Post by Brewers GM (Marty) on Jul 17, 2015 8:23:30 GMT -5
1. Corey Seager, SS/3B
Age: 21 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190
Currently at: Triple-A (Oklahoma City)
Seager just turned 21 in late April and has already reached Triple-A, continuing to perform across the board at the plate even though he hasn't fully come into his power. The Dodgers have started to play Seager a little at third base, as that's his ultimate position, but even with his range limitations due to his size, he'd still be an overall upgrade for them at shortstop right now thanks to his bat.
2. J.P. Crawford, SS
Age: 20 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180
Currently at: Double-A (Reading)
Crawford will play the entire season at age 20 and already looks like a man among boys in Double-A, with no trouble recognizing the better quality of off-speed stuff he's seeing at the level while still showing tremendous range at shortstop. He shouldn't see the majors this year, but I don't think he'd be overmatched if he did, especially since he has made such quick adjustments everywhere the Phillies have sent him.
3. Lucas Giolito, RHP
Age: 21 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 255
Currently at: High Class A (Potomac)
The training wheels should be completely off Giolito by now. He's blowing away Carolina League hitters even though he's still working without his two-seamer; he's showing he can locate his four-seamer above the hitting zone to get swings and misses. His changeup is still inconsistent, but he could work in a major league bullpen right now with just the fastball and that plus-plus curveball, both swing-and-miss pitches that he can throw for strikes. If there's a perfect pitching prospect out there, this is it.
4. Julio Urias, LHP
Age: 18 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 205
Currently at: Double-A (Tulsa)
Urias returned just last week after taking about two months off following surgery to repair the ptosis of his left eyelid, which the Dodgers encouraged him to do during the season since they wanted to limit his workload anyway. He has three above-average to plus pitches and very good control, but still has a ways to go with his command … which is grossly unfair to say about a kid in Double-A who won't turn 19 for another month.
5. Joey Gallo, 3B
Age: 21 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 230
Currently at: Triple-A (Round Rock)
You saw the good and the bad from Gallo in his brief major league stint this spring: He was punched out in 44 percent of his plate appearances, but in one of every nine at-bats in which he made contact, he hit the ball out of the park. He's still fringy defensively at third, but the Rangers mixed him in a little more in the outfield, and I think he'll continue to play multiple positions in Triple-A. It's a sign of the times when I say that if Gallo can limit himself to about 200 strikeouts in a full season, he'll be a valuable middle-of-the-order power bat.
6. Nomar Mazara, OF
Age: 20 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 195
Currently at: Double-A (Frisco)
Mazara turned 20 in April and continues to show a very mature approach at the plate, with bat control and power beyond what most kids his age show. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the majors by this time next year, given how advanced he is at the plate.
7. Tyler Glasnow, RHP
Age: 21 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-8 | Weight: 225
Currently at: Double-A (Altoona)
Glasnow was a little rough in his return from an ankle injury, a start I attended in Harrisburg, but he punched out 15 of 43 hitters in his next two outings. He's still more stuff than command, with a huge, heavy fastball and a knockout breaking ball. He has the upside of a top-of-the-rotation starter if the command comes.
8. Rafael Devers, 3B
Age: 18 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195
Currently at: Low Class A (Greenville)
The ball flies off Devers' bat, and for a player his size, he's quite agile at third base, also possessing a plus arm. He's only 18 -- younger than seven of the 12 high-school players taken in the first round of last month's Rule 4 (amateur) draft -- yet is already performing reasonably well in low-A.
9. Brendan Rodgers, SS
Age: 18 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180
Currently at: Rookie (Grand Junction)
Rodgers was the best player available in this year's Rule 4 draft -- he was taken third overall by the Rockies -- as a true shortstop with plus hands and a plus arm, great feel to hit, and a track record of performance against the best high-school pitching in the country. I think he'll grow into at least average power, and his only below-average tool will be his running speed, though his instincts at short and his hands are both good enough to make him a plus defender in spite of his lack of fleetness.
10. Kyle Schwarber, C
Age: 22 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 235
Currently at: Triple-A (Iowa)
This ranking may still be too light. I've had two clubs tell me their internal rankings have Schwarber with a 70 hit tool, something I might say about only one or two other players in the minors (Seager in particular). And that praise is coming from quarters where he wasn't as highly regarded before the season; his laying to waste of Double-A pitching before his cup of coffee with the Cubs raised his stock everywhere, including with me. His receiving behind the plate remains his main weakness, but his bat is so advanced that it may behoove the Cubs to move him to left field now to get him to the majors.
11. Yoan Moncada, 2B
Age: 20 | B/T: B/R | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 205
Currently at: Low Class A (Greenville)
It took a while for Moncada to shake off the rust, but his at-bats have improved the past two weeks (small sample size caveats apply) and he's starting to perform more in line with expectations. He's very physical, with power potential from both sides of the plate, showing a better, more direct swing from the left side that should produce more contact and higher-quality contact as well. He's a former shortstop but projects as an above-average defender at second base, where the Red Sox have played him all season, with the possibility he could handle third base as well.
12. Michael Conforto, OF
Age: 22 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 211
Currently at: Double-A (Binghamton)
One of the most disciplined hitters in the minors, Conforto has improved as he has moved up the ladder. He's now facing pitchers in Double-A who can locate their off-speed stuff more effectively, and his ability to recognize those pitches and lay off ones just outside the zone separates him from most other hitters at that level. He's already an average defender in left with a grade-50 arm and could end up above-average out there, but it's the bat and the eye that separate him; he has an excellent chance at .400-OBP, 20-homer seasons when he peaks.
13. Aaron Judge, OF
Age: 23 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-7 | Weight: 275
Currently at: Triple-A (Scranton-Wilkes-Barre)
Judge is on track to be one of the biggest outfielders in major league history -- he's an inch taller than Adam Dunn and about 10 pounds or so lighter -- but he's all muscle and is shockingly athletic for someone his size, an average or better runner with a 65 or 70 arm. Judge has good feel to hit and enormous raw power, and he commands the strike zone well, with a lower strikeout rate than you'd expect from a guy with arms this long. He covers the inner third so well that he's more vulnerable to stuff away, but overall has kept his strikeout rate to about 25 percent or better even as he has moved up three times in the past 14 months. Right field in the Bronx should belong to him in 2016.
14. Manuel Margot, OF
Age: 20 | B/T: R/R | Height: 5-11 | Weight: 170
Currently at: Double-A (Portland)
Scouts absolutely adore Margot -- more than one has told me he'd put Margot ahead of Devers and Moncada in Boston's system -- not just because of his tools but because of his instincts, with Margot potentially a plus-plus defender in center who has an excellent eye at the plate. He's already in Double-A and performing well even though he won't turn 21 until after the minor league season ends.
15. Daniel Norris, LHP
Age: 22 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190
Currently at: Triple-A (Buffalo)
Norris' control abandoned him in the majors to start the season, but since the start of June, he has been throwing more strikes and walking fewer guys while in Triple-A, including a current streak of five straight outings with two walks or fewer. I've said before that I don't think he'll ever have above-average command, but with his raw stuff, he shouldn't need to have it to be a top-of-a-rotation starter.
16. Trea Turner, SS
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175
Currently at: Triple-A (Syracuse)
How giddy must Nationals GM Mike Rizzo and Co. be, landing two top-50 prospects (as of today) for a player who's hitting .210/.301/.417 with a 33 percent K rate in his age-26 season (Steven Souza Jr.)? Turner has added enough strength to be a serious extra-base-hit threat to go along with his 70 speed and bat control. With Ian Desmond likely heading to free agency, even Turner's average defense at short will make it easy for the Nats to let Desmond walk.
17. Orlando Arcia, SS
Age: 20 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 165
Currently at: Double-A (Biloxi)
Arcia showed off his glove and instincts in the Futures Game on Sunday, and he's by far the Brewers' best prospect right now and one of only two players in the system with a real chance to become a grade-60 or better regular (along with just-drafted outfielder Trenton Clark). While Arcia is just 20 and has only 327 minor league games played in the U.S., due in part to an injury that cost him the 2012 season, he's advanced enough defensively that the Brewers should entertain offers on Jean Segura or consider moving him to second base to make room.
18. Austin Meadows, OF
Age: 20 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 200
Currently at: High Class A (Bradenton)
Meadows can run and play center field and has excellent plate discipline for his age, hitting for average and posting strong OBPs everywhere he has played so far. I'd like to see harder contact from him, as he's putting the ball on the ground way too often for a guy his size and strength, which is more of an explanation for his slim power output than the pitcher-friendly Florida State League.
19. Alex Reyes, RHP
Age: 20 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 185
Currently at: High Class A (Palm Beach)
Reyes has always had a big arm, but he has matured significantly over the past year and a half in every way, from conditioning to work ethic to feel for pitching, and he struck out 36 percent of the batters he faced as a starter this year in high-A before he was shut down with shoulder soreness after his June 17 start.
20. Jose De Leon, RHP
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185
Currently at: Double-A (Tulsa)
De Leon looks like an absolute steal as a 24th-round pick in 2013 out of Southern University, where he headed after he was undrafted out of high school in Puerto Rico. De Leon has a low-to-mid-90s fastball that plays up because hitters don't see the ball out of his hand, along with an above-average slider with good tilt and an average or slightly better changeup. He dominated high-A but has settled in as merely great so far in Double-A.
21. Jose Orlando Berrios, RHP
Age: 21 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185
Currently at: Triple-A (Rochester)
I hear the jury is still out on J.O.B., but his control and three-pitch mix set him up to help the big league club at some point this season either in the rotation or bullpen. My main concern on Berrios remains the lack of plane on his fastball, but his changeup has improved substantially, and he has been able to keep minor league hitters from elevating the fastball so far.
22. Dansby Swanson, SS
Age: 21 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190
Currently at: Has not made pro debut
Swanson has yet to make his pro debut, having played with Vanderbilt to the final game of the College World Series and then waiting until the last possible moment to sign, but he immediately becomes the Diamondbacks' best prospect and shortstop of the future. He projects as an above-average or better defender who can hit, run and hit a handful of homers, which will seem like Honus Wagner to Arizona fans.
23. Raimel Tapia, OF
Age: 21 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 160
Currently at: High Class A (Modesto)
His swing is unorthodox as heck, but it works, as Tapia has some of the best hand-eye coordination in the minors; he has hit .320 or better and slugged .450 or better in all three of his minor league stops to date. He's an above-average to plus runner who can still play center field -- his bat should profile anywhere in the outfield -- and is a potential star if he can stay there.
24. Ozhaino Albies, SS
Age: 18 | B/T: B/R | Height: 5-9 | Weight: 150
Currently at: Low Class A (Rome)
Yet another shortstop from Curaçao, Albies may be 5-foot-7, but he's very strong, with a short swing, especially from the left side, and great hand-eye coordination. He's fourth in the Sally League in hitting and in the top 15 in lowest strikeout rate even though he's the circuit's second-youngest regular.
25. Sean Newcomb, LHP
Age: 22 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 245
Currently at: High Class A (Inland Empire)
Newcomb shows three above-average pitches now and has one of the lowest-effort deliveries in the minors, but he's still working on command and control, having succeeded at the University of Hartford by dominating bad hitters with pure stuff. I like his chances to develop into a No. 2 starter in time, given his size and stuff, although I think he's behind other pitching prospects his age in terms of refinement.
26. Brad Zimmer, OF
Age: 22 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 185
Currently at: High Class A (Lynchburg)
Zimmer has shown a Mike Cameron-like skill set so far in the minors -- speed, defense, power and strikeouts -- and that's a very, very good thing. As long as the strikeout rate doesn't climb when he faces better pitching in Double-A, which is a legitimate concern, he has star upside.
27. Kevin Newman, SS
Age: 21 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Currently at: Low Class A (West Virginia)
Newman has gotten off to a slow start in pro ball, but a .190-ish batting average on balls in play won't last long (neither will his high popup rate). He's a true shortstop and plus runner with great bat control and hand-eye coordination, lacking only power, and was great value for the Bucs at the 19th pick in the draft.
28. Joe Ross, RHP
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205
Currently at: Triple-A (Syracuse)
Alluding to my Trea Turner comment above, here's the second top-50 prospect the Nats acquired. "Joey Rozay" is a boss. He's super-athletic, has three above-average or better pitches and has a good delivery that has put more life on his fastball.
29. Alex Bregman, SS
Age: 21 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180
Currently at: Class A (Quad Cities)
Bregman, probably the best pure college hitter in the 2015 draft class, is off to a solid start in pro ball -- though, like Newman, is below expectations on balls in play in a small sample size -- and could make this ranking look very light if he stays at shortstop for the long term.
30. Gleyber Torres, SS
Age: 18 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175
Currently at: Class A (South Bend)
Torres won't turn 19 until December and is in the top 15 in the Midwest League in OBP. But it's his defense that really stands out right now, both his range and his instincts at shortstop. He doesn't get mentioned with the Cubs' big four of Bryant, Addison Russell, Jorge Soler and Schwarber, but he should be just as untouchable in trade talks.
31. Aaron Blair, RHP
Age: 23 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 230
Currently at: Triple-A (Reno)
Archie Bradley has had multiple injury issues and Braden Shipley has had trouble throwing strikes, while Blair keeps quietly getting hitters out, generating a ton of ground balls and limiting walks. His first few starts for Reno haven't gone as well, but that's a horrible place to pitch (elevation: 4,400 feet), and I would hope the D-backs aren't going to leave him there for long.
32. Franklin Barreto, SS
Age: 19 | B/T: R/R | Height: 5-9 | Weight: 175
Currently at: High Class A (Stockton)
The primary hope for Oakland to see some significant value from the Josh Donaldson trade lies with Barreto, a true shortstop with a compact swing and excellent bat control. He's currently performing well, including a career-high eight home runs already, as the California League's youngest regular.
33. Ryan McMahon, 3B
Age: 20 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185
Currently at: High Class A (Modesto)
McMahon is an excellent athlete who already has shown better pitch recognition than expected given his two-sport background, with excellent feel to hit now and above-average to plus power to come. His defense at third remains inconsistent, but he has the athleticism to become an asset with his glove given time and instruction, just as Nolan Arenado did in the same system.
34. Taylor Guerrieri, RHP
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195
Currently at: High Class A (Port Charlotte)
Guerrieri is all the way back from 2013 Tommy John surgery both in terms of stuff (low-to-mid-90s fastball with a curveball that shows plus) and control (has yet to walk more than one batter in any of his 10 outings of three to four innings), and he should be ready to move to Double-A soon and start to pitch deeper into games. Also, the makeup questions that caused him to fall to the Rays in the 2011 draft are behind him now.
35. Brett Phillips, OF
Age: 21 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 175
Currently at: Double-A (Corpus Christi)
Phillips has carried his 2014 breakout season forward, mashing in the hitters' paradise of Lancaster and earning a midyear promotion to Double-A in his age-21 season. He has developed into a true five-tool talent with a power/speed combo that will play in right field but has the potential to remain in center.
36. Blake Snell, LHP
Age: 22 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 180
Currently at: Double-A (Montgomery)
Snell, my "breakout" prospect pick for the Rays this year, has carried over the improvement in stuff he showed late in 2014; he has a mid-90s fastball and plus changeup, along with a slider that will reach above-average. His command continues to gradually improve, while his control has come a long way, from 73 walks in 99 innings in 2013 (16.5 percent of batters faced) to 39 walks in 84 innings so far in 2015 (11.7 percent).
37. Henry Owens, LHP
Age: 22 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 220
Currently at: Triple-A (Pawtucket)
Owens has tremendous deception and a grade-70 changeup but had control woes early in the season, which is trouble for any pitcher but perhaps a little worse for a guy with an average to slightly above-average fastball. He has been throwing more strikes of late, with just 10 walks in his past six starts (40 innings), and should be next in line when a rotation spot opens in Boston.
38. Aaron Nola, RHP
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 195
Currently at: Triple-A (Lehigh Valley)
Nola's uncanny fastball command has carried over into pro ball, making the Phillies' decision to keep him out of major league spring training this year even more bizarre in hindsight than it was at the time. He has walked just 26 batters in 161 2/3 pro innings, has averaged better than a strikeout per inning since getting the call to Triple-A, and would be the Phillies' No. 3 starter if they called him up today.
39. Anthony Alford, OF
Age: 20 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205
Currently at: High Class A (Dunedin)
Alford is 20, but he's in his first season playing baseball full time after wasting parts of the past three seasons playing college football at Ole Miss (which was part of the reason the Blue Jays got him in the third round in the 2012 draft even though he had first-round ability). He's quickly making up for lost time, showing excellent plate discipline to go with his combination of plus speed, defensive range and arm strength. He has a strong leadoff-hitter profile once he comes into the above-average power I project for him.
40. Dominic Smith, 1B
Age: 20 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185
Currently at: High Class A (St. Lucie)
Smith has been scorching for more than two months; he leads the Florida State League in doubles and is fourth in batting average despite hitting just .220 with only one extra-base hit in April. He's an elite defender at first with a 70 arm, and he'll show plus raw power in batting practice, so I believe it'll come once he gets to a normal hitting environment in Binghamton. That should happen soon, but the Mets were very conservative with Conforto and might not move quickly enough with Smith, who has little left to prove in St. Lucie. In the meantime, Smith will need to work on his conditioning, as he has gotten heavier since signing.
41. Mark Appel, RHP
Age: 24 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 220
Currently at: Triple-A (Fresno)
Appel's results have still lagged behind his stuff, although part of that is due to delivery and repertoire changes the Astros have pushed on him, such as making him throw more four-seamers and fewer two-seamers. He'll sit 95-plus on the former pitch, but without the action of the latter. The slider will still flash plus or better, and the change to a slide-step with men on base has helped him in those situations. It's more realistic to think of him as a third or fourth starter, but the upside is always there for him to become more, given his arm strength and aptitude.
42. Jonathan Gray, RHP
Age: 23 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 235
Currently at: Triple-A (Albuquerque)
It hasn't been smooth for Gray since he began pro ball, as some delivery changes intended to improve his command have made it easier for hitters to see the ball and reduced the power on his fastball and slider. Gray reached 100 mph in college (pitching every seventh day), and is more 93-96 now with an inconsistent slider that flashes plus and a below-average changeup. He has had strong results pitching in Albuquerque, one of the best hitters' parks in organized baseball, this season, but he might be better suited to a relief role when he first reaches the majors, probably later this summer.
43. Robert Stephenson, RHP
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200
Currently at: Triple-A (Louisville)
"The Lighthouse" has bounced back a bit this year, although it's still more power stuff than polish. He's getting left-handers out more effectively, working with an average changeup as well as an above-average slider and 92-97 mph fastball. His command and control remain below-average, increasing the chances he ends up in the bullpen, but his stuff is too good and his body too durable to consign him to relief just yet.
44. Tim Anderson, SS
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185
Currently at: Double-A (Birmingham)
It's the Shawon Dunston starter kit: not quite Dunston's arm strength (which might be the best ever for a major league shortstop), but similar range, quickness, bat control, foot speed … and reluctance to take a walk. Anderson came into pro ball with less baseball experience than most players, and he's actually a little more patient already than Dunston ever was, so the comparison isn't totally fair to Anderson. But it does give you a rough idea of what kind of player Anderson can be even if he doesn't make any significant improvements.
45. Willy Adames, SS
Age: 19 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Currently at: High Class A (Port Charlotte)
Adames may turn out to be the key piece in the David Price trade last summer. Even with Drew Smyly hurt and Nick Franklin scuffling, things still might turn out all right for the Rays, as Adames has performed well as a 19-year-old in high-A. His raw power hasn't come through, as the Florida State League is a bad place for power and Port Charlotte exacerbates the problem, but he continues to play adequate defense at short and his mental approach is good. Even if he moves to third base, he projects to have the pop to be a solid regular or better.
46. Dillon Tate, RHP
Age: 21 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 210
Currently at: Low Class A (Spokane)
The fourth overall pick and best college pitcher in this year's draft class, Tate carries the risk of becoming a reliever but possesses a plus slider and plus velocity, although the latter plays down a little due to the lack of deception in his delivery. He worked as a starter for just one college season and still has a lot of room for growth as a pitcher, with a high floor as a reliever if he can't start.
47. Billy McKinney, OF
Age: 20 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205
Currently at: Double-A (Tennessee)
McKinney was the second prospect the Cubs acquired, along with Addison Russell, last July 5 in the Jeff Samardzija-Jason Hammel trade, and is already raking in Double-A at age 20, with a .298/.354/.438 line in 52 games there since he was promoted from high-A in May. He's limited to left field, and the power may be more like 15-20 homers (less than some anticipated), but he seems like a very good bet to post strong OBPs with good defense for that position.
48. Javier Guerra, SS
Age: 19 | B/T: L/R | Height: 5-11 | Weight: 155
Currently at: Low Class A (Greenville)
Guerra is the best prospect to come out of Panama since Carlos Lee, a true shortstop with incredibly easy actions at the position and more potential with the bat than I think even the Red Sox realized when they signed him for $250,000 in 2012. He's a below-average runner, but it doesn't limit his defensive value in any way, while at the plate, his main issue is recognizing pitches from left-handers, who've eaten him for lunch so far this year.
49. Jorge Alfaro, C
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 225
Currently at: Double-A (Frisco)
Alfaro had a significant ankle injury (with tendon damage) that has probably ended his 2015 season, but he remains one of the minors' best catching prospects thanks to his combination of 80 raw power and 80 arm strength. The injury is particularly damaging to Alfaro, however, as the two facets of his game on which he needs the most work, plate discipline and receiving, typically improve only with more playing time.
50. Harold Ramirez, OF
Age: 20 | B/T: R/R | Height: 5-10 | Weight: 210
Currently at: High Class A (Bradenton)
Ramirez is similar to McKinney (above), a very high-contact hitter with a short stroke but who's limited to left field, though Ramirez is inferior to McKinney defensively and in terms of present power. He has edged ahead of first-base prospect Josh Bell, whose defense at first remains a problem and whose power is still a theoretical concept at age 22.
Honorable mention Luis Severino, RHP, NY Yankees; Reynaldo Lopez, RHP, Washington (I project he and Severino, both great arms, are more likely relievers than starters); Jake Thompson, RHP, Texas; Kolby Allard, LHP, Atlanta; Ian Happ, 2B, Chicago Cubs; David Dahl, OF, Colorado; Jesse Winker, OF, Cincinnati (hitting .325/.425/.488 since June 1 after a slow first two months).
Age: 21 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190
Currently at: Triple-A (Oklahoma City)
Seager just turned 21 in late April and has already reached Triple-A, continuing to perform across the board at the plate even though he hasn't fully come into his power. The Dodgers have started to play Seager a little at third base, as that's his ultimate position, but even with his range limitations due to his size, he'd still be an overall upgrade for them at shortstop right now thanks to his bat.
2. J.P. Crawford, SS
Age: 20 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180
Currently at: Double-A (Reading)
Crawford will play the entire season at age 20 and already looks like a man among boys in Double-A, with no trouble recognizing the better quality of off-speed stuff he's seeing at the level while still showing tremendous range at shortstop. He shouldn't see the majors this year, but I don't think he'd be overmatched if he did, especially since he has made such quick adjustments everywhere the Phillies have sent him.
3. Lucas Giolito, RHP
Age: 21 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 255
Currently at: High Class A (Potomac)
The training wheels should be completely off Giolito by now. He's blowing away Carolina League hitters even though he's still working without his two-seamer; he's showing he can locate his four-seamer above the hitting zone to get swings and misses. His changeup is still inconsistent, but he could work in a major league bullpen right now with just the fastball and that plus-plus curveball, both swing-and-miss pitches that he can throw for strikes. If there's a perfect pitching prospect out there, this is it.
4. Julio Urias, LHP
Age: 18 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 205
Currently at: Double-A (Tulsa)
Urias returned just last week after taking about two months off following surgery to repair the ptosis of his left eyelid, which the Dodgers encouraged him to do during the season since they wanted to limit his workload anyway. He has three above-average to plus pitches and very good control, but still has a ways to go with his command … which is grossly unfair to say about a kid in Double-A who won't turn 19 for another month.
5. Joey Gallo, 3B
Age: 21 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 230
Currently at: Triple-A (Round Rock)
You saw the good and the bad from Gallo in his brief major league stint this spring: He was punched out in 44 percent of his plate appearances, but in one of every nine at-bats in which he made contact, he hit the ball out of the park. He's still fringy defensively at third, but the Rangers mixed him in a little more in the outfield, and I think he'll continue to play multiple positions in Triple-A. It's a sign of the times when I say that if Gallo can limit himself to about 200 strikeouts in a full season, he'll be a valuable middle-of-the-order power bat.
6. Nomar Mazara, OF
Age: 20 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 195
Currently at: Double-A (Frisco)
Mazara turned 20 in April and continues to show a very mature approach at the plate, with bat control and power beyond what most kids his age show. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the majors by this time next year, given how advanced he is at the plate.
7. Tyler Glasnow, RHP
Age: 21 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-8 | Weight: 225
Currently at: Double-A (Altoona)
Glasnow was a little rough in his return from an ankle injury, a start I attended in Harrisburg, but he punched out 15 of 43 hitters in his next two outings. He's still more stuff than command, with a huge, heavy fastball and a knockout breaking ball. He has the upside of a top-of-the-rotation starter if the command comes.
8. Rafael Devers, 3B
Age: 18 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195
Currently at: Low Class A (Greenville)
The ball flies off Devers' bat, and for a player his size, he's quite agile at third base, also possessing a plus arm. He's only 18 -- younger than seven of the 12 high-school players taken in the first round of last month's Rule 4 (amateur) draft -- yet is already performing reasonably well in low-A.
9. Brendan Rodgers, SS
Age: 18 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180
Currently at: Rookie (Grand Junction)
Rodgers was the best player available in this year's Rule 4 draft -- he was taken third overall by the Rockies -- as a true shortstop with plus hands and a plus arm, great feel to hit, and a track record of performance against the best high-school pitching in the country. I think he'll grow into at least average power, and his only below-average tool will be his running speed, though his instincts at short and his hands are both good enough to make him a plus defender in spite of his lack of fleetness.
10. Kyle Schwarber, C
Age: 22 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 235
Currently at: Triple-A (Iowa)
This ranking may still be too light. I've had two clubs tell me their internal rankings have Schwarber with a 70 hit tool, something I might say about only one or two other players in the minors (Seager in particular). And that praise is coming from quarters where he wasn't as highly regarded before the season; his laying to waste of Double-A pitching before his cup of coffee with the Cubs raised his stock everywhere, including with me. His receiving behind the plate remains his main weakness, but his bat is so advanced that it may behoove the Cubs to move him to left field now to get him to the majors.
11. Yoan Moncada, 2B
Age: 20 | B/T: B/R | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 205
Currently at: Low Class A (Greenville)
It took a while for Moncada to shake off the rust, but his at-bats have improved the past two weeks (small sample size caveats apply) and he's starting to perform more in line with expectations. He's very physical, with power potential from both sides of the plate, showing a better, more direct swing from the left side that should produce more contact and higher-quality contact as well. He's a former shortstop but projects as an above-average defender at second base, where the Red Sox have played him all season, with the possibility he could handle third base as well.
12. Michael Conforto, OF
Age: 22 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 211
Currently at: Double-A (Binghamton)
One of the most disciplined hitters in the minors, Conforto has improved as he has moved up the ladder. He's now facing pitchers in Double-A who can locate their off-speed stuff more effectively, and his ability to recognize those pitches and lay off ones just outside the zone separates him from most other hitters at that level. He's already an average defender in left with a grade-50 arm and could end up above-average out there, but it's the bat and the eye that separate him; he has an excellent chance at .400-OBP, 20-homer seasons when he peaks.
13. Aaron Judge, OF
Age: 23 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-7 | Weight: 275
Currently at: Triple-A (Scranton-Wilkes-Barre)
Judge is on track to be one of the biggest outfielders in major league history -- he's an inch taller than Adam Dunn and about 10 pounds or so lighter -- but he's all muscle and is shockingly athletic for someone his size, an average or better runner with a 65 or 70 arm. Judge has good feel to hit and enormous raw power, and he commands the strike zone well, with a lower strikeout rate than you'd expect from a guy with arms this long. He covers the inner third so well that he's more vulnerable to stuff away, but overall has kept his strikeout rate to about 25 percent or better even as he has moved up three times in the past 14 months. Right field in the Bronx should belong to him in 2016.
14. Manuel Margot, OF
Age: 20 | B/T: R/R | Height: 5-11 | Weight: 170
Currently at: Double-A (Portland)
Scouts absolutely adore Margot -- more than one has told me he'd put Margot ahead of Devers and Moncada in Boston's system -- not just because of his tools but because of his instincts, with Margot potentially a plus-plus defender in center who has an excellent eye at the plate. He's already in Double-A and performing well even though he won't turn 21 until after the minor league season ends.
15. Daniel Norris, LHP
Age: 22 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190
Currently at: Triple-A (Buffalo)
Norris' control abandoned him in the majors to start the season, but since the start of June, he has been throwing more strikes and walking fewer guys while in Triple-A, including a current streak of five straight outings with two walks or fewer. I've said before that I don't think he'll ever have above-average command, but with his raw stuff, he shouldn't need to have it to be a top-of-a-rotation starter.
16. Trea Turner, SS
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175
Currently at: Triple-A (Syracuse)
How giddy must Nationals GM Mike Rizzo and Co. be, landing two top-50 prospects (as of today) for a player who's hitting .210/.301/.417 with a 33 percent K rate in his age-26 season (Steven Souza Jr.)? Turner has added enough strength to be a serious extra-base-hit threat to go along with his 70 speed and bat control. With Ian Desmond likely heading to free agency, even Turner's average defense at short will make it easy for the Nats to let Desmond walk.
17. Orlando Arcia, SS
Age: 20 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 165
Currently at: Double-A (Biloxi)
Arcia showed off his glove and instincts in the Futures Game on Sunday, and he's by far the Brewers' best prospect right now and one of only two players in the system with a real chance to become a grade-60 or better regular (along with just-drafted outfielder Trenton Clark). While Arcia is just 20 and has only 327 minor league games played in the U.S., due in part to an injury that cost him the 2012 season, he's advanced enough defensively that the Brewers should entertain offers on Jean Segura or consider moving him to second base to make room.
18. Austin Meadows, OF
Age: 20 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 200
Currently at: High Class A (Bradenton)
Meadows can run and play center field and has excellent plate discipline for his age, hitting for average and posting strong OBPs everywhere he has played so far. I'd like to see harder contact from him, as he's putting the ball on the ground way too often for a guy his size and strength, which is more of an explanation for his slim power output than the pitcher-friendly Florida State League.
19. Alex Reyes, RHP
Age: 20 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 185
Currently at: High Class A (Palm Beach)
Reyes has always had a big arm, but he has matured significantly over the past year and a half in every way, from conditioning to work ethic to feel for pitching, and he struck out 36 percent of the batters he faced as a starter this year in high-A before he was shut down with shoulder soreness after his June 17 start.
20. Jose De Leon, RHP
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185
Currently at: Double-A (Tulsa)
De Leon looks like an absolute steal as a 24th-round pick in 2013 out of Southern University, where he headed after he was undrafted out of high school in Puerto Rico. De Leon has a low-to-mid-90s fastball that plays up because hitters don't see the ball out of his hand, along with an above-average slider with good tilt and an average or slightly better changeup. He dominated high-A but has settled in as merely great so far in Double-A.
21. Jose Orlando Berrios, RHP
Age: 21 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185
Currently at: Triple-A (Rochester)
I hear the jury is still out on J.O.B., but his control and three-pitch mix set him up to help the big league club at some point this season either in the rotation or bullpen. My main concern on Berrios remains the lack of plane on his fastball, but his changeup has improved substantially, and he has been able to keep minor league hitters from elevating the fastball so far.
22. Dansby Swanson, SS
Age: 21 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190
Currently at: Has not made pro debut
Swanson has yet to make his pro debut, having played with Vanderbilt to the final game of the College World Series and then waiting until the last possible moment to sign, but he immediately becomes the Diamondbacks' best prospect and shortstop of the future. He projects as an above-average or better defender who can hit, run and hit a handful of homers, which will seem like Honus Wagner to Arizona fans.
23. Raimel Tapia, OF
Age: 21 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 160
Currently at: High Class A (Modesto)
His swing is unorthodox as heck, but it works, as Tapia has some of the best hand-eye coordination in the minors; he has hit .320 or better and slugged .450 or better in all three of his minor league stops to date. He's an above-average to plus runner who can still play center field -- his bat should profile anywhere in the outfield -- and is a potential star if he can stay there.
24. Ozhaino Albies, SS
Age: 18 | B/T: B/R | Height: 5-9 | Weight: 150
Currently at: Low Class A (Rome)
Yet another shortstop from Curaçao, Albies may be 5-foot-7, but he's very strong, with a short swing, especially from the left side, and great hand-eye coordination. He's fourth in the Sally League in hitting and in the top 15 in lowest strikeout rate even though he's the circuit's second-youngest regular.
25. Sean Newcomb, LHP
Age: 22 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 245
Currently at: High Class A (Inland Empire)
Newcomb shows three above-average pitches now and has one of the lowest-effort deliveries in the minors, but he's still working on command and control, having succeeded at the University of Hartford by dominating bad hitters with pure stuff. I like his chances to develop into a No. 2 starter in time, given his size and stuff, although I think he's behind other pitching prospects his age in terms of refinement.
26. Brad Zimmer, OF
Age: 22 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 185
Currently at: High Class A (Lynchburg)
Zimmer has shown a Mike Cameron-like skill set so far in the minors -- speed, defense, power and strikeouts -- and that's a very, very good thing. As long as the strikeout rate doesn't climb when he faces better pitching in Double-A, which is a legitimate concern, he has star upside.
27. Kevin Newman, SS
Age: 21 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Currently at: Low Class A (West Virginia)
Newman has gotten off to a slow start in pro ball, but a .190-ish batting average on balls in play won't last long (neither will his high popup rate). He's a true shortstop and plus runner with great bat control and hand-eye coordination, lacking only power, and was great value for the Bucs at the 19th pick in the draft.
28. Joe Ross, RHP
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205
Currently at: Triple-A (Syracuse)
Alluding to my Trea Turner comment above, here's the second top-50 prospect the Nats acquired. "Joey Rozay" is a boss. He's super-athletic, has three above-average or better pitches and has a good delivery that has put more life on his fastball.
29. Alex Bregman, SS
Age: 21 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180
Currently at: Class A (Quad Cities)
Bregman, probably the best pure college hitter in the 2015 draft class, is off to a solid start in pro ball -- though, like Newman, is below expectations on balls in play in a small sample size -- and could make this ranking look very light if he stays at shortstop for the long term.
30. Gleyber Torres, SS
Age: 18 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175
Currently at: Class A (South Bend)
Torres won't turn 19 until December and is in the top 15 in the Midwest League in OBP. But it's his defense that really stands out right now, both his range and his instincts at shortstop. He doesn't get mentioned with the Cubs' big four of Bryant, Addison Russell, Jorge Soler and Schwarber, but he should be just as untouchable in trade talks.
31. Aaron Blair, RHP
Age: 23 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 230
Currently at: Triple-A (Reno)
Archie Bradley has had multiple injury issues and Braden Shipley has had trouble throwing strikes, while Blair keeps quietly getting hitters out, generating a ton of ground balls and limiting walks. His first few starts for Reno haven't gone as well, but that's a horrible place to pitch (elevation: 4,400 feet), and I would hope the D-backs aren't going to leave him there for long.
32. Franklin Barreto, SS
Age: 19 | B/T: R/R | Height: 5-9 | Weight: 175
Currently at: High Class A (Stockton)
The primary hope for Oakland to see some significant value from the Josh Donaldson trade lies with Barreto, a true shortstop with a compact swing and excellent bat control. He's currently performing well, including a career-high eight home runs already, as the California League's youngest regular.
33. Ryan McMahon, 3B
Age: 20 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185
Currently at: High Class A (Modesto)
McMahon is an excellent athlete who already has shown better pitch recognition than expected given his two-sport background, with excellent feel to hit now and above-average to plus power to come. His defense at third remains inconsistent, but he has the athleticism to become an asset with his glove given time and instruction, just as Nolan Arenado did in the same system.
34. Taylor Guerrieri, RHP
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195
Currently at: High Class A (Port Charlotte)
Guerrieri is all the way back from 2013 Tommy John surgery both in terms of stuff (low-to-mid-90s fastball with a curveball that shows plus) and control (has yet to walk more than one batter in any of his 10 outings of three to four innings), and he should be ready to move to Double-A soon and start to pitch deeper into games. Also, the makeup questions that caused him to fall to the Rays in the 2011 draft are behind him now.
35. Brett Phillips, OF
Age: 21 | B/T: L/R | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 175
Currently at: Double-A (Corpus Christi)
Phillips has carried his 2014 breakout season forward, mashing in the hitters' paradise of Lancaster and earning a midyear promotion to Double-A in his age-21 season. He has developed into a true five-tool talent with a power/speed combo that will play in right field but has the potential to remain in center.
36. Blake Snell, LHP
Age: 22 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 180
Currently at: Double-A (Montgomery)
Snell, my "breakout" prospect pick for the Rays this year, has carried over the improvement in stuff he showed late in 2014; he has a mid-90s fastball and plus changeup, along with a slider that will reach above-average. His command continues to gradually improve, while his control has come a long way, from 73 walks in 99 innings in 2013 (16.5 percent of batters faced) to 39 walks in 84 innings so far in 2015 (11.7 percent).
37. Henry Owens, LHP
Age: 22 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 220
Currently at: Triple-A (Pawtucket)
Owens has tremendous deception and a grade-70 changeup but had control woes early in the season, which is trouble for any pitcher but perhaps a little worse for a guy with an average to slightly above-average fastball. He has been throwing more strikes of late, with just 10 walks in his past six starts (40 innings), and should be next in line when a rotation spot opens in Boston.
38. Aaron Nola, RHP
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 195
Currently at: Triple-A (Lehigh Valley)
Nola's uncanny fastball command has carried over into pro ball, making the Phillies' decision to keep him out of major league spring training this year even more bizarre in hindsight than it was at the time. He has walked just 26 batters in 161 2/3 pro innings, has averaged better than a strikeout per inning since getting the call to Triple-A, and would be the Phillies' No. 3 starter if they called him up today.
39. Anthony Alford, OF
Age: 20 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205
Currently at: High Class A (Dunedin)
Alford is 20, but he's in his first season playing baseball full time after wasting parts of the past three seasons playing college football at Ole Miss (which was part of the reason the Blue Jays got him in the third round in the 2012 draft even though he had first-round ability). He's quickly making up for lost time, showing excellent plate discipline to go with his combination of plus speed, defensive range and arm strength. He has a strong leadoff-hitter profile once he comes into the above-average power I project for him.
40. Dominic Smith, 1B
Age: 20 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185
Currently at: High Class A (St. Lucie)
Smith has been scorching for more than two months; he leads the Florida State League in doubles and is fourth in batting average despite hitting just .220 with only one extra-base hit in April. He's an elite defender at first with a 70 arm, and he'll show plus raw power in batting practice, so I believe it'll come once he gets to a normal hitting environment in Binghamton. That should happen soon, but the Mets were very conservative with Conforto and might not move quickly enough with Smith, who has little left to prove in St. Lucie. In the meantime, Smith will need to work on his conditioning, as he has gotten heavier since signing.
41. Mark Appel, RHP
Age: 24 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 220
Currently at: Triple-A (Fresno)
Appel's results have still lagged behind his stuff, although part of that is due to delivery and repertoire changes the Astros have pushed on him, such as making him throw more four-seamers and fewer two-seamers. He'll sit 95-plus on the former pitch, but without the action of the latter. The slider will still flash plus or better, and the change to a slide-step with men on base has helped him in those situations. It's more realistic to think of him as a third or fourth starter, but the upside is always there for him to become more, given his arm strength and aptitude.
42. Jonathan Gray, RHP
Age: 23 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 235
Currently at: Triple-A (Albuquerque)
It hasn't been smooth for Gray since he began pro ball, as some delivery changes intended to improve his command have made it easier for hitters to see the ball and reduced the power on his fastball and slider. Gray reached 100 mph in college (pitching every seventh day), and is more 93-96 now with an inconsistent slider that flashes plus and a below-average changeup. He has had strong results pitching in Albuquerque, one of the best hitters' parks in organized baseball, this season, but he might be better suited to a relief role when he first reaches the majors, probably later this summer.
43. Robert Stephenson, RHP
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200
Currently at: Triple-A (Louisville)
"The Lighthouse" has bounced back a bit this year, although it's still more power stuff than polish. He's getting left-handers out more effectively, working with an average changeup as well as an above-average slider and 92-97 mph fastball. His command and control remain below-average, increasing the chances he ends up in the bullpen, but his stuff is too good and his body too durable to consign him to relief just yet.
44. Tim Anderson, SS
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185
Currently at: Double-A (Birmingham)
It's the Shawon Dunston starter kit: not quite Dunston's arm strength (which might be the best ever for a major league shortstop), but similar range, quickness, bat control, foot speed … and reluctance to take a walk. Anderson came into pro ball with less baseball experience than most players, and he's actually a little more patient already than Dunston ever was, so the comparison isn't totally fair to Anderson. But it does give you a rough idea of what kind of player Anderson can be even if he doesn't make any significant improvements.
45. Willy Adames, SS
Age: 19 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Currently at: High Class A (Port Charlotte)
Adames may turn out to be the key piece in the David Price trade last summer. Even with Drew Smyly hurt and Nick Franklin scuffling, things still might turn out all right for the Rays, as Adames has performed well as a 19-year-old in high-A. His raw power hasn't come through, as the Florida State League is a bad place for power and Port Charlotte exacerbates the problem, but he continues to play adequate defense at short and his mental approach is good. Even if he moves to third base, he projects to have the pop to be a solid regular or better.
46. Dillon Tate, RHP
Age: 21 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 210
Currently at: Low Class A (Spokane)
The fourth overall pick and best college pitcher in this year's draft class, Tate carries the risk of becoming a reliever but possesses a plus slider and plus velocity, although the latter plays down a little due to the lack of deception in his delivery. He worked as a starter for just one college season and still has a lot of room for growth as a pitcher, with a high floor as a reliever if he can't start.
47. Billy McKinney, OF
Age: 20 | B/T: L/L | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205
Currently at: Double-A (Tennessee)
McKinney was the second prospect the Cubs acquired, along with Addison Russell, last July 5 in the Jeff Samardzija-Jason Hammel trade, and is already raking in Double-A at age 20, with a .298/.354/.438 line in 52 games there since he was promoted from high-A in May. He's limited to left field, and the power may be more like 15-20 homers (less than some anticipated), but he seems like a very good bet to post strong OBPs with good defense for that position.
48. Javier Guerra, SS
Age: 19 | B/T: L/R | Height: 5-11 | Weight: 155
Currently at: Low Class A (Greenville)
Guerra is the best prospect to come out of Panama since Carlos Lee, a true shortstop with incredibly easy actions at the position and more potential with the bat than I think even the Red Sox realized when they signed him for $250,000 in 2012. He's a below-average runner, but it doesn't limit his defensive value in any way, while at the plate, his main issue is recognizing pitches from left-handers, who've eaten him for lunch so far this year.
49. Jorge Alfaro, C
Age: 22 | B/T: R/R | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 225
Currently at: Double-A (Frisco)
Alfaro had a significant ankle injury (with tendon damage) that has probably ended his 2015 season, but he remains one of the minors' best catching prospects thanks to his combination of 80 raw power and 80 arm strength. The injury is particularly damaging to Alfaro, however, as the two facets of his game on which he needs the most work, plate discipline and receiving, typically improve only with more playing time.
50. Harold Ramirez, OF
Age: 20 | B/T: R/R | Height: 5-10 | Weight: 210
Currently at: High Class A (Bradenton)
Ramirez is similar to McKinney (above), a very high-contact hitter with a short stroke but who's limited to left field, though Ramirez is inferior to McKinney defensively and in terms of present power. He has edged ahead of first-base prospect Josh Bell, whose defense at first remains a problem and whose power is still a theoretical concept at age 22.
Honorable mention Luis Severino, RHP, NY Yankees; Reynaldo Lopez, RHP, Washington (I project he and Severino, both great arms, are more likely relievers than starters); Jake Thompson, RHP, Texas; Kolby Allard, LHP, Atlanta; Ian Happ, 2B, Chicago Cubs; David Dahl, OF, Colorado; Jesse Winker, OF, Cincinnati (hitting .325/.425/.488 since June 1 after a slow first two months).