2017 Top 50 Fantasy Prospects: First Look
Jon Gray. Alex Bregman. Michael Fulmer. Edwin Diaz. Yoan Moncada. Willson Contreras. Josh Bell. Blake Snell.
The young players listed above are hot commodities right now in keeper leagues like Ottoneu. These players are the building blocks of hope for many eager fantasy owners looking to turn the corner from rebuilding to contention over the next season or two. Each of these players were also well outside the top 50 prospects listed in Chris Mitchell’s KATOH Top 100 prospect ranking posted almost oneyear ago.
I really enjoy Chris’ method and his KATOH work is excellent, so the point here is only that prospecting is a fluid business. Projecting quick MLB success from an early 20-something is a difficult task no matter how much information we have. Scouting perceptions can change nearly as often as the weather, so it’s a good idea to take the temperature often. Today I’ll give you a first look at 2017 prospect rankings in the context of fantasy using my Prospect Scorecard method I introduced last season.
A few quick notes before we begin:
- Since “Cost” is league-dependent (salary, keeper round, etc.), I’ve ignored it here for simplicity by keeping it constant for every prospect listed. Feel free to use the Scorecard to make changes that reflect true player costs for your league.
- These rankings below are intended to represent the 50 most valuable prospects for fantasy leagues (depending on format).
- It’s quite possible I’m missing an obvious player that should be ranked, so let me know in the comments. We can discuss the specific rationale for player rankings in the comments, too.
- For a lot more prospect resources, check out the Ottoneu community.
Here are the Top 50 prospects for the linear-weights-based FanGraphs Points scoring format (a good proxy for those in OBP leagues):
| Rank | Player | Team | Age | POS | Scouting | Scoring | Impact | Hype | Cost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrew Benintendi | BOS | 22 | OF | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 21.0 |
| 2 | Alex Reyes | STL | 22 | SP | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 21.0 |
| 3 | Yoan Moncada | CHW | 21 | 3B | 5.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 19.5 |
| 4 | Dansby Swanson | ATL | 23 | SS | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 18.0 |
| 5 | Tyler Glasnow | PIT | 23 | SP | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 17.5 |
| 6 | Lucas Giolito | CHW | 22 | SP | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 17.5 |
| 7 | Josh Bell | PIT | 24 | 1B | 3.5 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 17.5 |
| 8 | Austin Meadows | PIT | 21 | OF | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 17.0 |
| 9 | Brendan Rodgers | COL | 20 | SS | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 17.0 |
| 10 | Gleyber Torres | NYY | 20 | SS | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 17.0 |
| 11 | J.P. Crawford | PHI | 22 | SS | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 17.0 |
| 12 | Victor Robles | WAS | 19 | OF | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 16.5 |
| 13 | Willy Adames | TB | 21 | SS | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 16.5 |
| 14 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 21 | 1B | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 16.0 |
| 15 | Amed Rosario | NYM | 21 | SS | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 16.0 |
| 16 | Rafael Devers | BOS | 20 | 3B | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 16.0 |
| 17 | Clint Frazier | NYY | 22 | OF | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 16.0 |
| 18 | Eloy Jimenez | CHC | 20 | OF | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 16.0 |
| 19 | Francis Martes | HOU | 21 | SP | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 15.5 |
| 20 | Franklin Barreto | OAK | 21 | SS | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 15.5 |
| 21 | Ian Happ | CHC | 22 | 2B | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 15.5 |
| 22 | Yuliesky Gurriel | HOU | 32 | 3B | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 15.5 |
| 23 | Brent Honeywell | TB | 22 | SP | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 15.5 |
| 24 | Lewis Brinson | MIL | 22 | OF | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 15.5 |
| 25 | Manuel Margot | SDP | 22 | OF | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 15.5 |
| 26 | Jose De Leon | LAD | 24 | SP | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 15.5 |
| 27 | Michael Kopech | CHW | 20 | SP | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 15.5 |
| 28 | Reynaldo Lopez | CHW | 23 | SP | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 15.0 |
| 29 | Francelis Montas | OAK | 24 | SP | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 15.0 |
| 30 | Yadier Alvarez | LAD | 21 | SP | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 15.0 |
| 31 | Bradley Zimmer | CLE | 24 | OF | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 14.5 |
| 32 | Nick Senzel | CIN | 21 | 3B | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 14.5 |
| 33 | Hunter Renfroe | SDP | 25 | OF | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 34 | Alex Verdugo | LAD | 20 | OF | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 35 | Isan Diaz | MIL | 20 | 2B | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 36 | Willie Calhoun | LAD | 22 | 2B | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 37 | Christin Stewart | DET | 23 | OF | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 38 | Joe Jimenez | DET | 22 | RP | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 39 | Erick Fedde | WAS | 24 | SP | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 40 | Kyle Lewis | SEA | 21 | OF | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 41 | A.J. Reed | HOU | 23 | 1B | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 42 | Cody Reed | CIN | 23 | SP | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 43 | Jake Bauers | TB | 21 | OF | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 44 | Anderson Espinoza | SDP | 19 | SP | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 45 | Aaron Judge | NYY | 24 | OF | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 46 | Tyler O’Neill | SEA | 21 | OF | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 47 | Luke Weaver | STL | 23 | SP | 3.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 48 | Corey Ray | MIL | 22 | OF | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 49 | Sean Newcomb | ATL | 23 | SP | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 50 | Josh Hader | MIL | 22 | SP | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
Here are the Top 50 prospects for Ottoneu Old School, a 5 x 5 scoring format:
| Rank | Player | Team | Age | POS | Scouting | Scoring | Impact | Hype | Cost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrew Benintendi | BOS | 22 | OF | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 21.0 |
| 2 | Alex Reyes | STL | 22 | SP | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 21.0 |
| 3 | Yoan Moncada | CHW | 21 | 3B | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 20.5 |
| 4 | Dansby Swanson | ATL | 23 | SS | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 18.5 |
| 5 | Tyler Glasnow | PIT | 23 | SP | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 18.0 |
| 6 | Lucas Giolito | CHW | 22 | SP | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 17.5 |
| 7 | Victor Robles | WAS | 19 | OF | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 17.5 |
| 8 | Gleyber Torres | NYY | 20 | SS | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 17.5 |
| 9 | Josh Bell | PIT | 24 | 1B | 3.5 | 3.5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 17.0 |
| 10 | Austin Meadows | PIT | 21 | OF | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 17.0 |
| 11 | Brendan Rodgers | COL | 20 | SS | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 17.0 |
| 12 | J.P. Crawford | PHI | 22 | SS | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 17.0 |
| 13 | Lewis Brinson | MIL | 22 | OF | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 17.0 |
| 14 | Willy Adames | TB | 21 | SS | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 16.5 |
| 15 | Cody Bellinger | LAD | 21 | 1B | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 16.5 |
| 16 | Amed Rosario | NYM | 21 | SS | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 16.5 |
| 17 | Clint Frazier | NYY | 22 | OF | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 16.0 |
| 18 | Eloy Jimenez | CHC | 20 | OF | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 16.0 |
| 19 | Franklin Barreto | OAK | 21 | SS | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 16.0 |
| 20 | Manuel Margot | SDP | 22 | OF | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 16.0 |
| 21 | Rafael Devers | BOS | 20 | 3B | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 15.5 |
| 22 | Francis Martes | HOU | 21 | SP | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 15.5 |
| 23 | Jose De Leon | LAD | 24 | SP | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 15.5 |
| 24 | Michael Kopech | CHW | 20 | SP | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 15.5 |
| 25 | Yuliesky Gurriel | HOU | 32 | 3B | 3.5 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 15.5 |
| 26 | Ian Happ | CHC | 22 | 2B | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 15.0 |
| 27 | Brent Honeywell | TB | 22 | SP | 3.5 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 15.0 |
| 28 | Reynaldo Lopez | CHW | 23 | SP | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 15.0 |
| 29 | Yadier Alvarez | LAD | 21 | SP | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 15.0 |
| 30 | Francelis Montas | OAK | 24 | SP | 3.5 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 14.5 |
| 31 | Bradley Zimmer | CLE | 24 | OF | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 14.5 |
| 32 | Christin Stewart | DET | 23 | OF | 3.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 14.5 |
| 33 | Nick Senzel | CIN | 21 | 3B | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 34 | Alex Verdugo | LAD | 20 | OF | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 35 | Isan Diaz | MIL | 20 | 2B | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 36 | Kyle Lewis | SEA | 21 | OF | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 37 | Nick Williams | PHI | 23 | OF | 3.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 38 | Hunter Renfroe | SDP | 25 | OF | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 14.0 |
| 39 | Erick Fedde | WAS | 24 | SP | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 40 | Ozzie Albies | ATL | 20 | 2B | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 41 | Cody Reed | CIN | 23 | SP | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 42 | Anderson Espinoza | SDP | 19 | SP | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 43 | Corey Ray | MIL | 22 | OF | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 44 | A.J. Reed | HOU | 23 | 1B | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 45 | Aaron Judge | NYY | 24 | OF | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 46 | Sean Newcomb | ATL | 23 | SP | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 47 | Orlando Arcia | MIL | 22 | SS | 3.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 13.5 |
| 48 | Joe Jimenez | DET | 22 | RP | 3.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 13.0 |
| 49 | Jacoby Jones | DET | 24 | OF | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 13.0 |
| 50 | Tyler O’Neill | SEA | 21 | OF | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 13.0 |
For additional Ottoneu prospect resources:
The Secret to Rebuilding Your Fantasy Team
Trey is a 20+ year fantasy veteran and an early adopter of Ottoneu fantasy sports. He currently administers the Ottoneu community, a network of ~1,200 fantasy baseball and football fans talking sports daily. More resources here: http://community.ottoneu.com
Groome and Maitan are omitted because of lack of stats or lack of proximity?
Players like Groome, Marian, Vlad, Jr., received solid Scouting scores but Impact and Hype scores were very low for now which pulled them well out of the top 50. Proximity influences the Impact score heavily, but it’s not the only factor.