The never ending flow of Cubs’ shortstop prospects doesn’t end with Addison Russell

Last week I posted our Worldwide Top-400 MLB Prospects and explained in a primer article, what my philosophy was behind building the rankings. Within that philosophy, was the idea that we can predict with confidence how rankings will change over a year’s span based on previous trends. This article, and the pitching version that will be released this week will highlight a group of players that I expect to jump up national ranking lists everywhere this season. Much of a prospects value is determining what he will be next season. Some will make the jump the majors, but most will still be on prospect lists next season. Their trade value will increase as their ranking status increases. I hope you enjoy this list and are able to grab a few of these guys in your league before they become more mainstream prospects.

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2017 Top-20 Prospects

Gleybar Torres – Cubs, SS
This 19-year-old has the arm, glove and range to stick at SS in the big leagues. What the Cubs will do with Addison Russell and Javier Baez is beyond me, but the kid will play when he arrives in a few seasons. His bat has yet to develop, evidenced by a .751 minor league career OPS, but I think this is the season. Once that happens, he will be viewed in much of the same light that former top-10 prospect, Francisco Lindor, was.

Victor Robles – Nationals, OF
Last season he batted .352/.445/.507 with 24 SB in 213 at-bats despite being just 18 years old. He was viewed as a potential breakout candidate last year, thanks to five legitimate tools, and boy did he ever live up to expectations. If he performs at a high level again this year he could sore into the top-five.

2017 Top-50 Prospects

Bobby Bradley – Indians, 1B
First basemen are rarely considered premium prospects because MLB teams can always move a more athletic corner outfielder or third basemen to first base, so long as he can hit. Bradley, however, has a world-class bat and could emerge to be Minor League Player of the Year in 2016. The 19-year-old won the Rookie League triple crown with a .361/.426/.652 line two seasons ago, then posted 27 homers and 92 RBI in just 401 at-bats last season.

Garrett Whitley – Rays, OF
When scouts are evaluating minor league players, they can typically get a great feel for players in California, Texas, and Florida because they play so many games in the warm weather. Meanwhile, in New England, they have to wait until the end of the school year for playable conditions, so drafting ballplayers from there is a crapshoot. Some of these players prove to be elite talents once they get more exposure. I expect Whitley to be just that type. He may very well have been the top hitter in the 2015 draft, and we are set to discover that this season.

Austin Riley – Braves, 3B
After being drafted 41st last season, Riley proceeded to bomb 12 homers in 60 games and bat .304. When a player performs like that, he only needs one season to prove it wasn’t a fluke, and skyrocket through the lists. The Braves are thrilled about this kid’s future and I am excited to see just how good he can become.

2017 Top-100 Prospects

Justin Williams – Rays, OF
I’ve been a huge believer in this kid for years. He won the high-school homerun contest with predigious power then batted .351 in 2013 and .351 in 2014 before a down year in 2015. This season, as a 20-year-old I anticipate him regaining his form and delivering in-game power, which will surely lead to national respect.

Demi Orimoloye – Brewers, OF
At 6’4″, 225, this outfielder is built like a linebacker. Factor in that he knocks the cover off balls and has tremendous speed and I’d say we have a breakout prospect on our hands. After slipping to the 5th round last season, the Canadian slugger had 17 extra-base hits and 19 stolen bases in just 137 at-bats. He has the raw ability to eventually be a top-20 prospect, but for now, he will have to settle for cracking the top-100.

Wendell Rijo – Red Sox, 2B
The 20-year-old middle infielder is a future 15 HR, 25 SB type talent if he can put a full season of work together. In 2014, he ended the season with a bang, then started off really hot in 2015 only to finish with a mediocre stat line of .260/.324/.381. The potential is there, and the kid should begin in Double-A this season as one of the youngest players in the league.

Deeper Sleepers

Wilkerman Garcia – Yankees, SS
Prospects for the Bronx Bombers get more than their fair share of hype, so it might be wise to invest in this guy before his stock goes nuts. In 2014 he was an international bonus-baby out of Venezuela, then last season he batted .299 with 25 BB, 19 K against far older pitchers. With plate discipline like that and plenty of untapped potential with the bat, he seems like an eventual top-50 prospect two seasons down the line.

Gareth Morgan – Mariners, OF
Drafted in the second round of the 2014 MLB draft on pure raw ability, Morgan has yet to produce in games. He has a .194 batting average through 377 career minor league at-bats with just 7 homers, but the Canadian product is primed to bust out. He has rare plus-plus batting practice power but needs to adjust to professional breaking balls and improve his day in, day out approach. If he can do that, he could light the league on fire.

Stone Garrett – Marlins, OF
In 2015 he had 35 extra-base hits in 222 at-bats. Pair that with intangibles that receive high praises and I’d say we have a clear breakout-candidate. He is one year separated from hitting .236, and has some strikeout issues, so his only option to solidify his prospect status is to carry over the heavy hitting into 2016.

Drew Ward – Nationals, 3B
Formerly a favorite to be drafted 1st overall, thanks to an OPS over 2.000 as a sophomore in high school, he graduated early to enter the MLB draft, then had a pedestrian senior year. He dropped to the 3rd round and was pulled away from college by a large signing bonus. The lefty only has a career .733 OPS, but has all the ability in the world.

Ke’Bryan Hayes – Pirates, 3B
Rankings are an interesting animal. Josh Naylor was drafted 12th overall (18 spots higher than Hayes) but was considered an inferior prospect to Hayes by virtually every source of information. They have similar profiles, so you would think that just because one team (with a history of questionable GM decisions) liked Naylor more, Hayes would receive a similar, or better ranking. You would be mistaken, however. Hayes is nowhere to be found on lists and Naylor is everywhere. Don’t be surprised when Charlie Hayes’ son claims his rightful place among 2015 draftees in the 2017 rankings.

2016 Draft Risers

Ron Washington Jr. – High School, OF
He has long been considered a top prospect for the 2017 draft, but Washington decided to graduate early and join the 2016 draft class. Don’t be surprised when his name flies up the mock drafts. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Phillies passed up all the pitchers at the top of the class for this rare power-bat with the No. 1 pick.

Willie Abreu – NCAA, OF
He is not currently considered a top-40 prospect for the 2016 Draft, thanks to poor numbers in each of his first two college seasons. His ceiling is quite high, however, in fact, he was projected to be a top-five pick before committing to Miami and becoming unsignable in 2013. If he puts together a strong offensive season he could emerge as a top-10 pick and the top NCAA hitter off the board.

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Thanks for reading. Later this week I will be posting the pitching prospects I expect to shoot up the rankings in 2016. Make sure you take a look because I will be disclosing who I believe will be the No. 1 overall prospect going into 2017, and he won’t even be listed in most site’s top-50 lists next month.