagues so my ranking reflects that pretty big development risk and proximity to the majors disparity. If I had to bet on someone ending up in the top 10 of next year's list that isn't currently in the top 20, Greene is my first pick.

26. Vidal Brujan, 2B, Tampa Rays

Age: 23 | Bats: Both | Throws: Right

Future Value: 55

Brujan is another in the line of elite middle-infield prospects the Rays seemingly are producing on an assembly line. He gets lost a bit in the Franco hype, but Brujan is a plus contact, plus runner, plus defender that can fill in at shortstop. He's also still just 22 and has already performed well at Double-A.

The concern -- like with fellow farmhand Xaiver Edwards, White Sox 2B Nick Madrigal and Brewers 2B Luis Urias before them -- is that Brujan doesn't have enough in-game power to do damage. Brujan doesn't lift the ball like Ozzie Albies does, so you're kinda banking on a bunch of really strong skills and just enough power to punish a mistake, rather than a bunch of solid-average tools like with Jeter Downs.

It's unclear how the Rays will sort out their embarrassment of riches in the infield, but Brujan likely opens the year in Triple-A and could get the call at any time since he's already on the 40-man roster.

27. Corbin Carroll, CF, Arizona Diamondbacks

Age: 20 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 55

Carroll may be the biggest winner among position players who improved behind mostly closed doors at the alternate site. He was a mid-first round pick in 2019 out of a Washington high school that was on the small side, but he had impact speed and contact skills along with a strong arm, good instincts in center field and sneaky strength. There were some parallels to Jarred Kelenic, but Carroll didn't have the same track record or size/strength.

His arrow was pointing up after the draft due to a strong pro debut in 2019 with better than expected plate discipline as well, falling into the up-the-middle performer with strong contact skills trendy archetype I've been mentioning.

Carroll has gotten significantly stronger and is posting exit velos to match, akin to the jump Andrew Benintendi made in his draft year at Arkansas. A plus hitter with a good approach, solid-average power he can get to in games, and solid-average center-field defense is probably a better package than the college version of Benintendi when he was picked in the same range as Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker.

There's some belief in Arizona that Carroll may make it to Double-A in 2021 (which is what Kelenic did in his second pro season) and join Perdomo, Thomas, and Robinson from this list along with the graduated Daulton Varsho in a wave of elite position player prospects to form the core of a club that may be able to compete with the Padres and Dodgers. A breakout season something like that makes Carroll another threat to shoot up the list for next year.

28. Oneil Cruz, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age: 22 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Future Value: 55

Cruz is another one on the ridiculous tools, amazing upside end of the spectrum on this list. I first saw him when he was 15 years old and about 6-foot-1. He's now 6-foot-7, so I've tossed that scouting report in the trash. He's still playing shortstop, incredibly, and has been described as having such quick hands for a player his size that it's hard to totally process.

There isn't a track record of 6-foot-7 shortstops, so I have to assume he'll move to another position, but there's also a pretty short track record of 6-foot-7 position players at all, so I don't feel tethered to comps. His 80-grade arm and solid hands should work at third base given when he's doing now, so I'll project him there, but the guesses around the industry at his ultimate defensive home are all over the place.

As you may guess, Cruz's raw power is a 70 or 80 and he's also at least an above-average runner now, but I'd guess that ends up below average at some point. Cruz's offensive performance has been strong compared to Aaron Judge at the same age (Judge was just getting out of college at this point), but Cruz's pitch selection isn't good, and his swing could also use some work. This is normally the part where I'd sum up Cruz's skills and give you some idea of what to expect but we don't really know.

Cruz was arrested in the Dominican Republic in September for allegedly driving under the influence during a car crash that killed three people. He is expected to be at spring training.

29. Luis Campusano, C, San Diego Padres

Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 55

Campusano has made great strides since his prep days, when he was overweight in the summer and wasn't facing or catching any velocity in the spring.

He now has above-average to plus contact skills, raw power, and arm strength and is one of the more valuable catchers in baseball. He's continuing to put the ball in the air more and may end up as a power-over-hit type with solid-average offensive production. His weakest point is in receiving and framing, which may be essentially non-entities in catcher evaluation is automated strike-calling comes as expected, though Campusano is still improving back there.

He got a quick look in the big league in 2020 and is on the 40-man roster, so will likely get some upper minors experience and maybe a quick cameo in 2021 with an eye toward more playing time in 2022. It is worth mentioning his arrest in October.

30. Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, Baltimore Orioles

Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Future Value: 55

Rodriguez was a surprise pick at No. 11 overall in the 2018 draft, both since he was generally thought to go in the back half of the first round and also because he was generally seen behind Matthew Liberatore (80th on this list) and Cole Winn (45+ FV).

Obviously, Baltimore has been more right than that consensus so far and much of that is due to how quickly Rodriguez has made adjustments. While I was at FanGraphs, I took high-speed video of Rodriguez in the Futures Game and saw the mesmerizing screwball-like action he was getting on his new changeup. It went from being a distant third pitch that was never much better than average to a plus pitch. Some of the pitch-design things that Houston is known for (Verlander's new arm slot, fastball spin, etc.) are at work here with former Houston people running the show in Baltimore.

Rodriguez now has four above-average to plus pitches with starter command. If he had a 2020 minor league season, it would not be surprising to have seen him steamroll his way to Double-A and be comfortably in that top tier of troublesome-to-sort pitching prospects above. Only having experience in low-A and not having one 70-grade projected pitch are the two things holding him back thus far, but Rodriguez actually doesn't have a clear concern like all of them do.

Rodriguez may be underranked here, but he'll likely move up 10-15 spots with a strong first half of the 2021 minor league season, as his questions melt away while other prospects graduate.

31. Jazz Chisholm, SS, Miami Marlins

Age: 23 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Future Value: 55

Acquired from the Diamondbacks for pitcher Zac Gallen in a rare prospect challenge trade, Chisholm has been a tool shed since signing out of the Bahamas in 2015.

He's a plus runner with above-average defense at shortstop, above-average arm strength and above-average raw power from the left side. He struggled in a short 2020 MLB debut because of the one issue I haven't mentioned yet: he's a bit of a free swinger. Miami thought he may be overwhelmed in a short MLB look but, even though it looked like that statistically, the Marlins think he handled it well and had good at-bats that will serve him well while he gets a little more seasoning in Triple-A this year.

Miami has a full middle infield with Jon Berti, Miguel Rojas, and Isan Diaz, so Chisholm won't be needed in 2021 unless there's a serious injury or extended slump from one of those.

Adalberto Mondesi and Willy Adames put up 2.5 to 3.0 WAR seasons (i.e. a 55 PV/FV) in 2019 with this general sort of skill set so, while there's some risk due to Chisholm's pitch selection, there's some solid comps that have made it work.

32. Joey Bart, C, San Francisco Giants

Age: 24 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 55

Most players on this list didn't move that much, and is Bart one of the most notable prospects moving in the wrong direction. He was ranked No. 7 overall at this time last year because he had plus raw power, plus defensive ability behind the plate, plus arm strength, and plus makeup/intangibles and all of that is still true. The concern last year was contact rate and more specifically pitch selection, which has become a bigger concern.

He had performed well up to Double-A through 2019, then he got a taste of the big leagues in 2020 and had a 3% walk rate and 37% strikeout rate over 111 plate appearances. Nobody really thought he was a finished offensive product in 2020 so Bart wasn't set up to succeed, but teams will slightly rush elite prospects with elite makeup to see if they can adjust on the fly and figure out issues like this.

Rival evaluators are worried Bart's offensive upside is diminished going forward, and the new Giants regime picked a catcher in the first round in 2020 who is No. 100 on this list. The Giants aren't shopping Bart but I think they'd be open to getting full value for him, a pick of the previous regime, to add more upper level talent while they get ready to flick the switch to being contenders.

33. Nolan Jones, 3B, Cleveland Indians

Age: 22 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Future Value: 55

Jones is a study in extremes: he has plus-plus pitch selection, raw power, and arm strength.Those first two mean that he'll have a lot of walks, in-game power, and probably strikeouts, and because his lateral movement has improved in recent years, that he's got enough arm to outthrow a mistake fielding at the hot corner.

Jones isn't conventionally fast in a long-speed or time to first sort of way and his bat control is below average, further underlining that there will be plenty of strikeout with those walks and homers, and not many infield singles.

There's some margin for error in this evaluation with his positional fit and pitch selection, so I'm confident we'll see Jones give everyday value, with a shot for a middle-of-the-order All-Star level slugger.

34. Drew Waters, CF, Atlanta Braves

Age: 22 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Future Value: 55

Full disclosure: I was in the draft room the year the Braves drafted Waters (same with Ian Anderson and the signing of Cristian Pache). I'm not sure that fact impacts my evaluation at all, since each of these acquisitions happened years ago, and there has been plenty of on-field performance to drown out those amateur evaluations. I mention all that to say that I'm still probably the high man in the media on Waters.

I think we all agree on the raw tools here -- above-average to plus bat control, bat speed, raw power, speed and arm strength -- and there may be a little disagreement about how good his game power and center field defense grades out, but both are probably a 50 or 55.

The differences come on what Waters' offensive production will be in light of his well- below-average pitch selection. There are examples of players with this tooled-up skill set that are basically so physically talented that they can get around chasing bad pitches more than others. You can immediately think of Vladimir Guerrero, but then also more solid-to-good everyday players like Starling Marte, maybe even a successful rookie like Luis Robert. There's also some in the category of falling below expectations, like Lewis Brinson.

It's not a binary outcome as Waters will probably fall between the extremes, but I still think Waters has the makeup and raw talent to make this work, maybe with a median projection of 50 hit, power, and defense in center field, which is basically a 2.0 WAR player, almost exactly the 50 grade he's five slots away from having. Given that he's still 22, he is basically big league ready, he has performed well in the upper levels, and there is plenty of upside for more than a grade-50 outcome, I still think this ranking makes sense.

35. Tyler Stephenson, C, Cincinnati Reds

Age: 24 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 55

Stephenson exploded onto the national scouting scene in his high school senior spring after he was more of a regionally-known, non-showcase prospect the summer before. He got internet famous when I posted a Vine (yeah, I know) of him bat flipping a homer in a playoff game clear out of the frame and almost into the first-base coach. He went No. 11 overall in 2015 despite being from a scary demographic (prep catchers) because he was hitting in games, had 70-grade raw power and arm strength, and was surprisingly good behind the plate for a 6-foot-4 catcher.

Since then, he has steadily worked his way through the minors with some minor dings along the way and hit two homers in a 20-plate appearance cup-of-coffee debut in 2020. With Curt Casali out of the way, he's got a clear line to the starting job in 2021 or 2022.

In pro ball, Stephenson's approach has been more toward line drives and contact rather than the slow-pitch softball swing that most of us would take if we had this kind of juice. Even if he's a 5 bat, 4 power, 5 defense catcher, which is about his floor, that is still one of the top 20 or so catchers in baseball. There's a shot he puts the pieces together and becomes a top-five catcher in the game and he is basically big league ready. If you called Cincinnati and tried to trade for anyone, either Stephenson or Luis Castillo would be the hardest single players to get.

36. Josiah Gray, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 55

Similar to Rodriguez at No. 30, Gray appeals to me partly because he's in a good pitching development organization (though that technically doesn't affect his ranking) but mostly because there's no real negative on his report and he has already pitched in Double-A.

Gray was acquired with Jeter Downs (since flipped with Alex Verdugo for Mookie Betts) from Cincinnati in the convoluted Yasiel Puig/Alex Wood/Homer Bailey deal and has gone from intriguing sleeper to legitimate elite pitching prospect. Gray was a shortstop at Division 2 LeMoyne College in upstate New York before converting to the mound and going a little higher than expected in the second round to Cincinnati, who was betting on his athleticism and arm speed.

His pro debut was just 12 starts in a short-season league and it was clear that Gray was a find at No. 72 overall. He was quickly improving, flashing three above-average pitches and starter traits. Under the Dodgers' tutelage this rise continued, with a huge 2019 season that had him pitch at low-A, high-A, and Double-A.

He'll need to be added to the 40-man roster after the season and Los Angeles' pitching staff is so deep right now, he may just pitch in the upper minors for 2021. The only real concerns so far are a short pitching track record and no knockout 70-grade pitch, but a bag of 55s and a 60 or two, along with a good MLB debut can get you in the top 15 of this list.

37. Trevor Larnach, RF, Minnesota Twins

Age: 23 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Future Value: 55

Larnach fits near Kirilloff among the Twins on this list because he's also a decent-but-not-great corner outfielder with plus power and at least average contact skills. Kirilloff is a little closer to the big leagues and is seen as a superior hitter, but Larnach has more raw power and better pitch selection. I think Larnach gets to a little more power in games, the question is if, in the course of completing that in-game power realization, Larnach eventually becomes a below-average contact threat.

Like Kirilloff, there's some risk that any loss in plate discipline, or contact skills could make him a platoon first base/designated hitter option. In college, Larnach was more of a hitter with massive raw power who didn't tap into it that often, and he's hit near .300 at every stop of the minors with a double-digit walk percentage so all evidence points to this bat being an impact one in the big leagues.

38. Austin Martin, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 55

Martin was one of the easier draft prospects to evaluate leading into the 2020 spring as he'd starred for two years for Vanderbilt and Team USA, performing well everywhere with similar tools the whole time. He was a plus to plus-plus contact threat (highest rate of 95+ exit velocities in the SEC) with average raw power that he was learning to get to, deceptively plus speed, and enough defensive ability to play somewhere up the middle, along with third base.

In the limited look scouts got in the 2020 spring, Martin had difficulty making the throw from the left side of the infield and was showing more like average speed. For those without much history, they thought they saw a left fielder without much in-game power, while those with history assumed Martin was hurt in some way. I didn't see Martin (the season was canceled a week before I was set to get my first 2020 look) but had run into a similar thing with Trea Turner in the past, when he looked somewhat hurt and generally out of sorts after torching the ACC for two seasons. Turner slipped to 13th overall in 2014 and Martin only lasted until the 5th pick.

Indications from the alternate site is that Toronto saw the previous version of Martin and that, going forward, they'll have a plus contact, decent power, plus runner sticking long term at second, third or center field (all places he's played capably as an amateur) and getting some shortstop reps as well.

39. Geraldo Perdomo, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks

Age: 21 | Bats: Both | Throws: Right

Future Value: 55

I've written in blurbs here and in other articles about the trend in evaluation in recent years to lean even harder on contact rate, ideally with some speed and defensive value for margin of error, and thus putting bat speed, raw power, and traditional physical projection a little lower down the list of requirement for elite young position player prospects.

Perdomo fits these trends really well, with excellent performance as someone who has been very young for the level, possesses above-average speed and provides projected defensive value at shortstop along with an offensive approach that revolves around elite plate discipline and strong bat control.

His raw power is below average right now, but he is 6-foot-3 and adding bulk, so 15 homers doesn't seem ridiculous. Hitting 15 homers annually with his profile would put him on the fringes of All-Star-like performance and his skill set comes with a lot less risk than, say, the Kristian Robinson type of skill set.

40. Jasson Dominguez, CF, New York Yankees

Age: 18 | Bats: Both | Throws: Right

Future Value: 55

Dominguez is the most-hyped international prospect in some time, essentially on par with Wander Franco at the same stage (i.e. having not played a pro game yet), but Dominguez is ranked a bit higher than Franco was since he's taller and is already presently so physical for his age.

Dominguez is one of those prospects with whom you can imagine almost anything. If you hate the Yankees, see he added bulk during the pandemic and want to think he'll blow up and bust like another super hyped prospect, Kevin Maitan, there's enough there to make yourself believe it without any stats to disabuse you from that hot take. Dominguez did add some bulk in the pandemic but then was able to basically take it all back off before team activities began. The concern from rival scouts on Dominguez as an amateur is that he was so physically developed for his age, that it can only get worse from here. I understand that impulse, but his work ethic seems important to consider, even if he will get more muscular and maybe lose a step as he advances throughout the minors.

Now for the fun stuff: Dominguez hit a ball 117 mph off the bat in a sim game recently, is still running 70-grade run times, and still has at least a plus arm. All the signs, which admittedly don't include any actual professional games, point to at least average contact skills and some sense of how to get to his majestic power in games. He has the tools to play anywhere on the field, but center field is the choice since learning will go much quicker than the infield, or even catcher, which was considered for a moment.

We'll finally get a pro debut in 2021. It was customary for the best international prospects to debut in the Rookie-Advanced level (like Franco and Vlad Jr. did in the Appalachian League) but that level doesn't exist anymore, so I'd expect some combination of rookie ball, extended spring training, and maybe a little taste of low-A.

41. Jeter Downs, 2B, Boston Red Sox

Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Yes, Downs is named after Derek Jeter and yes, he was one of two headliners (with Alex Verdugo) in the return for the most hated Red Sox trade in a long time, the one that Mookie Betts to the Dodgers.

With that out of the way, Downs should join Verdugo as long-term everyday players in the Red Sox lineup. He's fine at shortstop, but most MLB teams will be able to find better, so he'll likely fit at second base long term, with fringy speed and an average arm. The calling card here is his above-average contact ability along with the progress he had made with the Dodgers just before the trade in tapping into his solid-average (20ish homers annually) raw power. His low-end outcome is a fringe regular, say something like Starlin Castro, and a better-than-expected outcome would be something like Gleyber Torres, where both the in-game power and defensive ability both beat expectations. He'll probably spend some time in the upper minors in 2021 but could debut as soon as later this season.

42. Nick Madrigal, 2B, Chicago White Sox

Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Madrigal has played 29 big league games, so he was just barely eligible for this list. He's another prospect in the extreme category, because he's really good at a couple things and not that good at another right now.

Madrigal has elite, at least plus-plus, bat control, and plus pitch selection without much launch angle, so his contact rates are basically as high as you'll ever see. He had a 6.4% strikeout rate in the big leagues last year, on the heels of a 3.0% strikeout rate in his minor league career, when the MLB average is 23%.

Madrigal's extreme contact approach fits in with current trends, but he doesn't have room for much growth. On the bright side, he's a plus runner and fielder at second base and is probably a solid everyday player even if he doesn't improve, but there's a shot he's the next short second baseman to find his way into some power and becomes a solidly above-average one.

43. Logan Gilbert, RHP, Seattle Mariners

Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Gilbert popped up in the Cape Cod League the summer before his draft year, working in the mid-90s with above-average stuff and starter command. In that spring at Stetson, he was pitching deep into games, regularly well over 100 pitches, and his velocity was hovering in the low-90s with a less sharp breaking ball.

He slid to the 14th pick after looking about a half-dozen picks better than that over the summer, and the Mariners have been rewarded thus far in their belief that a pro workload will bring back some of that arm speed. Gilbert is now regularly peaking in the mid-90s once again and continues to finetune his four-pitch mix by immersing himself in the various pitch-design tech of the day.

He profiles as a bulk-inning mid-rotation starter with solid average stuff and plus command, A 2021 MLB debut is a distinct possibility as Seattle looks to turn the corner into contention.

44. Spencer Howard, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

Age: 24 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Howard was a late-rising draft prospect at Cal Poly in 2017 because he began the season in the bullpen before rising into the second round later that spring. A year later, his stuff started spiking with his fastball sitting in the mid-90s and hitting 99 mph. The added arm speed made his curveball better, flashing plus, to go with an already advanced changeup that is also plus at times.

He had a middling 2020 MLB debut, giving up more than his share of homers. Howard's command of his lively stuff is more fringy, so it could take a little bit of time for him to dial in the raw stuff against big league hitters to get the mid-rotation starter results his talent suggests.

45. Robert Hassell III, CF, San Diego Padres

Age: 19 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

Hassell stood out early in his prep career as a Nick Markakis type, with an advanced feel for contact, but limited speed and power. By his showcase summer leading into his draft year, he was flashing MLB-average power and looked like he'd stick in center field as a plus runner. He was among the best performers and probably had the best pure hit tool among all prep position players in the 2020 MLB draft.

It eventually became a toss-up between him and Zac Veen and they went No. 8 and 9 overall after I had ranked them fifth and sixth pre-draft. These two will be linked for a while and I'm a little higher than most on both of them. I lean toward Hassell now because I think his toolset is similar to Drew Waters (34th on this list) but with better pitch selection and thus probability on his hit tool and ultimate success -- even though Hassell's power is a bit less at the same stage.

Some think Hassell will slide to a corner spot eventually, but that would likely come with enough strength gains for his power to profile at that position. I've continued hearing notes on how Hassell has some of the best makeup some scouts have seen in years, an intense, baseball junkie with an insane work ethic, along the same lines as Jarred Kelenic and Bryce Harper.

46. Zac Veen, RF, Colorado Rockies

Age: 19 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

That's not to discount Veen, who has had a meteoric rise from completely unknown even during his junior season at a central Florida high school, to announcing his presence with authority when he took Mets RHP Matt Allan (just missed the top 100) deep on a 96 mph fastball when every scout was there to see Allan and didn't know who Veen was.

At that point and on the summer showcase circuit, Veen showed above-average speed, plus plate discipline, and plus power potential. As scouts saw more of him, eventually the consensus formed that Veen would continue filling out his 6-foot-4 frame and move to right field, with some even projecting first base eventually.

His swing and general profile remind some of Christian Yelich and Cody Bellinger, but Veen may eventually settle as a 5 hit, plus pitch selection, 7 raw power type right fielder. Like Hassell, Veen hasn't played a pro game yet, so if either performs as their tools suggest in full-season ball, they'll shoot up this list.

47. Jordan Groshans, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Groshans was immediately a scout favorite on the showcase circuit because he looked like a 17-year-old version of Josh Donaldson. Donaldson adopted his signature swing in the big leagues, so he definitely didn't look like Groshans did as a teen -- but Groshans tools look like he could one day turn into a Donaldson type.

Groshans is an above-average athlete with solid average speed, plus raw power, plus bat speed, a plus arm and tools to be at least average at third base defensively. He had a foot injury late in 2019 that scuttled what was a solid age-19 performance in low-A. So there's a little more risk than with the recently drafted duo of Veen and Hassell because rival clubs haven't seen Groshans play since May of 2019, while Veen and Hassell both starred against the best of their peers playing with wood bats in the summer after that.

Groshans' tools are for real and it sounds like he's all systems go for 2021, but hitting the ground running early this season will likely also cause him to rise more than other comparably ranked talents.

48. Max Meyer, RHP, Miami Marlins

Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Meyer stood out as a slighter-framed reliever for Team USA after his freshman year at Minnesota. His velocity was in the mid-90s in short stints with a decent breaking ball, but he looked like a long-term reliever.

The next summer, he made a lot of progress, still throwing hard but for longer stints, with a little better delivery and command, and a hellacious spiked-grip slider that was easily a plus-plus pitch. He was a subject of fascination at the beginning of the 2020 spring season, and he hit 100 mph while his slider was drawing 80 grades from scouts.

He's still slightly-framed and is drawing Walker Buehler comparisons at this point, but there's also been no history of durability issues to suggest an issue, just extrapolations from his size. There is some effort and intensity that you'd normally associate with a reliever, but Buehler, Trevor Bauer, and Max Scherzer have that, too, so that's hardly a negative. Meyer slid ahead of Lacy and Hancock to be the first pitcher taken and can easily fit into any role on a staff, so he may shoot through the Miami system in 2021.

49. Asa Lacy, LHP, Kansas City Royals

Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

Lacy was cross-checked in high school (considered for a big bonus), but his asking price pushed him to Texas A&M, where he popped on the scene with bigger stuff in his sophomore year.

Lacy was on the same staff as Meyer for Team USA the summer before his draft year and worked in the mid-90s with an easily plus slider, but his below-average command and stiff delivery were both issues.

Leading up to the draft, scouts pointed to Lacy's track record of strike throwing, especially in his dominating efforts in the biggest games, as signs that the starter traits are in there if you could iron out some delivery adjustments. The Royals took him No. 4 overall just behind Meyer and envision him as a potential frontline starter. He certainly has the fastball and slider to profile there, but they'll have some work to do in refining the rest.

50. Nolan Gorman, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals

Age: 20 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Gorman is inextricably tied to Matthew Liberatore as both are friends and Phoenix-area prep talents who went in the first round in 2018, both a little lower than expected, and after Tampa Bay traded Liberatore, they're now teammates with the Cardinals and are both on this Top 100.

Gorman, like Casas (52nd), also offered easy plus raw power with game performance and exit velos to match in the 2018 draft, and the concerns on Gorman's contact rate in pursuit of game power was given a little more grace because he had a real shot to stick at third base long term. He fits the type to become a .250 to .260 hitter, with enough walks to have a solid OBP, and good enough pitch selection to get to his projected 70-grade raw power in games, which translates to 30ish homers annually.

There's still some risk he has to move off third base, though playing there is going well so far, and his contact issues in Class Al (hitting .241 in low-A and .256 in high-A) don't give him a ton of margin for error going forward if that's about what he'll be doing in the big leagues.

51. Kristian Robinson, RF, Arizona Diamondbacks

Age: 20 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Robinson is one of the most exciting upside prospects on this list, with some ridiculous tools and a physique at 6-foot-3 that would stand out at the NFL combine. He has plus speed, arm strength, and raw power right now, but as he fills out, the power may jump to 80-grade (some think it's already there) while the speed takes a step back and he slides from center to right field.

He signed out of the Bahamas in 2017 and just turned 20, so he's a little behind his age peers in terms of game reps, but has performed well at the lower levels. His strikeout and walks rates are both high and he's getting to his power in games already, which is encouraging, but he's also excelling in part due to his physical gifts.

The concern here is that his bat control plays below average and his pitch selection is just fine, so will more advanced pitchers tie him into knots and mute his physical gifts? If he can have even average pitch selection and 40 bat control that leads to a 40 hit tool (.240 to .250) but he then gets to most or all of his power (think 30-40 homers annually) and offers some real defensive value, that could be a perennial All-Star. And it's early enough that he could be even more than that.

Reports from the alternate site were that he showed extreme ups and down, as you'd expect given the tools and facing near MLB-type talent. If you hear about GameStop's volatile stock and think about how cool that sounds, Robinson is for you.

52. Triston Casas, 1B, Boston Red Sox

Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Casas is another prospect who first stood out as a prep underclassman, starring for Team USA clubs and playing for a powerhouse south Florida high school program at American Heritage that has produced Eric Hosmer among others.

As the draft approached, Casas looked more like a first base-only prospect, but just kept hitting in games, showing a swing you could project to continue, and flashing plus-plus raw power with exit velos to match. The Red Sox took him 26th overall, and his stock continued to rise with a strong age-19 performance at low-A. He also continued to make progress in 2020 at the alternate site, showing up in great shape and performing well against older and more advanced competition.

Drafting a prep first baseman in the first round seems like a bad idea, but Casas checked the boxes you need -- a track record of hitting, a swing for all fields, a strong approach, and in-game evidence of big raw power. He'll have to keep doing it, but he's staying on schedule to be an above-average regular, with some shot for perennial All-Star.

53. Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers

Age: 24 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

Skubal was a notable name at Seattle University but didn't realize his draft potential as an amateur due to a Tommy John surgery in 2016 and extreme command issues in 2018, leading to Detroit scooping him up in the ninth round. He almost immediately started throwing more strikes in pro ball, with the signature mid-90s four-seam riding whiff-inducing fastball that's en vogue now. His off-speed stuff got a little more consistent, but was still average to a bit above, with his slider the best option.

Skubal's command now projects as average to above, and he looks like he'll settle in as a bulk-inning lefty who is fastball-heavy in his usage. He had strong peripherals in his 2020 MLB debut but, as young pitchers throwing lots of high fastballs early in their careers tend to do, Skubal gave up a bunch of homers. Mize and Skubal likely both work out their issues in the next season or so and become steady options, with Manning just behind them.

54. Edward Cabrera, RHP, Miami Marlins

Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Cabrera is a slightly forgotten member of the Marlins' embarrassment of upper-level starting pitching prospects, as Meyer was recently the third pick in the draft and Sixto Sanchez, Trevor Rogers, Braxton Garrett, and Nick Neidert all made their MLB debuts in 2020.

Cabrera is seen as on the level or better than all of those except for Sanchez and he's on the 40-man roster, so he may get his chance in 2021. Some actually thought Cabrera was better than Sanchez before 2020 and it's easy to see why: Cabrera sits in the mid-90s and hits 99 mph, mixing in an above-average slider and changeup with enough command to start.

He's probably not a front-line starter, but Cabrera could be a solid mid-rotation starter as soon as late 2021 in what is now a deep Marlins pitching staff.

55. J.J. Bleday, RF, Miami Marlins

Age: 23 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

Bleday was a solid two-way prep prospect committed to Vanderbilt who had a little more upside at the plate, but couldn't get enough draft money out of high school to turn down school. Early at Vandy, his raw power made a jump with an improved physique and the underlying hitting ability made him a first-round prospect after a solid Cape Cod performance. He massacred the SEC in his draft year en route to going No. 4 overall to the Marlins, going straight to high-A after signing and holding his own.

Bleday is now 23 and figures to spend the 2021 season in the upper minors with a shot to debut as early as late 2021. He's a deceptively good defender considering his below-average speed and has a plus arm from back in his pitching days.

His raw power, pitch selection, and contact skills are all above average, but there's some question if there's a truly plus tool here aside from his arm strength. He's a good bet to be a strong regular along the lines of Josh Reddick or Andre Ethier with some chance that his wide base of skills adds up to even more.

56. George Valera, RF, Cleveland Indians

Age: 20 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

At the time of signing, Valera was considered maybe the top hit/power combo in his July 2nd signing class with a loose lefty swing reminiscent of Kyle Tucker. That class included current Top 100 prospects Wander Franco, Julio Rodriguez, Kristian Robinson, Ronny Mauricio, and Liover Peguero, so some with either more raw power or more defensive value are his direct competition, but Valera still has above-average offensive potential. He projects for plus raw power, solid defense in a corner, and enough pitch selection and contact skills for at least average contact and on-base rates. There's still some risk in that he's only played 60 pro games and there isn't much room for error in that offensive projection, but he's passed every test so far.

57. Ryan Jeffers, C, Minnesota Twins

Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Jeffers was a pop-up prospect at UNC-Wilmington in 2018, showing above-average raw power and arm strength behind the plate but there were some questions about his contact ability and defensive ability tied to his size: 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. He was seen as a third-round-type talent but the Twins' board blew up (a succession of players now worth well less than Jeffers) and they took him No. 59 overall.

In pro ball, his contact and defense have both surprised, and posted strong numbers over 26 major league games in 2020 -- already beating pre-draft expectations. Jeffers is now a solid average defender due to some development work in the minors and will probably be a fringe-contact type who gets to at least average in-game power. In today's catching wasteland, that should be plenty to be a solid starter.

58. Xavier Edwards, 2B, Tampa Bay Rays

Age: 21 | Bats: Both | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Edwards was acquired from San Diego in the deal that cost the Rays Jake Cronenworth and Tommy Pham, and he fits the general type of hitter Tampa Bay tends to collect: high-contact rate, up-the-middle defender.

Edwards has at least plus contact skills, is a top-of-the-scale 80-grade runner and projects above average defensively at second base or center field -- but his arm is a little shy for shortstop. The issue, and why some suggested I should move Edwards to the back of this list, is the lack of in-game power. He has hit just one homer in two pro seasons. We've seen time and again that in-game power is the last tool to come for most prospects and good athletes with bat control are the type of player that tends to develop it in the big leagues.

Teammate Vidal Brujan (26th) is a similar prospect in a lot of ways, and neither has to do much in terms of in-game power to become a versatile everyday position player.

59. Triston McKenzie, RHP, Cleveland Indians

Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

McKenzie was well-known on the showcase circuit and a classic projection bet when he was selected No. 42 overall from a South Florida high school in 2015. He is still pretty lanky, but his velocity has progressed from sitting around 90 to averaging 92.8 mph in his MLB debut in 2020.

He was steadily working his way up the minors before missing all of 2019 with back and chest muscle issues but appeared to be fine in 2020. His stuff isn't loud and his velocity tailed off throughout 2020 -- though he also hadn't pitched in a while, but it could also be to his slight frame.

He has solid-average stuff and above-average command along with the benefits of an optimized four-pitch mix from Cleveland's pitching development machine. He is probably a mid-rotation starter if he can continue to stay healthy, yet another to come off of the organization's assembly line.

60. Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Rangers

Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Jung stood out early in his career at Texas Tech because of his sure hands and an above-average arm at third base along with loud performance at the plate mostly via strong contact He also showed above-average raw power in batting practice, but rarely lifted or pulled the ball in game, so you wouldn't know by his in-game power numbers.

The Rangers still took him No. 8 overall in the 2019 draft and he continued down this path in his pro debut, but there have been some indications that Jung made progress with his power attributes in 2020. His upside is an above-average offensive threat who is solid at third base.

61. Ronny Mauricio, SS, New York Mets

Age: 21 | Bats: Both | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Mauricio is a classic upside play as a 6-foot-3, switch-hitting shortstop who projects for above-average tools across the board. He's still a teenager now and had some ups and down in low-A as an 18-year-old, but was obviously facing much older competition.

His pitch selection is just OK right now, so his hitting tools are a bit obscured, but there's still some room for that to improve while may also grow into more power.

It's easy to imagine Mauricio as another XL shortstop with plus offense when you watch how he moves on the field, but he has plenty of risk to go with that mammoth upside.

62. Heliot Ramos, RF, San Francisco Giants

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Ramos trended up down the stretch of his draft year as a prep prospect out of Puerto Rico, as a model-friendly 17-year-old with five average or better tools and loud exit velos.

His arm may be his only true plus tool and he likely fits best in a corner-outfield spot, but he may get a big league look as soon as late in 2021.

63. Brennen Davis, CF, Chicago Cubs

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Davis is another toolsy prospect who most thought would take some time to produce stats that match his upside, but he handled himself better than expected in his first full season.

He is 6-foot-4 with plus speed, a plus arm, and projects for plus raw power. He's had some nagging injuries and only has a small sample of (excellent) performance, along with limited exposure to playing baseball full-time, so there may be some ups and downs in the coming years.

That said, he's easy to dream on and what information we have is almost universally positive, so his All-Star-level upside gives Cubs fans some hope during a cost-cutting time.

64. Alek Thomas, CF, Arizona Diamondbacks

Age: 20 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

Thomas's father Alan is the White Sox director of conditioning, so it shouldn't be super surprising that Alek has grown into two grades more of raw power since entering pro ball in the summer of 2018. It's also not shocking that Alek has strong outfield instincts, with plus speed that plays as a plus defender in center field.

His hit tool has fallen back a bit amid the strength gains to where he plays something like a slightly lesser version of Cristian Pache: speed, defense, raw power, tools to hit, but questionable overall offensive impact. There's still a strong chance Thomas settles as a .250ish hitter with 15-25 homers and good defense, carving out a solid career along the lines of Brett Gardner or Kevin Kiermaier.

65. Daniel Lynch, LHP, Kansas City Royals

Age: 24 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

Lynch was a personal favorite in the runup to the 2018 draft with his velocity spiking once he started pitching how he wanted (fewer sliders in the dirt) instead of how Virginia dictated. His velo has continued to rise, going from 88-92 early in his draft spring to touching the mid-90s pre-draft to finally reaching the upper 90s in pro ball.

His above-average command from his softer-tossing pitchability days is still around, and his fastball and slider both play as 55s or 60s on the 20-80 scale depending on the day. His curveball and changeup are both around average, so he's got a real chance to be a mid-rotation starter, with some small chance to be a frontline power lefty if it all comes together.

66. Nick Gonzales, 2B, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Gonzales was the No. 7 overall pick last summer out of New Mexico and broadly fits into one of the best draft demographics: advanced college infielder with hit/power combination. Gonzales is unique within that group because the numbers he put up 1) in a smallish park 2) against weak competition and 3) at altitude for New Mexico are looked upon skeptically in the industry, and his brief 2020 spring looks against top competition (Asa Lacy and Christian Roa of Texas A&M, midweek versus Arizona State) weren't fantastic.

His offensive tools and visual scouting still slot him in that aforementioned elite group, but the performance clubs are looking at is limited to 50 2019 games on the Cape. He hit .349 with good plate discipline and 28 extra base hits against the best amateur pitchers in the country. That's nowhere near as long of a track record as most other players in this group, usually with multiple years in top conferences, along with at least one notable, comparable summer, and often notable high school scouting track records.

Gonzales is also a fringy runner and defender at second base, clearly below average for some scouts. So there's plenty of risk due to the background, but if he comes out and plays up to his draft position in high-A this year, most of that will fade into the background.

67. Hunter Greene, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

In high school leading up to the 2017 draft, Greene was one of the best right-handed prep pitching prospects in some time, eventually going No. 2 overall to Cincinnati. He was skilled enough to be a top-two round prospect as an infielder, threw 100 mph in high school, and had a silky smooth arm action, with strictly limited innings to keep him healthy. Ultimately, throwing 100 mph at that age is plenty of risk on its own, leading to a 2019 Tommy John surgery.

Greene returned to the mound at the alternate site in 2020 and his stuff is back to normal (up to 102 mph) with some adjustments, like an improved changeup and greater use of his cutter, as a way of working around his inconsistent slider. It will be important to monitor Greene's arm slot and how his pitches play against live, rival hitters in 2021, to see how his raw stuff plays in games relative to the grades you'd throw on them in a vacuum.

Greene's upside is a double-plus fastball with plus command, and above-average off-speed pitches, which adds up to a front-line starter, if not an ace.

68. Emerson Hancock, RHP, Seattle Mariners

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

At this time last year, Hancock was a stealth option to go No. 1 overall in the 2020 draft, as he'd shown three plus pitches, plus command, and a near ideal delivery and frame at various times in college, though rarely all at the same time, or at least for long stretches.

He missed time down the stretch in 2019, then took the summer off. He came out of the gates a little wobbly in 2020, flashing some of his best stuff but his command faltered in the middle innings due in some part to early season stamina issues. The season was cut off right when Hancock was expected to take a step forward in conference play, so he lasted until the No. 6 overall pick. He didn't pitch competitively much in 2020 but has looked good in side sessions.

There's front-line potential if Hancock can stay healthy and consistent, but the main concerns are around his fastball shape (more sinker than swing-and-miss pitch) and relying on a (very good, at least plus) changeup more than his breaking ball as a right-handed starter, as only a few in the big leagues do.

69. Garrett Crochet, LHP, Chicago White Sox

Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

Crochet stepped onto the national scouting radar in his sophomore season at Tennessee, was widely seen that summer for Team USA, then hit 99 mph in one relief outing after a minor injury before the 2020 shutdown. He possesses some similar traits to Madison Bumgarner or even Chris Sale if you squint (low slot lefty, plus fastball/breaker combo, plays up in short stints), but there were enough questions about sticking as a starter or how his stuff played in games for him to last until the No. 11 pick.

As you probably know, Crochet ran straight up to the big leagues in a relief role for the White Sox, like Sale did before him, and averaged 100 mph on his heater en route to striking out eight and walking none in six innings. He'll likely open 2021 in the bullpen again, with an eye toward moving to a starting role at some point in the near future.

This could be a situation like Andrew Miller or Jonathan Papelbon where relieving just fits him better than starting, but the White Sox think the pieces are here to follow in Sale's footsteps again, hopefully with similar results.

70. Josh Lowe, CF, Tampa Bay Rays

Age: 23 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Lowe was a dynamic two-way prospect in high school who reached the mid-90s on the mound and offered plus raw power, speed, and arm strength as a high-upside center field prospect. He was then drafted 13th overall by Tampa Bay to be a full-time hitter.

Most of his pro career, Lowe has been a late-count, true-three-outcome hitter with lots of walks and strikeouts, and as of 2019, home runs. He made some progress at the alternate site in 2020 increasing his contact rate and overall offensive consistency.

The upside here is still substantial: solid-average center-field defense paired with those still-plus raw tools -- now with a shot for average or better contact and power output and above-average walk rates. He'll likely open in Triple-A waiting for a spot in a crowded Rays outfield picture, but an MLB debut seems like since he is on the 40-man roster.

71. Deivi Garcia, RHP, Yankees

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Garcia's upside is limited due to his lack of size and bulk -- he's listed at 5-foot-9, 163 pounds -- as there aren't many perennial 180-inning starters with his frame. His raw stuff, command, and performance record, though, aren't in question.

He has performed well at every level, has an easy plus high-spin curveball, a changeup that flashes plus, command that is at least above average and a fastball he can run up to 96 mph.

Garcia's profile fits the direction pitching is trending as his nasty stuff may play best in three-to-five innings stints throughout the regular season and in a Swiss Army knife utility role in the postseason.

72. A.J. Puk, LHP, Oakland A's

Age: 25 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

Puk has almost always had electric stuff from the left side (he ranked No. 20 on last year's list), and in the past few seasons has gotten his 6-foot-7 frame in better shape so he has the ability to stick in a rotation. What's been holding him back is arm health: a 2018 Tommy John surgery and 2020 shoulder surgery.

Every indication is that he's on track to be back to his old self for Opening Day and GM David Forst said he expects Puk to open the season in the rotation. At his best, Puk is a potential front-line starter who sits 95-99 mph while mixing in a plus slider and plus changeup to go with average command.

73. Brendan McKay, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays

Age: 25 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

In 2017, McKay was a rare two-way prospect who was a first rounder both ways -- and a top-half-of-the-first-round talent both ways for many teams. The Rays took him thinking he was slightly more likely to stick as a power-hitting first baseman, but would develop him both ways before pitching became the best option after one pro season.

McKay made it to the big leagues in 2019, ranked 30th on this list last year because he is another rare type of prospect: a lefty with three above-average pitches and potentially plus-plus command. McKay missed all of 2020, eventually having shoulder surgery in the fall. Indications are he should also be back to his old form, though more in the first half of the season rather than a likely Opening Day assignment.

McKay relies less on power than Puk one spot above him on the list and also coming back from surgery, so he may fare better in his return, but it's basically a guess on both of them at this point.

74. Keibert Ruiz, C, Dodgers

Age: 22 | Bats: Both | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Ruiz is an elite framer but is just OK laterally behind the plate and his arm is just average so he fits into the same bucket of catchers as Alejandro Kirk (96th) in that they bring lots of defensive value now, but would be hurt by automatic strike-calling in the near future.

Ruiz has average raw power but doesn't come close to tapping into it in games in part because he isn't that selective, which comes from having elite bat control. He may be a .300 hitter with minimal power and walks (but also strikeouts) who has big defensive value as long as framing exists. That means the shortage of capable big league catching makes him very valuable now, and potentially a little less over time than most prospects on this list. With Austin Barnes and Will Smith in the majors, the Dodgers could see Ruiz as a premium trade chip if their stacked roster is ever found wanting.

75. Jordyn Adams, CF, Los Angeles Angels

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

If you like upside, Adams is one of the best picks on the list for you. Adams has such absurd tools that he performed above league average in 2019 in low-A despite first focusing singularly on baseball just before he was drafted in the first round.

He was an elite wide receiver recruit and also posted videos dunking on social media all while having a breakout 2018 draft spring showing Byron Buxton-level raw tools to go with a burgeoning feel for the game.

Adams is a true 80-grade runner and projects for above-average raw power, with enough contact skills to be at least a 50-grade bat at maturity. His surface pro performance thus far has been shockingly good, but he also is still just scratching the surface in terms of getting his raw tools to show up on the field.

76. Tyler Soderstrom, C, Oakland A's

Age: 19 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

I was bullish on Soderstrom all spring leading up to the 2020 draft because scouts I spoke with were grouping him in the top tier of prep hitters with Veen, Hassell, and Hendrick, while also giving Soderstom some chance to stick at catcher in pro ball. I ranked him No. 10 in the draft class, in the middle of that top prep position-player group, but he slid to late in the first round where Oakland had an above-slot bonus waiting for him.

After a little shuffling over the last eight months, I still have him No. 10 among his draft class, in large part due to rave reviews from the Oakland staff about Soderstrom at the alternate site. That falls in line with a report of arguably the best prep hit/power (I'd call it 55 hit, 60 power) combo in the draft, progress defensively (but still some work to do), and his long-term outlook likely being helped if automatic balls and strikes becomes a reality.

77. Ivan Herrera, C, St. Louis Cardinals

Age: 20 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

After a strong breakout season in 2019 across low-A and high-A, Herrera looked to be on the verge of jumping into the top echelon of catching prospects in 2020, but obviously didn't have the minor league season to make that move.

The Cardinals are happy with his progress behind the plate and with the soft skills of catching, with enough in his average arm for a solid-average defensive package. Herrera has above-average raw power and contact skills, so 2021 will give us a better idea of exactly how they will play on the field. He was just added to the 40-man roster and another loud season at the plate will position him as the heir apparent to Yadier Molina.

78. Trevor Rogers, LHP, Miami Marlins

Age: 23 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

Rogers is an under-the-radar arrow-up starting pitcher who made MLB debut in 2020. The report on Rogers at this time last year was above-average-to-plus fastball (sits 92-95 mph), changeup, and command, but some concern on his fringy breaking ball. It improved in 2020 to not hold back the rest of the package, and his high minor league strikeout rates were outpaced by a gaudy 12.5 K/9 in those seven MLB starts.

Rogers is a solid candidate from this list to put up sneaky good numbers in the big leagues in 2021.

79. Travis Swaggerty, CF, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age: 23 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

Swaggerty was an evolving prospect at South Alabama, showing a table-setter type skill set in the summer before his draft year for Collegiate Team USA, then morphing into a true-three-outcomes power threat during his draft spring.

His raw power is still plus -- along with his speed, defense, and arm strength -- but the big question is on his contact ability, which maps nicely to how much effort is in his swing. The Team USA version of Swaggerty was underpowered, the South Alabama version was almost a softball slugger, and thus far in pro ball he's still trying to find the balance between the two.

80. Matthew Liberatore, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals

Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

Liberatore was generally seen as the consensus top arm in the loaded 2018 prep pitching class, losing a virtual coin flip with Ryan Weathers (99th on this list) to be first off the board at the No. 7 pick to San Diego. Grayson Rodriguez (30th) and Cole Winn (45+ FV) came off the board next before Tampa Bay took Liberatore and eventually dealt him to St. Louis in their ill-fated Randy Arozarena (10th) trade after the 2019 season.

Liberatore has a two-seam/sinker action on his fastball so he likely won't post gaudy strikeout numbers, and he works more 91-95 mph range than at the flashy velo numbers of other pitchers on this list. The rest of the package -- three above-average off-speed pitches, above-average command, alternate site progress on multiple fronts -- has St. Louis excited about how quickly he could reach his mid-rotation potential.

81. Dane Dunning, RHP, Texas Rangers

Age: 26 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Dunning was the headliner in return from the White Sox for Lance Lynn and his value was up in 2020, as he missed all of 2019 due to Tommy John surgery. Dunning posted seven big league starts of No. 3 to No. 4 starter quality, mixing four pitches and above-average command. His fastball sits in the low-90s and plays as fringe to average, while his off-speed pitches are above average.

There is some risk in durability post-surgery and there isn't really front-line potential but, if Dunning can keep up this type of performance, the six years of control will work well for a rebuilding Texas club.

82. Francisco Alvarez, C, New York Mets

Age: 19 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Last winter, I had Alvarez just off of the Top 100 essentially because we didn't have enough information even though what we knew (tools, pedigree, a little bit of lower-level performance) was in line with catchers on the list. We didn't get more minor league performance and the tools are about the same, but some players graduated and I sense a rise in value of catchers, either real or an adjustment to me undervaluing them in the past.

Alvarez still shows above-average defensive skills and arm strength to go with a powerful frame that produces above-average raw power potential and the indicators of above-average contact skills -- though it's still a little early to say that with certainty. A full-season debut in 2021 will be key to moving Alvarez up or down from here.

83. Miguel Amaya, C, Chicago Cubs

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Amaya is 10th of the baker's dozen of catching prospects on this year's list, and he falls somewhere in the middle of a lot of them in almost every way. He has been up to high-A so he's probably at least another year away, but he's already on the 40-man so his clock is ticking.

He's a below-average runner with above-average to plus defensive chops and arm strength, but his offensive game is a little harder to peg. He possesses above-average raw power but his swing is more geared for contact with solid plate discipline.

A strong 2021 in Double-A and Triple-A could get him to where Tyler Stephenson is now, but Amaya could also fall into the many pitfalls we've seen young catchers fall into as they approach the big leagues. My best guess is he's one of the top 30 catchers in baseball for at least a few seasons of his career.

84. Taylor Trammell, CF, Seattle Mariners

Age: 23 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

Trammel has already been traded twice (Reds to Padres in the Trevor Bauer three-way deal, Padres to Mariners in Austin Nola deal) and that, in combination with this ranking, explains his prospect stock a bit. He's still a Top 100 prospect, or just off the list for some, but not so elite that he's an off-the-table type for a team eyeing a huge trade.

He looked like a plus left fielder with the tools for center who just didn't play there, ala Carl Crawford (with a below-average arm to match), but Seattle now thinks he'll be an average defensive center fielder if needed. Trammell projects as a hit-over-power type, but has above-average raw power he hasn't quite tapped into yet, with some concerned that he'll never get above 15ish homers annually.

The overall package of a near-big-league-ready speed-and-defense outfielder with some offensive upside is probably enough to fill an everyday role.

85. Jose Garcia, SS, Cincinnati Reds

Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Garcia probably wasn't big league ready in 2020 but the Reds needed a steadier glove and he's a good enough athlete that there was some thought in Cincinnati that he could be a fine bottom-of-the-order option. Garcia had a solid spring training and was ticketed for Double-A, so I'd expect one more season in the minors to set the stage for another shot at taking the long-term reins of the Reds' shortstop role.

He has four plus tools (field, throw, run, raw power) with below-average contact skills that will also likely eat into that power production a bit as well.

86. Ha-Seong Kim, SS, San Diego Padres

Age: 25 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Kim signed a four-year, $28 million deal with a mutual option, $4 million in incentives, and a $5.25 million posting fee paid to his Korean club, Kiwoom Heroes. The 25-year-old is a stats darling with strong performances in the KBO (between Double-A and Triple-A for translation purposes) while scouts are a little less bullish (he'll face greater velocity in MLB and raw hitting tools are just OK) but in the same general area projecting roughly average contact and power output.

Most scouts think Kim will be good enough defensively to be around average at shortstop while others think he's more of a fill-in option who fits best at second or third. Kim's contract allows him to be optioned to the minors and with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, he'll likely fit at second base (with Jake Cronenworth) and filling in around the diamond depending on who's getting rest or has a bad matchup.

87. Quinn Priester, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Priester is one of a handful of pitchers who made real gains in terms of raw stuff behind mostly closed doors at the alternate site, instructional league, and in-person training. His velocity spiked to 99 or 100 mph depending on the source or specific outing, which was good to see so soon for one of the best projection bets in the 2019 draft class.

Before that Priester was a projectable, northern prep arm with above-average traits across the board (three pitches, command, etc.) and the promise his stuff could be plus relatively soon. He's only made nine official pro appearances and we haven't seen the crisper stuff in games, but Priester could find his way into the top 25 prospects in the game if he continues down this path.

88. Michael Busch, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

If you squint, you can see a good bit of Max Muncy in Busch. Busch fits best at first base, is passable in a corner outfield spot, and can also fill-in at second base, particularly if you aggressively shift around him.

At the plate, he has a solid sense of the strike zone, plus raw power, and solid-average contact skills, so it isn't hard to imagine a player like this moving pretty quickly and joining the legions of power hitters currently on the Dodgers' big league team.

89. Taylor Walls, SS, Tampa Bay Rays

Age: 24 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

The Rays are a farm sytem-building machine because of their domestic and international amateur scouting, player development, and trades/pro scouting. One type of players they have most often created value with is seemingly limited-upside second-base types they are able to turn into potential everyday shortstops. They don't always end up that way, or may end up playing more of a utility role around the infield, but Walls may be the best example.

He looked like a slam-dunk second baseman at Florida State with advanced plate discipline, maybe a Tommy LaStella type if it all worked out. He's now, for some scouts, a plus defensive shortstop with plus contact skills but more ordinary physical tools with average speed and arm strength and below-average power. Cleveland's Tyler Freeman is another similar prospect who just missed this list and fits the contact/gloves/defensive versatility type many progressive teams love. The odds of a number of 1-2 WAR seasons are high, and there's a shot at three-win seasons given how power can be developed in the big leagues these days.

90. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Age: 20 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Woods Richardson probably isn't a front-line big league starter and, unlike most elite prospects chosen out of high school, isn't particularly physically projectable. Those are reasons he lasted until the second round in 2018.

He was dealt by the Mets in the Marcus Stroman deal during a breakout 2019 season when, like No. 92 Balazovic, he went from low-A to high-A with crisper stuff and elite performance. Woods Richardson is also somewhat limited by not having a clear plus tool, but he has three pitches and command that are all arguably above average, so a No. 3 or 4 starter is a reasonable expectation.

91. Liover Peguero, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Peguero is endemic of the Pirates rebuilding approach under new GM Ben Cherington: lower level players with upside, particularly position players. Peguero was the headliner of the Starling Marte trade and, despite being a teenager at the time of the deal with no full-season experience, had already shown four above-average tools, with his power still below average. This profile is especially en vogue now and generally isn't available in trades once the prospect reaches high-A or Double-A.

92. Jordan Balazovic, RHP, Minnesota Twins

Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Balazovic fits in the trend of later-blooming, steadily improving Canadian prep prospects of recent years. He made the jump in 2019 when his stuff got crisper and his performance metrics increased at a higher level. He's more of a 3rd-4th starter type since he has an arsenal of above average (55) pitches and potentially 55 command, but no plus tool.

93. Ryan Mountcastle, LF, Baltimore Orioles

Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Mountcastle is just barely eligible for this list due to his 126 at-bat MLB debut in 2020 and due to that level of MLB experience and a pro track record dating back to 2015, he's pretty simple to break down. He's fringe to average in left field and also is fine at first base, but his below-average arm and glove limit where he can be played, even though he's a decent athlete. He has plus raw power and above-average bat control, but his swing decisions have always been below average, so his performance hasn't always been up to his raw tools.

There have been some signs of growth, so there's still some chance he settles as an above-average regular, along the lines of Orioles teammate Trey Mancini.

94. Shane McClanahan, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays

Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

McClanahan has had a lot of ups and downs in his prospect career. He was in the mid-80s on the showcase circuit in high school, then spiked into the low-90s before opting to head to college. At South Florida, he had Tommy John surgery as a freshman, spiked to the mid-90s after he returned, then came out up to 100 mph looking like a top-five-overall pick in the first start of his 2018 draft year, before he slowly tumbled to the late first round throughout the season.

He looked like a power lefty reliever to me in the draft and early in pro ball, then had a huge breakthrough 2019 where he reached Double-A and corrected almost every command and consistency issue. He made his big league debut in 2020 in the playoffs for Tampa Bay and pitched well out of the pen, capitalizing on a strong alternate site performance. Going forward, he's still straddling the starter/reliever border depending on team needs and the progression of his command. He has two easily plus pitches with his fastball and curve, which will both play in any role.

95. Shea Langeliers, C, Atlanta Braves

Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

I got the feedback that a lot of the catching prospects that might have been just outside the top 100 should move on because one of the current industry trends is teams looking for catching, pushing up the value of some of the top prospects at that position.

Langeliers has the tools to be an average offensive threat along with above-average defensive tools and makeup/intangibles you like to see in an everyday catcher. His power stood out as a freshman in the Cape Cod League, then tailed off a bit around a hamate injury in his draft year, but it sounds like it's coming back. Pairing that with continued offensive performance in-line with his tools is why Atlanta sees him as their backstop of the future, ahead of Alex Jackson and William Contreras for when Travis d'Arnaud moves on.

96. Alejandro Kirk, C, Toronto Blue Jays

Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Kirk is a fun prospect to like because he has a unique frame for a catcher and he's a really good hitter. There's long-term worries about how good of a catcher he'll be due to his size and lateral quickness. His big frame helps make him a strong pitch framer and he works well with pitchers, so a move to automatic strike calling in the coming years may also hurt his long-term value. His high contact rate means he'll always find his way into a lineup, but probably with average at-best in-game power.

More than any other player on this list, Kirk is in demand now (the forward-thinking type clubs are especially interested, particularly given Toronto's surplus of good catchers) and projects to have a lot of trade value the next few years, but that may tail off near the end of his six-plus years of team control.

97. DL Hall, LHP, Baltimore Orioles

Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Hall flies a bit below the radar because he was a later first-round pick by a rebuilding club back in 2017, and isn't higher on this list because his walk rates have been high for his two-plus pro seasons. He fits where the league is going with four above-average pitches and among the best strikeout rates of any starting pitching prospect, along with being ready for the upper level of the minors in 2021. He's a solid athlete making adjustments to his repertoire (two distinct breaking balls now) and is one notch of improved control/command from being a potential mid-rotation starter, with a shot to be a front-line pitcher if the stars align.

The two top decision makers in Baltimore (Mike Elias and Sig Mejdal) came from Houston, which has had a strong track record of developing pitching, so that could bode well for Hall. Baltimore had already seen Grayson Rodriguez (No. 30 on this list) improve notably, along with others that are lesser prospects.

98. Jackson Rutledge, RHP, Washington Nationals

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Rutledge is a classic power arm upside bet from the Nationals. He fits the new-age model of pitchers with high-octane stuff that love to monitor their pitch metrics and dive into pitch design while throwing bullpens. There's some injury risk given that Rutledge is at the top of the scale in size (6-foot-8, 250 pounds) and velocity (regularly up to 100 mph), along with a hip surgery that scared some teams pre-draft. There haven't been any issues in pro ball and it appears GM Mike Rizzo has already deemed him off-limits for most if any deals.

He's one of a dozen or so pitching prospects with a real chance to be a potential ace (his slider flashes 70-grade), but he's ranked this low because the command, performance, consistency, and health are all still an open question while he's this far away from the big leagues.

99. Ryan Weathers, LHP, San Diego Padres

Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Left

Future Value: 50

Weathers grows on you the more you watch him. At first glance, he has an unimpressive frame for an elite young pitcher and, depending on when you see him, he may sit in the low-90s. But the son of former big league reliever David is deceptively athletic, able to dunk at a filled-out 6-foot-1.

His prospect status took a leap in both spring training camps of 2020 as he was sitting in the mid-90s with a firmer breaking ball, but still with the above-average command and changeup from when he was sitting closer to 90 mph. There's still some concern that Weathers' velo backs up and he settles in as a back-end starter with solid-average stuff and solid feel, but even that may be Top 100 worthy as he made his big league debut in the 2020 playoffs, leaping ahead of MacKenzie Gore, and may be on the fast track to getting another look in the big leagues sooner than later.

100. Patrick Bailey, C, San Francisco Giants

Age: 21 | Bats: Both | Throws: Right

Future Value: 50

Fellow Giants catcher prospect Joey Bart is 37th on this list with an arrow down from last year, while Bailey brings up the rear with an arrow up. Bailey has a similar profile to Bart, just not quite as much upside: above-average raw power, defensive acumen, arm strength and intangibles, with some questions on the contact rate.

He hasn't played a professional game yet, but there's some thought that Bailey is more of a power-over-hit type with solid pitch selection (chooses to have a lower batting average, with enough walks for a solid OBP), while Bart has trouble with pitch selection, which would eat into his contact, walks, and power output. It's still early to be sure about this, and 2021 will be a big year for both catchers to clarify whom the Giants will be putting their chips behind.