Is the next Albert Pujols playing college baseball right now?

Before Stephen Strasburg was the number one overall prospect, he was a can’t miss college prospect. Likewise, Evan Longoria and Troy Tulowitzki were dominating at Long Beach State while Dustin Pedroia was getting on base over 50% of the time with some power. Everyone knew each of these guys would become significant MLB prospects, but for whatever reason, they were nowhere to be found on any prospect lists. That doesn’t seem right to me, and of course, in your deep fantasy leagues, people were drafting the Strasburgs of the world before they popped up on your radar

My Top 400 Worldwide Prospect Rankings (premium) includes 44 high school and college players from the next three draft classes that are every bit as likely to make a fantasy impact as traditional MILB prospects. Today, I’m going to introduce you to the top five, but there are many more that MLB teams are dreaming upon signing some day soon, including five others that appear in my top 100 overall prospects so make sure you don’t miss out on those names.

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5. Alex Faedo (SP, NCAA, Florida)

Oddly, Faedo is the highest rated player on my list from the upcoming MLB draft despite not being the most likely to go first overall. So yes, while Hunter Greene has the upside to win multiple Cy Young Awards, he is so raw that there is significant bust potential with him. See Tyler Kolek and Kohl Stewart if you need some convincing. Meanwhile, Alex Faedo could be in a big league rotation come the summer of 2018 thanks to a big durable body with tremendous command of several pitches and a wipeout slider that could notch him a strikeout per inning at the big leagues some day. He figured to be drafted in the top five picks this summer and to be a top 50 prospect this time next winter.

4. Brice Turang (SS/OF, HS, California)

While 2017 is a mediocre draft with little depth and not much in the way of potential star power, the 2018 class is loaded. In fact, the class has eight players with as much upside as anyone in the 2017 class, so if your MLB team is lousy this season, don’t sweat it, they have a superstar on the way next summer. At such a young age, it is difficult to know just how high his floor is, but the ceiling appears to be limitless. He is a big left-handed hitting shortstop with surefire ability to stick at the primer position while likely possessing both a plus hitting tool and power tool. Those types of talents don’t grow on trees. In fact, they only surface once or twice a decade. If he grows larger, he may be pushed to the outfield where his plus speed and excellent athleticism would transfer easily.

3. Kumar Rocker (SP, HS, Georgia)

There is no one on this list and perhaps any current minor leaguer who has as much potential as the 16-year-old fireballer. Kumar sits at 6’5″, 230 pounds and is still growing, which is exciting for prospect fans because the kid already throws 91-93 and has hit 96  every now and again. By the time he graduates in two years, his stuff could be so good that he becomes the most hyped MLB draft pick since Bryce Harper. With that being said, he is a 16-year-old pitcher so the chance at an arm injury or one of many things that can derail a young pitcher’s career is possible, but apparently he has a great head on his shoulders and will hopefully progress quickly and to the full extent so baseball can have a super special young pitcher.

2. Joe Gray (OF, HS, Mississippi)

The high school junior is regarded as the top high school player in the 2018 class and has a strong shot to go number one in the draft as scouts will undoubtedly fall in love with his unrivaled athleticism. Unlike many toolsy players, Gray is already quite polished with in-game power, strong instincts and a mature approach at the plate. When you pair that with five loud tools, you have to wonder when, and not if, he will become a top five prospect in baseball. That is a lofty expectation to put on such a young player, but the reports coming out about Gray’s upside are glowing. For him to even be in the current conversation with the last player on the list should tell you everything you need to know.

1. Seth Beer (OF/1B, NCAA, Clemson)

After graduating high school a semester early, Beer was the top freshmen in NCAA history in what was supposed to be his high school senior season. He began the year batting .430/.538/.935 with 13 home runs and 37 RBI in 27 games before slowing down and still finishing as the top hitter in college baseball. Clemson intends on using him at 1st base this year, but he has the athleticism to move back out to the outfield once he is drafted. In fact, Beer was a national swimming champ before he quit to focus on baseball. He is the all-time single season record holder for BB rate in college and has potential plus-plus power and a bat that could eventually compete for batting titles. Upon being drafted, he may very well become the top overall

Thanks for reading! Here is some of my other MLB work: 

Top 10 Fantasy Sleepers
Sophomore Dynasty Prospect Rankings
MLB Top International Prospects

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