2018 Top 100 Prospects: A Fantasy Spin Review

by Trey Baughn

February 8, 2019

It’s prospect season (thank goodness, as nothing else is happening). Nearly one year ago I borrowed from the great work by Eric and Kiley here and applied some fantasy context to their overall Top 100 prospect rankings from 2018. We’ll do something similar for 2019, but before the full frenzy of this season’s prospect rankings reaches it’s peak, I thought it prudent to review prospect perceptions from this time last year to see if we can learn anything.

From last year’s post, the same purpose applies:

The goal here is simply to each prospect’s grades and scouting reports and then translate those skills into “what could be” for fantasy context (for example where “upside” might represent an 80%+ outcome on a prospect’s potential).

For comparison, last year’s comments are at the top, followed by a value trend and general update on where things appear to be for each prospect heading into 2019.

2018 Top 100 Prospects: Fantasy Spin – A Review

Name	Team	Age	POS	FV	VAR	Fantasy (Then & Now)
Shohei Ohtani	LAA	23	RHP/RF	70	Low	“Stuff” is ace-level but expect McCullers-like production in 2018; long-term ace; bat is gravy; hype sky high ⬇️ Better than expected debut cut short by TJS, so it’s wait and see if he’s ultimately as valuable on the mound as he looks as a hitter (.390 wOBA). Should hit for power and maybe average too, but PA’s still limited
Ronald Acuna	ATL	20	CF	65	Low	Not Trout or Harper level, but elite; early career could be 2011 McCutchen, late career 2011 Justin Upton; Roto monster ⬆️ Yes, still looks like a roto monster and potential 1st round pick in the making. Only 21 y/o with 30-30 seasons attainable.
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.	TOR	18	1B	65	Low	Lowest risk bat on the list; floor could be Victor Martinez but ceiling could be Edgar Martinez. ⬆️ Consensus #1 overall prospect and possibly greatest hit tool ever seen on a prospect. Will debut in 2019 and could be a top 20 bat by year end. Expectations are so high it’s likely he actually disappoints in fantasy.
Victor Robles	WAS	20	CF	65	Low	Lorenzo Cain a career .290/.342/.421 hitter, but Robles could surprise with more power and speed; low risk profile ↗️ Clearer path to playing time in 2019 and if he can get on base his speed will make him elite quickly. Good bet to take several non-linear steps forward early in career. Hit tool is better than most speedy prospects
Fernando Tatis, Jr.	SD	19	3B	65	Med	Early walk rates + power suggest Seager, Correa could be reasonable expectation; speed will play down; could be #1 next year ⬆️ Argument for #1 overall fantasy prospect if speed sticks; should impact by late 2019 and could be a force immediately; has 30 HR power and All-Star potential long term
Eloy Jimenez	CHW	20	RF	65	Med	Impressive hit/power combo make Eloy bankable for .280+/30+ HR/100+ RBI seasons in near future; skills play up in OBP leagues ⬆️ Can rival Vlad, Jr. in tools and may be more valuable long term in OF. Very few players with potential for .300 AVG and 35+ HR but Eloy has MVP talent long term
Nick Senzel	CIN	21	3B	60	Low	Professional hitter, high floor, 2018 ETA; upside could be Anthony Rendon-like production; value boost as 2B or OF ↗️ Injury concerns linger but move to CIN OF should get him to MLB soon and hit tool limits risk of long slumps and/or ugly start
Forrest Whitley	HOU	20	RHP	60	Med	Short list of 19 year old SP to hit AA is impressive; has all the makings of 9+ K/9 SP with good command ⬆️ Undisputed top SP prospect in baseball and the talent/pitches to succeed immediately despite limited IP. Pitchers break, but Whitley has legitimate “best pitcher in the game”-type profile at MLB peak
Bo Bichette	TOR	19	2B	60	Med	Crazy age 19 numbers suggest very high floor; likely to move to 2B but bat will play anywhere. Could be more hit than power; expect speed to slow. ↗️ Solid age 20 performance at AA (.355 wOBA) shows he has natural talent to maintain elite hit tool as he moves up the ladder aggressively. There’s a good baseline for success here; expect late 2019 debut.
Kyle Tucker	HOU	21	RF	60	Low	Impressive gains vs. LPH suggest great hitter; could be Christian Yelich-type with impact likely in 2019 ↗️ Small sample HOU debut shouldn’t damper expectations at all, but playing time concerns could. .275/.365/.525 peak MLB seasons are still realistic, but don’t expect a ton of speed.
Willy Adames	TB	22	SS	60	Low	Underrated, .340 – .350 wOBA type who’s progressed slowly but steadily; could look like last few seasons from Xander Bogaerts ➡️ Solid rookie debut (109 wRC+) but red flags (29% K%, .378 BABIP) make up and down stretches (or seasons) likely in the near future. True power profile still a little fuzzy.
Gleyber Torres	NYY	21	SS	60	Low	Expect double-digits BB rates, good AVG, and solid power in NY stadium; Robinson Cano-like upside long term is possible if power ticks upward ↗️ Age 21 MLB debut (.820 OPS) somehow feels overshadowed by great prospect pipeline but this is still an elite talent that will likely exceed expectations in the near term
Lewis Brinson	MIA	23	CF	60	Med	Impressive development in 2017 suggest baseline of double digit HR and SB as early as 2018 with full playing time in MIA ⬇️ Strikeouts (29.6%) have Brinson in a hole he may not dig out of for awhile, if ever. 2019 projections aren’t optimistic.
Miguel Andujar	NYY	22	3B	60	Med	Minimal speed but high contact approach gives strong baseline of immediate success; see Mike Moustakas career as possible curve if swing adjustments keep paying off ⬆️ Surprisingly excellent 2018 debut form solid foundation for further development, especially if he can take a small step forward in his overall approach; poor defense could impact PA’s.
Brent Honeywell	TB	22	RHP	60	Low	Deep repetoire and bulldog mentality give Honeywell high floor; fly ball tendencies should give some pause in AL East; 2018 ETA ↘️ TJS recovery should temper expectations in short term; wait and see approach for 2019.
Alex Reyes	STL	23	RHP	60	Med	Elite upside but expect 2018 impact in bullpen. Worth playing the long game here with 9+ K/9 potential ➡️ Injury concerns remain along with amazing “stuff” that will play whether in rotation or bullpen; command risks will make growing pains unpredictable and potentially frustrating for awhile
Francisco Mejia	SD	22	C/3B	60	High	Hit tool ahead of OBP skills but AVG floor is very high to setup as Top 10 option as early as 2018 ➡️ Looking unlikely he will stick at catcher long term but will be given every opportunity to hit, even if traded
Brendan Rodgers	COL	21	SS	60	Med	Quietly behind some other SS who have risen in ranks but power bat + Coors will make Rodgers hot commodity in all leagues; ETA 2019 ➡️ Great raw talent on display but red flags in approach may present a buying opportunity; ETA could be pushed to late 2019
Sixto Sanchez	MIA	19	RHP	60	Med	Stuff grades elite but never posting K/9 at 9+ tempers short term expectations; age suggests breakthrough could come quickly with 2019 ETA ↘️ Some of the filthiest pitches in MiLB but injury recovery and conditioning will be closely watched after high profile trade; high risk probably outweighs short term reward for now
Michael Kopech	CHW	21	RHP	60	Med	Grades compare to Noah Syndergaard but command issues will create slower than desired developmental adjustments ↘️ Will spend 2019 recovering from TJS but pedigree remains high and command issues were showing signs of improvement before injury
Luis Robert	CHW	20	CF	60	High	Skills off the charts; this is a growth stock you’re better off grabbing sooner rather than later; speed + power potential if everything clicks ➡️ 2019 will be big developmental year for massive talent; could go either way in speed or power balance (or both); don’t give up early on raw athleticism
Brendan McKay	TB	22	LHP/1B	60	Med	Could be Ohtani-like trendsetter at 50% of the price ➡️ Talent proved out on mound in 2018 as we wait to see if bat will catch up. Intriguing prospect that could potentially contribute in September 2019
Mitch Keller	PIT	21	RHP	60	Med	Elite command set floor very high with smooth MLB entry likely; PIT likely to hold down until late 2018 ↘️ Pedigree value seems a bit down due to bumpy AAA ride, but two plus pitches (FB/CRV) still give reason for faith. It’s too “easy”, but Taillon development curve could be model here
Keston Hiura	MIL	21	2B	55	Med	An Ian Kinsler (.273/.342/.447) career is not crazy and would make him extremely valuable ⬆️ All his scouting reports emphasize one thing: ability to hit. That’s what you want in a hitting prospect, so this should be a debut to look forward to in 2019.
Scott Kingery	PHI	23	2B	55	Low	Approach plays down in OBP leagues but speed/defense/hit tools will make him great; if power stays, he’s an All Star ⬇️ Rough MLB entry; reminder that prospect development isn’t linear so this could go in a number of different directions this season if he can earn his way into lineup
Kyle Wright	ATL	22	RHP	55	Med	Wait-and-see approach but draft pedigree and premium slider suggests he could move faster than any Braves SP; late 2018 ETA possible ➡️ Value holding steady, and ATL has been aggressive with SP development. Expect 2019 bullpen impact with chance for more
Walker Buehler	LA	23	RHP	55	Med	Power fastball and curve give high floor but with LAD sights on title they don’t have room for patience; bullpen risk short term ⬆️ Terrific 2018 debut puts Walker on ace-like plane; “stuff” looks even better than reports at times and it’s possible he could take another step forward
Luis Urias	SD	20	2B	55	Low	Elite barrel control, great track record says do not sleep on power, which is only perceived missing piece here ➡️ Constant question will be power profile; you can tell by watching him he will hit at least a bunch of doubles
J.P. Crawford	SEA	23	SS	55	Low	Prospect forever; may play just above replacement level until power develops ⬇️ New life, change of scenery in SEA. Hoping for the best, but skepticism in offensive abilities remains
A.J. Puk	OAK	22	LHP	55	Med	Strong K + GB rates provide promising floor; if command develops further this could be highest upside arm on the list ↘️ Will spend much of 2019 healing from TJS; profile looked great just before injury, but take an extra measure of precaution while watching this recovery; possible late 2019 impact
Luiz Gohara	ATL	21	LHP	55	Med	Talent and SP2-type stuff is evident but expect growing pains as command develops real time in Braves rotation in 2018 ↘️ Step back in 2018 and role/skill still an unknown heading in 2019. Upside play if cost is very low; possible RP
Franklin Barreto	OAK	21	CF	55	Med	Potential 20-20 player long term whose skills will play down significantly in OBP leagues until approach stabilizes; bust risk exists ↘️ Will play all of 2019 at just 23, but already somehow seems forgotten as a prospect. K rates will put pressure on bat, opportunity
MacKenzie Gore	SD	18	LHP	55	Med	Wide range of outcomes as some scouts see an ace here; athleticism and maturity bodes well for landing closer to SP3 value or better by 2020 ➡️ If he can stay healthy, a good candidate to receive a ton of helium in 2019 as innings start to come together
Mike Soroka	ATL	20	RHP	55	Low	150+ IP in AA at age 19 gives impression of solid floor, though modest K rates suggest the next Rick Porcello ↗️ Looked very solid in debut and if healthy he’s a strong SP sleeper in 2019. Porcello won a Cy Young once…
Corbin Burnes	MIL	23	RHP	55	Med	Under the radar arm with very solid MiLB track record; could surprise and GB profile may be best skill in bag ↗️ Decent shot to log SP innings in 2019, and if he can limit HR as he’s done in the minors he’ll quickly become a name to know
Anthony Alford	TOR	22	CF	55	Med	Good candidate for a guy who figures it out in MLB; baseline skills suggest solid OBP and SB, with occasional pop ⬇️ Will need a big AAA do over to get back on the prospect map. Could be late bloomer.
Cristian Pache	ATL	19	CF	55	High	32 SB in 119 games last year hide the fact that he’s never hit a professional HR. Defense alone will make him every day player but bat may be lite ↗️ Getting lots of prospect helium but reports are mingled between defensive wizardry and offensive potential. Value could go a number of directions this year.
Royce Lewis	MIN	18	CF	55	High	Seems destined to move off SS but hit and power tools give Lewis high chance to jump up the ranks in 2018 ⬆️ Better than advertised as #1 pick and now a consensus Top 1o prospect. Ability to be #1 by 2020 and should now stick at SS, with speed (20+ SB).
Justus Sheffield	NYY	21	LHP	55	Low	AFL breakout player could help NYY in 2018, but look to AA performance to set MLB expectations ➡️ Move to SEA provides opportunity which automatically helps; stuff played down a bit in MLB debut but a good arm to keep an eye on
Carter Kieboom	WAS	20	3B	55	Med	Bat, power, and position versatility may play like Jedd Gyorko-type career, with upside from there ↗️ Now hearing Alex Bregman-type skills instead; could be big riser in 2019 but will almost certainly move over from SS; could be doubles machine
Michel Baez	SD	22	RHP	55	High	2018 performance vs. older competition could either stall value or blow up him near the top of this list ↘️ Perceived prospect status only down slightly, possibly overshadowed by the deepest farm system in the game. Don’t expect 2019 impact at all however.
Hunter Greene	CIN	18	RHP	55	High	Massive fastball and impressive athlete project immense upside if secondaries develop too ➡️ Wait and see approach as 2019 will be important developmental season for prospect with elite pedigree and top tier athleticism
Jake Bauers	CLE	22	RF	50	Low	Power has steadily developed along with hit tool over MiLB career; good bet to have boring but underrated fantasy career; KATOH Top 10 ➡️ Good bet for solid all around MLB player/career and should now get more playing time in CLE; will take the under on 20 HR projections, though
Yordan Alvarez	HOU	20	LF	50	Med	Some scouts extremely high on Alvarez and project both plus hit and power tools; key question is OF or 1B? ↗️ Continued strong development in 2018 and could see MLB playing time in late 2019 if skill growth continues; value bonus in OPS leagues
Ian Anderson	ATL	19	RHP	50	Med	Excellent age 19 season implies crazy upside because GB rates are also well above average; ETA likely 2020 ↗️ Continues to succeed with double digit K rates while minimizing HR. Skills to take another step forward into “potential ace” category, but strong bet for #3 SP or better
Willie Calhoun	TEX	23	DH	50	Low	He’s going to hit almost immediately; where does he play, and how often? Fun profile to pull for in TEX ↘️ Rough TEX debut but sleeper candidate heading into 2019. Don’t overlook his strong MiLB track record
Austin Meadows	TB	22	LF	50	Low	2018 will be defining season to show he can hit again and stay healthy now that CF is open in PIT ➡️ Ok, we’ll wait once more on that defining season but now he gets to show it in TB; expect regular ups and downs
Alex Verdugo	LA	20	RF	50	Low	Hit tool so impressive that he’s a good bet to exceed expectations on power production long term ➡️ Constantly rumored in trade talks, he’s a hitter first, and a good guy to bet on valuable late round production in 2019, even if he doesn’t have a defined room from the outset
Jesus Sanchez	TB	20	RF	50	High	Minor league resume so consistently impressive that he’s a candidate to leap big in 2018; TB will take things slow ➡️ Value holding steady despite growing concerns over approach; looking like 2020 debut
Juan Soto	WAS	19	RF	50	Med	OBP high upside darling just needs one healthy season to be considered among the elite bats in OBP leagues 🔥 Historic age 19 season none of us saw coming. If you haven’t looked at his FG page in a while, go check it out again
Triston McKenzie	CLE	20	RHP	50	Med	186 strikeouts in 143 IP last season suggest much higher upside than current ranking; CLE has solid developmental track record too ➡️ One of the more difficult pitching prospects to gauge heading into 2019; looking like a solid #4 SP with upside
Monte Harrison	MIA	22	CF	50	High	Large developmental steps forward last year suggest he’s figuring it out; power and speed is his game ↘️ Anyone else get Harrison and Lewis Brinson constantly confused?
Colin Moran	PIT	25	3B	50	Low	Finally unlocked power last season at age 24; David Freese-type career is reasonable if ISO gains stick ➡️ Average MLB players have a lot of value but this is a fantasy list; candidate to be platooned when facing LHP
Yadier Alvarez	LA	21	RHP	50	High	Like many pitchers: great stuff but command is everything; 2018 is redefining season; stock down ⬇️ Stock continues to fall and possible bullpen guy could be best case scenario; still young
Austin Riley	ATL	20	3B	50	Med	Boosted value with defensive and AVG gains after aggressive AA promotion; big bat in the making; 2019 ETA ↗️ Likely to be eased into MLB lineup in late 2019 but has shown strong ability to adjust over time, and power will play anywhere (OF? 3B? 1B?)
Ke’Bryan Hayes	PIT	20	3B	50	Med	Could have Miguel Andujar-like breakout in 2018 but bat probably plays a tier below; move to SS? ↗️ Status and expectations growing so slowly he could sneak up on everyone if his ability to hit takes a step forward; will have long productive MLB career
Taylor Trammell	CIN	20	CF	50	Med	13 HR + 41 SB in 129 G last season; “Trammel is exciting since we don’t know exactly what is ceiling is yet”. Buy now. ↗️ Big helium heading into 2019 with some whispers he could debut. Better to expect 2020 impact but top tier talent if power develops fully (20-20)
Jorge Mateo	OAK	22	CF	50	High	Imagine what you wanted Billy Hamilton to be and then add a dash of power and AVG and you might get your wish in Mateo ⬇️ Gains didn’t carry over to AAA and disappointment lingers heading into 2019. Still very relevant in SB leagues (30+)
Albert Abreu	NYY	22	RHP	50	High	More elite arm strength but command still in development; just one of many high upside arms in NYY system ↘️ Good arm but many others have surpassed him in talent and intrigue
Touki Toussaint	ATL	21	RHP	50	High	Likely to have massive swings in value due to filthy stuff but maddening command; candidate to be ATL closer by 2020 ↗️ See above, repeat. If ATL can address command even a little he’s a very interesting arm (as SP) in 2019
Tyler O’Neill	STL	22	RF	50	Med	Volatile range of outcomes here that could resemble something like Adam Duval, Steven Souza, Domingo Santana hybrid ↘️ Huge power, low contact (56%). Will he get the opportunity to show what he can do in 2019? STL won’t be patient with long cold spells
Anderson Espinoza	SD	19	RHP	50	High	TJS + command concerns make him a watchlist stash at best until at least 2019 ⬇️ 2019 is complete wait and see situation
Dustin Fowler	OAK	23	CF	50	Low	Skills may play down in OBP but he’s a sneaky 15-15 candidate if knee heals as everyone hopes ↘️ Most likely a 4th OF type, which can have some value in deep leagues
Will Smith	LA	22	C	50	Med	“He’s an Austin Barnes sequel who’s perhaps two years from the majors.” ↗️ Trending upwards as one of the better catching prospects in the minors; expect 2020 impact, possibly via trade
Jack Flaherty	STL	22	RHP	50	Low	Strong STL development track record suggest he can contribute as soon as 2018 in meaningful way (8+ K/9) ⬆️ Not quite Walker Buehler-like hype but terrific debut has Flaherty rocketing up SP ranks and a young gun with upside. Should reach 200 K’s in 2019
Jo Adell	LAA	18	RF	50	High	Raw Matt Kemp-like skills with off the charts athleticism; risk is high but reward could move him up list quickly ⬆️ One of the highest prospect movers of 2018, Adell looks like a beast but hype may have gotten a little out of control as we wait for hit tool confirmation; Justin Upton looks like an exciting comp
Jorge Guzman	MIA	22	RHP	50	High	Consistent K/9 rates around 12.0 and GB rates > 50% suggest underrated monster in the making ↗️ Good transition to MIA but walk rates will need to be kept in check to take the next leap up fantasy watch lists
Tristen Lutz	MIL	19	RF	50	High	Power is calling card but also hit over .300 in MiLB debut. MIL knows how to develop OF’s, so keep an eye on him ➡️ All around decent age 19 debut (.339 wOBA, 9 SB) keep Lutz relevant as we look forward
Jahmai Jones	LAA	20	CF	50	Low	Plus hit, plus run = “He profiles as a table-setting doubles machine.” ➡️ Will stay at 2B in 2019 but power profile seems suspect at this point. Likely 2020 debut
Jesus Luzardo	OAK	20	LHP	50	Med	Scouts agree he’s one of biggest breakout candidates of 2018; 2019 ETA ⬆️ Breakout 2018 MiLB season should lead to breakout 2019 MLB season, though despite reports odds are low he starts season in OAK rotation. Skills to be top 15 SP in game at peak if healthy
Danny Jansen	TOR	22	C	50	Low	Adjustments in 2017 look like real deal; with C ranks thin in MLB, Jansen could exceed expectations, especially in OBP leagues ↗️ Hot commodity at very thin position with value that will continue to play up in OBP/OPS leagues. 15 HR power, maybe more long term.
Alec Hansen	CHW	23	RHP	50	High	Giant stuff and enough upside to be considered much higher than this if command improves ↘️ Step back in 2018 and control issues have him almost destined for RP role long term
Adonis Medina	PHI	21	RHP	50	Med	120 IP last season at 10.0 K/9 implies quite a bit of upside; 2019 ETA ↗️ Strong K and ground ball rates should help Philly fans forget about losing Sixto. ETA 2020
Cole Tucker	PIT	21	SS	50	Med	Big, athletic, sneaky speed here give hope for healthy breakthrough this season ➡️ Should get a shot in 2019 but profiles as doubles hitter unless swing changes unlock power his frame suggests lies dormant
Riley Pint	COL	20	RHP	50	High	MiLB stats are ugly and stock is down but “stuff” alone keeps him on the list ⬇️ Another big arm that looks ticketed for relief long term, but must answer health questions first (just 8 IP in 2018)
Nate Pearson	TOR	21	RHP	50	High	Filthy pitches might make him Top 10 arm; with small strides in 2018 his value will shoot up rankings ↗️ Chance to emerge in 2019 as top tier RHP in MiLB; possesses huge frame and 200+ K upside, but injury and RP risks remain
Nick Gordon	MIN	22	SS	50	Low	Profile of a “better in MLB than fantasy” SS; ETA late 2018 ↘️ Unlikely to play major fantasy role but performance at AA gives some hope for more (.401 wOBA)
Max Fried	ATL	24	LHP	50	Med	Big curveball and 2018 rotation chance puts him on radar but there’s HR risk here too ➡️ Interesting profile that may take a step forward if committed full time to RP; high walk rates leave little room for error but good candidate to be impact reliever over next few seasons
Estevan Florial	NYY	20	CF	50	High	Raw talent is evident but upside and risk are about even right now so 2018 will be big season for stock value ➡️ Injuries limited action in 2018 enough where it’s still unclear how this profile will play out, but lots of tools, and an approach that can work. Likely 20-20 upside if things break right
Yu-Cheng Chang	CLE	22	SS	50	Med	Underrated Ben Zobrist-type who could surprise and play a utility role in CLE as early as 2018 ➡️ Under the radar player who should play a MLB role in 2019. Good profile for long, quiet major league career
Sean Murphy	OAK	23	C	50	High	Off radar C prospect with solid approach and maybe average power ↗️ Defense will make him relevant sooner than later but offense puts him on the map too as one of the best C prospects in game right now
Brian Anderson	MIA	24	3B	50	Low	See Colin Moran profile as they project as similar offensive 3B ↗️ Very solid rookie debut (113 wRC+) that could actually be best MIA hitter in lineup now; may exceed expectations yet again
Ryan McMahon	COL	23	1B	50	Low	Huge AAA season boost stock as does possible utility role in COL as early as this year; he can hit ↘️ Must improve contact rates (69%) to carve out utility PA’s in crowded COL lineup; good bet to bounce back just enough to be MLB average hitter for 2019
Joey Wentz	ATL	20	LHP	50	Med	Upside could be Jon Lester if control improves but he’s a few seasons away ↘️ Strikeouts and command both took a big step back in 2018; would need significant step forward to break into most crowded rotation in MLB by 2020
Carson Kelly	ARI	23	C	50	Low	KATOH loves him but he’s more likely a backup C in most leagues early in career ➡️ Will finally get playing time after trade to ARI. Don’t expect much but does have decent AAA offensive resume to hope on
Leody Taveras	TEX	19	CF	50	Med	Upside is 20-20 player in TEX but power may play down from there ↘️ Only 20 y/0 but back to back .300 wOBA MiLB seasons can comfortably remove him from Top 100 consideration and fantasy radars until further development is observed
Isan Diaz	MIA	21	2B	50	Med	Aggressive approach implies risk but ultimate upside might be Brian Dozier power from left side ↘️ Should debut in 2019 but like so many MIA prospects, good bet to struggle mightily with K% during early adjustment stages
Jon Duplantier	ARI	23	RHP	50	Med	Solid command helps repertoire play up even more; could impact in 2018 ➡️ Slow, steady development moves ETA to late 2019 and could be worth the wait if ground ball skills (53%) stick with solid K rates (9.0 K/9)
Zack Burdi	CHW	22	RHP	50	Med	High risk, high reward RP but the fact that he’s even on the list considering TJS shows you how talented he is ➡️ Big arm still recovering but keep an eye on speed of development if full 80 grade fastball returns; could get late MLB push if CHW surprises for playoff spot
Austin Hays	BAL	22	RF	50	Med	2017 breakout will be given chance to continue in BAL but skills may play down in OBP leagues early on ↘️ Miserable 2018 hampered almost full time by injuries overshadow what he accomplished just one year earlier. Nowhere to go but up and could play full time role in BAL this season
Zack Collins	CHW	22	1B	50	Low	OBP darling could be something like Carlos Santana with limited looks at C ➡️ Lost in CHW prospect depth but will play full season at 24 y/o and has walked average of ~20% in MiLB career; late season sleeper in OPS leagues
Bobby Bradley	CLE	21	1B	50	Med	Power left handed bat in the making but ability to cut K rate in 2017 suggests he’s making positive adjustments ↘️ Positive adjustments didn’t stick (33% K rate in AAA) and could end up as ~20 HR platoon 1B
Jose Siri	CIN	22	CF	50	High	Speed and hit tool give hope for five tool player (46 SB’s); approach and age for level suggest high bust potential ↘️ Big tools (with wheels) but unlikely to make enough contact to be big league relevant in 2019
Braxton Garrett	MIA	20	LHP	50	High	Impacted by TJS, he’s a guy to stash on your watch list until 2019 ↘️ TJS recovery still under way; most other prospect arms have passed him by
Michael Chavis	BOS	22	1B	50	Med	Approach and power look comparable to Todd Frazier if things break right ➡️ Good bet to move to 1B but can hit the ball hard; low walk rates bring expectations down a notch to something like Ian Desmond-peak without the steals
Cole Ragans	TEX	20	LHP	50	Med	Namesake and changeup remind us of Cole Hamels, but his upside is much lower; 2020 ETA ⬇️ TJS zaps another intriguing arm; revisit in 2020+
Brandon Marsh	LAA	20	CF	50	High	Big-bodied OF with power/speed combo; scouts expect big 2018 breakout ➡️ Talented, athletic OF still has scouts expecting bigger things than what have been delivered so far; could be a fast riser in 2019 and buying price is quietly low
Jay Groome	BOS	19	LHP	50	High	Some would say disappointing 2017, but underlying stats give hope for upcoming breakout if healthy ⬇️ TJS
Alex Kirilloff	MIN	20	RF	50	Med	Solid hit and power tools but 2018 is wait and see after TJS ⬆️ Huge single year value jump (now Top 15 prospect) with demonstration of 2nd best hit tool in minors; small chance he hits his way to MIN in 2019 but better to just hold what is likely top five prospect heading into 2020
Franklin Perez	DET	20	RHP	50	Med	Developmentally young as SP, his diverse repertoire will have to offset his fly ball tendencies to confirm pedigree ⬇️ With just 20 IP last season, expect this to be a much longer developmental curve than originally outlined. Big arm with promise but this could go sideways quickly