Here are the next 46 prospects in the Top 100. Adding those 46 to the 39 from the other day … carry the 1 … we’re up to 85 prospects, leaving 15 “Elite” prospects for Friday’s post. These prospects fit in the 16-61 range, and several of them could be elite prospects next year, which I’ll mention later. As of right now, these are guys that I think are definitely everyday players who might make an All-Star appearance or two but aren’t likely to make it a habit. Just like yesterday, these prospects are put in order inside their position, and the comments are why they’re above or below certain players. If you’re looking for scouting reports, go here.
Catchers
Jesus Montero (SEA): We can sit around and argue all day about whether he’ll stick behind the plate, but that’s where he fits here and the boy can really hit.
Derek Norris (WAS): Norris is what we call a secondary skills beast. Drawing walks and hitting home runs is his calling card, and if he gets a bit more aggressive, I see no reason for the strikeouts to continue to be so high.
Wilin Rosario (COL): The lack of plate discipline is a little discouraging, but he can hit and hit for power while playing solid defense behind the plate. Rosario could be the next Miguel Olivo, but because he turns 23 in February, I’ll give him a break for now.
Gary Sanchez (NYY): Montero is basically what Sanchez hopes to be, except Sanchez’s age gives scouts more hope that his defense will improve, but he’s only played in A-ball.
First Basemen
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the best first base prospect in the minors is either CJ Cron or Jonathan Singleton. Where have all the really good ones gone?
Second Basemen
Jean Segura (LAA): The Angels moved him to short, but I’m not sure anyone’s close to convinced he can stick there. If he can stick at short, he moves up a tier, but even if not, I think he’s a fine prospect, nonetheless.
Third Basemen
Nolan Arenado (COL): Arenado went to the gym and worked on his fitness, and it increased his mobility and defense to believe he could be average or better at the hot corner. Oh yeah, he can really hit, too.
Miguel Sano (MIN): If we knew he would stay at third, he’d be a tier higher. If we knew the massive bat would play above Rookie ball, he’d be a tier higher. If he could do both, he’d be one of the top 5 prospects in the game.
Anthony Rendon (WAS): I would like to mention that these guys are essentially 17, 18, and 19 if I do a numbered Top 100. I’m mainly just worried about him coming back from the injuries.
Nick Castellanos (DET): Castellanos is a bit further down than the first three guys here because he does a good deal of striking out. He’s still an excellent prospect, though.
Shortstops
Hak-Ju Lee (TB): Lee is a much better defender than the other two on the list, and he’ll give AA another crack as a 21-year old. Power beginning to develop.
Nick Franklin (SEA): Franklin will be an offense-oriented shortstop, but he shouldn’t embarrass himself defensively. He’s a few months younger than Lee.
Xander Bogaerts (BOS): This is basically because he’ll probably have to move to third. Bogaerts did way more than hold his own at 18 in Low-A, though.
Corner Outfielders
Wil Myers (KC): Myers didn’t perform as expected in AA as a 20-year old, but it becomes more of a do-over due to injuries, a new position, and a solid rebound in the AFL. He’s only a year older than Yelich.
Oscar Taveras (STL): Taveras is a couple years younger than Myers, but he only played 76 games in A-ball. But my goodness, what a 76 games.
Christian Yelich (MIA): Yelich did exactly what the Marlins hoped he would do in his full-season debut. The kid can hit.
Center Fielders
Bubba Starling (KC): A complete athlete, Starling has all the tools to be a true 5-tool player that ends up being the top prospect in the game. He also carries a lot of risk due to being fairly raw. I could feel bad about this in a year, but I’m too excited to be worried about that now.
Starling Marte (PIT): While he doesn’t walk a lot, Marte has always hit for an obscenely high average, and the power really came into play in 2011. Like Starling, I could feel bad about this in a year, but I’m too excited.
Gary Brown (SF): Brown spent 2011 laying waste to and wasting his time in a level he didn’t need to be in. He’s a plus defender with some concerns about his bat not answered because he was in A-ball all year.
Anthony Gose (TOR): A true weapon in center, Gose added power and walks to his repertoire, but he also struck out 154 times in 137 games.
George Springer (HOU): Springer has a lot of the tools Starling has, but he also likely needs some work on his swing without age being on his side.
Tim Wheeler (COL): Wheeler spent 2011 mashing in AA, but he may not stick in center and did strike out 142 times in 138 games. I think he could pass in center, but he won’t if he stays in Colorado.
Mason Williams (NYY): Williams did so well in Low-A that he had scouts raving, but it was only Low-A and for 68 games. I do have some BABiP concerns bumping up the slash line, but hey, the kid is really talented.
Pitchers
Jarrod Parker (OAK): If the command and slider come all the way back, Parker’s an ace.
Taijuan Walker (SEA): Walker had a very nice full-season debut, and he has the athleticism to improve his control and secondary pitches. He has huge potential but, as with most guys his age, a lot of risk as well.
Tyler Skaggs (ARI): The fastball doesn’t scream front-line pitcher, but the secondary pitches and command are gradually making me believe he could be.
Danny Hultzen (SEA): Hultzen’s floor is much higher than Walker’s, but Walker’s upside is higher than Hultzen’s. I don’t see much more than a very good 3 for Hultzen, but considering he’s basically ready, he has tons of value.
Manny Banuelos (NYY): Banuelos is younger than Hultzen, but the control is a bigger problem than I think some are letting on. That being said, he’ll be 21 next season.
Carlos Martinez (STL): Martinez’s upside is like Matt Moore-good, but the control and delivery could literally or figuratively destroy him. He’ll be 20 all next season and has plenty of time to refine his skills.
Archie Bradley (ARI): Bradley, like Martinez, has massive potential, but he’ll be a baseball-player only for the first time. It’s a double-edged sword. Bradley’s very athletic but is a bit mechanical.
Matt Harvey (NYM): Harvey has more of the traditional mold of a front-line guy than Skaggs, but Skaggs has performed better and is two years younger.
Drew Pomeranz (COL): I don’t know. Harvey and Pomeranz are both really good.
Martin Perez (TEX): Perez will be 21 on Opening Day, so we’ll forgive him for not quite living up to expectations. Perez, however, no longer looks like the front-of-the-rotation pitcher once envisioned.
Matt Barnes (BOS): I’m seeing this general trend here of guys with ace-potential but being far away from getting there. Fitting these guys in is basically impossible. Fun, but impossible.
Tyrell Jenkins (STL): Like I was saying …
Zach Wheeler (NYM): Wheeler has a slightly higher upside than Harvey, but he’s a bit farther away from reaching it while having a slightly larger chance of becoming a reliever down the road. The difference between Harvey and Wheeler, and the guys in the middle, feels miniscule.
AJ Cole (OAK): Don’t worry about the 4.04 ERA. Cole is a very talented pitcher, but the pure stuff is a bit below some of the guys higher on the list.
Jake Odorizzi (KC): Odorizzi made everyone in Kansas City feel a little better about losing Zack Greinke with a very nice 2011 season, but he’s about two years older than Cole and not that much further along.
Taylor Guerrieri (TB): Guerrieri’s ceiling is a bit higher than the two guys in front of him, but he’s just out of high school and has some off-field issues, though I think that’s more story than concern over those issues.
James Paxton (SEA): Paxton’s a little older than most of the guys on the list, but he’s shown the ability to miss a lot of bats. The only concern is some control issues, but I’m not sure if that’s an actual thing or just some rust being knocked off from all the NCAA ridiculousness.
Michael Montgomery (KC): Montgomery’s season will earn him a repeat trip to AAA, but he’ll be 22/23 next season and didn’t lose any stuff. Now, we wait to see if the command comes back.
Randall Delgado (ATL): Considering his stuff and proximity to the majors, Delgado has “3” written all over him.
Arodys Vizcaino (ATL): I don’t know what to do with Vizcaino. He has the stuff to be front-line starter, but the Braves seem intent on putting him in the bullpen unless he’s really needed in the rotation. Moving to the bullpen would hurt his value, but he should be an elite-reliever.
Joe Ross (SD): Ross has big stuff and the pedigree. All that’s left is for him to, you know, do his thing.
Zach Lee (LAD): Everything went about as planned for Lee in 2011. No big surprises. No big disappointments.
Trevor May (PHI): May’s stuff is incredible, and he’ll strike out the stadium. He’ll also walk half the stadium, but hey, that’s a 2:1 K:BB ratio (3+ in High-A actually), right?
