The Cubs and fantasy baseball players alike have high hopes for Kris Bryant in 2015
Over the past few months rankings of each team’s top prospects have come out almost daily. These lists allow everyone to see how players stack up within their particular farm system and what the future holds for them as they progress through the minors. However, what these lists fail to do is rank prospects across the league.
So, here’s a list of the top prospects in the league, together with what the top prospects can hope to accomplish in 2015. Included are MLB comparisons to show what type of player they can be long-term. These are the elite of the elite on the cusp of call ups, the ones you’ll want to target in the late rounds of any fantasy draft regardless of format. These are the guys who can turn your fantasy season around when they reach the majors.
1. Kris Bryant, 3B, Cubs
The only reason Kris Bryant is still considered a prospect has nothing to do with statistics or ability and everything to do with the Cubs wanting to push his arbitration clock back. At this point he is the consensus No. 1 overall prospect. His chief competition for the top rank, Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa, are basically out of the 2015 discussion due to their severe injuries from 2014. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bryant opens 2015 in the big leagues after tearing the cover off the ball throughout Spring Training. And I don’t think anyone would even be surprised considering Bryant hit 43 home runs while batting .325 in just 138 games split between Double-A and Triple-A last year. Bryant’s strikeout rate (162 K’s in 492 AB’s last year) is a definite weakness, but no one has torn through the minors like this since Giancarlo Stanton in 2010, and Stanton actually struck out more. I don’t expect Bryant to have any trouble hitting 30+ homers and batting .260 if he were in the majors for 600 plate appearances today, and has the upside of 40 homers and a .280 average. Regardless of your league’s format, you want this guy on your team.
MLB Comparison: Troy Glaus 2000 (ceiling)/Evan Longoria’s bad years (floor)
2. Carlos Rodon, SP, White Sox
Rodon is yet another prospect who was very close to seeing time in 2014. When drafted, it seemed he would get the Chris Sale treatment and be pitching from the bullpen by the season’s end. However, I guess a 13.71 K/9 between High-A and Triple-A wasn’t enough for the White Sox to add him to the roster in September. Rodon features a ridiculous borderline 80-grade slider as his premier pitch. He follows it up with an MLB-grade fastball and changeup. Rodon reminds me of a young David Price with even better minor league numbers. If we don’t see Rodon pitching in the Windy City to start 2015, he should be up as soon as the Super Two deadline passes. He won’t waste any time making a name for himself in Chicago.
MLB Comparison: David Price (ceiling)/Francisco Liriano (floor)
3. Javier Baez, 2B/SS, Cubs
Do you know how many second basemen have ever, in the history of Major League Baseball, hit 40 home runs while stealing 20 bases in a season? One. Ryne Sandberg, coincidentally of the Chicago Cubs, in 1990. Baez surely will not go 40/20 this year, but he does have the raw ability to reach that plateau at some point in his career. This power/speed combination is incredibly rare, especially at second base. And, oh yeah, he’ll carry SS eligibility into your league for 2015. A slow motion camera struggles to catch Baez’s incredible bat speed that is capable of sending baseballs into orbit. But his overly aggressive approach is likely to limit his average to .240-.260, at least early on in his career while he continues to work on seeing breaking pitches. Thirty home runs in 2015 would come as no shock, and no matter what batting average that comes with it plays well for a 2B/SS.
MLB Comparision: Alfonso Soriano (ceiling)/Pedro Alvarez with more speed (floor)
4. Jorge Soler, OF, Cubs
After punishing baseballs in the minor leagues to the tune of a .340 average and 15 home runs in just 62 games, Soler was brought up to Chicago and didn’t skip a beat. In 24 games with the Cubs, Soler belted five homers, knocked in 20 RBI, scored 11 runs, stole a base, and did all this while maintaining a healthy .292 batting average. Additionally, he managed to keep his strikeout rate acceptable, something that cannot be said for some of his fellow Cubs super prospects. Extrapolated to a full season, these statistics prorate to 33 homers, 133 RBI, 73 runs, seven steals, and a .292 average. It’s unrealistic to assume Soler can maintain that level of production over a full season, but he is a special talent. He’s a 6-4, 215 pound man capable of doing bad things to a baseball with his 65/65 raw power and 50/60 hit tool. This is all combined with a polished batter’s eye that is a rare commodity in your sluggers these days.
MLB Comparision: Adam Jones 2012 with a better eye (ceiling)/J.D. Drew (floor)
5. Archie Bradley, SP, Diamondbacks
Archie Bradley was a name who would rank much higher on this list heading into last season. But Bradley fell victim to elbow issues and control problems which effectively derailed his 2014 campaign. However, we’re still left with a pitcher with one of the highest upsides of any in the minors. At his best, his fastball, curveball and changeup combo are nearly unhittable. But he’ll need to show he can consistently pitch at this level to justify being regarded as an elite prospect much longer. Stay up to date with his Arizona Fall League and Spring Training numbers to find out if Bradley has put 2014 behind him and is on his way to being a front-line work horse. He also has the potential to open the 2015 season in the minors and need to prove himself after the campaign begins.
MLB Comparison: Gio Gonzalez at his best (ceiling)/Matt Moore (floor)
6. Mookie Betts, 2B/OF, Red Sox
I may be cheating a little bit putting Betts on this list after he played 52 MLB games in 2014, but Betts was a relatively unknown prospect heading into 2014. For that reason I feel he needs to be discussed. Producing improving stats while simultaneously being promoted through the minors is a sure-fire way to get noticed. As 2014 went on, Betts climbed prospect rankings everywhere thanks to one of the best hit tools in the minors and deceptive speed. Then upon promotion, he produced stats over 52 games that prorate to 15 home runs, 22 steals, and a .291 average with limited strikeouts and a very good eye. Betts won’t blow you away in any one category, but similar to Michael Brantley in 2014 he can produce across the board without a tendency to swing and miss. This makes him a somewhat safer prospect to select.
MLB Comparision: Michael Brantley (ceiling)/Ben Revere (floor)
7. Joc Pederson, OF, Dodgers
After being blocked by not just three, but four highly-paid Dodger outfielders throughout all of 2014, trades have seemingly opened a path for Pederson. Throughout 2014 in the minors, Pederson quieted concerns about his ability to hit lefties while having a rare 30/30 season and keeping his average above .300. His high strikeout rate (26.9%, in Triple-A) is a knock on Pederson for sure, and could be a reason he takes some time to adjust to the majors. But he has kept his walk rate high as well which could leave him less exposed when he faces MLB pitching day-in and day-out. Overall, Pederson is a rare blend of talent that you’ll want to keep tabs on throughout 2015.
MLB Comparison: Adam Jones (ceiling)/Yoenis Cespedes 2012 with a lower batting average (floor)
8. Taijuan Walker, SP, Mariners
The only reason Walker was not a big part of everything that happened in Seattle in 2014 was because of his poorly timed shoulder injury as the season was kicking off. Walker stands at 6-4 and weighs 230 pounds, which should certainly help his longevity. Walker features an excellent fastball, which sits in the 93-95 range and can be dialed up to 96+ on occasion. He follows that up with an plus curveball and cutter. Together with a serviceable changeup that is primarily used to neutralize left-handed batters. None of Walker’s pitchers are truly elite, but he has a healthy four pitch arsenal with good command for his young age and a good feel for how to attack batters. You can look for Walker to start the year in the M’s rotation. He may struggle a bit early on, but he did pitch to a 2.81 ERA last year over 38 innings (albeit with some luck), so it’s not unreasonable to expect him to flourish by the middle of the season. His proximity to the majors makes him especially valuable compared to other prospects in 2015.
MLB Comparison: Sonny Gray with more strikeout potential (ceiling)/ Lance Lynn (floor)
9. Henry Owens, SP, Red Sox
Henry Owens is yet another Red Sox prospect who did nothing but substantially increase his stock throughout 2014. In fact, he may be the reason the Red Sox have yet to acquire a true ace this offseason. Owens has one of the best fastball-changeup combos in the minors, and leaves batters swinging and missing more often than not. He has continuously improved his control at each step of the way from High-A ball in 2013 to Triple-A in 2014, and this will be a key for Owens as he inevitably debuts for the Red Sox in 2015.
MLB Comparison: Cole Hamels (ceiling)/Bud Norris (floor)
10. Alex Meyer, SP, Twins
After facing Alex Meyer while on a rehab assignment last year, Will Middlebrooks asked a coach “Who’d he make mad? Why is he here? Are there five guys better than him in Minnesota?” And that is just about all you need to know about Alex Meyer. From his 6-7, 220 pound frame he throws straight gas with a wipe-out slider. Concerns about his command stem from difficult to repeat mechanics and likely were the secondary reason (with arbitration rules of course being the primary) Meyer finished 2014 in Triple-A. After throwing 130 innings last year, the Twins could give Meyer around 160 innings, and you can expect a large chunk of them to be in the majors.
MLB Comparision: Ubaldo Jimenez, the great years (ceiling)/Ubaldo Jimenez, most years (floor)
11. Maikel Franco, 3B, Phillies
Maikel Franco seemingly came out of nowhere in 2013 as he hit 31 home runs while belting well above .300. He seemingly has an aversion to walking, which could hurt him as he mans the hot corner in Philly in 2015. However, he has very good bat skills and is able to limit his swing and misses, so his strikeouts are very low for the amount of power he possesses. Scouts see his bat as a legitimate 30-home run producer in the majors. Considering how much of a mess third base is right now for fantasy owners, Franco plays as a good high-upside pick.
MLB Comparison: Aramis Ramirez (ceiling)/Kevin Kouzmanoff (floor)
12. Noah Syndergaard, SP, Mets
Many expected Syndergaard to grab a spot in the big-league rotation by the end of 2014. However, much like Archie Bradley, he struggled with performance in the hitter-friendly PCL and also suffered injuries that led to being held in the minors. Syndergaard features a repertoire just as filthy as fellow Mets Zack Wheeler and Matt Harvey which should allow him to pile on the strikeouts in the majors.
MLB Comparison: Gerrit Cole (ceiling)/Nathan Eovaldi (floor)
13. Arismendy Alcantara, 2B/SS/OF, Cubs
Alcantara really can do it all, and you probably can’t even spell his name. All jokes aside, his name is one you’ll want to get familiar with because for such a small stature, he can absolutely crush baseballs. His superb bat speed gives him the pop to hit 10-20 homers and bat in the .280 range. Additionally, his legs will absolutely allow him to steal 20-30 bases. However, struggles with outside pitches from 2014 will need to be overcome for him to reach this potential. Having the offseason to get used to big-league pitching should certainly help. He’s no lock to bat over .250 this year, but should be guaranteed at least 500 at bats which makes it reasonable to project him for double-digit homers and 20 steals. That will play well at second base and everywhere else the Cubs will slot their super utility man in 2015.
MLB Comparision: Ian Kinsler (ceiling)/Kolten Wong (floor)
14. Alex Guerrero, 2B/3B, Dodgers
Starting 2014 in Triple-A, it became obvious rather early on that no pitcher could stop Guererro. However, fellow minor leaguer Miguel Olivo could. He took a chunk out of Gererro’s ear and fantasy stock for 2014 in a dugout brawl. This cost Guererro a probable promotion and a chance to make a real impact in 2014. By the time Guererro had fully recovered and rehabbed he was no more than a September call-up. However, Guererro has very little left to prove in the minors, and he is a name we should see in the majors once the Dodgers can make room for him to play every day.
MLB Comparison: Anthony Rendon with fewer steals (ceiling)/Scooter Gennett (floor)
15. Byron Buxton, OF, Twins
Buxton comes in at 15 on this list because I just could not bring myself to leave him off it. Describing his lost 2014 season as “injury filled” would be generous. Buxton isn’t a lock for any MLB playing time in 2015. However, if by some chance he does get the call in 2015, he could have a greater impact than anyone on this list. Some scouts see Buxton as a 30+ homer/ 50 steal superstar who has equivalent ability to Mike Trout. However, these lofty projections are based entirely on tools and the stats to back them up haven’t come yet. Buxton is just 21 years old so he does have time to prove that he is capable of being one of the best hitters in the game. Fifteen homers and 57 steals in 125 games are Buxton’s current career highs from 2013. I don’t see him having nearly the early impact as Trout did when he first came up, but Buxton is someone who no doubt will run early and often. He is likely to grow into a higher average and hit more homers as he matures. If he gets off to a torrid start in 2015, an August call up isn’t entirely impossible. If he’s up in August, he’s a player you’ll want to take a gamble on and see what he can do.
MLB Comparison: Mike Trout with less power (ceiling)/Starling Marte (floor)
Bonus: Yoan Moncada
Disclaimer: There is a near zero-percent chance that Moncada reaches the majors during the 2015 season, and this is unlikely to change until at least September of 2016. As of right now, Moncada isn’t even available to be offered contracts. He is definitely a long-term guy. However, I am including him for one reason; he just may be the best player to ever leave the island of Cuba. International scouting expert Ben Badler described his bat speed as incredibly rare, and commented on how Moncada is one of very few prospects in the world where scouts seem to unanimously agree that he is a potential franchise player. He may be just 19 years old, and not even signed by a professional team, but Yoan Moncada is a special talent who will put on a show wherever he ends up.
Bobby Jacowleff is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Bobby, check out his archive.
