(Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)
Today marks the fourth day of an 11 article special that is designed to help get you all caught up and informed on MLB prospects for your fantasy baseball leagues. I am a day late on my articles, but will work them into a revised schedule. My colleague Adam Garland and I are going to be releasing mid-season top prospect lists for every position and we will release our lists on the following schedule:
Top 30 Catchers
Top 30 1st Basemen
Top 30 2nd Basemen
Top 30 3rd Basemen
Top 30 Shortstops
Top 25 Outfielders
Top 50 Outfielders
Top 150 Overall Hitters
Top 150 Overall Pitchers
Adam’s Disagreements – July 23rd
Brennen’s Disagreements – July 24th
We have included a rough prime projection for each player as well as an estimated ETA. We tried not to include players that have cemented roles in the majors at the time of this writing, so guys like Juan Soto and Mike Soroka will not be included. Note that we place an emphasis on upside, namely power and speed guys, while also prioritizing closeness to the majors when the value is close. Feel free to ask questions or drop a comment, we are always happy to discuss! Without further ado, onto the list!
| Rank | Player | Organization | Level | Age | Projection | ETA |
| 1. | Bo Bichette | Toronto Blue Jays | AA | 20 | .315 AVG / 10 HR / 20 SB | 2019 |
| 2. | Fernando Tatis Jr. | San Diego Padres | AA | 19 | .270 AVG / 25 HR / 20 SB | 2019 |
| 3. | Brendan Rodgers | Colorado Rockies | AA | 21 | .270 AVG / 25 HR / 8 SB | 2019 |
| 4. | Royce Lewis | Minnesota Twins | A | 19 | .300 AVG / 12 HR / 25 SB | 2020 |
| 5. | Carter Kieboom | Washington Nationals | AA | 20 | .280 AVG / 15 HR / 5 SB | 2020 |
| 6. | Garrett Hampson | Colorado Rockies | AAA | 23 | .295 AVG / 3 HR / 37 SB | 2019 |
| 7. | Kevin Maitan | Los Angeles Angels | R | 18 | .275 AVG / 30 HR / 1 SB | 2022 |
| 8. | Nick Madrigal | Chicago White Sox | A | 21 | .295 AVG / 12 HR / 18 SB | 2020 |
| 9. | Nick Gordon | Minnesota Twins | AA | 22 | .270 AVG / 9 HR / 10 SB | 2018 |
| 10. | Wander Javier | Minnesota Twins | R | 19 | .265 AVG / 12 HR / 15 SB | 2021 |
| 11. | Willy Adames | Tampa Bay Rays | MLB | 22 | .270 AVG / 10 HR / 10 SB | (Now) |
| 12. | Jorge Mateo | Oakland Athletics | AAA | 23 | .270 AVG / 6 HR / 35 SB | 2018 |
| 13. | Cole Tucker | Pittsburgh Pirates | AA | 22 | .250 AVG / 3 HR / 30 SB | 2019 |
| 14. | Oneil Cruz | Pittsburgh Pirates | A | 19 | .255 AVG / 10 HR / 5 SB | 2021 |
| 15. | Lucius Fox | Tampa Bay Rays | A+ | 21 | .250 AVG / 2 HR / 11 SB | 2019 |
| 16. | Andres Gimenez | New York Mets | A+ | 19 | .255 AVG / 3 HR / 18 SB | 2020 |
| 17. | Taylor Walls | Tampa Bay Rays | A | 21 | .260 AVG / 3 HR / 14 SB | 2020 |
| 18. | Jordan Groshans | Toronto Blue Jays | R | 18 | .265 AVG / 23 HR / 9 SB | 2022 |
| 19. | Brice Turang | Milwaukee Brewers | 18 | .280 AVG / 5 HR / 20 SB | 2022 | |
| 20. | Delvin Perez | St. Louis Cardinals | A- | 19 | .250 AVG / 10 HR / 5 SB | 2021 |
| 21. | Mauricio Dubon | Milwaukee Brewers | AAA | 23 | .270 AVG / 5 HR / 15 SB | 2018 |
| 22. | Yu-Chen Chang | Cleveland Indians | AAA | 22 | .240 AVG / 15 HR / 8 SB | 2018 |
| 23. | Franklin Barreto | Oakland Athletics | AAA/MLB | 22 | .240 AVG / 13 HR / 10 SB | 2018 |
| 24. | Gavin Lux | Los Angeles Dodgers | A+ | 20 | .260 AVG / 5 HR / 15 SB | 2020 |
| 25. | Jeter Downs | Cincinnati Reds | A | 19 | .255 AVG / 10 HR / 15 SB | 2021 |
| 26. | C.J. Chatham | Boston Red Sox | A+ | 23 | .275 AVG / 5 HR / 3 SB | 2020 |
| 27. | Kevin Smith | Toronto Blue Jays | A+ | 20 | .265 AVG / 12 HR / 8 SB | 2020 |
| 28. | Xavier Edwards | San Diego Padres | R | 18 | .270 AVG / 3 HR / 20 SB | 2022 |
| 29. | Freudis Nova | Houston Astros | R | 18 | .275 AVG / 10 HR / 12 SB | 2018 |
| 30. | Ronny Mauricio | New York Mets | R | 17 | .275 AVG / 15 HR / 9 SB | 2023 |
Editors Note: I seem to have forgotten Wander Franco – he would have been placed at #21.
Brennen’s Thoughts:
- Bo Bichette versus Fernando Tatis Jr. is and will remain a hotly debated subject. I stand by what I wrote in the pre-season in that I have Bichette ahead of Tatis Jr. largely because of Bichette’s 70-grade hit tool (while still putting up serviceable steals and home runs). Bichette will struggle less and be able to at the very least hit efficiently while Tatis Jr. may struggle to do so at higher levels.
- I had the opportunity to go to the Midwest Single-A All-Star game this season and wow is Royce Lewis electric. I have Brendan Rodgers ahead of Lewis for now, but by seasons end I think Lewis will be in the Bichette/Tatis Jr. conversation.
- By virtue of the Colorado Rockies‘ questionable future infield shuffle, I have Garrett Hampson listed. Hampson has been one of the most prolific speedsters in the minors over the past two seasons while maintaining a batting average above .300 at each level. Tack on a few extra home runs in Coors and you’re looking at a fantasy stud muffin.
- I suppose I am a bit stubborn to drop a player like Kevin Maitan. Maitan turned 18 in March and only started playing organized baseball again in June this season. With collective 250ish at-bats, it is too soon to call Maitan a bust, certainly, there is some prospect fatigue after Miguel Cabrera comparisons got thrown around early and while he still may not stick at shortstop, it is his designated position for now.
- The Chicago White Sox will be trying Nick Madrigal out at shortstop now that he has officially signed with the team. Madrigal is regarded as the purest hitter in the draft and should move through the minors rapidly.
- While Willy Adames is in the Majors, he hasn’t had a good run of it as the Tampa Bay Rays‘ everyday shortstop. He does not have enough at-bats to rid him of his rookie status, so for now he remains on this list. Adames should provide average home runs and steals with a batting average that is serviceable.
- Delvin Perez is another bat with a high pedigree that saw his stock plummet, albeit Perez was because of PEDS. Perez was considered a top pick until the PED story broke a day before the 2016 draft, where he was still selected 23rd overall by the Cardinals. Perez only had 140 at-bats in 2017 and did not start playing until June this year – so his sample size is small. Perez is a lottery ticket, but a sneaky one given his pedigree and lack of playing time to-date.
- I may be too harsh on Franklin Barreto, but since the middle of 2017, his game has fallen off of the rails. Where once he was thought to be a 15/15 lock with an above average batting average, Barreto has toiled between AAA and the MLB barely batting over .200 and sporting a horrendous 30%+ strikeout rate.
- Even as I look at these rankings I think I put Xavier Edwards far too low. Edwards is a prep bat drafted 38th overall in 2018, in 96 plate appearances this past spring he stole 24 bases and batted over .400. His returns thus far in Rookie League ball for the Padres has been incredibly promising so far. Edwards is likely to make the biggest jump in this list if he keeps it up.
- As a 17-year-old in Rookie ball, Ronny Mauricio has been remarkably consistent. He has yet to take a walk after 14 games, but Mauricio poses as an interesting lottery ticket.
