2021 MLB Top 100 Prospects

Here it is! Just Baseball’s top 100 prospects. We won’t bore you with too much of an intro, but before you dissect the list, some important notes. We believe the prospect thresholds are generally bit too loose and graduated pitchers who had thrown more than 50 MLB innings or 150 MLB PA’s.

This list and the write-ups have been months in the making. We factor everything into consideration from our first hand accounts, conversations with scouts and other evaluators, conversations with players, the data, and more. An update to the list will be made after the Arizona Fall League. Enjoy!

RANK	PLAYER	TEAM	AGE	LEVEL	POSITION	ETA	FV
1	Bobby Witt Jr.	KC	21	AAA	SS	2022	70+
2	Adley Rutschman	BAL	23	AAA	C	2022	70
3	Julio Rodriguez	SEA	21	AAA	OF	2022	65+
4	Francisco Alvarez	NYM	19	A+	C	2023	65+
5	Riley Greene	DET	20	AAA	OF	2022	60+
6	Grayson Rodriguez	BAL	21	AA	RHP	2022	60+
7	Spencer Torkelson	DET	22	AAA	1B/3B	2022	60+
8	Shane Baz	TB	22	AAA	RHP	2022	60
9	Gabriel Moreno	TOR	21	AA	C	2022	60
10	Brennen Davis	CHC	21	AAA	OF	2022	60
11	CJ Abrams	SDP	20	AA	SS	2023	60
12	Marco Luciano	SFG	20	A+	SS	2023	60
13	Anthony Volpe	NYY	20	A+	SS	2023	60
14	Nick Lodolo	CIN	23	AAA	LHP	2022	60
15	Hunter Greene	CIN	22	AAA	RHP	2022	60
16	Cade Cavalli	WSN	23	AAA	RHP	2022	60
17	Corbin Carroll	ARZ	21	A+	OF	2023	60
18	Triston Casas	BOS	22	AA	1B	2023	60
19	George Kirby	SEA	22	AA	RHP	2022	60
20	Brett Baty	NYM	21	AA	3B	2023	60
21	Jack Leiter	TEX	21	N/A	RHP	2023	55+
22	Noelvi Marte	SEA	20	A+	SS	2024	55+
23	Luis Campusano	SDP	22	MLB	C	2023	55+
24	Josiah Gray	WSN	23	MLB	RHP	2021	55
25	Zac Veen	COL	19	A	OF	2024	55
26	Jordan Walker	STL	19	A+	3B	2024	55
27	Jasson Dominguez	NYY	18	A	OF	2025	55
28	Jordan Lawlar	ARI	19	R	SS	2024	55
29	Henry Davis	PIT	22	A+	C	2023	55
30	Marcelo Mayer	BOS	18	R	SS	2024	55
31	Nick Gonzales	PIT	22	A+	2B	2023	55
32	Edward Cabrera	MIA	23	MLB	RHP	2021	55
33	Robert Hassell III	SDP	20	A+	OF	2023	55
34	Max Meyer	MIA	22	AA	RHP	2022	55
35	Jackson Jobe	DET	19	N/A	RHP	2024	55
36	Nick Yorke	BOS	19	A+	2B	2023	55
37	Tyler Soderstrom	OAK	19	A	C/1B	2024	55
38	Oneil Cruz	PIT	22	AA	SS	2022	55
39	Alek Thomas	ARI	21	AAA	OF	2022	55
40	Emerson Hancock	SEA	22	A+	RHP	2024	55
41	Eury Perez	MIA	18	A+	RHP	2024	55
42	Nolan Gorman	STL	22	AAA	3B	2022	55
43	Oswald Peraza	NYY	21	AA	SS	2023	55
44	Mark Vientos	NYM	21	AA	3B/LF	2022	55
45	Josh Lowe	TB	23	MLB	OF	2022	55
46	DL Hall	BAL	22	AA	LHP	2022	55
47	MJ Melendez	KC	22	AAA	C	2022	55
48	Kahlil Watson	MIA	18	R	SS	2024	55
49	Nick Pratto	KC	22	AAA	1B	2022	55
50	Keibert Ruiz	WSN	23	MLB	C	2021	55
51	Josh Jung	TEX	23	AAA	3B	2022	55
52	Vidal Brujan	TB	23	MLB	MIF/OF	2021	55
53	Brady House	WSN	18	R	3B	2024	55
54	Simeon Woods-Richardson	MIN	20	AA	RHP	2023	55
55	Orelvis Martinez	TOR	19	A+	SS	2024	55
56	George Valera	CLE	20	AA	OF	2023	55
57	Cole Winn	TEX	21	AA	RHP	2023	55
58	Curtis Mead	TB	20	A+	OF	2023	55
59	Bobby Miller	LAD	22	AA	RHP	2023	55
60	Bryson Stott	PHI	23	AA	SS	2022	55
61	MacKenzie Gore	SDP	22	AAA	LHP	2022	55
62	Andy Pages	LAD	20	A+	OF	2023	55
63	Dillon Dingler	DET	22	AA	C	2023	55
64	Matthew Liberatore	STL	21	AAA	LHP	2022	55
65	Miguel Vargas	LAD	21	AA	3B	2023	55
66	Michael Harris	ATL	21	AA	OF	2023	55
67	Kyle Harrison	SFG	20	A+	LHP	2024	55
68	Asa Lacy	KC	22	A+	LHP	2023	55
69	Roansy Contreras	PIT	21	MLB	RHP	2022	55
70	Michael Busch	LAD	23	AA	2B	2023	50+
71	Austin Martin	MIN	22	AA	SS/OF	2022	50+
72	Colton Cowser	BAL	21	A	OF	2023	50+
73	Shea Langeliers	ATL	23	AA	C	2022	50+
74	Gunnar Henderson	BAL	21	A+	SS	2023	50+
75	Mick Abel	PHI	20	A	RHP	2024	50+
76	Jose Miranda	MIN	22	AAA	OF	2022	50+
77	Brayan Rocchio	CLE	20	AA	SS	2023	50+
78	Alexander Canario	CHC	20	A+	OF	2024	50+
79	Christian Pache	ATL	22	MLB	OF	2021	50+
80	Quinn Priester	PIT	21	A+	RHP	2023	50+
81	Brandon Williamson	SEA	23	AA	LHP	2023	50
82	Liover Peguero	PIT	20	A+	SS	2024	50
83	Xavier Edwards	TB	22	AA	SS	2022	50
84	Daniel Espino	CLE	20	A+	RHP	2023	50
85	Tyler Freeman	CLE	22	AA	SS/2B	2022	50
86	Kevin Alcantara	CHC	19	R	OF	2024	50
87	Korey Lee	HOU	23	AA	C	2022	50
88	Jordan Balazovic	MIN	22	AA	RHP	2022	50
89	Luis Matos	SFG	19	A	OF	2024	50
90	Blake Walston	ARI	20	A+	LHP	2023	50
91	Clayton Beeter	LAD	22	AA	RHP	2022	50
92	Matt Brash	SEA	23	AA	RHP	2022	50
93	Greg Jones	TB	23	AA	SS	2023	50
94	Austin Shenton	TB	23	AA	3B	2022	50
95	Joey Wiemer	MIL	22	A+	OF	2023	50
96	Jake Eder	MIA	21	AA	LHP	2023	50
97	Ryan Murphy	SFG	21	A+	RHP	2023	50
98	Leody Taveras	TEX	22	MLB	OF	2022	50
99	Luis Medina	NYY	22	AA	RHP	2023	50
100	Xzavion Curry	CLE	22	AA	RHP	2023	50

1. Bobby Witt Jr. – SS – Royals

Age: 21 | Height/Weight: 6’1′, 200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (2), 2019 (KC) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
50/60	65/70	55/65	60/60	55/60	70+

Offense

Very quiet, upright stance to start and proceeds to drop into his back hip, triggering a hovering front leg rather than a leg kick. Witt has a truly special lower half that allows him to produce huge exit velos while his body is in spots that most hitters cannot get to. The lower half is eerily similar to Mookie Betts thanks to the combination of athleticism, mobility and explosion. Even when Witt takes ‘B’ and ‘C’ swings, his lower half allows him to create insane, line to line power.

Witt’s hands and bat speed are just as impressive, and they allow him to cover top of the scale velocity in all parts of the zone. Witt’s electric and wiry body allows him to produce at least plus raw power at present and there could be more to come as he continues to mature and add strength. In addition to his immense raw hitting tools, Witt has already shown an advanced ability to manage at bats. He is quick to make adjustments at the plate and rarely gets fooled.

You’d never guess this kid is only 21-years-old when you watch him. He truly carries himself like a big leaguer already. He currently deploys an approach that features tons of line drives and fly balls, with a slight preference to do damage to his pull side. The only knock on Witt’s offensive profile is his slight tendency to swing and miss. He manages this well, however, and even if he ends up striking out above 25% at the big league level, his huge exit velos and plus-plus speed should fuel a sustainably high BABIP on an annual basis. Witt’s bat has the potential to be special, and it wouldn’t surprise us if he produces slash lines close to .280/.350/.550 with 30-35 homers per year.

Defense/Speed

Witt is an electric defender who comes with zero concern about his ability to handle shortstop at the big league level. His range is well above average thanks to a fantastic first step as well as light feet that allow him to get to balls that most shortstops cannot. His arm might be plus-plus with continued development and it allows him to make throws from deep in the hole. Not only can Witt make the web jem play, but he’s also close to automatic on routine plays as well. Yet another loud tool, Witt is a plus-plus runner who registers home to first times close to four seconds routinely. He also cuts bases like a big leaguer already, and he could be a threat to lead the league in triples, especially at Kauffman Stadium. 20+ stolen bases can be expected as he continues to refine his base stealing. 

Outlook

Not only are Witt’s raw tools incredible, he is also lauded for his makeup, work ethic and passion for playing. The tools could be plus or better across the board when all is said and done, making Witt the rare, true five tool player. Physically, he reminds us a bit of Trevor Story, although Witt’s tools are louder and his natural feel to hit far exceeds Story’s. This is a guy who has a chance to become a perennial MVP threat in the American League. Oh yeah, and he is big league ready now.

2. Adley Rutschman – C – Orioles

Age: 23 | Height/Weight: 6’2′, 220 | Bat/Throw: S/R | 1st Round (1), 2019 (BAL) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
50/60	60/65	55/60	40/40	60/70	70

Offense

Very simple setup and load from both sides of the plate. Starts slightly more open from the left side but other than that there are no significant differences in his left swing versus his right. He uses a small leg kick to create rhythm and timing and the balance he displays in his swing from both sides of the plate is truly spectacular, he’s always aware of where his body is at and has a knack for getting his ‘A’ swing off against pitcher’s pitches. His awareness and control of the strike zone sets him apart from nearly every other minor league player.

Rarely does he chase out of the zone and rarely does he take a pitch that he can drive. He creates easy plus power from line to line that starts with his XXL frame and long levers that create easy plus bat speed as well as tremendous leverage. He has a knack for back spinning the ball to all fields with a slight preference to inflict pull side damage, especially early or ahead in the count. His in-game adjustments are fantastic for a player with under 100 minor league games, which can be attributed to his ability to slow the game down and understanding how a pitcher is attacking him.

There isn’t a lot of swing and miss in his profile, though as he advances through the higher levels it would do him good to let his athleticism and lower half adjustability work more as he gets behind in counts. Due to his lack of speed and preference to pull the ball, the shift could eat away at his batting average at the big league level, however, you can still expect batting averages in the .260-.280 range with top of the line on-base numbers and anywhere from 25-35 homers on an annual basis.

Defense/Speed

In addition to owning one of the most potent bats in all of the minor leagues, Rutschman’s defense behind the plate has the potential to be elite as well. A kicker in his early years at Oregon State, Rutschman is extremely agile and athletic for his size and he possesses soft hands that create framing that could be elite as well. Rutschman also displays a plus arm and exchange behind the dish that should neutralize the running game even at the highest level. Rutschman’s instincts, feel for the game and leadership truly stand out behind the plate, and he’s exactly the kind of player that a team dreams of in terms of leading a pitching staff. 

Outlook

Rutschman’s combination of potentially elite hitting, elite fielding as well as elite makeup are rarely seen across the sport, and perhaps have never been seen before at the catching position. Adley has the kind of special skill set where essentially any comp isn’t crazy. Name a catcher and there’s a reasonable hope that he can attain that ceiling. Catchers who impact the game on both sides of the ball are just too rare nowadays. One hair splitting thing to watch: Rutschman’s OPS from the right side this year is about 300 points higher than the left side, though his swing from both sides looks great. Expect to see him with a chance to crack the Opening Day roster for the Orioles in 2022.

3. Julio Rodriguez – OF – Mariners

Age: 20 | Height/Weight: 6’2′, 220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | IFA: $1.75 million, 2017 (SEA) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
50/65	60/70	55/65	55/50	45/55	65+

Offense

Extremely advanced right handed swing, slight weight transfer in the lower half allows him to use it to its full potential. Slow and controlled load where his front foot lands very softly and consistently gets in a great launch position. Hands are extremely fast, and he produces top of the scale bat speed which leads to impact power to all parts of the field. Rodriguez probably has another 10 pounds of muscle to add to his frame, leading to the belief that he’ll grow into 70 raw power. J-Rod controls the strike zone extremely well, and thus far in his career his ability to identify breaking balls has been one of his bigger strengths. Advanced approach allows him to drive fastballs in the oppo gab with authority, while driving hanging breaking balls with lift to his pull side. Line-drive machine. His quiet mechanics combined with his plus pitch recognition should give him a chance to put up an OPS over .900 on an annual basis, while also hitting 30-35 home runs.

Defense/Speed

Rodriguez is a terrific athlete for his size, and he currently posts above average run times to first base while also playing a competent center field. As his body matures, he may add some weight and lose a step, and he has the plus arm that suits him perfectly in right field. He takes naturally good routes to the baseball, and his makeup and work ethic are lauded upon by members of the Mariners front office. So despite a relative lack of speed, his athleticism and work ethic lead to an above average projection as a right fielder.

Outlook

Rodriguez’s offensive ceiling rivals that of any prospect in minor league baseball. His advanced approach, incredible natural hitting tools, and plus makeup make it easy to believe that he will be an impact major leaguer sooner rather than later. It would not surprise me at all if he plays his way into the Mariners lineup by the time 2021 comes to a close, and it’s not out of the question that Rodriguez is the best player on the Mariners 2021 roster.

4. Francisco Alvarez – C – Mets

Age: 19 | Height/Weight: 5’10’, 233 | Bat/Throw: R/R | IFA: $2.7M (2018) | ETA: 2023

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
50/55	65/70	50/65	45/40	45/55	60+

Offense

Open stance with preloaded weight shift into back hip reminiscent of Tyler O’Neil. Only really physical players can generate power from that position and Alvarez is just that. At a solid 5-foot-10, 230 pounds, Alvarez has easy plus plus pop in the tank and his simple set up allows him to consistently be on time as well as control his body. Still just 19-years-old, Alvarez has mashed his way to High-A, launching 22 homers on the season, while maintaining a respectable 22% K-rate. 

Right now, Alvarez’s power is mostly being demonstrated pull-side as he has had no problem punishing hanging breaking balls and catching up to hard stuff middle-in thanks to his explosive bat speed. Pitchers at higher levels will likely work away from the at times pull-happy Alvarez, but his pitch recognition and body control have us confident that he will adjust. Alvarez has plus plus raw power, combined with a feel to hit that is ahead of his years. 40 home runs wouldn’t even be out of question for the Mets top prospect at some point in his career, along with palatable K-rates. 

Defense/Speed

Alvarez’s athleticism at the plate can be seen behind the dish as well. He is an incredibly advanced receiver for a 19-year-old and moves well behind the dish, allowing him to block balls that many catchers can’t get to. Alvarez also has a plus arm and gets good carry on his throws. All indications point towards Alvarez becoming an above average defender. 

Outlook

As soon as Adley Rutschman graduates, Alvarez will become the best catching prospect in baseball. To take it a step further, we believe that Alvarez will eventually be baseball’s top overall prospect. At the big league level, the sky truly is the limit for the teenage catcher. With offensive upside that rivals any prospect at any position and projectable defense Mets fans could be looking at their best catcher since Mike Piazza. 

5. Riley Greene – OF – Tigers

Age: 20 | Height/Weight: 6’3′, 200 | Bat/Throw: L/L | 1st Round (5), 2019 (DET) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
55/60	55/60	50/55	55/50	45/55	60+

Offense

Very quiet mechanics in the box allow him to get to a consistent launch point and unleash his silky smooth left handed swing which features plenty of quickness and bat speed. The raw, physical attributes of Greene’s swing are truly satisfying to watch and as he matures and puts on weight, it appears that plus power is not out of the question.

Greene has put up consistently good stats as one of the youngest players at each of the levels in which he has played, and the fact that he’s still a little rough around the edges when it comes to managing at-bats gives us reason to believe that as he matures as a hitter, his ceiling is monstrous. Greene has a tendency to get big and expand in plus counts, which is completely understandable for such a young hitter. He has struck out a decent amount throughout his professional career (27%), but it’s likely due to his youth/approach rather than any major swing and miss concerns. After all, the 20-year-old has already mashed his way to Triple-A, and is raking there.

His ceiling as a pure hitter rivals his teammate Spencer Torkelson, albeit without quite as prolific of power. Greene still earns plus raw power projection from us and taps into his present pop well thanks to his overall strong feel to hit. Already physical and only 20-years-old, there is still room to add muscle and get stronger. His bat speed and balance at the plate are immense, as are his bat to ball skills that should enable him to hit for both average and power at the highest level.

Defense/Speed

Greene is a very physical athlete who’s athleticism is more geared toward fluidity than sheer speed in the field. He’s has been able to log a majority of his starts in center field thanks to above average speed and a fantastic first step. His routes have steadily improved since turning pro as well. If he adds the weight to his frame and becomes a 225 pound monster, he will likely lose a step and move to a corner where his above average arm would play nicely. Greene moves really well for his size and could be average in center though a move to a corner is expected. He’d be well above average defensively in either corner. Greene’s strong first step translates into good jumps on the base paths as well, allowing him to be an opportunistic base stealer.

Outlook

Hitters with Greene’s gorgeous left handed swing and consistently solid production don’t come along often at such an early age. There is still ample room for improvement both physically as well as his process and approach in the box. His sweet left handed swing and frame are reminiscent of Michael Brantley, and he could approach Brantley-like numbers in his prime, with a little bit more power at the expense of some contact. This 20-year-old has the potential to be a special bat alongside Spencer Torkelson in the Tigers lineup for years to come. 

6. Grayson Rodriguez – RHP – Orioles

Age: 21 | Height/Weight: 6’5′, 225 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (11), 2018 (BAL) | ETA: 2022

Fastball	SLIDER	Curveball	Changeup	Command	FV
70/70	55/60	50/55	55/60	45/55	60+

Arsenal

High ¾ arm slot with consistent, medium-effort mechanics and tons of arm speed. Rodriguez’s repertoire starts with his mid to upper 90’s fastball that features ample amounts of both ASR and sink. It’s an explosive and heavy offering that he commands well and it plays up when located down and to his arm side. It creates tons of soft contact early in counts and he also has shown advanced feel for locating it at the top of the zone for swings and misses. Rodriguez stands at 6’5” tall, creating an extremely tough angle for hitters; right handed hitters in particular really struggle with his heater. As Rodriguez continues to refine his command of the fastball, it will become a nightmare in regards to missing barrels. 

Rodriguez has a vast assortment of secondaries that flash plus at their best, with his mid 80’s changeup leading the charge. It’s thrown with good arm speed and features nasty ASR and sink. He already has feel to land it for strikes at the bottom of the zone as well as miss bats with it late in the count. He deploys it against lefties and rigthties alike, transforming the pitch into his most lethal current offering. 

Rodriguez also throws a two breaking balls featuring his low to mid 80’s slider as the most used and effective out of the bunch. Its deceptive nature leaves hitters taking consistently bad swings when located down and to his glove side. He also has the ability to throw it for strikes early in the count against both left and right handed hitters as well as manipulate it to a tighter, harder more cutter-ish pitch. The curveball has tons of drop and he buries it in the dirt late in the counts and generates swings and misses.

Outlook

Rodriguez’s combination of stuff, size and command don’t come along often. He is already showing an ability to mix at a high level and can throw four pitches for strikes. Depending on the day, any of them can miss bats. The 21-year-old has had his velocity increase as the season has endured over the last couple years, leaving optimism for how he can endure the marathon that is a big league season without fading. Rodriguez has elite starting pitcher potential and could be in Baltimore as early as Opening Day 2022.

7. Spencer Torkelson – 3B/1B – Tigers

Age: 22 | Height/Weight: 6’1′, 220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (1), 2020 (DET) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
60/60	60/70	55/70	40/35	40/45	60+

Offense

One of the simplest swings you’ll find in all of baseball, Torkelson uses miniscule movements to produce consistently thunderous contact with ease. Very rarely do you find a player who is as direct and quick to the ball the way Torkelson is. His immense strength allows him to produce plus-plus power with minimal forward movement; he simply sits into his back hip and lets it eat.

His incredible bat speed gives him more time to identify pitches than most and he combines it with an incredible eye. As a result, Tork’s plate discipline has allowed him to produce elite BB/K numbers while still hitting for a ton of power. His levers are short and strong, which is why he’s so short to the baseball and is able to produce such loud contact. Torkelson’s approach includes ample amounts of line drives and fly balls, specifically to his pull side, leading to his immense power evaluation. Despite not seeing much to hit, Torkelson’s at bats are routinely excellent. Another quality that sticks out about Torkelson is how easy his takes are; he seemingly never looks fooled or off balance. This is a can’t miss bat, capable of producing 40 homers on an annual basis and could be the anchor of an offense for years to come.

Defense/Speed

Torkelson’s sheer size limits his mobility in the field and he will likely be a first baseman when all is said and done. That being said, the Tigers have him splitting time between first base and the hot corner this year. His feet are heavier than you’d like at third and a below average defender is probably the ceiling over there. His arm plays as average, though he does possess the soft hands that you see in a lot of first basmean. He’s a 40 runner at best so it doesn’t appear that a corner outfield spot is doable either. You can squint and see an average defender at first, but it likely doesn’t matter, the bat is going to drive his value. 

Outlook

Torkelson was widely heralded as the best bat to come out of college baseball in years and he has done nothing to take that mantle away from him. He’ll likely end up at first base where he can focus on perfecting his swing and becoming the best hitter he can be. If he hits his ceiling, Torkelson should be a top ten hitter in all of baseball and should make the spacious confines of Comerica Park appear small. His swing is simple, repeatable, and powerful, making it built for consistency and longevity. It’s probably not a coincidence that his stroke reminds us a bit of Nelson Cruz.

8. Shane Baz – RHP – Rays

Age: 22 | Height/Weight: 6’2′, 190 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (12), 2017 (PIT) | ETA: 2022

FASTBALL	SLIDER	CURVEBALL	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
70/70	65/70	40/50	50/55	50/55	60

Arsenal

High ¾ arm slot with very low effort and an athletic 6’2” frame. He has a short arm stroke that produces one of the most electric fastballs in the minor leagues, a mid to upper 90’s weapon that produces tons of ride and gets swings and misses all over the strike zone. Baz has focused on locating the fastball east and west to get ahead, as well as at the top of the zone where it is virtually unhittable. Baz has become one of the best pitching prospects in the minors due to how significantly his command has improved. He already has average command of his heater and as he continues to develop, there is more to come.

Baz’s slider gives him a second plus-plus pitch. It sits in the upper 80’s, featuring electric horizontal and vertical break and it seemingly moves at the very last second. It misses bats at an elite rate against righties and lefties, and Baz has continued to show improvement in terms of landing it for a strike as well. He commands it down and to his glove side consistently and similar to his high fastball, it is unhittable when located correctly. 

Baz’s upper 80’s changeup will flash plus at times due to its deception and ASR. The pitch can become too firm at times but in time, it could become a soft contact inducing offering against lefties. He rounds out his arsenal with a low 80’s curveball that he has yet to find a feel for. At it’s best it steals strikes early in the count, however, Baz has yet to deploy it consistently enough to call it a legitatmete weapon.

Outlook

Baz’s lethal fastball-slider combination has allowed him to utterly dominate the Minor Leagues in 2021. His command has improved enough to where he could be an effective arm in the big leagues today. Both his floor and ceiling rival that of any prospect in the entire Minor Leagues and he will be ready to produce for the Rays whenever they see fit. 

9. Gabriel Moreno – C – Blue Jays

Age: 20 | Height/Weight: 6’2′, 180 | Bat/Throw: R/R | IFA: $2.6M (2018) | ETA: 2023

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
60/70	50/55	45/55	40/40	50/55	60

Offense

Upright stance with some weight on his back leg, Moreno starts his hands in a relaxed position then uses a barrel tip for timing. He is able to repeat this move remarkably well, timing it up with a simple stride. Moreno creates great separation, allowing him to uncork like a rubber band on pitches middle-in. A really mature hitter, Moreno leverages hitter’s counts really well and knows where and when to do damage. Moreno is so advanced at the plate that he can look to do damage early and adjust when behind. 

With just a 12% K-rate in his minor league career and an ability to spray the ball to all fields, Moreno’s plus hit tool is his best attribute. The 21-year-old also showed an improved ability to walk and did not see his K-rate jump at expense of his burgeoning power leaving us very confident in his plus hit tool.

Defense/Speed

Another athletic catcher, Moreno moves well behind the dish and has a quick release complemented by an above average arm. Moreno’s receiving has earned mixed reviews, but has shown enough to leave optimism in that regard. Same goes for his blocking. Moreno is a gamer who pitchers enjoy as a battery mate. 

Outlook

One of our breakout candidates for the 2021 season, Moreno has even exceeded our lofty expectations set on him. Moreno is a legitimate threat to be a consistent .280-.300 hitter at the big league level. The emergence of his power now makes Moreno a potential All-Star with a high floor. We like him more than any catcher in the Jays system moving forward, it’s more of a matter of when he will get there…and we don’t think it will be long.

10. Brennen Davis – OF – Cubs

Age: 21 | Height/Weight: 6’4′, 220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 2nd Round (62), 2020 (CHC) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
45/55	55/65	50/60	60/60	50/55	60

Offense

When Davis was drafted in 2018, he was seen as a tall, lanky kid with quick twitch ability, but scouts were unsure what to expect with the bat. After all, Davis did not really focus on baseball until his senior season of high school, excelling on the basketball court as well. 

Early in Davis’ career, you’ll also see an armsy swing that doesn’t incorporate his lower half very much. An inconsistent lower half is common among younger players and is going to be even more pronounced when you are 6-foot-4, 175 pounds. Davis showed up in 2019 looking much more physical and has continuously added strength. Now listed at 210 pounds, you can see the physicality making its way into Davis’ game. 

It doesn’t take much for Davis to generate power, especially now that his lower half plays a part in his swing. Limited effort and quick twitch athleticism allow Davis to control his body well. Despite his long levers, Davis typically does a good job of staying short to the ball. The outfielder has no problem hitting the ball where it’s pitched and has shown an easy ability to leave the yard from foul pole to foul pole.

Defense/Speed

A plus runner, Davis has the goods to stick in center field along with an above-average arm which could handle either corner as well. Like many young outfielders the 21-year-old could improve on his reads in center, but his quickness from his days on the basketball court and recovery speed give him a margin for error. While stolen bases have not been a huge part of his game, Davis’ plus speed and long strides make him an effective base runner. His strong instincts should allow him to steal 15+ bags annually.

Outlook

Davis earns high marks for his makeup and work ethic, which has been backed up by his consistent progression. The former second round pick has mashed his way to Triple-A in just 152 games. The power/speed combo that Davis possesses along with a good feel to hit evoke some young Matt Kemp memories. Davis has 30+ home run pop right now and we don’t think he’s done adding juice.

11. CJ Abrams – SS – Padres

Age: 20 | Height/Weight: 6’1′, 220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (6), 2019 (SDP) | ETA: 2023

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
55/70	45/55	40/50	80/80	50/55	60

Offense

Upright set-up with small hand load and minimal leg kick. Extremely quick to the ball, could negatively impact his power output but make his hit tool very exciting. Swing is advanced for his age and level, and has excellent feel for the barrel. Simple and repeatable mechanics bode well for his chances to continue raking throughout his minor league career. 

Has the potential to add to his power profile if he continues to add weight. Abrams made a concerted effort to get his lower half more involved in his swing and we started too see him generate some more natural carry, even launching a few backside homers. Before being lost for the season with a sprained MCL, Abrams was enjoying a great year despite an aggressive Double-A assignment to start the season. The 20-year-old made improvements to his already solid approach, walking more than 8% of the time and leveraging his hitter’s counts a bit better rather than just looking to put the ball in play and trusting his speed.

Defense/Speed 

Once viewed as a likely candidate to move to center field, Abrams’ 80 grade athleticism has helped him make major strides at shortstop. His range is unsurprisingly great and his actions have come a long way, but his arm is fringy. A move to center field could still be in his future, which will allow his 80 grade speed to be used daily on defense, but it seems like the Padres are keen on keeping Abrams in the infield for now. If he’s moved to center field, it’s easy to project him as a plus defender there. For now, the hope is he’ll be an above average shortstop. In 43 games, Abrams was successful in 13/15 SB attempts.

Outlook

Abrams is an elite athlete and runner. Combined with his potentially plus hit tool, we could be looking at a top of the order table setter and a perennial All-Star. Abrams is an extremely exciting young and dynamic prospect with an extremely high ceiling. While he may not be a 30/30 threat, we believe in Abrams being able to tap into at least average power as he matures.

12. Marco Luciano – SS – Giants

Age: 20 | Height/Weight: 6’2′, 180 | Bat/Throw: R/R | IFA: $2.6M (2018) | ETA: 2023

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
40/55	55/70	50/70	50/45	40/45	60

Offense

Starts with his feet a little wider than shoulder width apart, proceeds to use a big leg kick in order to generate lower body momentum and is surprisingly consistent with his timing. Once he’s in his launch position, Luciano unloads what is one of the fastest swings in all of baseball; Luciano truly has Javier Baez level hand speed without as much movement or effort.

Too talented for the level he was at in 2019, he simply waited for a pitch to do pull-side damage with and unleashed. Luciano started this season in Low-A and looked much more advanced approach wise, but still has room to improve. After mashing Low-A pitching, Luciano earned a promotion to High-A where the newly turned 20-year-old has had some of the inconsistencies in his approach highlighted (38.5 K%). Facing Low and High-A pitching in 2021 has been more of a challenge for Luciano in terms of his approach have to give in and show his ability to go the other way as he progresses through the minors. 

Defense/Speed

His physical development will likely go one of two ways: either he has a playing weight of 205-210 and sticks at shortstop, or he becomes a 220+ pound, physical monster who moves off the position. Given that he already possesses plus-plus raw power, the Giants could prefer to keep him lighter and more athletic. He has average quickness for a shortstop, but doesn’t always take the right angels to balls, and his hands are currently below average. He is a fringe above-average athlete, and flashes average home to first times. 

If he does become the 220+ pound physical monster, a move to third base or right field will be the most likely outcome. He has the best infield arm strength in the minors, and his only big league comparisons in regards to arm would be Fernando Tatis, Carlos Correa, and Javier Baez. Those guys are better athletes than Luciano, however he could have more raw power than all of them.

Outlook

The Giants could have a perennial All-Star and MVP on their hands with Luciano. It’s easy to dream on a .285/.375/.600 slash line with around 40 homers a year while playing a premium defensive position. Even if he has to move off shortstop, Luciano’s bat will play anywhere on the diamond. While High-A has been a major struggle for the kid, there is no reason to believe that he will not get acclimated in his second taste of the level next year. Like many prospects with ridiculous raw power, it will come down to the hit tool for Luciano.

13. Anthony Volpe – SS – Yankees

Age: 20 | Height/Weight: 5’11, 180 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (30), 2019 (NYY) | ETA: 2023

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
55/60	45/55	45/50	50/50	45/50	55+

Offense

Relaxed and loose setup in the box with an advanced ability to use his lower half. Extremely whippy hands that allow him to make late decisions in the box. Volpe specializes in managing at bats because of his advanced feel for the strike zone and his ability to do damage on pitches over the plate. Perhaps Volpe’s best attribute at the plate is his pitch recognition skills. He takes quality breaking balls out of the hand and can do significant damage when they’re hanging.

He’s also shown that he can adjust from pitch to pitch thanks to his ability to slow the game down in the box and barrel control. His bat to ball skills are tremendous and as he matures, he should be tough to strike out at the big league level (19% K-rate in 2021). While Volpe’s raw power is above average at best, he’s already shown that he can tap into it to his pull side and has shocked with his production this year (25 HR). Punishing hanging breaking balls over the left field fence could allow him to hit 20+ homers on an annual basis. Volpe’s bat to ball and pitch recognition skills give him the profile of a high floor big leaguer capable of becoming an above average offensive force once his time comes.

Defense/Speed

Volpe’s defensive tools are similar to his offensive ones; they aren’t loud, but Volpe’s instincts and feel for the game allow them to play up. He projects as an average shortstop thanks to his solid range and soft hands, however his average arm will likely keep him from becoming a true, impact defender at short. He is an average runner and will likely never steal a ton of bases, however, he should become a valuable baserunner thanks to his ability to make the most of his physical tools. Volpe’s best position may be second base, where he could be an above average defender once fully developed.

14. Nick Lodolo – LHP – Reds

Age: 20 | Height/Weight: 6’1′, 220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (7), 2019 (CIN) | ETA: 2022

FASTBALL	SLIDER	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
60/65	60/65	50/55	55/65	60

Arsenal

Low ¾ arm slot with some crossfire built into the delivery. Slow moving body until delivery where the heater explodes out of the hand and his firm front side creates heavy sink and run on the offering. The built in deception of Lodolo’s delivery combined with the 92-96 mph velocity and movement on the pitch give it clear plus potential. Most of the heaters are located to his glove side due to his natural feel to groove the pitch across his body, although when he’s going good he can also locate it well to his arm side. The heater mostly misses east and west because he does such a tremendous job of keeping it down in the zone where it is an effective ground ball machine. 

Lodolo’s slider gives him another plus pitch in his arsenal, a sweeping breaking ball in the low 80’s that features filthy slurve-like movement with 10 inches of horizantal break. It has become his out-pitch against both lefties and righties and he gets tons of swings and misses when he locates it down and to his glove side. Lodolo commands the pitch so well that he also uses the slider to steal strikes when he’s behind in the count. The sweeping action and sheer movement of the pitch has some similarities to the slider that Chris Sale has made a career off of. If he continues to refine it and somehow makes it even tighter, it has the upside of an elite out-pitch at the big league level. 

Lodolo also possesses a changeup that flashes above average, though he hasn’t needed it much as he’s ascended through the minor leagues. It features good fading action to his arm side in the mid 80’s and has the ability to be a weapon against righties when he’s on. His command and feel for the changup is clearly behind his other two pitches. If Lodolo is to hit his ceiling, he will need to mix in the changeup for strikes against both left and right handed hitters. There is definitely potential for the offering to miss bats if he refines his command of it.

Outlook

Lodolo is one of the most polished pitchers in the minor leagues and both his floor and ceiling are through the roof. His ability to sequence his pitches stands out almost as much as his electric stuff, and he is likely ready for the big leagues today. His arsenal is extremely similar to Twins reliever Taylor Rodgers according to the Baseball Savant data, no doubt a terrific sign. If Lodolo continues to refine his changeup and command, his ceiling is a true ace. Even if he never develops advanced feel for the changeup, we believe he has the floor of a number two starter thanks to the combination of stuff, command and feel for pitching. Lodolo has become one of the most intriguing pitching prospects in the Minor Leagues, and we should see him called up to the big league club soon. 

15. Hunter Greene – RHP – Reds

Age: 22 | Height/Weight: 6’5′, 230 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (2), 2017 (CIN) | ETA: 2022

FASTBALL	SLIDER	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
70/80	60/65	50/55	50/60	60

Arsenal

High ¾ arm slot with arm speed that rivals anyone in the sport. Greene’s smooth and consistent mechanics make it easy for him to repeat his delivery and when combined with his elite athleticism, create command that is already close to average and could be at least plus when he’s further developed. The bread and butter of Greene’s arsenal is his electric fastball that sits anywhere from 97-102 and reportedly has topped 104. Greene is able to hold his velocity late in games and rarely looks like he is overthrowing, it’s one of the easiest 100’s you will ever see.

Greene’s command of the heater is already big league average and he operates east to west at a high level, throwing tons of quality strikes to both his glove and arm side. Once he learns to throw the fastball at the top of the zone with some consistency, he should generate even more swing and miss than he does now. Greene does, however, seem to miss middle with the fastball more often than you’d like to see, and the life that it produces flattens out when he misses over the middle. He’ll need to shore that up in order to produce at the big league level, as flat fastballs over the middle get hit in the big leagues no matter how hard you throw. Despite Greene’s fastball being somewhat flat, it still may average 100 one day, giving it an easy 80 grade.

Greene’s go-to secondary offering is a low to mid 80’s slider with good tilt and depth that he throws to both left and right handed hitters. His command of the offering varies from outing to outing, but it gives Greene another pitch to throw for strikes when behind in the count. The slider lacks the elite bite that you see in typical big league out-pitches, but his command of it should only improve as he develops. It may never miss bats at an elite rate but it should create soft contact as well as another speed Greene can use to steal strikes.

Green’s changeup is still a work in progress, though it does flash above average when and if he has feel for it. It sits right around 90 with some ASR and drop but like the slider, it lacks the deception and pure movement to consistently miss bats. He currently deploys it almost exclusively to left handed hitters while ahead in the count, and as he matures it should give him another soft contact inducing pitch. If he’s able to consistently land it for strikes against left and right handed hitters, it could become a real weapon. Greene also reportedly began throwing a low 90’s cutter, although it remains to be seen how effective the pitch will be. A pitch breaking hard to his glove side could create difficulty for hitters to stay on Greene’s heater which will be vital for his success.

Outlook

While Greene has the electric velocity we typically see from big league aces, his lack of a truly plus offspeed pitch may never allow him to miss enough bats to hit that ceiling. With that being said, Greene’s athleticism and feel for pitching bode well for him, and specifically his command. Plus-plus command is not out of the question and if he is able to accomplish that as well as refining the break and location of his secondaries, his ceiling remains immense. 

16. Cade Cavalli – RHP – Nationals

Age: 22 | Height/Weight: 6’4′, 220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (22), 2020 (WSN) | ETA: 2022

FASTBALL	SLIDER	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
70/70	65/70	50/55	35/45	60

Arsenal

Big athletic right hander with an over the top delivery that features some deception due to the natural funkiness. Big time fastball that sits in the mid to upper 90’s with some ride when located at the top of the zone. It generates swing and miss in the strike zone and is unhittable at the top of the zone. Cavalli’s present command of the fastball is below average and he is more of a ‘sprayer’ at the moment. Cavalli’s athleticism and relative newness to pitching, however, bode well for his future command and there is potential for at least average command of the fastball.

Cavalli’s slider is a devastating upper 80’s offering that generates ample amounts of swing and miss to both righties and lefties. He is still developing feel for the pitch and has a tendency to miss badly when his mechanics aren’t in sync. When he locates it down and to his glove side it features sharp, late bite and tremendous shape that gives it plus-plus projection. He has trouble consistently landing it for strikes and as he develops it will be key to be able to do so.

Cavalli rounds out his arsenal with a mid to upper 80’s change up that features late ASR and sink and flashes plus when located down and to his arm side. It produces both swing and miss as well as soft contact and Cavalli is already deploying the offering against both lefiteis and righties. He has good feel for the change and it gives him another bat missing pitch.

Outlook

Cavalli’s upside rivals that of any prospect in the minor leagues as he features three swing and miss offerings and the size and athleticism seen in big league aces. He will need to improve his command and feel for pitching in order to achieve his ceiling which remains sky high. Cavalli’s floor is also high due to his pair of plus-plus offerings and worst case-scenario, he is a dominant back of the bullpen piece for Washington. Given that he has only 230 innings dating back to college, we believe Cavalli will continue to develop.

17. Corbin Carroll – OF – Diamondbacks

Age: 20 | Height/Weight: 5’9′, 220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (16), 2019 (SDP) | ETA: 2023

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
55/65	40/55	30/50	75/75	50/60	60

Offense

Starts almost completely upright and then proceeds to drop his weight into his back hip and get his body low. Stays on his back leg surprisingly well for a young hitter and already has an efficient bat bath that projects perfectly for line drives. More bat speed than you’d expect given his small frame, leading to sneaky pop to the pull side. Another grinder at the plate, Carroll is constantly battling at the plate and is a hard player to get out. He already has a polished approach that led to a 17.5% walk rate in 31 games as a 19 year old in rookie ball. His ground ball and line drive heavy approach is perfect for him given that he is consistently clocked around 3.9 seconds to first base. Carroll has the offensive profile of a top of the order catalyst who should produce high batting averages and on-base percentages, as well as adding up to 20 homers per season.

Defense/Speed

Carroll has the makings of an easy plus defender in center field. His 75 grade speed and 5’9” frame allow him to reach his top speed relatively quickly, giving him closing speed that few others in the minors possess. His reads are already close to big league average, and he has a plus arm that produces consistent and accurate throws. He’s a lock to stick in center field long term and he has the upside to be a premier, gold-glove type center fielder.

Outlook

Carroll was one our big time breakout candidates coming into the season. He looked to be in the midst of a breakout through his first seven games of the season before unfortunately going down with a shoulder injury for the year. Carroll is so advanced and has such an interesting skill-set that we think he will make up for lost time and enjoy a big season next year. With only 49 pro games under his belt, Carroll lacks the exposure that typically comes with big name prospects. Due to the success he had at the ATS and the fact that he has a chance to have above average tools across the board, Carroll is already an elite prospect and he has the potential to be one of the 15 best prospects in all of baseball if he continues to perform.

18. Triston Casas – 1B – Red Sox

Age: 22 | Height/Weight: 6’2′, 220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (26), 2018 (BOS) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
50/60	60/70	50/70	3030	45/50	60

Offense

Big body with long natural levers and tremendous strength throughout his frame. Deploys a small leg kick that is very slow and controlled and allows him to maintain incredible balance throughout every swing. His strength and long arms allow him to create big bat speed and he features plus-plus raw power at present. Capable of doing damage to all parts of the ballpark. Despite his long levers, Casas has a very short stroke designed to be as short to the ball as possible. The swing itself is somewhat reminiscent of Freddie Freeman due to the ability of using a short swing as a XXL frame with long levers.

Casas’ approach at the plate could make him a special hitter at the Major League level. He already understands how to use the count to dictate his approach, with most of his damage coming while he’s ahead in the count and an innate ability to battle and spray the ball when he’s behind. He chokes up and widens out with two strikes and simply looks to put the ball in play rather than do damage. Casas has just started to tap into his elite pop but has still been wildly productive in Double-A thanks to his strong approach. Casas could become a force at the plate as a dynamic bat capable of producing plenty of extra base hits, walks and a tolerable amount of strikeouts. 

Defense

Casas’ XXL frame limits him to first base, where he moves well and already excels at picking and has solid footwork around the bag. His arm is easily plus, however his near bottom of the scale speed would make a transition to the outfield difficult. He has the agility to be an above average defender at first for his size.

Outlook

Casas has the classic look of a slugging first baseman capable of producing runs in bunches. While the power is immense, it’s the hit tool that really has us intrigued. Casas has shown flashes of his plus plus raw power, including three moonshot homers in the Olympics, but the 22-year-old is still working on consistently tapping into it. Power is the last tool to develop for a lot of great hitters, and Casas is just that. Casas has the potential to be a very potent bat for years to come and a good baseline thanks to his feel to hit.

19. George Kirby – RHP – Mariners

Age: 23 | Height/Weight: 6’4′, 215 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (20), 2018 (SEA) | ETA: 2022

FASTBALL	SLIDER	Curveball	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
60/65	40/45	50/60	45/55	60/70	60

Arsenal

High ¾ arm slot with a short arm action. Fastball has been 90-94 in the past, but was reportedly touching the upper 90’s at the Mariners alternative camp. It has some ASR and sink, but the added velocity is huge for his long term value, as his fastball can become hittable at times. With that being said, a version of Kirby sitting in the mid 90’s is terrifying given his incredibile command of the pitch. He can robotically locate it to his glove side, even better than most major leaguers. He can also locate it to his arm side at an above average clip, giving his fastball command a rare chance of being elite.

Kirby’s curveball is his best secondary offering, flashing plus with it’s lower 80’s velocity. It has hard, late bite with it’s 11-5 action, and it’s his go-to pitch for whiffs. He can already bury it for strikeouts, as well as throwing it for strikes at will. 

His slider gives him another quality breaking ball despite it’s lack of current depth. It sits in the mid to upper 80’s and has solid horizontal movement at the expense of not much drop. Like the first two pitches in his arsenal, he can throw it for strikes whenever he wants. He uses it to steal strikes and produce weak contact against right handed hitters, but as of now it doesn’t project to miss a lot of bats.

The changeup is the only pitch in his arsenal that lacks average current command, but the drop and ASR on it give it the potential to be another above average offering. It sits in the mid 80’s, and he uses it mostly against left handed hitters in even counts. As he develops the pitch, it could become a soft-contact inducing machine, capable of producing lots of groundbal rollovers.

Outlook

Kirby is the rare type of prospect who has both a high floor and a high ceiling. His increased fastball velocity combined with his potentially elite command, give him the floor of a 3-4 starter capable of eating innings while excelling at producing soft contact. If he’s able to further refine his changeup and slider, Kirby has the potential to have four distinct speed differences, as well as multiple weapons to both induce soft contact and miss bats. If he’s able to accomplish this, Kirby has the ceiling of a number two starter, and an outside chance of becoming an ace.

20. Brett Baty – 3B – Mets

Age: 21 | Height/Weight: 6’3′, 210 | Bat/Throw: L/R | 1st Round (20), 2019 (NYM) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
45/55	55/65	45/60	30/30	45/50	60

Offense

Very loose and relaxed setup that features a wide base in which he holds the majority of his weight in a coiled back hip. The swing is still a little raw because Baty is inconsistent in regards to his lower half weight transfer, he has a tendency to lose the power in his lower half when he doesn’t load correctly. With that being said, Baty features both quickness and bat speed, with the latter being close to elite once he’s fully developed. Baty’s loudest tool is his raw power to all parts of the field thanks to his immense combination of strength and bat speed.

The power that he flashes to the opposite field is truly unique because of his ability to hit homers to left field that even right handed hitters have trouble reaching. He deploys the approach of a fastball masher as he is aggressive to heaters in all parts of the zone. His pitch recognition is advanced for his age and he has shown an ability to sit back and drive hanging breaking balls as well. There is some swing and miss to his profile, however, it could be due to his inconsistent swing mechanics that also produce more ground balls than a player like Baty should be hitting. Baty’s swing mechanics hint at untapped upside in his offensive profile and once he shores them up, his advanced approach and physical tools could blend into a middle of the order run producer at the highest level. 

Defense/Speed

Baty is a physical presence at 6’3” 210 pounds and while he moves well for his size, we don’t believe he will be an impact defender at the hot corner. His feet are heavier than most third baseman and while he has soft hands, range will always be a problem due to his size. He has a chance to be average defensively but it’s somewhat of a stretch. Baty’s plus arm is an asset for him in the field and he moves well enough to deploy in left field in a pinch. First base is his best natural fit, where his soft hands and solid footwork could add up to a plus defender.

Outlook

Baty’s profile is driven by his ability to hit and his raw hitting tools and approach lead us to believe he will be an impact bat in the big leagues one day. The power to all fields will play at the big league level, although his feel to hit will ultimately determine how productive he will become. 

21. Jack Leiter – RHP – Rangers

Age: 21 | Height/Weight: 6’1″, 205 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (2), 2021 (TEX) | ETA: 2023

FASTBALL	SLIDER	CURVEBALL	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
65/70	55/60	45/55	40/50	40/50	55+

Arsenal

High ¾ arm slot with a short arm stroke and lower half driven mechanics. There’s some effort in the delivery, but Leiter’s plus athleticism allows him to repeat his mechanics with ease. The fastball is a plus-plus offering featuring 93-97 velocity that plays up because of the spin and rise it creates. It’s a swing and miss machine, regularly leaving hitters missing just under it. His command of the heater is a tick below average, although he has advanced feel to locate it at the top of the zone late in counts where it is extremely difficult to square up. Leiter’s east-west command needs work, as he will regularly miss high and arm side with the offering. Once Leiter is able to dominate the corners early in the count, the sky’s the limit with his electric four seamer.

Leiter’s slider is currently his best secondary. It sits in the mid 80’s with excellent shape and bite and misses tons of bats when he’s able to loctate it down and to his glove side. It flashes plus at its best, although Lieter’s feel for the offering varies from outing to outing. He still has trouble landing it for strikes consistently to lefties and righties and will need to shore up his command of it for the slider to reach its plus ceiling.

Leiter also deploys a mid 70’s curveball that displays good shape and depth when it’s on. It flashes above average when located down and gloveside, although it flattens out when landed in the strike zone. His feel for the curve is still developing and his command of it is poor at the moment. Once the curve is fully developed, it will serve as a bat-missing offering best deployed a few times a game to give hitters a different look. Leiter rounds out his arsenal with a mid 80’s changeup that is deployed almost exclusively to left handed batters. Like the curve, Leiter is still developing feel for the pitch. It shows solid ASR and sink when he locates it down and to his arm side, although he has had trouble consistently locating it down. It will likely serve as a different look almost exclusively for left handed hitters.

22. Noelvi Marte – SS – Mariners

Age: 19 | Height/Weight: 6’1′, 180 | Bat/Throw: R/R | IFA: $1.55M (2018) | ETA: 2023

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
35/50	50/60	45/55	60/55	40/50	60

Offense

Really good athlete. Broad shoulders and projectable lower half should lead to plus raw power in the future. Simple right handed swing with the ability to miss the barrel and still produce pull side power. Marte’s swing path and body control should enable him to drive the ball to the opposite field with authority as his body continues to mature. Above average current bat speed and more to come. Solid approach at the plate, producing a 12% walk rate in Low-A against a 22% K-rate.

Defense/Speed

Current shortstop, but comes with questions of staying there long term. Marte has quick feet, but the angles he takes to the ball are poor and he will lose a step or two of range as he fills out. He projects as a below average fielder at short, however a move to third seems to be in his future and he profiles as an above average defender there. He is a plus runner presently, but will almost certainly lose a step with the weight he will gain. 

Outlook

Marte has a high offensive ceiling and when combined with his ability to play the left side of the infield, him an extremely exciting outlook. Like Marco Luciano, Marte earned an aggressive promotion to High-A where his numbers have dipped a little, but Marte’s at-bats have actually looked more comfortable. Still just 19-years-old, Marte is just scraping the surface of his offensive ability. 30 home runs along with impressive athleticism should give him a chance to be a multi All-Star, but like many of the young prospects on this list, we’ll have to see how he handles higher quality stuff.

Outlook

Leiter’s electric heater is a fantastic building block as he further develops his secondary offerings. All three secondaries lack consistency but show flashes of becoming legitimate weapons once his command improves. Leiter’s command will ultimately determine his ceiling and if he can achieve average command of three of the four pitches, he will likely be a two or three starter in the big leagues. 

23. Luis Campusano – C – Padres

Age: 22 | Height/Weight: 5’10, 230 | Bat/Throw: R/R | IFA: $1.3 million, 2017 (SDP) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
45/55	55/60	50/55	40/35	45/50	55+

Offense

Starts slightly crouched over and follows it with simple mechanics, not a lot going on in his load and gets to launch consistently on time. Big time bat speed and quickness, mashes fastballs in all parts of the zone. Has a tendency to get big and sway away from his approach, especially with quality breaking stuff. Big time hitting tools with advanced bat-to-ball skills and a great feel for the barrel. Carrying tool is the bat, with the potential to hit for both average and power at the highest level. 

Defense

Well-proportioned muscular build, physically filled out. Despite his weight, moves surprisingly well behind the plate. Presently a decent blocker and mobile defender. Big time arm strength behind the plate that, combined with his quick release, should help shut down the running game. His framing needs work and projects as average at best. Should be an average overall defensive catcher when all is said and done. Well below average runner, irrelevant because he projects to stay behind the dish.

Outlook

Campusano has huge upside; above average hitters don’t grow on trees in today’s MLB, especially at the catching position. The 22-year-old had his development stunted by an over-aggressive, desperation call-up to the big leagues, but he has settled back into his rhythm in Triple-A. If he stays within himself on a consistent basis, we could be looking at a future perennial All-Star and a mainstay for years to come as the Padres starting catcher. Campusano is closer to the “Big 3” catchers at the top of our list than some may think.

24. Josiah Gray – RHP – Nationals

Age: 23 | Height/Weight: 6’1, 180 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 2nd Round (72), 2018 (LAD) | ETA: 2021

FASTBALL	SLIDER	CURVEBALL	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
55/60	55/60	60/60	40/50	50/55	55+

Arsenal

High ¾ arm slot, very smooth and repeatable delivery. Fastball sits in the 92-96 range with explosive ride through the strike zone. It’s a tight four seam with high spin, allowing the pitch to play above its velocity. Arm side command of FB is already above average and has the potential to be elite. FB command to the glove side isn’t quite as advanced, but is still solid at present. Can work up and down with his heater at a big league level already, and he consistently locates the heater at the top of the zone for punchouts. 

Potentially elite arm side command of his fastball bodes well for his plus slider that has exceptional two plane break. Breaks hard and late in the mid 80’s, specializing in vertical drop that bodes well for swing and miss when located down and to his glove side. He’s at his best when he tunnels the fastball and slider, and the combo is effective to both left and right handed hitters. The slider flattens out a bit when thrown to his arm side, but his athleticism and delivery make it easy to believe that he’ll figure out how to effectively back door it to steal strikes, which will allow him to unlock the full potential of the pitch.

Changeup flashes above average when he locates it down and to his arm side. It has good ASR and drop in the low to mid 80’s, but Gray is still figuring out how to consistently command the offering. He presently deploys the majority of changeups to lefties, but it has the potential to be a soft-contact inducing offering to both left and right handed hitters.

Outlook

While Gray may not be the sexiest prospect, his trio of plus pitches and advanced command give him the floor of a three or four starter once he’s fully developed. He already has average command, and his elite athleticism and the fact that he hasn’t thrown a lot of innings give reason to believe that his command could be plus in the near future. Further development of his changeup will be key in determining his ceiling, as a third solid offering would give him the ceiling of a number two starter in the big leagues.

25. Zac Veen – OF – Rockies

Age: 19 | Height/Weight: 6’4, 190 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (6), 2020 (COL) | ETA: 2024

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
45/55	55/70	40/60	60/60	45/55	55+

Offense

Long, lean and athletic build. Wiry strength throughout his body allows him to produce huge present bat speed and as he adds weight to his frame, should grow into elite bat speed. His hips are quick and explosive in the box and he combines it with extremely fast hands. Faces the same mechanical issues that a lot of high school deal with. Occasionally struggles with his lower half to find consistent connection with the ground, leading to his front hip leaking forward. Lower half has a lot of strength that needs to be added, which should allow him to make more connected and consistent lower half movements. Hammered the high school circuit, rarely looking fooled even when facing quality stuff. Offensive ceiling is hard to gauge because it’s so  incredibly high in terms of both power production, as well as his ability to hit for average. 

Defense

Currently has the look of a future center fielder due to his plus speed and arm. His movements in the outfield are more long and smooth as opposed to quick and explosive, leading me to project him as a corner outfielder as he continues to mature and add weight to his slender frame. His defensive and running ability have a wide variance in terms of future value. If he becomes a middle of the order run producer it will likely be because he adds weight and loses a step. If the Rockies prefer for him to stay in center field long term, he will have to settle in at a weight that allows for his speed to maintain its current plus grade. We think the former is likely to happen, as players with Veen’s offensive potential don’t grow on trees. 

Outlook

Veen was the first high school player taken in the 2020 draft, and his toolset back up that distinction. His offensive upside combined with his presently plus athleticism give him the ceiling of a player who can produce .290/.380/.550 slash lines with 30+ homers on an annual basis, while also providing defensive value in a corner outfield position. The sky’s the limit for this 19-year-old who gave us a taste of what he is capable of in his first pro season.

26. Jordan Walker – 3B – Cardinals

Age: 19 | Height/Weight: 6’5, 220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (21), 2020 (STL) | ETA: 2023

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
35/55	45/75	50/70	60/60	40/50	55+

Offense

Starts fully upright, then sinks into back hip in what is reminiscent of a more subtle Christian Yelich load. Hands go back with his weight as he takes his easy stride creating strong separation. Walker is a physical specimen who does not need to do much to generate power, but his ability to repeat his movements and consistently be on time is impressive for a 6-foot-5, 220lb 19-year-old. 

There were no doubts about Walker’s raw power, but his hit-tool is way, way ahead of what anybody anticipated. Despite being one of the youngest players in his class, Walker started his professional career in Low-A, then hit his way to High-A, maintaining a 23% K-rate and 9% walk rate between the two levels. The 2019-2020 Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year has already produced exit velos in the 1st percentile, and terrifyingly has more in the tank. With 14 homers in just over 70 games and a wRC+ over 150, Walker could not have had a better start to his professional career. 

Defense/Speed

Walker moves impressively for his size and has a massive arm, leaving us more optimistic in his probably to stick at the hot corner than before. His actions could use some improvement, but his strong arm and good relatively good footwork give him a shot to stay at third base. If not, he could move to corner outfield or first base. 

Outlook

Walker is one of the names who could quickly ascend into the top 10. Aside from his exciting tools, 40 home run power, and more advanced feel to hit than anticipated, Walker earns high marks for his makeup and intelligence. Saying Walker is a name to watch would be putting it lightly. 

27. Jasson Dominguez – OF – Yankees

Age: 18 | Height/Weight: 5’10, 210 | Bat/Throw: S/R | IFA: $5 million, 2020, (NYY) | ETA: 2025

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
35/55	45/75	50/70	60/60	40/50	55+

Outlook

Starts somewhat upright from both sides of the plate, almost the exact same swing from both sides of the plate. Lots of moving parts both in the lower half as well as some with his hands. The load is slow and controlled, but he has a tendency to not know where his weight is in the lower half and his big, inconsistent leg kick leads to inconsistent timing. Has really struggled with quality fastballs thusfar in his limited career. On time for heaters roughly half the time and we think this is a big factor in regards to his 30% K-rate in Low-A.

Dominguez would greatly benefit from either toning down the leg kick or eliminating it altogether. With that being said, this is an 18-year-old with 200 minor league plate appearances who possesses arguably the most impressive toolset in all of the Minor Leagues. He looks like a bodybuilder already and all that muscle is full of quick twitch fibers. The bat speed is elite from both sides of the plate as is the ridiculous torque he can generate with his lower half when everything is in sync.

Dominguez already has plus-plus raw power, possessing the ability to do damage to all parts of any ballpark. It’s to eraly to predict what kind of numbers he could produce, however, his power is so immense that it’s hard not to believe he will hit homers in the big leagues one day. The hit tool is a big question mark, but Dominguez has shown flashes that he has solid bat to ball skills and lower half adjustability. His offensive ceiling is as high as any prospect in the minors, albeit with tons of variance regarding what kind of hitter he will ultimately become. 

Defense

Dominguez possesses ridiculous tools on the defensive side of the ball as well, starting with his plus speed that should allow him to generate a large amount of infield hits on an annual basis. His speed gives provides hope that he can stick in center, however Dominguez is very heavy on his feet at times, which affects his quickness to spots and routes. We haven’t really seen a player with Dominguez’s build also have plus speed, but right now his speed seems to be more straight line, lacking agility which can be seen on the base paths as well. Still, his plus-plus arm gives him a defensive toolset comparable to the best outfielders in the game today. Time will tell if his speed will translate to stolen bases, as he is so early in his development that he should have ample time to refine the smaller parts in his game that need to be ironed out. Dominguez has the opportunity to produce tons of value with his glove and legs if his footwork improves.

Outlook

Dominguez is the most interesting man in the Minor Leagues, as he possesses both an MVP-caliber ceiling as well as a mostly unknown floor. He truly is one of the highest variance prospects we’ve ever seen. Dominguez is still rough around the edges (as are all 18-year-olds) and he has tons of time to refine his game. He is polarizing in every way, and we are excited to see more of him as he progresses.

28. Jordan Lawlar – SS – Diamondbacks

Age: 19 | Height/Weight: 6’2, 195 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (6), 2021 (ARI) | ETA: 2024

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
35/55	45/60	40/55	65/65	45/65	55

Offense

Sets up in a medium base with equal weight in his front and back leg and deploys a simple, lightning quick stroke with very little moving parts. The swing produces more quickness than raw bat speed, though as he adds strength there is more bat speed to come. Lawlar’s feel to hit rivals anyone in his draft class, flashing plus bat to ball skills and an advanced knowledge of the strike zone for a player of his age. He very rarely looks sped up or fooled in the box and it always looks like he is in control of the at bat. He has a tendency to get big in plus counts similar to most 19-year-olds but it almost certainly won’t be a problem as he matures. Lawlar shows an advanced ability to use the whole field and has a chance to own a special hit tool.

The power is the bigger question mark as he may never be physically imposing. With that being said, he already flashes average power to his pull side and as he adds strength, he could add around 20 homers on an annual basis. Lawlar’s advanced feel to hit and developing power give him great upside in the batter’s box, and he fits the profile of the modern leadoff hitter to a tee. 

Defense

Lawlar is an elite athlete with quick-twitch actions on the defensive side of the ball. There are no questions about his ability to stick at shortstop and his range, hands and plus arm lead us to believe he could potentially compete for gold gloves. He’s also a 65 runner who will flash plus-plus home to first times. The defensive tools are loud and he should impact the game with his glove and legs on a nightly basis. 

Lawalar is an exciting blend of polish and projection. His present feel to hit is extremely advanced as are his defensive tools and legs. How much power he will generate is the biggest question that will ultimately determine his ceiling but as we’ve seen with draft prospects in recent years, power is often the last tool to develop. Lawlar has the ceiling of a perennial all star capable of impacting the game in a variety of ways. 

29. Henry Davis – C – Pirates

Age: 21 | Height/Weight: 6’2, 210 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (1), 2021 (PIT) | ETA: 2023

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
45/55	50/65	40/60	45/40	40/50	55

Offense

Starts crouched and slightly open. Hovers with front leg to help keep weight back. Though a bit unorthodox, Davis generates a ton of torque and rotational power with his swing. Putting up video game numbers that were more impressive than Joey Bart’s at Georgia Tech, Davis put the questions around his swing to bed by slashing .370/.482/.663 with 17 homers and 31 BB against just 24 K’s versus ACC pitching. 

Though a small sample size, Davis has carried that success into his High-A debut, already slugging two homers in six games. We have some questions as to how Davis will be able to handle higher quality breaking stuff, due to his tendency to get overly rotated and at times pull off of the baseball. That being said, he has answered any detractors in regards to his swing with pure production and limited swing and miss. His bat speed is undeniable, as is his plus raw power. The ball truly jumps off of his bat, and if he is able to hit consistently enough, 30+ homers is the expectation. Ironically, Davis has some similar offensive concerns to Joey Bart, which is: can they do damage anywhere other than pull-side?

Defense/Speed

Davis’ best tool on defense is his 70-grade arm. He’s a good athlete which leaves us optimistic that he can continue to improve behind the dish, but he has some work to do in regards to blocking and receiving. Davis was able to get away with some things in college thanks to his absurd arm, but in professional baseball there will be more of an emphasis on the fundamentals for the pirates top catching prospect. We expect him to catch on as a backstop and improve into an average to above average catcher. 

Outlook

At the end of the day, the big asset here is Davis’ bat. That being said, the Pirates took him first overall to be the catcher of their future and he has a chance to be that. Davis has shown good bat to ball skills and immense pull-side power that should have Pirates fans excited. He is probably a bit further off than some of the other college bats in his class in terms of timeline. 

30. Marcelo Mayer – SS – Red Sox

Age: 19 | Height/Weight: 6’3, 190 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (4), 2021 (BOS) | ETA: 2024

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
30/55	45/60	40/55	50/50	40/55	55

Outlook

Smooth and simple left handed stroke that features easy plus bat speed. Tons of feel to hit and he’s shown the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field with ease. Mayer’s profile is currently hit over power, although that could change due to the fact that he has tons of projection remaining in his 190 pound frame; he could add around 30 pounds of muscle as he matures. Everything Mayer does on the baseball field looks smooth and easy and as he continues to refine the mechanics of his swing, the smooth athleticism should translate into fantastic lower half adjustability. His bat-to-ball skills are advanced, as is his ability to navigate at bats. He currently has a tendency to lose his lower half at times but once he learns to sit into his back hip consistently and adds strength, Mayer could grow into plus raw power and possibly more. Mayer has the look of a player who could produce doubles in bunches as well as the bat-to-ball skills to produce good batting averages and on-base percentages on an annual basis. 

Defense/Speed

The same smoothness that Mayer features as a hitter translates directly to the field where there are very few questions about his ability to play shortstop in the big leagues. He has above average range that he pairs with an above average arm and soft hands. He has the ability to make solid throws even when his body is in unorthodox positions, a trait you see in fantastic big league shortstops. He is currently an average runner, however, it remains to be seen if he’ll lose a step as he physically matures. If he develops into a 225 pound unit, it isn’t out of the question to see a move to third. 

Outlook

Mayer was in contention to go first overall due to the relative ease that he plays the game with. The physical tools are certainly impressive as Mayer has an outside chance to have four plus tools. As is the case with 18 year old prospects, there is a lot of variance and possible outcomes in regards to the kind of player Mayer will become. His ceiling is certainly high and we like his chances of becoming a  big league regular in the years to come.

31. Nick Gonzales – 2B – Pirates

Age: 22 | Height/Weight: 5’10, 195 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (7), 2020 | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
50/60	50/60	45/60	50/50	40/50	55

Offense

Athletic set up. Gathers into his back side with with a small leg kick that has become more apparent since turning pro, but has not disrupted his knack for being on time. Despite his 5-foot-10, 190 pound frame, Gonzales is able to generate plus power thanks to elite bat speed and a swing that generates easy backspin. After putting up better than video game numbers as a walk-on at New Mexico State, there were still questions as to whether Gonzales could handle higher level competition. Gonzales put those questions to rest by dismantling Cape Cod League pitching on his way to winning the league’s Pro Prospect of the Year Award.

Gonzales’ has an impressive ability to control his body and repeat his swing. He is so quick and compact to the baseball that he is able to make late decisions. Gonzales has no problem spoiling borderline pitches or shooting the ball out of the catcher’s mitt the other way. Our plus grade on his power may be higher than the industry perspective, but after watching Gonzales swing wood for an entire summer, we feel confident in his 60 grade juice. Gonzales displayed power to all fields, spraying homers to right, dead center and pull-side. He would even inside-out balls that left the yard to right field. 

Gonzales’ feel to hit will allow him to consistently hit for more power as well. He leverages hitters’ counts, taking more aggressive swings, and is tough to beat with two strikes thanks to his bat speed, body control and good feel for the zone. 

Defense/Speed

While not a burner, Gonzales gets the most out of his above average speed thanks to his high baseball IQ. He knows which pitches to run on and does a great job of reading stuff in the dirt. Defensively, Gonzales is similar. He will probably not win Gold Gloves, but has decent range, good actions, and his high IQ translates in the field too. 

Outlook

Gonzales is one of the more high floor prospects you will find, but his ceiling is far from restricted as well. A great hit tool, sneaky power, and elite makeup make me as confident in Nick Gonzales being an impact big leaguer as nearly any player in the top 100.

32. Edward Cabrera – RHP – Marlins

Age: 23 | Height/Weight: 6’5, 190 | Bat/Throw: R/R | IFA: $250K (2017) | ETA: 2021

FASTBALL	SLIDER	CURVEBALL	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
60/60	50/60	40/50	55/70	45/50	55

Arsenal

High release point, hides ball well and gets on top of his heater well with heavy sinking action in the mid-to-upper 90s. Cabrera has had no problem getting whiffs in the minors (13.5 K/9 in 2021), but has been inconsistent at times with his command; especially at the upper levels. The Marlins have recently shown to develop pitching well, specifically with changeups and Cabrera is yet another example. His changeup generated a lot of buzz at the alternate training site and has been a great weapon for him this year in the minors. 

Cabrera does a good job of repeating his release between the change and heater, allowing it to play up even more. Cabrera’s breaking ball has also improved, with more shape and feel. The 23-year-old will also throw a firmer, more slurvy variation of the breaking ball as well which is a good fourth look. 

Outlook

The quality of stuff is pretty undeniable for the Marlins young starter. A little bit of injury history and some command issues have held Cabrera back a bit and his MLB debut has been a tad rocky. Cabrera has a similar profile to Marlins ace Sandy Alctantara when he first came up, which should bode well for him and the Marlins given Alcantara’s development. While Cabrera has great swing and miss stuff, he has also racked up high ground ball rates throughout his career, and learning how and when to pitch to weak contact as well as go for the whiffs will allow him to go deeper into games and avoid free passes. Cabrera has a shot to be a frontline guy, with a better chance at settling in as a mid-rotation arm 

33. Robert Hassell III – OF – Padres

Age: 20 | Height/Weight: 6’2, 195 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (8) – 2020 | ETA: 2023

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
45/55	50/55	45/55	55/50	45/55	55

Offense

Simple and easy swing, quiet, repeatable mechanics. Buggy whip in the swing, twitch throughout his body. Extremely fast hands and hips should create plus power as his body fills out. Currently struggles to get separation with his lower and upper half, as they don’t constantly sync up. Has a tendency to get on his front foot, cutting him off and leading to occasional top spin to right field. Very common in young hitters, and it should be cleaned up with consistency at bats. Raked during all the major high school showcases.

It looks like Hassell could put on anywhere between 20 and 30 pounds of muscle over the next couple of years. He reminds me of a young Austin Meadows, as Meadows filled out, some of his speed and athleticism declined, but the result was a monster at the plate. We think we will see something similar happen to Hassell.

Defense/Speed

He’s currently an above average runner and has extremely smooth, clean actions in the outfield that he combines with arm strength that projects to be plus. Projects to a corner once he fills out, but centerfield is not out of the question. 

Outlook

Hassell has the potential to be an impact, middle of the order force once he fills out. If he doesn’t fill out like we project and ends up somewhere around 200 pounds, he could be a dynamic corner outfield player in the form of a Michael Brantley if all works out, with the bat as the carrying tool combined with solid output in all other parts of the game.

34. Max Meyer – RHP – Marlins

Age: 21 | Height/Weight: 6’0, 195 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (3), 2020| ETA: 2022

FASTBALL	SLIDER	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
55/60	60/70	45/55	45/55	55

Arsenal

A two way player at Minnesota, Meyer generates a ton of torque with a slight turn from the batter before unraveling forward. Meyer is generally able to repeat these mechanics well thanks to his athleticism, but has struggled with the consistency of his release point at times. The third overall pick in the 2020 Draft has a heater that will run up to 100, sitting at 94-97 with life. Meyer’s heater plays well up in the zone, and when he is on, he commands it well to both sides of the plate. The fastball effectiveness when elevated sets up his best pitch, the slider. 

Meyer’s plus-plus slider is one of the big reason’s his draft stock rapidly ascended in 2020. Even when he misses his location or it backs up on him, Meyer gets a ton of swings and misses on the pitch. It sits in the low-90s with sharp, late bite and Meyer has a level of comfort manipulating the pitch. A majority of his K’s have come from the slider, but even when hitters know it is coming they struggle to hit it. When Meyer establishes the fastball up, his slider is even better. The two pitches work off of each other well. The changeup is a distant third right now for Meyer, but has shown a lot of promise since instructs. Reports from Marlins camp were that the change was looking strong and Meyer has shown it in flashes this season. Command was never thought to be an issue for Meyer, but he has found himself giving away nearly four free passes per nine innings. We expect that to be sorted out, however thanks to his athleticism and feel to pitch.

Outlook

The Marlins surprised many by taking Meyer third overall instead of Asa Lacy, but early results have shown that to be a good move. Meyer has handled an aggressive Double-A assignment to start his career by pitching to a 2.56 ERA and 10 K/9. Assuming Meyer improves the slight inconsistencies with his command, he has a really good chance of settling in as a middle of the rotation arm, with frontline upside. 

35. Jackson Jobe – RHP – Tigers

Age: 19 | Height/Weight: 6’2, 195 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (3), 2021 | ETA: 2023

FASTBALL	SLIDER	Curveball	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
60/70	60/70	45/55	50/60	40/55	55

Arsenal

Easy mechanics with limited effort in his delivery and natural deception. Jobe has a fastball that sits 93-95, but it gets on hitters quickly. Jobe’s slider is what scouts have marveled at, posting absurd spin rates over 3,000 RPMs with sharp late break. The Oklahoma Prep arm made high school hitters look silly with the pitch whether it was against a random high school or first rounders. He hasn’t needed it yet, but the 19-year old has flashed an above average changup as well, which should give him a solid third offering. The most advanced pitcher in his prep class, and that we have seen in a while, Jobe has the makings to climb quickly and has a ton of physical projection. 

Outlook

It’s hard to project a kid that we admittedly have not seen much of, but his mechanics, physicality, and pitch data all point towards someone who can develop into an ace. His advanced feel for three pitches as a prep arm should allow him to handle aggressive assignments.

36. Nick Yorke – 2B – Red Sox

Age: 19 | Height/Weight: 6’0, 200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (16), 2020 | ETA: 2023

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
50/60	55/55	45/55	50/50	45/50	55

Offense

Simple set up, relaxed hands, short stride into an explosive swing. Yorke has some of the quickest hands you’ll see in the minors, allowing him to generate surprising above average power for his six-foot, 200 pound frame. Similar to Anthony Volpe, Yorke’s lack of physical imposition and strong feel to hit led many to believe that he will be a high contact doubles guy. Instead, York added some muscle after being drafted in 2020 and has slugged 14 home runs between Low and High-A. 

The most impressive aspect of Yorke’s game however is his impressive feel to hit. The second baseman has limited limited body movement and a short, compact, quick swing which leads to confidence in making late decisions. Yorke rarely expands the zone and is adept at spoiling tough pitches. His takes are easy as well, backed by his 15% K-rate and 12% walk rate. York goes to all fields really well and has even showed above average power to the opposite field. 

Defense/Speed

Yorke seems to have found a permanent home at second base. His arm has looked solid and healthy, which of course was the biggest question when it came to his defense. At 19-years-old, Yorke could make major strides defensively, especially at a position like second base where much can be aided by just footwork improvement. He is an above average runner, who is smart on the basepaths and can steal bags opportunistically. 

Outlook

Yorke is likely to be a bat first second baseman, but a darn good one. While the hitting styles are quite different in terms of set up, a Dustin Pedroia type of outcome in terms of production is a feasible best case scenario. Yorke’s doesn’t quite boast the glove or speed of Pedroia, but his feel to hit and burgeoning power give us reason to believe that he is capable of becoming the Red Sox second baseman of the future if all works out. Expect many, many doubles with a solid amount of homers sprinkled in.

37. Tyler Soderstrom – C/1B – Athletics

Age: 19 | Height/Weight: 6’2, 200 | Bat/Throw: L/R | 1st Round (26), 2020 | ETA: 2023

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
45/60	50/60	40/55	40/40	30/40	55

Offense

Starts with his feet slightly more than shoulder width apart with small movements that activate his load. Big time bat speed that is already above average and projects as at least plus once he fully matures physically. He’s already got a big body but thanks to his broad shoulders and long legs, he’s likely to add another 20 pound of good weight. His hands and wrist contain immense strength that allow him to manipulate the barrel at a high level, and the head to toe strength in his frame should allow him to miss-hit balls over the fence once he’s fully matured. He presently prefers a hit over power approach that features him frequently driving the ball to the opposite field, however once he learns to use the leverage that he naturally produces, he should hit for power from line to line. All the tools are there for him to hit for both average and power at the highest value.

Defense/Speed

The A’s drafted Soderstrom as a catcher, but barring any advances to his athleticism and lateral movement, he likely projects as a corner guy. He presently struggles to keep balls in front of him when blocking which is likely due to the fact that he lacks the quickness to be able to constantly get in good blocking positions. He’ll flash plus pop times thanks to his quick transfer and above average arm strength, however the accuracy of his arm is currently inconsistent. If he’s unable to improve behind the dish, any of the corner positions are possible. While he’s an average runner right now, he’ll likely lose a step or two with the weight he’ll put on, making corner outfield the least likely of landing spots. His most likely landing spot is first base, where his athleticism and hands would play at an average level.

Outlook

Soderstrom possesses the most exciting bat in an A’s system that is light on potential middle of the order hitters. That is exactly what he could be, a left handed bat that can produce big time offense in the middle of a big league lineup. Regardless of where he ends up on the defensive spectrum, Soderstom’s bat will be his ticket to becoming a big league regular.

38. Oneil Cruz – SS – Pirates

Age: 22 | Height/Weight: 6’7, 210 | Bat/Throw: L/R | IFA: $250K, 2015 (PIT) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
40/50	50/70	40/60	60/55	40/50	55

Offense

Very relaxed and loose setup in the box with a minimal lower half move forward with some hand movement as he gets to launch. Utilizes his lower half extremely well for a player of Cruz’s size, he stays on his back side well and uses the natural leverage that his 6-foot-7 frame creates. Extremely long levers create top of the scale bat speed and back spin and Cruz has done a fantastic job keeping his swing as short as those arms will let him. The raw power is top of the scale and should allow him to do damage to all parts of the ballpark and there is easily 40+ homer pop if he’s able to consistently put the ball in the air. He controls the strike zone very well for a 22-year-old in Double-A and he has more feel to hit than you’d think given his size.

His lower half is extremely athletic and he is able to do damage on ‘B’ swings, especially on hanging breaking pitches. High fastballs may give him a problem once he reaches the Show, however, his athleticism and proclivity to adjust at each level of the minors bodes well for his ability to make adjustments once he reaches the games highest level. His strikeout rates have been around average at each of his stops. His ability to manage at bats has made it easy for him to hide some of the natural swing and miss that comes with his frame. Once Cruz becomes slightly more selective at the plate and continues to develop he could be a 40 homer threat annualy in the big leagues.

Defense/Speed

Despite frequent noise that the 6-foot-7 Cruz would have to move off shortstop, he has consistently proven his critics wrong and it’s beginning to look like he will stick there long term. His huge size gives him more than enough range for the position and his 80 arm should make him a specialist in turning hits in the six hole into outs. His frame makes it tough for him to come in on slow choppers but his arm is good enough to make up for it and then some. Cruz adds another plus tool in his speed, which is possibly plus-plus once he gets going. It takes him a while to get to his top speed so stolen bases and infield hits may never be strengths for him. With nobody blocking him from shortstop in Pittsburgh, a move to center or right is unlikely, although Cruz projects as a plus defender at either spot. 

Outlook

Cruz is a unicorn among baseball’s top prospects. Nobody has ever played short at his size. Add in the fact that two of his tools grade out as 80 and you have a player with possibly a top 5 ceiling in all the minor leagues. How much Cruz hits will ultimately determine his worth and even if he doesn’t, he should provide value with his immense physicality and tools. 

39. Alek Thomas – OF – Diamondbacks

Age: 21 | Height/Weight: 5’11, 210 | Bat/Throw: L/R | 2nd Round (63), 2018 (ARI) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
50/60	55/55	40/50	60/60	50/55	55

Offense

Feet close together with big hand movements combined with a big leg kick, repeats his swing surprisingly well thanks to his above average athleticism. Body control is Thomas’ best asset, and he uses it very effectively when executing his swing that has a lot of moving parts. Good barrel control and has surprising raw pop for his frame. However, Thomas has routinely posted huge BABIP numbers combined with a ground ball rate that has consistently been above 50%, leading me to believe a good portion of his batting average is coming from infield hits. He’ll have to hit more line drives and live in the gaps to continue to improve as he ascends through the minor leagues.

Defense/Speed

A good portion of Thomas’ value will come from what he does in the field and on the bases, and he projects to be above average in both facets of the game. He’s a ‘gamer’, he’s always hustling and plays the game extremely hard. He gets out of the box well and his speed translates to center field, where he gets great reads and uses his above average speed effectively. His arm is comfortably below average, which puts added pressure on both his outfield reads and his ability in the box.

Outlook

Though he doesn’t possess big tools, Thomas’ hard-nosed approach to the game bodes well for his future as a big leaguer. There’s some Ender Inciarte to his game, and he has the potential to be an even better hitter. As he continues to develop as a hitter, an increase in line drives is necessary to reach his full potential as an average major league center fielder.

40. Emerson Hancock – RHP – Mariners

Age: 22 | Height/Weight: 6’4, 220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (6), 2020 (SEA) | ETA: 2023

FASTBALL	SLIDER	CURVEBALL	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
60/60	55/60	45/55	50/55	40/55	55

Arsenal

A true power pitcher, Hancock has electric stuff and the body to support it. The 6’4, 215 pound righty deploys a fastball that sits in the mid-90s with heavy armside run. It naturally plays well down in the zone, resulting in a high rate of ground balls, but Hancock can also use the pitch to tie up right handed hitters. The tailing action of his heater overlays well with his slider that has flashed plus. Hancock has showed a level of comfort commanding the fastball to his arm side to set up the slider. The right-hander struggles at times to locate to his glove side, resulting in his fastball tailing back over the middle. The better secondary offering from Hancock so far in his near 50 professional innings has actually been his changeup, which also flashes plus. 

Hancock is comfortable throwing the pitch to lefties and righties, but the late fade that he generates on the pitch makes it a nightmare for left handed hitters who are hitting .100 (6 for 60) against him this year. While his changeup is ahead of the slider right now, it would not be a surprise to see the latter catch up as we have seen flashes of a wipeout pitch. Hancock will also mix in an average curveball giving him a solid fourth offering. 

Outlook

Regarded by many as the pitcher with the best pure stuff in the 2020 class, Hancock has lived up to the bill in limited action. Shoulder discomfort has kept him from a full season, but his physical body and strong mechanics give him a good chance to sustain the duration of a baseball season. Like many young pitchers, Hancock’s command has waned at times, but it is not a major concern. In fact, we expect him to have above average command as he progresses. Hancock is a power arm with a good feel for his pitches, that generally is a fantastic combination for an impact starter. 

41. Eury Perez – RHP – Marlins

Age: 18 | Height/Weight: 6’8, 200 | Bat/Throw: R/R | IFA: $200K, 2020 (MIA) | ETA: 2023

FASTBALL	CURVEBALL	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
55/70	45/55	50/60	40/55	55

Arsenal

This kid is a unicorn. Looking like he should be working on his finishing around the rim rather than carving hitters up, the 6-foot-8 Eury Perez has been a breakout prospect for the Marlins. A slow, controlled windup that exudes little effort, Perez takes his time before he whips in his mid 90s heater with ridiculous arm speed. We saw Perez’s plus fastball consistently eclipse over 2500 RPMs with heavy sink and armside run. Perez generates easy extension thanks to his ridiculously long levers, causing the ball to get in on hitters quickly. 

The 18-year-old has also shown a good feel for his above average curveball, which sits in the high 70s to low 80s and repeats the release point well with his fastball. The sweeping breaking ball that comes from a high point most hitters are not used to, making it devastating as it breaks away from right-handed hitters. Perez has shown comfort throwing the pitch to lefties as well, burying the pitch at the back leg of hitters. 

Perez’s changeup has flashed plus and works off of his fastball really well. Like many young, hard throwing pitchers, Perez can at times be a bit to firm with the offering, but when he’s feeling it, it can be a true swing and miss pitch to lefties and righties.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Perez is his command. A 6-foot-8 18-year-old who has a good feel for three pitches sounds like a player you would create in Road to the Show. Already in High-A where he is the youngest player at the level, Perez’s command has encouraged the Marlins to be aggressive with him and he has answered the call. 

Outlook

To put a ceiling on Perez would be ridiculous. He still has some developing to do in order to get swings and misses in the upper levels, but has pitched to a spectacular 1.50 ERA in his first four High-A starts. Perez’s ability to repeat his mechanics for such a young, tall, and long pitcher should have the Marlins dreaming. His delivery is so effortless that there may be even more velo in the tank. We are not even sure what a Eury Perez who reaches his full potential looks like, but we can promise it is really, really good. 

42. Nolan Gorman – 3B – Cardinals

Age: 21 | Height/Weight: 6’1, 210 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (19), 2018 (STL) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
40/45	60/70	50/60	45/50	40/45	55

Offense

Long lauded for his prodigious left handed power, Gorman has mashed his way to Tripe-A in 2021 at just 21 years of age. Power like Gorman’s from the left side is not easy to find as he has foul pole to foul pole power with the ability to hit bombs even when he’s off the barrel. He has simplified his lower half this year by slowing down his leg kick which has allowed him to consistently get into good positions to do damage. He features nearly elite bat speed and combines it with big time strength, specifically in his lower half.

The lower half adjustments have also had a positive impact on his strikeout rate that peaked at 29% in 2019 and decreased to a very manageable 22% thusfar in 2021. Gorman features an aggressive approach at the plate that will need to be honed in once he reaches the big club. He has a tendency to swing at pitchers’ pitches early in counts when he should be looking for pitches to drive. The only major red flag in Gorman’s offensive profile is his drastic splits against lefties that features a .589 OPS compared to .917 against right handers. Gorman’s power will play in the big leagues, however, his ability to control the strike zone and hitting left handers will need to improve if he’s to make a significant impact. 

Speed/Defense

While Gorman came up as a third baseman, he has seen the bulk of his playing time at the keystone in 2021 thanks to the presence of Nolan Arenado in Saint Louis. He isn’t especially quick on the defensive side of the ball but he does possess good hands and a rocket for an arm that should allow him to move effectively around the diamond. He’s a below average runner but thanks to his arm, a corner outfield spot isn’t out of the question.

Outlook

Gorman’s huge raw power will always be his calling card and the swing adjustments he has made have allowed him to get to it with more consistency. Further work needs to be done regarding his plate discipline as well as his ability to hit left handers if he’s to be an impact big leaguer. With that being said, left handed power like this in the infield is hard to find. Gorman has the upside of an all star and the strides he has made in 2021 has gotten him a step closer to reaching his big time ceiling. 

43. Oswald Peraza – SS – Yankees

Age: 21 | Height/Weight: 6’0, 170 | Bat/Throw: R/R | IFA: $170K, 2017 (NYY) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW Power	Game Power	Run	Field	FV
50/60	50/55	40/50	60/60	55/60	55

Offense

Despite being younger than the average player of every Minor League stop he’s been at, Peraza has held his own with both the bat and his glove along the way. 2021 has truly been a breakout season for Peraza, who is currently slashing .301/.364/.494 with 17 homers and 35 stolen bases in 103 games between High-A and Double-A. Not bad for a 21-year-old shortstop with a nasty glove. Peraza has a silky smooth right handed stroke that features a big, slow and controlled leg kick and a clean barrel path that stays in the zone for a long time. The swing takes extreme body control and athleticism that Peraza has in bunches.

He has good bat speed that allows him to produce above average raw power and he’s starting to show he can get to it in games. Peraza also features a noticeable two strike approach in which he gets rid of the leg kick and looks to battle, similar to Bo Bichette. He’ll need to continue to improve his knowledge of the strike zone as he moves up as he could stand to walk at a higher rate. The bat to ball skills are excellent and he has a real chance to become a plus hitter with solid power when all is said and done.

Speed/Defense

While Peraza isn’t the most explosive athlete, he moves very well from side to side and has plenty of range at shortstop where he could become a plus defender. His plus arm strength allows him to make all the throws necessary and his hands are among the best in the Yankee system. His plus wheels should allow him to steal bases at the highest level and he has drawn high praise for his baseball IQ.

Outlook

Peraza’s sweet swing from the right side and plus defnese at short make him a high probability big leaguer who has a chance to be an all star level talent, especially in Yankee stadium where his power would be allowed to play up. If he can improve his plate discipline and pitch recognition, we could see him in the Bronx before the end of the 2022 season. 

44. Mark Vientos – 3B/LF – Mets

Age: 21 | Height/Weight: 6’4, 185 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 2nd Round (59), 2017 (NYM) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
40/45	65/75	55/70	40/40	35/40	55

Offense

With some of the best raw power in his draft class and a large, projectable frame, Vientos enticed the Mets enough to take him 59th overall at the price tag of $1.5 million (half a million over slot). 17-years-old on draft day, Vientos was one of the youngest players in his class and it took Vientos a few years to fully settle into professional baseball. It is safe to say he has gotten comfortable in his fourth professional season. The South Florida native has been able to tap into his power, walk more, and boost his contact rates at the Double-A level and is still just 21-years-old. 

Vientos always had the physical projection, but some small tweaks at the plate have allowed him to really unlock his 70-grade raw power. The 6-foot-4, 190 pound slugger was going to his pull side for power earlier in his professional career, but adjusted his load which has allowed him to get into his back hip more and stay there. Now, we’re seeing Vientos miss hit baseballs that are getting out to the opposite field. 

Vientos has lightning quick hands and wiry strength, and his improved body control has allowed those unteachable qualities to shine through. The 21-year-old tripled his HR/FB% to 30% this year, and is going to center field or the other way nearly 7% more frequently.

Defense/Speed

With fellow third base prospect Brett Baty also enjoying a great season, Vientos has gotten reps in left field as well as third base. Vientos will likely be average at best at either spot. He has a rocket for an arm, but his footwork at third could use some cleaning up and his throws can be inconsistent.

Outlook

Regardless of which corner he ends up in, Vientos is a bat-first prospect with prolific home run potential. Improved approach and swing mechanics have helped his long-term outlook, but Vientos still remains a boom or bust corner player with as much offensive upside as anyone

45. Josh Lowe – OF – Rays

Age: 23 | Height/Weight: 6’4′, 205 | Bat/Throw: R/R | 1st Round (13), 2016 (TB) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
40/45	60/60	50/60	60/60	45/50	55

Offense

Small leg kick to gather into his back side then unleashes an explosive swing. Lowe has always had tantalizing tools and projectable power, but had not tapped into it through his first few professional seasons. Like many young, tall hitters, Lowe struggled with his lower half, often times drifting onto his front foot; the result is generally less power and more ground balls.

Lowe adjusted his load and found a way to stay in his back hip a bit more which allowed him to stay behind the baseball. As a result, the left handed hitting outfielder broke out in 2019 with 18 bombs after never hitting more than eight in a season. Lowe’s ground ball rate dropped by roughly 10% and his HR/FB rate tripled. There is some swing and miss in Lowe’s game, but he has been able to offset that with consistent walk rates and steady numbers against southpaws. Now that Lowe is allowing his impressive bat speed to play thanks to his adjustments, he is a legitimate 30/30 threat (21 HR and 26 SB in 109 G).

Defense/Speed

A fantastic athlete, Lowe is a plus runner whose speed translates into stolen bases and above average defense in centerfield. Lowe takes strong routes and long strides which give him great closing speed as well as a plus arm. Despite being tall and long, Lowe is a great baserunner who gets good jumps and picks good spots to run. Lowe was a perfect 26/26 on stolen base attempts in Triple-A this year.

Outlook

Lowe has the chance to be a five-tool player if he is able to keep the strikeouts in check. His blend of power, speed, and fielding is tantalizing; the 23-year-old projects as the future centerfielder for the Rays, potentially pushing out Kevin Kiermaier. Lowe’s skillset is reminiscent of Kyle Tucker, but in centerfield and with a little more swing and miss and more walks. There is a lot to be excited about with Josh Lowe in Tampa.

46. DL Hall – LHP – Orioles

Age: 22 | Height/Weight: 6’2, 195 | Bat/Throw: L/R | 1st Round (21), 2017 (BAL) | ETA: 2023

FASTBALL	SLIDER	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
65/65	50/60	45/55	35/45	55

Arsenal

Long arm action. Very athletic and whippy athlete who gets great extension and features big time arm speed. The fastball is thecalling card for Hall, as the 6’2” lefty routinely sits in the mid to upper 90’s with ASR and sink, especially when located to his arm side. Hall’s command of the heater is currently well below average with a heavy tendency to miss arm side due to the heavy run he produces when he flies open to early. He has trouble consistently locating it to his glove side, something he will need to shore up in order to reach his cieling. The fastball plays double plus when he is locating it down and to his arm side where it produces tons of soft contact as well as swing and miss. If Hall can achieve average command of his big time fastball, he will become a tremendous arm.

Hall’s slider is a ‘slurvy’ type breaking ball that features 10-4 break in the low 80’s. It has excellent depth when located to his glove side but due to the lack of sharpness, can become a driveable pitch when located in the middle or to his arm side. It will flash plus at times and it has the ability to get swing and misses when he locates it down and to his glove side. Like his fastball, Hall’s command of the slider can be spotty at times, often leaving it high and to his arm side. Due to the lack of bite when Hall lands it in the strike zone, it will likely be an out-pitch type offering thrown late in the counts for strikeouts.

Hall’s changeup gives him another above average secondary thrown in the mid 80’s that features lots of ASR and some sink. He throws the pitch with good arm speed creating lots of deception and has become his go to secondary against right handed hitters. It has the ability to miss bats, however, it specializes in inducing soft contact. Hall has good feel for the pitch and he locates it well already against right handed hitters. Throwing the pitch against lefties is something he needs to work on in order to give lefties a different look. Hall rounds out his arsenal with a low 70’s curveball that is presently well below average. It will likely be a pitch he flashes a few times an outing to disrupt hitter’s timing.

Outlook

Hall has the makings of an impressive repertoire. The raw movement on his pitches are great, however, he will have to make significant strides to his command in order to reach his ceiling of No. 2 starter. Hall showed improvements in that regard this season before unfortunately going down with an elbow issue. He will likely settle into the role of a No. 3 starter on a good team if he continues on his trajectory. 

47. MJ Melendez – C – Royals

Age: 22 | Height/Weight: 6’1, 190 | Bat/Throw: L/R | 2nd Round (52), 2017 (KCR) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
45/55	50/55	35/45	55/55	45/50	55

Offense

After a brutal 2019 that saw Melendez post a 67 WRC+ in 110 games at high A his stock dropped tremendously leaving many prospect evaluators wondering if Melendez would ever make the big leagues. Melendez spent the 2020 COVID year revamping his swing and approach at the plate and the results have been truly astounding thus far in 2021. Melendez has transformed himself into one of the best power hitters in the minor leagues, producing a 157 WRC+ with 28 homers across 79 games at Double-A while earning a callup to Triple-A at just 22 years of age. Melendez’s swing features a slow and controlled load with a sizable leg kick aimed to enhance his timing and power at the plate.

He sits into his back hip at a high level, allowing his barrel to stay in the zone for a long time and produce tons of loft and leverage especially to his pull side. He produces tons of hard line drive and fly ball contact which has been a big reason why the homers have come in bunches this year. Melendez has learned to manage at-bats at a high level, picking his spots to inflict damage. His sweet left handed stroke should produce homers at the highest level, and his feel for hitting has developed so much that he has a chance to produce solid batting averages and on base percentages to go along with the power. 

Defense/Speed

Melendez has been a highly regarded defender dating back to his high school days and the offensive improvements he’s made in 2021 haven’t come at the expense of his above average defensive projection behind the plate. His frame and athleticism allows him to block pitches at a high level and his soft hands make him a solid receiver already. Melendez also features plus arm strength behind the dish that should help neutralize the running game even at the highest level. Interestingly, the Royals are getting Melendez reps at third base. Given his sped up timeline, he may be blocked by Salvador Perez at the catching position for the time being. Like most catchers, Melendez is a below average runner, although his athleticism and baseball instincts should make him a solid baserunner.

Outlook

Melendez’s offensive improvements have made him one of the biggest breakout prospects in 2021. Left handed catchers with power and above average defense are a rare breed, only adding to Melendez’s future profile and projection. He has the toolset to become an All-Star one day, and if he keeps hitting like he has, we could see him in the big leagues as soon as 2022.

48. Khalil Watson – SS – Marlins

Age: 18 | Height/Weight: 5’9, 180 | Bat/Throw: L/R | 1st Round (16), 2021 (MIA) | ETA: 2024

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
40/55	50/60	45/60	65/65	35/55	55

Offense

A consensus top five talent heading into the draft, many were shocked to see the talented shortstop fall all the way to the Miami Marlins at pick number 16. Players with Watson’s electric toolset don’t come along too often and the Marlins were able to add yet another high variance prospect with a sky-high ceiling. Watson’s swing from the left side of the plate features a combination of elite quickness, quality body control and a natural ability to find the barrel. Watson’s bat is so fast that he often takes swings reminiscent of Jazz Chisholm and will occasionally give away at bats trying to hit balls to the moon.

With that being said, Watson’s 5’9” frame packs a huge punch and he could grow into plus raw power when all is said and done. The hit tool is the bigger question. Watson possesses plus bat to ball skills when he isn’t selling out for power and the Marlins should be preaching hit over power for him as he starts his pro career. The hitting tools are massive and Watson has a good chance to get to them if he’s able to hone in his approach. 

Speed/Defense

The same twitchy athletiscsm that makes Watson such a powerful fielder translates well to shortstop where he has the upside to become a plus defender. His fast feet allow him to move extremely well laterally and his plus arm allows him to make throws in the hole with ease. Watson also shows plus speed that he gets to relatively quickly so center field could be an option if the Marlins wish. Watson is an electric defender who will impact games at shortstop if his actions and fundamentals improve.

Outlook

Watson’s upside rivals that of any prospect in the 2021 draft thans to his twitchy athleticism and explosive bat speed. If he’s able to hone down his approach at the plate, the bat to ball skills and power should create a nice combination of hitting and hitting for power at a premium defensive position. 

49. Nick Pratto – 1B – Royals

Age: 22 | Height/Weight: 6’1, 180 | Bat/Throw: L/R | 1st Round (14), 2021 (KCR) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
50/55	60/60	50/55	40/40	65/65	55

Offense

Slightly open and upright stance with simple loading triggers with his hands and lower half. Very easy move into his back hip allows ample time for Pratto to identify pitches and unleash his big league ready swing that features plus bat speed and bat to ball skills. Pratto manages the strike zone at an elite level, albeit with some strikeouts. He’s patient early in the count, looking for pitches he can drive into the gaps and do damage with. His ability to recognize spin is extremely advanced and his swing allows him to sit back and do damage to hanging breaking stuff even when he’s looking for heaters. Pratto is a big league ready hitter right now and at only 22 years of age, he is only going to get better.

Defense/Speed

Pratto’s glove at first base is arguably the best in the minor leagues and he should compete for gold gloves as soon as he gets called up. He’s as smooth as they come at first with soft hands and tons of range. The icing on the defensive cake is Pratto owns a plus arm that allowed him to fire low 90’s fastballs in high school. He’s a below average runner so first base will likely be his spot and he will save his infielders tons of errors over there.

Outlook

Pratto is a safe bet to hit at the big league level and the upside is considerable given his advanced approach at the plate and plus raw hitting tools. The Royals should feel good about Pratto as a long term option at first and we could see him in the show as early as Opening Day next year.

50. Keibert Ruiz – C – Nationals

Age: 23 | Height/Weight: 6’0, 225 | Bat/Throw: S/R | IFA: $140K (2015) | ETA: 2021

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
45/55	50/50	40/45	30/25	45/50	55

Offense

Unique crouched over stance from the left side, starts open and deploys a big, slow and controlled leg kick aimed to enhance his timing. His below average bat speed limits his power potential, however his ability to manipulate the barrel and spoil pitcher’s pitches bode well for his future ability to hit. His right handed stroke is far more conventional and features far less moving parts. He’s contact oriented from both sides of the plate and even more so from the right side. His approach is both a blessing and a curse for Ruiz. The last few years have seen him keep both his strikeout and walk percentages under 10%, or in other words, he makes an incredible amount of contact. His approach isn’t as ultra-aggressive as you’d think, rather he has consistently shown that he has a tough time taking full advantage of hitter’s counts, taking ‘B’ swings as opposed to swinging right through them. This could hurt him even more in the big leagues where pitchers will be fully aware of his tendencies and deploy their game plans at will. 

Defense

Originally thought to be a defensive-minded backstop when the Dodgers signed him, Ruiz’s progress behind the plate hasn’t accelerated at the rate that many thought it would. He’s agile and mobile behind the dish, leading to him blocking balls at an average clip for a big league catcher. Although he possesses soft hands, his framing is below average, with the general belief being that he has lapses in focus, which is detrimental to a player and especially a catcher. His catch and throw skills are also subpar, as baserunners in the minors have consistently taken advantage of his below average pop times. 

Outlook

Ruiz has an interesting profile as a switch hitting, contact oriented backstop with average defensive skills. However, without a drastic change in his approach at the plate, Ruiz will likely never make enough hard contact to be an impact hitter at the big league level. He’s still very young at only 22 years of age, giving the Dodgers time to improve his offensive approach in hopes of unlocking his full offensive potential.

51. Josh Jung – 3B – Rangers

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
45/55	60/60	45/55	45/45	50/50	55

52 – Vidal Brujan – IF/OF – Rays

Age: 23 | Height/Weight: 5’10, 180 | Bat/Throw: S/R | IFA: $15K (2014) | ETA: 2022

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
45/55	50/50	45/50	70/70	45/55	55

Offense

Very compact and explosive athlete, packs a lot of pop in his small frame. Uses an aggressive leg kick to create timing and power and his athleticism allows him to be on time and take consistently balanced swings. He’s been able to unlock some of his average raw power this year, getting the ball in the air more consistently than ever. Brujan has incredibly fast hands that allow him to crush fastballs as well as spoil pitcher’s pitches later in the count. While he has raked from the left side of the plate this year, he has struggled from the right, producing a .688 OPS as opposed to .789 from the left.

His swing from the left side is more advanced than his right, featuring a more advanced ability to sit in his back hip and giving him more time to identify pitches. While Brujan may never produce impact power, he has a chance to hit 15-20 home runs on an annual basis thanks to his big time bat speed as well as the remaining projection in his frame. Brujan is a high variance bat but if everything clicks for him, he could produce above average offensive production thanks to his approach and usable game power.

Defense/Speed

Much of Brujan’s value will come from his elite atheltiscism that translates well to the field where he has a chance to be an impact defender at multiple posistions. He has plus range at both shortstop and second base, which he couples with soft hands and an above average arm. Brujan’s projection in center field remains high as well. His plus-plus speed allows him to get to balls that most center fielders cannot and his above average arm fits well there as well. Due to all the middle infielders the Rays have, it appears that they will deploy him as a super utility type, capable of impacting the game at a variety of different positions. Brujan’s speed is his loudest tool and he has already displayed an ability to steal bags in bunches. He could steal between 25 and 35 bags on an annual basis.

Outlook

Brujan has the potential to be an extremely dynamic player capable of impacting the game in the box, on the bases and in the field. His bat will ultimately determine the extent of his value, however, his glove and wheels give him a great chance to produce at a league average level even if the bat doesn’t work out. Brujan’s ceiling is sizable, but he needs to find some consistency at the plate to tap into it.

53. Brady House – 3B – Nationals

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
45/55	60/75	40/60	45/50	40/50	55

54. Simeon Woods-Richardson – RHP – Twins

Fastball	Curveball	Changeup	Command	FV
55/60	50/55	50/60	50/50	55

55. Orelvis Martinez – SS – Blue Jays

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
35/50	50/60	45/55	45/45	40/50	55

56. George Valera – OF – Indians

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
40/50	55/65	50/60	50/50	45/50	55

57. Cole Winn – RHP – Rangers

FASTBALL	CURVEBALL	Slider	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
60/60	55/60	50/55	45/50	50/55	55

58. Curtis Mead – INF – Rays

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
50/60	50/55	40/50	45/45	40/50	55

59. Bobby Miller – RHP – Dodgers

FASTBALL	Slider	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
60/65	60/60	45/55	45/50	55

60. Bryson Stott – SS – Phillies

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
50/55	50/55	45/50	55/55	40/50	55

61. MacKenzie Gore – LHP – Padres

FASTBALL	SLIDER	Curveball	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
55/60	50/60	50/55	60/60	40/55	55

62. Andy Pages – OF – Dodgers

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
35/50	60/70	50/65	55/50	45/50	55

63. Dillon Dingler – C – Tigers

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
45/55	50/55	40/50	50/45	45/55	55

64. Matthew Liberatore – LHP – Cardinals

FASTBALL	SLIDER	CURVEBALL	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
45/50	45/50	60/65	45/50	40/55	55

65. Miguel Vargas – OF – Dodgers

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
45/60	50/60	45/55	50/45	45/45	55

66. Michael Harris – OF – Braves

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
50/60	50/55	40/50	55/50	45/55	55

67. Kyle Harrison – LHP – Giants

FASTBALL	SLIDER	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
55/60	45/55	50/60	40/55	55

68. Asa Lacy – LHP – Royals

FASTBALL	SLIDER	CURVEBALL	CHANGEUP	COMMAND	FV
60/60	60/65	50/55	45/50	35/50	55

69. Roansy Contreras – RHP – Pirates

FASTBALL	SLIDER	CURVEBALL	Changeup	COMMAND	FV
60/60	60/60	55/60	40/45	40/50	55

70. Michael Busch – 2B – Dodgers

HIT	RAW POWER	GAME POWER	RUN	FIELD	FV
50/55	60/60	50/55	50/50	40/45	55