Byron Buxton could develop into a perennial All-Star with the Twins

As we draw closer and closer to Spring Training and Opening Day, questions about ‘the next big thing’ only intensify. Therefore, we’re bringing you the top five prospects at each position, so that you can have a leg up on your competition by chasing the upside these guys provide. One quick note, I chose to leave international players who will start 2015 in the majors off this list. That means no Yasmani Tomas, Rusney Castillo, or potentially Hector Olivera. Even though they are technically rookies, I want to focus on players who have spent time in the minor leagues.

We’ll look at outfielders in the first segment of the series. As the outfield covers three positions, it is perhaps the best place to look for elite prospects year in and year out. 2015 is no exception, as all of the top five outfield prospects below have an abundance of upside, both immediately and down the road. Jorge Soler, Joc Pederson, Mookie Betts, and Steve Souza should all be significant contributors in 2015, while Byron Buxton has perhaps the best chance to be a perennial All-Star in the future.

Byron Buxton

Byron Buxton was undoubtedly the best bat available in the 2012 amateur draft, and he did nothing but impress in his first full season  as a pro in 2013. In 137 games, he totaled 15 home runs and 58 stolen bases, while maintaining a batting average of .322. However, 2014 was a lost season for Buxton. Various injuries caused him to spend more time off the field than on it, then an outfield collision ended his campaign entirely. But Buxton’s injury-plagued 2014 doesn’t do much besides push his MLB timeline back a bit. After all, a healthy Byron Buxton is a burner on the base paths, with unquestioned 80 speed, who also possesses tremendous bat speed and control, that will allow him to hit for high averages and solid power. He may not reach the majors until September this year, but expect an impact when he does.

Jorge Soler

Jorge Soler joined the minor leagues after being signed out of Cuba by the Cubs in 2012. Injuries slowed his ascent to the majors significantly, but when Soler was on the field, he showed explosive offensive abilities. His exceptional hand speed and bat control allowed him to put up big time power numbers across all levels. He did this while keeping his strikeout rate reasonable, and his average high. Another promising sign is Soler’s plate discipline. It is rare to see such a young and powerful hitter taking as many walks as Soler has, and it speaks volumes to his maturation since defecting from Cuba. Expect Soler to be an everyday player for the Cubs in 2015, and, if he can stay healthy, we could see a Rookie of the Year season from the young Cuban.

Joc Pederson

The reason that Pederson still qualifies as a prospect has absolutely nothing to do with his baseball abilities. After nearing a 30/30 season in 2013, Pederson hit the benchmark in 2014 by blasting 33 home runs and swiping 30 bags. He did all this while managing to maintain a .303 batting average, and an impressively high walk rate that counters the one flaw he’s shown in the minors, a high strikeout rate. It must be said that playing in the PCL and taking half of his at bats in hitter-friendly Albuquerque has inflated his numbers, thereby causing him to look much better on paper than he will be immediately in the major leagues. However, by trading Matt Kemp, the Dodgers seem to be signaling the time is now for their young phenom. Pederson should start 2015 in the big leagues and it’ll be interesting to see just how well his skills translate.

Mookie Betts

Although Mookie Betts‘ 189 at-bats since his debut in late June of 2014 mean he is not technically a ‘prospect,’ I’m including him on this list for the prospect feel he has.  This time last year, Betts was relatively unknown. In fact, the 2011 fifth-round pick was entirely unknown until he broke out with a .309 average, 16 home runs, and 46 stolen bases in 2013. Betts put up more standout minor league statistics in 2014, leading to his midseason promotion to Fenway. At 5’9” and 156 lbs, Betts may be short in stature, but he makes up for his lack of size with his athleticism, quick hips, and advanced feel for the strike zone. These attributes are why some scouts believe that he could eventually produce 20-homer seasons, with impressive averages and stolen base totals likely.

Steve Souza

Similar to Betts, Steven Souza didn’t show up on many top prospect lists prior to last season. However, also like Betts, Souza did nothing but hit last year. In 96 games at the Triple-A level, Souza hit 18 home runs and stole 26 bases, while batting .350. Kris Bryant was the unanimous Minor League Player of the Year in 2014, but a strong argument could be made for Souza as the runner-up. His contact rate was his most improved tool in 2014, which led to his strikeout rate drastically decreasing, combined with his hit totals significantly increasing. Souza seemed to have no place to play in the crowded Nationals outfield, but the trade to the Rays will lead to this potential 25/25 talent getting his shot at everyday at-bats sooner rather than later.

Bobby Jacowleff is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Bobby, check out his archive.