2015 MLB Top 100 Prospects

Written by evanvogel
Cubs super-prospect 3B/OF Kris Bryant
Cubs super-prospect 3B/OF Kris Bryant

1. Kris Bryant, 3B/OF, Chicago Cubs

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2013 21 -0.8 A–A+-Rk CHC 36 146 128 22 43 14 2 9 32 1 11 35 .336 .390 .688 1.078 88
2014 22 -3.5 AA-AAA CHC 138 594 492 118 160 34 1 43 110 15 86 162 .325 .438 .661 1.098 325
2 Seasons 174 740 620 140 203 48 3 52 142 16 97 197 .327 .428 .666 1.095 413
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
Bryant is a mashing star in the making for the Cubs. He is an athletic player, and while there are questions about whether he can handle third defensively, there aren’t any questions about his ability to hit. He’ll be a monster producer for Theo and Co. for years to come. He doesn’t have anything left to prove in the minors, but he’ll likely spend some time in Triple-A to maintain his service time in Chicago. 

2. Byron Buxton, OF, Minnesota Twins

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2012 18 -1.9 Rk MIN 48 189 165 33 41 10 4 5 20 11 19 41 .248 .344 .448 .792 74
2013 19 -3.0 A-A+ MIN 125 574 488 109 163 19 18 12 77 55 76 105 .334 .424 .520 .944 254
2014 20 -2.7 A+-AA MIN 31 137 124 19 29 4 2 4 16 6 10 36 .234 .307 .395 .702 49
3 Seasons 204 900 777 161 233 33 24 21 113 72 105 182 .300 .389 .485 .874 377
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Generated 10/25/2014.

Say what you’d like to about Buxton’s inability to stay on the field – it still doesn’t tell me that he’s lost any tools. However, if he has another lost season, it may be time to re-evaluate that view. Power, speed, and elite centerfield defense make him valuable in fantasy and real-life baseball. He has more tools than Lowe’s.

3. Carlos Correa, SS, Houston Astros

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2012 17 -2.8 Rk HOU 50 204 190 28 49 14 2 3 12 6 12 44 .258 .305 .400 .705 76
2013 18 -3.3 A HOU 117 519 450 73 144 33 3 9 86 10 58 83 .320 .405 .467 .872 210
2014 19 -3.8 A+ HOU 62 293 249 50 81 16 6 6 57 20 36 45 .325 .416 .510 .926 127
3 Seasons 229 1016 889 151 274 63 11 18 155 36 106 172 .308 .389 .465 .853 413
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Generated 10/25/2014.
Correa, like Buxton, missed most of 2014 due to injury. He was having a monster season, and it doesn’t really matter that it was happening at Lancaster in the California League because he is capable of that type of production. It will be interesting to see if his injury leads to any loss of speed, but the large, powerful shortstop deserves the benefit of the doubt, much like Buxton, because of his gifts. 

4. Addison Russell, SS, Chicago Cubs

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2012 18 -2.4 Rk-A-A- OAK 55 244 217 46 80 10 9 7 45 16 23 48 .369 .432 .594 1.027 129
2013 19 -4.0 A+-AAA OAK 110 517 442 86 119 29 10 17 60 21 61 125 .269 .369 .495 .865 219
2014 20 -4.3 AA-A+ CHC,OAK 68 280 258 39 76 14 1 13 45 6 19 49 .295 .350 .508 .858 131
3 Seasons 233 1041 917 171 275 53 20 37 150 43 103 222 .300 .379 .522 .901 479
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Generated 10/25/2014.
With Starlin Castro, Arismendy Alcantara, and Javier Baez already in the system, it was pretty shocking to see the Cubs acquire another elite middle infielder when they finally traded Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija to the Oakland Athletics. You can never have too much elite talent, and talent is talent, so it can play anywhere. Russell could be the long-term shortstop due to his ability to handle the position defensively, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in Chicago around the same time that Bryant makes his debut for the Cubs. 
Rangers 3B Joey Gallo
Rangers 3B Joey Gallo

5. Joey Gallo, 3B, Texas Rangers

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2012 18 -1.9 Rk-A- TEX 59 260 206 53 56 12 1 22 52 6 48 78 .272 .412 .660 1.072 136
2013 19 -2.5 A-Rk TEX 111 467 411 86 103 23 5 40 88 15 50 172 .251 .338 .623 .961 256
2014 20 -3.6 AA-A+ TEX 126 537 439 97 119 19 3 42 106 7 87 179 .271 .394 .615 1.009 270
3 Seasons 296 1264 1056 236 278 54 9 104 246 28 185 429 .263 .377 .627 1.004 662
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Generated 10/25/2014.
Elite power makes Gallo a future star and the strikeouts make him a future star who strikes out a lot. There isn’t much to be concerned about here. In the hapless offensive era that MLB is currently enduring, power is power and teams are craving it. While a strikeout, as Moneyball showed, is a wasted at-bat, the potential production that Gallo offers is titillating. He’ll continue to rise through the ranks, and, like Bryant, questions about his long-term position don’t matter much due to the bat. He’ll have a spot somewhere. 

6. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2011 17 -4.1 A- CLE 5 20 19 4 6 0 0 0 2 1 1 5 .316 .350 .316 .666 6
2012 18 -3.6 A CLE 122 567 490 83 126 24 3 6 42 27 61 78 .257 .352 .355 .707 174
2013 19 -4.1 A+-AA CLE 104 464 403 65 122 22 7 2 34 25 49 46 .303 .380 .407 .787 164
2014 20 -5.4 AA-AAA CLE 126 567 507 75 140 16 4 11 62 28 49 97 .276 .338 .389 .727 197
4 Seasons 357 1618 1419 227 394 62 14 19 140 81 160 226 .278 .355 .381 .736 541
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Generated 10/25/2014.
Lindor doesn’t have the size and power that Correa offers, but his glove is what will make him most valuable to the Indians. That isn’t to say that he is clueless at the dish, though, as Lindor has solid gap power, a very advanced approach at the plate, and usable speed on the bases. He’s a perfect top-of-the-order option, and if he isn’t in Cleveland by June 15th, Chris Antonetti and Terry Francona are doing it wrong. 

7. Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2012 18 -2.9 Rk LAD 46 202 175 34 54 9 2 8 33 8 21 33 .309 .383 .520 .903 91
2013 19 -2.7 A-A+ LAD 101 426 372 55 100 20 4 16 72 10 46 89 .269 .351 .473 .824 176
2014 20 -3.3 A+-AA LAD 118 526 475 89 166 50 5 20 97 6 40 115 .349 .402 .602 1.004 286
3 Seasons 265 1154 1022 178 320 79 11 44 202 24 107 237 .313 .380 .541 .921 553
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Generated 10/25/2014
Kyle’s younger brother has all the makings of a studly offensive shortstop. He may grow out of the position, if he hasn’t already, but his impressive numbers would certainly make the Dodgers lineup that much more feared. It will be interesting to see how far the Dodgers go in negotiations with Hanley Ramirez with Seager waiting in the wings. 

8. Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2010 17 -2.3 Rk-FRk MIN 61 241 212 34 65 16 1 7 29 4 24 60 .307 .379 .491 .870 104
2011 18 -2.5 Rk MIN 66 293 267 58 78 18 7 20 59 5 23 77 .292 .352 .637 .988 170
2012 19 -2.6 A MIN 129 553 457 75 118 28 4 28 100 8 80 144 .258 .373 .521 .893 238
2013 20 -3.6 AA-A+ MIN 123 519 439 86 123 30 5 35 103 11 65 142 .280 .382 .610 .992 268
4 Seasons 379 1606 1375 253 384 92 17 90 291 28 192 423 .279 .373 .567 .940 780
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Generated 10/25/2014.
Another Twins’ prospect with a lost season, Sano missed all of 2014 due to Tommy John surgery. Sano will be 22 in 2015, and while he’ll need to work on timing and get the rust off, he should arrive sometime during the upcoming season. He is a powerful, right-handed bat, and with the Twins looking to head in a new direction after firing Ron Gardenhire, a quick promotion of their future would be pretty intriguing to their fans – but he needs to prove that he’s ready first. 

9. Jorge Soler, OF, Chicago Cubs

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2014 22 CHC NL 24 97 89 11 26 8 1 5 20 1 6 24 .292 .330 .573 .903 51
1 Yr 24 97 89 11 26 8 1 5 20 1 6 24 .292 .330 .573 .903 51
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Generated 10/25/2014.
Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2012 20 -0.7 A-Rk CHC 34 149 134 28 40 7 0 5 25 12 12 19 .299 .369 .463 .832 62
2013 21 -1.8 A+ CHC 55 236 210 38 59 13 1 8 35 5 21 38 .281 .343 .467 .810 98
2014 22 -3.0 AAA-AA-Rk CHC 62 236 200 42 68 23 2 15 57 0 33 48 .340 .432 .700 1.132 140
5 Seasons 151 621 544 108 167 43 3 28 117 17 66 105 .307 .383 .551 .935 300
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Generated 10/25/2014.
Soler is an absolute monster. He has insane power and showcased it during his brief time in Chicago last season. He, like Buxton, just needs to stay on the field to reach his full potential. He should open the 2015 season as the Cubs starting right fielder, likely a favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year award. 

10. Lucas Giolito, RHP, Washington Nationals

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2012 17 -3.4 Rk WSN 0 0 4.50 1 0 0 2.0 2 1 1 0 1 1.000 9.0 0.0 4.5
2013 18 -2.9 Rk-A- WSN 2 1 1.96 11 0 0 36.2 28 9 8 14 39 1.145 6.9 3.4 9.6 2.79
2013 18 -2.6 Rk WSN 1 1 2.78 8 0 0 22.2 19 8 7 10 25 1.279 7.5 4.0 9.9 2.50
2013 18 -3.3 A- WSN 1 0 0.64 3 0 0 14.0 9 1 1 4 14 0.929 5.8 2.6 9.0 3.50
2014 19 -2.8 A WSN 10 2 2.20 20 0 0 98.0 70 28 24 28 110 1.000 6.4 2.6 10.1 3.93
3 Seasons 12 3 2.17 32 0 0 136.2 100 38 33 42 150 1.039 6.6 2.8 9.9 3.57
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
The training wheels were still on Giolito in 2014, but it’s likely a good thing that the Nationals are being so cautious because this kid is likely better than Stephen Strasburg ever was. Sure, he hasn’t reached the majors and he, like Strasburg, has already had elbow surgery, but he’s a huge kid with huge stuff, and he’s capable of dominating nightly. My guess is he starts the season in Double-A and will be up with Washington by July 1st. He’s breaking free of the chains and will show just how impressive he is.

11. Archie Bradley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2011 18 -3.5 Rk ARI 0 0 0.00 2 0 0 2.0 1 0 0 0 4 0.500 4.5 0.0 18.0
2012 19 -2.8 A ARI 12 6 3.84 27 0 0 136.0 87 64 58 84 152 1.257 5.8 5.6 10.1 1.81
2013 20 -4.1 AA-A+ ARI 14 5 1.84 26 2 0 152.0 115 40 31 69 162 1.211 6.8 4.1 9.6 2.35
2014 21 -3.9 AA-AAA-Rk ARI 3 7 4.45 18 1 0 83.0 76 43 41 49 75 1.506 8.2 5.3 8.1 1.53
4 Seasons 29 18 3.14 73 3 0 373.0 279 147 130 202 393 1.290 6.7 4.9 9.5 1.95
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Generated 10/25/2014.
Injuries and inconsistencies plagued Bradley in 2014. His walks were up significantly and they continue to be what holds him back from being an elite arm; however, I’ve said that before about people, namely Matt Harvey. He has the stuff…he just needs to harness it to reach his potential. 
Dodgers LHP phenom Julio Urias
Dodgers LHP phenom Julio Urias

12. Julio Urias, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2013 16 -5.8 A LAD 2 0 2.48 18 0 0 54.1 44 15 15 16 67 1.104 7.3 2.7 11.1 4.19
2014 17 -6.2 A+ LAD 2 2 2.36 25 0 0 87.2 60 25 23 37 109 1.106 6.2 3.8 11.2 2.95
2 Seasons 4 2 2.41 43 0 0 142.0 104 40 38 53 176 1.106 6.6 3.4 11.2 3.32
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
Urias should be a senior in high school in 2015…only he isn’t, as he will be in Double-A working on becoming a future elite arm for the Dodgers. His numbers are impressive, but then you see that he’s just 17 and has struck out 11.2 per nine over his first 142 innings and it becomes that much more eye-opening. He is mature beyond his years, mentally and with his stuff, and he’s a player to monitor due to his age, stuff, and insane ceiling. 

13. Carlos Rodon, LHP, Chicago White Sox

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2014 21 -3.5 AAA-A+-Rk CHW 0 0 2.92 9 0 0 24.2 20 9 8 13 38 1.338 7.3 4.7 13.9 2.92
1 Season 0 0 2.92 9 0 0 24.2 20 9 8 13 38 1.338 7.3 4.7 13.9 2.92
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
I’m not buying his fall from grace in college. He could have been abused and he could have a poor attitude, but none of those things are going to change the fact that Rodon’s stuff is wicked. His slider is a 100 on a 70 point scale, so if he isn’t able to make it as a starter, he’ll be a dominant relief pitcher. People have questioned the future of other White Sox left-handers and their long-term roles in the past, and Chris Sale says that those people are dumb. 

14. Joc Pederson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2014 22 LAD NL 18 38 28 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 9 11 .143 .351 .143 .494 4
1 Yr 18 38 28 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 9 11 .143 .351 .143 .494 4
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2010 18 -2.1 Rk LAD 3 12 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 5 .000 .417 .000 .417 0
2011 19 -2.2 Rk-A LAD 84 370 316 58 102 20 2 11 65 26 43 63 .323 .407 .503 .910 159
2012 20 -2.6 A+ LAD 110 499 434 96 136 26 4 18 70 26 51 81 .313 .396 .516 .913 224
2013 21 -3.2 AA LAD 123 519 439 81 122 24 3 22 58 31 70 114 .278 .381 .497 .878 218
2014 22 -4.6 AAA LAD 121 553 445 106 135 17 4 33 78 30 100 149 .303 .435 .582 1.017 259
5 Seasons 441 1953 1641 342 495 87 13 84 271 113 268 412 .302 .405 .524 .929 860
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
Do you think that this guy prays nightly for the Dodgers to trade him or another outfielder on their roster? If you didn’t think that he broke out as a star at some point in 2012 or 2013 in the minors, he showed up to Triple-A last year and showed more power (I know the league is notorious for it) and a better approach at the plate. He has power, speed, and he can play all three outfield positions. He would be a tremendous target for anyone trying to match-up with Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers in an offseason deal. He just needs a job to get things going. 

15. Dylan Bundy, RHP, Baltimore Orioles

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2012 19 -3.8 A+-A-AA BAL 9 3 2.08 23 0 0 103.2 67 29 24 28 119 0.916 5.8 2.4 10.3 4.25
2014 21 -1.3 A+-A- BAL 1 3 3.27 9 0 0 41.1 38 15 15 16 37 1.306 8.3 3.5 8.1 2.31
2 Seasons 10 6 2.42 32 0 0 145.0 105 44 39 44 156 1.028 6.5 2.7 9.7 3.55
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
Bundy lost all of the 2013 season to Tommy John surgery and he pitched well in his return last season, though he wasn’t nearly as dominant as he was in 2012. It’s all part of the process and he dealt with a lat muscle injury during the 2014 season, so he needs some time. He was handled much like Giolito was during his first full season (2012), but you can’t really save an arm that way – he needs to rebuild stamina and prove that he still has the stuff to be a future ace, which I’m banking on. 

16. Jon Gray, RHP, Colorado Rockies

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2013 21 -1.4 A+-Rk COL 4 0 1.93 9 0 0 37.1 25 11 8 8 51 0.884 6.0 1.9 12.3 6.38
2013 21 0.0 Rk COL 0 0 4.05 4 0 0 13.1 15 8 6 2 15 1.275 10.1 1.4 10.1 7.50
2013 21 -2.2 A+ COL 4 0 0.75 5 0 0 24.0 10 3 2 6 36 0.667 3.8 2.2 13.5 6.00
2014 22 -2.4 AA COL 10 5 3.91 24 0 0 124.1 107 58 54 41 113 1.190 7.7 3.0 8.2 2.76
2 Seasons 14 5 3.45 33 0 0 161.2 132 69 62 49 164 1.120 7.3 2.7 9.1 3.35
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
Gray has the task of becoming a star pitcher within the Rockies’ system, while maintaining a level of dominance once he reaches Coor’s Field. It won’t be easy, but he has the stuff to make it happen. His overall numbers weren’t eye-popping in 2014, but he stayed healthy and maintained the electricity on his fastball and slider, which are the keys to his ability to reach his ceiling. It will be interesting to see if the Rockies keep him away from Colorado Springs and return him to Double-A to start the 2015 season, as the PCL can be hellacious on the mental state of young pitchers. 

17. Noah Syndergaard, RHP, New York Mets

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2010 17 -3.4 Rk TOR 0 1 2.70 5 0 0 13.1 11 7 4 4 6 1.125 7.4 2.7 4.0 1.50
2011 18 -2.9 Rk-A–A TOR 5 2 1.83 13 0 0 59.0 46 14 12 18 68 1.085 7.0 2.7 10.4 3.78
2012 19 -2.8 A TOR 8 5 2.60 27 0 0 103.2 81 41 30 31 122 1.080 7.0 2.7 10.6 3.94
2013 20 -3.8 A+-AA NYM 9 4 3.06 23 0 0 117.2 107 48 40 28 133 1.147 8.2 2.1 10.2 4.75
2014 21 -5.8 AAA NYM 9 7 4.60 26 0 0 133.0 154 77 68 43 145 1.481 10.4 2.9 9.8 3.37
5 Seasons 31 19 3.25 94 0 0 426.2 399 187 154 124 474 1.226 8.4 2.6 10.0 3.82
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
“Thor” wasn’t alone in having injuries and being ineffective in the world of prospects in 2014, but it was still an underwhelming season. His strikeouts per nine fell and his walks rose a bit, but the most alarming item was how hittable he was. With his stuff, you’d expect more, but he was pitching in Triple-A at the age of 21, so he deserves a bit of a break. He’ll start back there in 2015 and show that he’s better than that, very quickly, and reach New York before the All-Star break. 

18. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2012 18 -2.5 Rk-A- PIT 0 3 1.88 12 0 0 38.1 23 17 8 17 44 1.043 5.4 4.0 10.3 2.59
2013 19 -2.7 A PIT 9 3 2.18 24 0 0 111.1 54 35 27 61 164 1.033 4.4 4.9 13.3 2.69
2014 20 -3.2 A+ PIT 12 5 1.74 23 0 0 124.1 74 29 24 57 157 1.054 5.4 4.1 11.4 2.75
3 Seasons 21 11 1.94 59 0 0 274.0 151 81 59 135 365 1.044 5.0 4.4 12.0 2.70
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
Glasnow is his own worst enemy. He has only allowed FIVE hits per nine innings in his career, but it’s the 4.4 walks per nine that are worrisome. It stems from an electric fastball that he needs to control to become even better than the 1.94 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over 274 career innings have shown. He could be better than Gerrit Cole when all is said and done. 
Reds RHP Robert Stephenson
Reds RHP Robert Stephenson

19. Robert Stephenson, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2012 19 -2.7 A-Rk CIN 3 4 3.18 15 0 0 65.0 54 34 23 23 72 1.185 7.5 3.2 10.0 3.13
2013 20 -2.4 A-A+-AA CIN 7 7 2.99 22 0 0 114.1 92 49 38 35 136 1.111 7.2 2.8 10.7 3.89
2014 21 -3.4 AA CIN 7 10 4.74 27 0 0 136.2 114 81 72 74 140 1.376 7.5 4.9 9.2 1.89
3 Seasons 17 21 3.79 64 0 0 316.0 260 164 133 132 348 1.241 7.4 3.8 9.9 2.64
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
Stephenson took a step back in 2014 by allowing more walks and home runs than at any point in his career. He spent the whole season in Double-A and he’s still young enough to rebound, but the questions about the “straightness” of his fastball could be the reason that he was greeted so unforgivingly by his opponents. The Reds need to see an improvement due to the possible departures of Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, and Aroldis Chapman to free agency after the 2015 season – someone needs to be in their rotation! 

20. Kohl Stewart, RHP, Minnesota Twins

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2013 18 -2.6 Rk MIN 0 0 1.35 7 0 0 20.0 13 7 3 4 24 0.850 5.8 1.8 10.8 6.00
2014 19 -3.0 A MIN 3 5 2.59 19 0 0 87.0 75 36 25 24 62 1.138 7.8 2.5 6.4 2.58
2 Seasons 3 5 2.36 26 0 0 107.0 88 43 28 28 86 1.084 7.4 2.4 7.2 3.07
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Generated 10/25/2014.
Stewart has incredible stuff, but, like many other Twins’ prospect, dealt with an injury in 2014. Stewart struggled with the dreaded “shoulder soreness” that cost him several starts, and the Twins will hope that he gets back on track in 2015 and can remain injury-free. An upper-90’s fastball was his calling card coming out of high school, and he’ll need to regain the strength in that shoulder to keep his stock this high (or higher). 

21. Andrew Heaney, LHP, Miami Marlins

Year Age Tm Lg W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2014 23 MIA NL 0 3 5.83 7 0 0 29.1 32 19 19 7 20 1.330 9.8 2.1 6.1 2.86
1 Yr 0 3 5.83 7 0 0 29.1 32 19 19 7 20 1.330 9.8 2.1 6.1 2.86
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2012 21 -0.3 A-Rk MIA 1 2 4.33 6 0 0 27.0 32 17 13 6 30 1.407 10.7 2.0 10.0 5.00
2013 22 -1.5 A+-AA MIA 9 3 1.60 19 1 0 95.1 76 22 17 26 89 1.070 7.2 2.5 8.4 3.42
2014 23 -2.9 AAA-AA MIA 9 6 3.28 24 1 1 137.1 120 61 50 36 143 1.136 7.9 2.4 9.4 3.97
3 Seasons 19 11 2.77 49 2 1 259.2 228 100 80 68 262 1.140 7.9 2.4 9.1 3.85
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Generated 10/25/2014.
A quick-rising arm out of Oklahoma State, Heaney was able to get to the Marlins within 24 months of being drafted. He has a fastball that can touch the mid-90’s and a very good slider. He likely won’t ever replace Jose Fernandez as the Marlins’ ace, but he can become a very useful arm right behind him in the rotation. A developing changeup is likely his key to success. 

22. Hunter Harvey, RHP, Baltimore Orioles

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2013 18 -2.9 Rk-A- BAL 0 1 1.78 8 0 0 25.1 21 6 5 6 33 1.066 7.5 2.1 11.7 5.50
2014 19 -2.8 A BAL 7 5 3.18 17 0 0 87.2 66 39 31 33 106 1.129 6.8 3.4 10.9 3.21
2 Seasons 7 6 2.87 25 0 0 113.0 87 45 36 39 139 1.115 6.9 3.1 11.1 3.56
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
Harvey and Giolito were able to battle a couple of times during their time in the SAL in 2014, and Harvey was capable of matching him. If that doesn’t tell you what Harvey is capable of, I don’t know what will. He could easily be where Dylan Bundy is on this list, quite capable of becoming a better long-term option, but he, like so many others, was shut down due to an injury, as Harvey dealt with an elbow strain. If he can rebound from the arm injury, he’ll head to High-A and stay on the fast track to the majors. 

23. Jorge Alfaro, C, Texas Rangers

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2010 17 -1.5 FRk TEX 48 187 172 18 38 5 2 1 23 1 5 48 .221 .278 .291 .569 50
2011 18 -3.3 A- TEX 45 171 160 18 48 9 1 6 23 1 4 54 .300 .345 .481 .826 77
2012 19 -2.7 A TEX 74 300 272 40 71 21 5 5 34 7 16 84 .261 .320 .430 .750 117
2013 20 -1.5 A-Rk-A+ TEX 113 459 404 72 107 24 1 18 61 18 32 122 .265 .346 .463 .809 187
2014 21 -2.1 A+-AA TEX 121 536 486 75 127 26 5 17 87 6 29 123 .261 .323 .440 .763 214
5 Seasons 401 1653 1494 223 391 85 14 47 228 33 86 431 .262 .326 .432 .758 645
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
Alfaro is a free-swinging, athletic catcher with very good power, and an even more powerful throwing arm. It wouldn’t be surprising for this young man to get comps to Ivan Rodriguez due to climbing the ranks in the Rangers system and being so capable on both sides of the dish, but he likely won’t be the hitter that “Pudge” was. That doesn’t make him any less worth some hype, though. He’ll likely spend some more time in Double-A before a quick promotion to Triple-A, but he won’t be up for good until 2016. 

24. Daniel Norris, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Year Age Tm Lg W L W-L% ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2014 21 TOR AL 0 0 5.40 5 0 0 6.2 5 4 4 5 4 1.500 6.8 6.8 5.4 0.80
1 Yr 0 0 5.40 5 0 0 6.2 5 4 4 5 4 1.500 6.8 6.8 5.4 0.80
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2012 19 -1.6 Rk-A- TOR 2 4 8.44 13 0 0 42.2 58 44 40 18 43 1.781 12.2 3.8 9.1 2.39
2013 20 -1.9 A-A+ TOR 2 7 3.97 24 0 0 90.2 85 46 40 46 100 1.445 8.4 4.6 9.9 2.17
2014 21 -3.3 A+-AA-AAA TOR 12 2 2.53 26 0 0 124.2 96 37 35 43 163 1.115 6.9 3.1 11.8 3.79
3 Seasons 16 13 4.01 63 0 0 258.0 239 127 115 107 306 1.341 8.3 3.7 10.7 2.86
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
Norris finally reached his potential in 2014, and it led to the young left-hander pitching at four levels, including the majors. His strikeout rate was a career-best, and the walks were down, as were the hits. He really seemed to figure it out, and it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Norris get a long, long look in spring training. 

25. Henry Owens, LHP, Boston Red Sox

Year Age AgeDif Lev Aff W L ERA G CG SHO IP H R ER BB SO WHIP H9 BB9 SO9 SO/W
2012 19 -2.6 A BOS 12 5 4.87 23 0 0 101.2 100 58 55 47 130 1.446 8.9 4.2 11.5 2.77
2013 20 -3.2 A+-AA BOS 11 6 2.67 26 0 0 135.0 84 47 40 68 169 1.126 5.6 4.5 11.3 2.49
2014 21 -4.1 AA-AAA BOS 17 5 2.94 26 3 2 159.0 121 53 52 59 170 1.132 6.8 3.3 9.6 2.88
3 Seasons 40 16 3.34 75 3 2 395.2 305 158 147 174 469 1.211 6.9 4.0 10.7 2.70
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/25/2014.
He doesn’t hit the upper-90’s, but Owens knows how to pitch. He can locate his pitches and keep hitters off-balance. While many would link him to Tom Glavine due to that, but it’s the awkward angle that seems to get the best of his opposition. As he continues to climb the ranks, you’ll need to watch to see if his stuff or his motion is what is the cause for the impressive totals to this point. 

26. Blake Swihart, C, Boston Red Sox

27. David Dahl, OF, Colorado Rockies

28. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

29. Alex Meyer, RHP, Minnesota Twins

Twins' RHP Jose Berrios
Twins’ RHP Jose Berrios

30. Jose Berrios, RHP, Minnesota Twins

31. Aaron Nola, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

32. Tyler Kolek, RHP, Miami Marlins

33. J.P. Crawford, SS, Philadelphia Phillies

34. Nick Gordon, SS, Minnesota Twins

35. Clint Frazier, OF, Cleveland Indians

36. Jesse Winker, OF, Cincinnati Reds

37. Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

38, D.J. Peterson, 1B/3B, Seattle Mariners

39. Braden Shipley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

40. Kyle Crick, RHP, San Francisco Giants

41. Eddie Butler, RHP, Colorado Rockies

42. Raul Mondesi, SS, Kansas City Royals

43. Lucas Sims, RHP, Atlanta Braves

44. Mark Appel, RHP, Houston Astros

45. A.J. Cole, RHP, Washington Nationals

46. Garin Cecchini, 3B, Boston Red Sox

47. Josh Bell, 1B/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

48. Nick Kingham, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

49. Kyle Schwarber, C/OF, Chicago Cubs

50. Michael Foltynewicz, RHP, Houston Astros

51. Luis Severino, RHP, New York Yankees

52. Kevin Plawecki, C, New York Mets

53. Matt Wisler, RHP, San Diego Padres

54. Kyle Zimmer, RHP, Kansas City Royals

Nationals OF Michael Taylor
Nationals OF Michael Taylor

55. Michael Taylor, OF, Washington Nationals

56. Austin Meadows, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

57. Domingo Santana, OF, Houston Astros

58. Max Fried, LHP, San Diego Padres

59. Rusney Castillo, 2B/OF, Boston Red Sox

60. Albert Almora, OF, Chicago Cubs

61. Austin Hedges, C, San Diego Padres

62. C.J. Edwards, RHP, Chicago Cubs

63. Sean Manaea, LHP, Kansas City Royals

64. Maikel Franco, 1B/3B, Philadelphia Phillies

65. Christian Bethancourt, C, Atlanta Braves

66. Jose Peraza, 2B/SS, Atlanta Braves

67. Stephen Piscotty, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

68. Brandon Nimmo, OF, New York Mets

69. Dalton Pompey, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

70. Nomar Mazara, OF, Texas Rangers

71. Aaron Blair, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

72. Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees

Rockies OF Raimel Tapia
Rockies OF Raimel Tapia

73. Raimel Tapia, OF, Colorado Rockies

74. Nick Williams, OF, Texas Rangers

75. Alen Hanson, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates

76. Hunter Dozier, 3B, Kansas City Royals

77. Kyle Freeland, LHP, Colorado Rockies

78. Steven Moya, 1B/OF, Detroit Tigers

79. Micah Johnson, 2B, Chicago White Sox

80. Alexander Reyes, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals

81. Jorge Polanco, 2B, Minnesota Twins

82. Trea Turner, SS, San Diego Padres

83. Michael Conforto, OF, New York Mets

84. Rosell Herrera, SS, Colorado Rockies

85. Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

86. Billy McKinney, OF, Chicago Cubs

87. Justin Nicolino, LHP, Miami Marlins

88. Brandon Finnegan, LHP, Kansas City Royals

89. Matt Olson, 1B, Oakland Athletics

90. Tim Anderson, SS, Chicago White Sox

91. Touki Toussaint, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

92. Hunter Renfroe, OF, San Diego Padres

93. Alex Jackson, C/OF, Seattle Mariners

94. Marco Gonzales, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals

Rangers OF Lewis Brinson
Rangers OF Lewis Brinson

95. Lewis Brinson, OF, Texas Rangers

96. Jeff Hoffman, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

97. Grant Holmes, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

98. Bradley Zimmer, OF, Cleveland Indians

99. Rob Kaminsky, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals

100. Sean Newcomb, LHP, Los Angeles Angels

34 thoughts on “2015 MLB Top 100 Prospects”

  1. Pingback: Sunday October 26, 2014 – Baseball Links | FantasyRundown.com

    1. He’s very patient…I’d like to see him hit for more power, but he’s progressing, even if it is slowly. To have that plate discipline at his age is pretty impressive. He just needs the other tools to come along. He doesn’t have the speed to slap the ball like Juan Pierre, so he needs to start driving the ball next season to be a legitimate top prospect. I ranked him, but I’d like to see more.

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    1. I’d have Guerrero in the next 10. I think Castillo’s speed and power combination make him a little more valuable. I also think that Castillo is capable of much better production. Even though he’ll be questioned due to his size, Castillo is an excellent athlete. He has more overall value as a player than Guerrero, in my opinion, which is why he was ranked and Guerrero just missed.

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  4. Out of curiosity, why so low on Alex Jackson? You have players drafted well after him ahead in the rankings. Many thought he was the best bat/player in the draft.

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    1. He’s likely to move slowly and we all know how difficult it can be for catching prospects to rise through the ranks in a positive manner. If he switches to just OF, he’d move up the list, but I could see him having issues making adjustments in his transitions throughout the minors. I like him, his power potential is off the charts,but I think the people that I put ahead of him can get to MLB quicker and have a quicker, more immediate impact – which is why I liked him a little less than others do.

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      1. That’s an interesting take. Most of the opinions I’ve read say he will be one of the fastest movers in his class. You have mondesi from Kansas City 50 slots ahead of him. He was completely overwhelmed last year. Do you really believe he will rise faster than Jackson? Do you think his ceiling is higher than Jackson’s? I could play this game with several other prospects. It seems to me you’re missing the boat here.

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      2. The ceiling isn’t higher for fantasy purposes, but if Mondesi begins hitting again with his tools, he would be an elite-level shortstop, and, given the potential for flame outs for high school catchers (if Jackson doesn’t move off of catcher completely), there is no guarantee. Mondesi struggled last year quite a bit, but he was still very young for the league. In fact, both players turned 19 in the 2014 calendar year and Mondesi was already in Wilmington. Does that matter at all? I’m not missing any boat. I know that Jackson is a potential monster at the plate, but Jackson struck out in 29% of his at-bats in the AZL, too. I’d like to see more, especially out of an “elite” talent.

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      3. “but if Mondesi begins hitting again with his tools, he would be an elite-level shortstop”

        Doesn’t he need to begin hitting, period? I know he is young, but he has yet to show ANY offensive talent at the lowest levels of the minors. I understand the “very young for his level” argument, but in order to say that about a player…that player must have shown something already. Mondesi had a decent year in 2012 in rookie ball…and yes he was very young…..but he has yet to show me anything worthy of a high prospect ranking. At some point, no matter how young he is, he must dominate a league or the organization needs to stop moving him up until he does.

        In my opinion, Mondesi is a LOOOONG way off unless it all of a sudden clicks for him.

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      4. I appreciate your opinion and reading my blog. I’m not alone on Mondesi getting it together (http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/11/18/7204121/kansas-city-royals-top-20-prospects-for-2015), as John Sickels mentions scouts who see an All-Star shortstop. Age “IS” a factor at the levels, and he had 34 extra-base hits playing most of the season at 18 in High-A. The approach needs some work, obviously, but IF he gets that under control and continues to fill out a bit, he can absolutely improve and reach his ceiling. The same can be said for a number of prospects. Last year was a disappointment, sure, but Matt Harvey and Julio Teheran had disappointing seasons in the minors. You don’t give up on potential, and I still think Mondesi has quite a bit.

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      5. ” Last year was a disappointment, sure, but Matt Harvey and Julio Teheran had disappointing seasons in the minors. ”

        Yes they did, but both repeated the levels and followed them up with very successful ones. Mondesi has done no such thing at any level yet. My point is he may be blessed with all the talent in the world just like Tim Beckham was, but at some point he has to show something. If he can’t do that at the lowest levels then I have a very hard time believing he will ever be a big time player.

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      6. Are you in the Royals’ system? Are they moving him up this year or are they going to keep him in Wilmington? I’d love to know! He hasn’t repeated a level to this point because someone in their player development thinks that he can handle it. He didn’t handle it last year, so he’s likely to repeat. Once again, I appreciate your opinion and that you read, but if you want to continue to try to throw my own words at me without being able to provide a valid, reasonable argument from other reliable sources, your opinion and harassment regarding my own opinion will no longer be discussed.

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      7. I would say you’re missing the boat if you aren’t aware he’s already been moved off of catcher. And wasn’t he the MVP of the Arizona league or something? I’ve heard his name mentioned in the same breath as Miguel Cabrera. He’s one of the top high school hitters in the past several years. Everyone else has him in the 30 range. Your reason for placing him so low doesn’t actually exist, therefore I assume you’re missing the boat. Otherwise your argument doesn’t hold up. Maybe you don’t like him because he struck out too much in rookie ball. I

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    1. I didn’t think he was, so I didn’t include him. Nimmo’s patience will allow him to perform well and allow the other tools to develop more appropriately.

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    1. Barnes was a great prospect coming out of college, but he allows far too many baserunners and doesn’t miss enough bats to be anything more than a back-end starter. I’ve read a lot on Jackson only having two pitches, and that may have been why he was lit up in AAA last year (that and the PCL is very unfriendly to pitchers). He was very good in AA again and had dynamite numbers in 2013, so we’ll see if he can make adjustments, but, based on everything that I’ve seen and read, he is more of a Low #3 or High #4 starter who has some work to do to be truly elite (like adding another pitch).

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    1. He’s a nice prospect, but the Rockies Low-A affiliate is well-known for being offense-heavy, so we’ll see if he is as special as his numbers. I mean, look at what Ian Stewart did there, and McMahon has a lot of swing and miss (143 K’s) in his game. He looks like he can hit and he’ll likely do the same in High-A in 2015 since the Rockies affiliate is in the California League, but based on numbers alone, he was hard to leave off. I just want to see more and he’d be in the next 5-10 if I extended the list.

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  8. Pingback: Who are the best Young Prospects worth investing in? - Page 3 - Blowout Cards Forums

    1. Solid overall numbers and good pedigree (2nd round pick in 2009), but I don’t know what the ceiling is on him. He’s left-handed and breathing, but he may continue to get pushed aside for Harvey, DeGrom, Montero, and Thor when it comes to young Mets arms. The fact that he’s already had a surgery is worrisome, but the stuff has rebounded nicely. He’s certainly a name to monitor, but I think I’m safe by still having him on the outside looking in on the top 100. He’s certainly capable of climbing into the midseason list, however!

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  10. Aaron Sanchez of B.J.’s is way too low. He blew away major league hitters last year and dominated the AFL prior to that.
    Actually dont know why he is on this list I think he is over the required days on m.l. roster for rookie status nevertheless his stuff is top ten.

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    1. Watch for sample size. The kid has amazing stuff but very little command and has also dealt with some shoulder issues. I like him a lot, but I don’t think that dominating for three weeks is worth tossing him to the top of a loaded list of talent.

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  11. I am curious as to the ranking of Alex Jackson. I read some replies down below but I was hoping for further explanation. As a mariners fan I would like to know more about the guy.

    I have read his two biggest knocks are his strike out rate and his development if he were to stay at catcher. That being said the Mariners seemed to make it clear (to me at least) that they had no intent to play him at catcher, which was reaffirmed by the fact that he didn’t play any catcher (that I am aware of) in his first stint in the minors. So I wouldn’t think that would be a concern then.

    The other knock being his strike out rate is a reasonable concern. 29% strike out is higher than we would like to see. That being said, other players such as Gallo and Frazier strike out at a much higher clip. Granted, Gallo has shown more and is much more highly regarded. However, from what I see, many prospect sites rank Jackson ahead of Frazier. So my question is, in your mind, what causes the 58 places between the two? Are there other concerns I am missing?

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    1. There’s nothing that you are missing. I’m, personally, just not as high on him. I do love his potential, but I also would like to see better adjustments made from an elite prospect. He is one that I will need to re-evaluate, obviously, and he SHOULD be higher on the list. The difference between Jackson and Gallo is that Gallo has SHOWN that he can do it and still be insanely productive. I haven’t had the same opportunity to see Jackson do the same thing. Frazier is a little further along and the two appear to have similar, All-Star potential. For me, it mostly boils down to a lack of showing any form of adjustment. Once he does, he’ll fly up the list. I also think that Tapia has no business being as low as he is, and if it was potential alone that we were using as a measurement for prospects, you’d see a lot more 16-year-olds near the top of the list, right? It isn’t ALL potential. There has to be some production and adjustments. Jackson needs to show more of that and it will come with playing time and experience. He is off of catcher, that was a mistake on my part, as well.

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      1. Fair enough. Just didn’t know if there was some other issue that I wasn’t aware of.

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    1. Solid for a 1B-only prospect. More of a Mark Grace, gap-power type than a Miguel Cabrera bopper. He’s a good prospect, and one of the better first base prospects in the game, which really isn’t saying much.

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  13. Pingback: 2015 Top 184 Compiled Prospect List | Steal of Home
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  15. Pingback: 2015 Mid-Season Top 50 Prospects « The Baseball Haven
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What do you think?