In standard fantasy baseball leagues, there has been plenty of movement from Jose Ramirez becoming perhaps the game’s best player to Max Muncy and Jesus Aguilar popping out of nowhere to be stars. Dynasty leagues are no different, and perhaps even more so from year to year as the top players graduate and are replaced with breakout players, draft picks and international free agents. Today, I’ll make you more familiar with the major movers then provide my updated Top 300 worldwide prospects.
Perhaps this is the first time you’ve seen this list. If that is, in fact, the case, let me fill you in on what makes it different from other lists:
- This is based strictly on projected future fantasy output
- MLB ballparks come into play as a result, as do paths to playing time
- Fielding has no impact on my rankings other than how it influences a player’s likelihood to win a job in the future
- College, high school and even international players who have not made the leap to America are on this list
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In standard fantasy baseball leagues, there has been plenty of movement from Jose Ramirez becoming perhaps the game’s best player to Max Muncy and Jesus Aguilar popping out of nowhere to be stars. Dynasty leagues are no different, and perhaps even more so from year to year as the top players graduate and are replaced with breakout players, draft picks and international free agents. Today, I’ll make you more familiar with the major movers then provide my updated Top 300 worldwide prospects.
Perhaps this is the first time you’ve seen this list. If that is, in fact, the case, let me fill you in on what makes it different from other lists:
- This is based strictly on projected future fantasy output
- MLB ballparks come into play as a result, as do paths to playing time
- Fielding has no impact on my rankings other than how it influences a player’s likelihood to win a job in the future
- College, high school and even international players who have not made the leap to America are on this list
Get free start/sit and waiver wire advice for your fantasy team
Risers
The list saw tons of players move forward, but five took bigger leaps than the rest. First, Jo Adell who many pegged as a reach when the Angels grabbed him 10th overall in the 2017 MLB Draft. Everyone knew this outfielder had this type of upside, as he possesses elite athleticism, but the thought on Adell was the holes in his game may be too substantial to overcome, much like Bubba Starling, who was a similar high-upside prepster a handful of years ago. Adell, though, didn’t go down the same path. Rather, he carries an OPS over 1.000 and is now within my top 15 overall prospects. He may just become the next Juan Soto type of prospect.
Behind him is another outfielder, but with a much different path to the top fifty prospects. Alex Kirilloff was injured the entire 2017 season after a mediocre debut in 2016. He, too, was a first-round pick, but regarded as a high floor, lower ceiling type than Adell. While he isn’t the same overall athlete as Adell, Kirilloff’s hit and power tool are both plus and will be his calling cards in the bigs. He is batting .335 with 50 extra-base hits already. As a result, Kirilloff has snuck into the top 30 of my rankings.
The next player is also now in the top 30, but appears to have the highest ceiling of the bunch. Wander Franco, nephew of Erick Aybar, is a former bonus baby who most tabbed as the top bat in his international class. To date, he has not disappointed, as Franco is hitting .379 with a 1.064 OPS. While he was pushed off shortstop toward the hot corner, his bat could launch him into the top five overall prospects by the end of the season.
It seemed like only a matter of time before the Nationals’ 1st round pick from 2016, Carter Kieboom, would surge into the top 50 prospects and that is just what happened this season. This season, he’s got 13 homers, 63 runs, 54 RBIs, 7 steals and a .292 batting average, which just goes to show that he is a legitimate five-category asset. Oh, by the way, Kieboom is just 20 years old and in Double-A. There is a chance the Nationals deal him at the deadline, perhaps for J.T. Realmuto, but wherever he ends up, Kieboom should end up a top 100 fantasy player before long.
Finally, we get to a representative from the 2018 draft class. Third basemen, Nolan Gorman, fell all the way to the Cardinals at pick 19 last month despite many calling him the top high school bat in the class. He has been tremendous since signing, batting .302 with a 1.016 OPS. While Gorman may be years off the major league roster, it is easy to see why he has received comparisons to a young David Wright.
Other Notes
One of the top prospects from Cuba in years is about to come over
Perhaps you missed the news in May or were just downright confused by the names in his family. Either way, Victor Victor (not a typo) has defected Cuba to play Major League Baseball, as did his younger brother, Victor Mesa Jr. It is said that Victor Victor is the top Cuban prospect in a handful of years and may just be the top prospect in baseball before long. The toolsy outfielder immediately slots into the top 25 prospects, while the 16-year-old brother, Mesa Jr, is on the radar with plenty of upside.
Several of the game’s top prospects graduated to the majors
Every month, a few players surpass the MLB rookie eligibility rules and are thus, no longer prospects. This time around, we saw some of the biggest names graduate from the list. Ronald Acuna, Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto would all be top five prospects with Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Eloy Jimenez if they were still eligible. Beyond them, Walker Buehler would still be a top ten prospect and fellow pitcher, Jack Flaherty has done enough to move him into the top twenty were he still a minor leaguer.
The top of the 2019 MLB Draft is starting to take shape
As it looks now, this draft class isn’t as deep as what 2018 gave us, but much is bound to change over the next ten months. With that said, there is one thing certain: Bobby Witt Jr. is the heavy favorite to be selected first overall. He has Trea Turner‘s speed, a plus hit tool and perhaps the best exit velocity in the draft class. As if that weren’t enough to make you drool, his strongest tool is actually his glove which makes him a virtual lock to stick at shortstop. If your league allows for it, Witt should be regarded as a top 25 prospect already with upside to be at the top of the list someday. Rounding out the current top five are college players, Adley Rutschman (C), Nick Lodolo (SP), Shea Langeliers (C) and a big high school lefty, Hunter Barco.
The Padres and Orioles landed quality prospects via trade
You can expect more moves to be made in the next week, but two whoppers have already been pulled off. The Padres dealt Brad Hand and stud reliever, Adam Cimber to the Indians for the top catching prospect in baseball, Francisco Mejia. It was a high price to pay, as Mejia is major league ready and may be a .300 hitter much like a Jonathan Lucroy some day soon. The Orioles didn’t do quite as well, especially considering it was Manny Machado that they dealt, but Yusniel Diaz is still a legitimate top 100 prospect. The 21-year-old outfielder from Cuba is batting .306 with a .420 on-base percentage in Double-A this season. The in-game power has yet to develop, but there is enough raw power that he could eventually swat 25 to 30 homers in a season for Baltimore.
Now let’s take a look at the top 300!
I’ll post my next set of updated rankings around Christmas time, but am always open to answering prospect questions on Twitter. Thanks for reading!
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