Official MiLB/Prospects Thread

[Spanky__99]

I would gladly take J-Rod too, thanks!

 

That's Baltimore in LOD.

[Jimcanuck]

J-Rod broke his wrist JimmyC

 

Ah well, he'll be ready for ST 2021

 

I would consider moving him in BBDL though, for immediate help

[Brownie19]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/zach-britton-baseball-rat-became-blue-jays-draft-pick/

 

Story on Britton. He puts his work in.

[BlueRocky]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/toronto-blue-jays-2020-midseason-top-30-prospects-update/

Toronto Blue Jays 2020 Midseason Top 30 Prospects Update

 

Entering the year, the Blue Jays had a tremendous system, buttressed at the top by RHP Nate Pearson, who was the second-highest ranked pitching prospect in the game, behind only Padres LHP MacKenzie Gore, talented but injured SS Jordan Groshans, precocious RHP Simeon Woods Richardson and intriguing C Alejandro Kirk. Then the draft dominoes started falling and Vanderbilt’s Austin Martin fell into their laps with the fifth overall pick. Toronto was happy to snap up Martin, whom Baseball America ranked as the draft’s No. 2 overall prospect, and add him to their collection of talent. The quartet of Pearson, Martin, Groshans and Woods Richardson gives the Jays four Top 100 Prospects.

 

1. Nate Pearson, RHP

 

Pearson is a potential frontline starter, armed with some of the best pure stuff of any pitching prospect in the game. He's major league-ready right now and will be a key factor if the Blue Jays are able to sneak their way into a playoff spot during a shortened season.

 

2. Austin Martin, SS

 

The Blue Jays picked fifth overall in the 2020 draft and got the No. 2 player available, with Martin stepping in as a top 25 prospect in baseball already. The Blue Jays plan to develop Martin at shortstop, but he has the versatility to move around the infield or head to center field as well.

 

3. Jordan Groshans, SS

 

Groshans, who didn't play after May 13 last year due to an injured left foot, is in Toronto's 60-man player pool to get much needed development. He might end up moving to third base, but he has the combination of hitting ability and power to be an above-average regular at the position.

 

4. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP

 

Acquired in last year's trade for Marcus Stroman, Woods Richardson is still 19 but likely would have been at Double-A at this point during a normal season. He's a polished strike-thrower with a chance for average to above-average stuff across the board.

 

5. Alejandro Kirk, C

 

Kirk is polarizing and unconventional, which is immediately apparent from his Pablo Sandoval-type body. Like Sandoval, Kirk has an innate ability to barrel baseballs consistently, along with a good sense of the strike zone. He has a chance to stick behind the plate if he can keep his conditioning and mobility in check.

 

6. Alek Manoah, RHP

 

The Blue Jays have a collection of extra-large pitchers, including the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Manoah, their first-round pick in the 2019 draft out of West Virginia. He has a power arm, sitting at 93-96 and touching 98 mph, with a slider that flashes plus.

 

7. Orelvis Martinez, SS

 

Toronto's big-ticket international signing in 2018, Martinez raked last year to become the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and put himself just on the periphery of Top 100 prospect conversations. Yet while other top 2018 international signings like Marco Luciano (Giants), Diego Cartaya (Dodgers) and Noelvi Marte (Mariners) are in their clubs' 60-man prospect pools, Martinez is not in Toronto's pool.

 

8. Gabriel Moreno, C

 

Moreno was one of the big risers in the farm system a year ago after hitting .280/.337/.485 in 82 games for low Class A Lansing. At 20, Moreno is an athletic catcher with the excellent hand-eye coordination to make frequent contact.

 

9. Miguel Hiraldo, SS/2B

 

Hiraldo, 19, has shown why several scouts considered him one of the best hitters available in the 2017 international class, hitting .300/.348/.481 last year in the Rookie-level Appalachian League. His range probably fits better at third base, but he has the hitting skill and ability to drive the ball with impact to profile there.

 

10. Anthony Kay, LHP

 

Acquired with righthander Simeon Woods Richardson in the Marcus Stroman deal a year ago, Kay sits in the low 90s and can reach 96. He doesn't have a plus pitch among his secondary weapons, but they can flash average and should allow him to slot in as a back-end starter as soon as this year.

 

11.Adam Kloffenstein, RHP

12.C.J. Van Eyk, RHP

13.Otto Lopez, SS/2B

14.Estiven Machado, SS

15.Eric Pardinho, RHP

16.Shun Yamaguchi, RHP

17.Kendall Williams, RHP

18.Griffin Conine, OF

19.Leonardo Jimenez, SS

20.Rikelvin De Castro, SS

21.Patrick Murphy, RHP

22.Victor Mesia, C

23.Santiago Espinal, SS/2B

24.Alberto Rodriguez, OF

25.Dasan Brown, OF

26.Reese McGuire, C

27.Anthony Alford, OF

28.Kevin Smith, SS

29.Joey Murray, RHP

30.Yennsy Diaz, RHP

 

SYSTEM STRENGTHS

 

The Blue Jays have an exciting young nucleus of hitters in the major leagues with more on the way on the farm. Between Austin Martin and Jordan Groshans, the Blue Jays have two shortstops ranked among the top 35 prospects in baseball. With catchers Alejandro Kirk and Gabriel Moreno, Toronto has a pair of promising backstops who have reached the Class A levels, while shortstops Orelvis Martinez and Miguel Hiraldo are two of the best hitters who would have played at low Class A during a normal season. They're part of a strong group of Latin American prospects throughout the lower levels of the organization.

 

SYSTEM WEAKNESSES

 

The Blue Jays don't have a glaring hole in their minor league pipeline, which is part of why they have one of the game's best farm systems. The organization as a whole needs more pitching, though, and especially after Pearson graduates, they will need to get more from their hurlers. They started bolstering their arms last year by drafting Alek Manoah in the first round and trading for Simeon Woods Richardson and Anthony Kay. Righthanders Adam Kloffenstein and Kendall Williams would have been breakout candidates during a normal year, though neither of them is in the team's player pool.

 

PLAYER POOL TIDBITS

 

The Blue Jays stacked their prospect pool with the majority of their top prospects who have full-season experience. RHP Nate Pearson should be in the big leagues soon, with the Blue Jays holding him down temporarily to gain an extra year of service time from him. First-round pick Austin Martin is here, joined by fellow SS Jordan Groshans, who missed most of last season due to a foot injury. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson and C Alejandro Kirk are fellow top 10 prospects in the pool. SS Orelvis Martinez and Miguel Hiraldo—two younger prospects who haven't reached full-season ball—are not in the player pool. Neither is RHP Alek Manoah, the team's 2019 first-round pick out of West Virginia.

 

HURTING

 

RHP Eric Pardinho is out for the season after having Tommy John surgery. That's not a total surprise and it doesn't ding Pardinho's value as much as it would for a pitcher coming off a normal season, since some of that injury risk was already baked into his projection. A sore right elbow kept Pardinho out last year until the end of June, and when he returned, his stuff wasn't as crisp as what he showed the year before. The surgery drops Pardinho's value some, but it's possible his stock could rebound higher than it was coming into the year if he comes back healthy in 2021 and shows the stuff that helped him dominate in 2018.

[John Balkabella]

No Hatch?

 

Anyone hear the deal with Manoah? Named to the sixty man, then nothing.

[Spanky__99]

No Hatch?

 

Anyone hear the deal with Manoah? Named to the sixty man, then nothing.

 

He's in the player pool, developing. You won't see him this year.

[Grant77]

He's in the player pool, developing. You won't see him this year.

 

I think there's a slim chance that he's a reliever option down the stretch if we make a legit playoff run.

[BlueRocky]

[Deadpool]

 

I know he was the first overall pick, but Torkelson as the 7th overall prospect seems... dubious.

[Krylian]

I know he was the first overall pick, but Torkelson as the 7th overall prospect seems... dubious.

 

Agreed. That's a little rich for me. All I heard was this glorious power from him, yet they have him as a 65. Don't get me wrong, 65 is very impressive, but the way people were going on you'd think he was a 90.

[BlueRocky]

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/top100/

 

60 hit and 80 power projections can do that (BA), he’s probably closer to a 55/70 and listed 60/65 (MLB). He’s also a decent glove at first base and a chance to play third does elevate his stock.

65 FV means projected All Star which I think is a bit premature, not sure he’s anything close to Pete Alonso just yet.

 

Nice to see Reid Detmers (89) and Mick Abel (100) get some love.

[Jonn]

Dustin May at 25 is the one that stands out for me. Kid looks like he’s going to dominate the league for the next decade. Seems light. Like some of the names ahead of him. I don’t know about that one chief.

[Orgfiller]

 

How on earth is Royce Lewis still a top 10 prospect? Was it the below average performance at A+ or the below average performance at AA that increased his stock?

 

He was worse in A+ while repeating the level.

[BlueRocky]

Something something Royce Lewis AFL MVP haha

[BlueRocky]

Austin Martin swing analysis:

[AdamGreenwood]

Agreed. That's a little rich for me. All I heard was this glorious power from him, yet they have him as a 65. Don't get me wrong, 65 is very impressive, but the way people were going on you'd think he was a 90.

 

These MLB writers definitely get on the hype train. I remember when Kevin Maitan was a lock to be the next A-Rod.

Byron Buxton and JP Crawford dominated the top spots for years.

[Carlos Danger]

How on earth is Royce Lewis still a top 10 prospect? Was it the below average performance at A+ or the below average performance at AA that increased his stock?

 

He was worse in A+ while repeating the level.

 

That and how they have all D Panche higher than Carlson blows my mind also...

[z3r0s]

Austin Martin swing analysis:

 

That was a cool vid!

[Jimcanuck]

That and how they have all D Panche higher than Carlson blows my mind also...

 

It's not a dynasty ranking. When he comes up, Pache immediately becomes top 5 for CF defense. That's significant.

[Spanky__99]

That and how they have all D Panche higher than Carlson blows my mind also...

 

lol @ blows your mind.

[Ray]

[Spanky__99]

So Pipeline doesn't have the Jays in the top 10, BA has them 4th and BP has them 6th? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Slade]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2020-mlb-organization-talent-rankings/

 

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Tampa Bay Rays

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 1 |2019 Midseason: 1 |2019 Preseason: 2 | 2018: 5 | 2017: 11 | 2016: 13 | 2015: 17 | 2014: 20

 

 

Top 100 Prospects (6): SS Wander Franco (1), LHP/DH Brendan McKay (15), 2B Vidal Brujan (53), RHP Shane Baz (76), LHP Shane McClanahan (90), 2B Xavier Edwards (92)

 

 

The Skinny: The Rays system remains the best in baseball, led by No. 1 overall prospect Wander Franco. They added to their riches by selecting two of the 2020 draft’s top talents in RHP Nick Bitsko and SS Alika Williams.

 

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San Diego Padres

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 2 |2019 Midseason: 2 |2019 Preseason: 1 | 2018: 3 | 2017: 9 | 2016: 25 | 2015: 14 | 2014: 6

 

 

Top 100 Prospects (7): LHP MacKenzie Gore (6), RHP Luis Patino (20), SS C.J. Abrams (23), OF Taylor Trammell (79), C Luis Campusano (87), OF Robert Hassell (96), LHP Adrian Morejon (100).

 

 

The Skinny: Luis Patino jumped to the majors and MacKenzie Gore isn’t far behind. The addition of Robert Hassell in the draft, plus the development of C.J. Abrams, Taylor Trammell and Luis Campusano at the alternate site camp, gives the Padres a wave of promising position players.

 

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Seattle Mariners

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 5 | 2019 Midseason: 11 | 2019 Preseason: 14 | 2018: 30 | 2017: 21 | 2016: 28 | 2015: 24 | 2014: 25

 

 

Top 100 Prospects (6): OF Julio Rodriguez (8), OF Jarred Kelenic (12), RHP Emerson Hancock (54), 1B Evan White (56), RHP Logan Gilbert (63), SS Noelvi Marte (99)

 

 

The Skinny: The Mariners added one of the best pitchers in the 2020 draft, Emerson Hancock, to their growing collection of prospect talent. With Julio Rodriguez and Jarred Kelenic leading the position player group, the Mariners now have a promising pitching duo of Hancock and Logan Gilbert in conjunction.

 

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Toronto Blue Jays

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 6 | 2019 Midseason: 6 |2019 Preseason: 3 | 2018: 8 | 2017: 20 | 2016: 24 | 2015: 9 | 2014: 15

 

 

Top 100 Prospects (4): RHP Nate Pearson (7), SS Austin Martin (16), SS/3B Jordan Groshans (30), RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (65)

 

 

The Skinny: The Blue Jays snagged one of the draft’s best players when Austin Martin surprisingly fell to them at the fifth overall pick. Nate Pearson’s ascent to the majors gives them a burgeoning, homegrown ace they haven’t had in some time.

 

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Los Angeles Dodgers

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 3 | 2019 Midseason: 5 |2019 Preseason: 9 | 2018: 9 | 2017: 2 | 2016: 1 | 2015: 3 | 2014: 14

 

 

Top 100 Prospects (5): 2B Gavin Lux (4), RHP Brusdar Graterol (64), C Keibert Ruiz (88), RHP Tony Gonsolin (89), Josiah Gray (91)

 

 

The Skinny: The Dodgers graduated RHP Dustin May but still have reigning Minor League Player of the Year Gavin Lux in the system. The Dodgers not only have five Top 100 Prospects, but a host of other candidates who could be Top 100 prospects soon under the tutelage of baseball’s best player development staff.

 

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Detroit Tigers

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 11 | 2019 Midseason: 13 | 2019 Preseason: 15 | 2018: 20 | 2017: 25 | 2016: 26 | 2015: 30 | 2014: 28

 

 

Top 100 Prospects (5): 1B Spencer Torkelson (11), RHP Casey Mize (14), RHP Matt Manning (19), LHP Tarik Skubal (35), OF Riley Greene (51).

 

 

 

The Skinny: The Tigers added a foundational hitter when they selected Spencer Torkelson with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft. Three consecutive top-five draft picks has given the Tigers a group of potential future stars at the top of their system, although the system’s depth is still somewhat lacking.

 

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Atlanta Braves

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 4 | 2019 Midseason: 4 | 2019 Preseason: 4 | 2018: 1 | 2017: 1 | 2016: 3 | 2015: 29 | 2014: 26

 

 

Top 100 Prospects (4): OF Cristian Pache (13), OF Drew Waters (38), RHP Ian Anderson (46), Kyle Wright (68).

 

 

The Skinny: The Braves successfully graduated wave after wave of top prospects and won back-to-back division titles as a result. There are still some potential impact players left in the system, but the negative effects of their international signing penalties can be seen in the lower levels.

 

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Chicago White Sox

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 7 | 2019 Midseason: 3 | 2019 Preseason: 6 | 2018: 4 | 2017: 5| 2016: 23 | 2015: 20 | 2014: 24

 

 

Top 100 Prospects (4): OF Luis Robert (2), 1B Andrew Vaughn (31), RHP Michael Kopech (34), 2B Nick Madrigal (50).

 

 

The Skinny: Luis Robert has lived up to the hype with a sensational MLB debut. Andrew Vaughn, Michael Kopech and Nick Madrigal will still be Top 100 prospects even after he graduates, and the White Sox snagged two first-round talents in the draft in LHP Garrett Crochet and RHP Jared Kelley.

 

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Miami Marlins

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 9 | 2019 Midseason: 8 | 2019 Preseason: 13 | 2018: 24 | 2017: 29 | 2016: 29 | 2015: 25 | 2014: 27

 

 

Top 100 Prospects (6): RHP Sixto Sanchez (18), OF JJ Bleday (48), RHP Max Meyer (59), OF Jesus Sanchez (62), RHP Edward Cabrera (72), SS Jazz Chisholm (95)

 

 

The Skinny: The Marlins surprised many when they drafted Max Meyer with the third overall pick, but he was indisputably one of the best pitchers in the draft and an excellent addition to a talented, balanced system.

 

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Arizona Diamondbacks

Notes:

2020 Preseason 10 | 2019 Midseason: 16 | 2019 Preseason: 21 | 2018: 26 | 2017: 28 | 2016: 22 | 2015: 6 | 2014: 13

 

Top 100 Prospects (5): C Daulton Varsho (55), SS Geraldo Perdomo (77), OF Kristian Robinson (80), OF Alek Thomas (94), Corbin Carroll (98)

 

 

The Skinny: The D-backs are in an interesting position, with five Top 100 Prospects but none in the Top 50. Aside from C Daulton Varsho, most of Arizona’s best talent lies in the low minors, including the team’s four other Top 100 talents—SS Geraldo Perdomo and OFs Kristian Robinson, Alek Thomas and Corbin Carroll—as well as talented pitchers Luis Frias and Blake Walston. The system also got a boost from a strong draft class fronted by Duke RHP Bryce Jarvis, who saw great benefits from a summer at Driveline and threw a perfect game in the shortened 2020 season.

 

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Minnesota Twins

Notes:

2020 Preseason 8 | 2019 Midseason: 7 | 2019 Preseason: 7 | 2018: 12 | 2017: 22 | 2016: 10 | 2015: 2 | 2014: 3

 

 

Top 100 prospects (3): SS Royce Lewis (27), OF Alex Kirilloff (32), OF Trevor Larnach (47)

 

 

The Skinny: The Twins have three hitters among the top 50 prospects who do a major part of the heavy lifting to carry the team's farm system. They added a Top 10 prospect in the system in June when they drafted 1B Aaron Sabato in the first round and they haven't graduated any prospects this year. They have a mix of promising arms as well among their Top 10 prospects, but there's a decline in depth beyond them that puts the Twins just outside of a top 10 system.

 

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Baltimore Orioles

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 12 | 2019 Midseason: 9 | 2019 Preseason: 22 | 2018: 17 | 2017: 27 | 2016: 27 | 2015: 28 | 2014: 12

 

 

Top 100 prospects (4): C Adley Rutschman (5), RHP Grayson Rodriguez (36), LHP D.L. Hall (49), OF Heston Kjerstad (97)

 

 

The Skinny: C Adley Rutschman is the No. 5 prospect in baseball and should be a top three prospect soon, with Luis Robert (2) and Jo Adell (3) likely to graduate, and Gavin Lux (4) on the cusp as well. OF Austin Hays, who had been the No. 5 prospect in the system, graduated from prospect eligibility, but the Orioles re-stocked two more Top 10 prospects in the system through the draft, first with OF Heston Kjrestad at No. 2 overall and then in the supplemental first round with SS Jordan Westburg. Years of ignoring international signings continues to hamper the farm system, however, with zero Orioles Latin American signings among their Top 30 prospects.

 

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St. Louis Cardinals

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 13 | 2019 Midseason: 17 | 2019 Preseason: 10 | 2018: 13 | 2017: 12 | 2016: 14 | 2015: 15 | 2014: 7

 

 

Top 100 prospects (3): OF Dylan Carlson (10), LHP Matthew Liberatore (44), 3B Nolan Gorman (58)

 

 

The Skinny: In our preseason farm system rankings from 2014 through this year, the Cardinals have ranked anywhere from No. 7 to 15, a consistently solid to above-average prospect pipeline that's particularly impressive for a team that hasn't had a draft pick higher than 19th overall since 2008. There haven't been any graduations this year, but the Cardinals added first-round pick Jordan Walker to their Top 10 prospects and added two of the more promising high school pitchers in the draft with RHP/SS Masyn Winn and RHP Tink Hence.

 

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San Francisco Giants

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 14 | 2019 Midseason: 14 | 2019 Preseason: 28 | 2018: 25 | 2017: 24 | 2016: 19 | 2015: 26 | 2014: 19

 

 

Top 100 prospects (3): SS Marco Luciano (21), C Joey Bart (33), OF Heliot Ramos (67)

 

 

The Skinny: Much of the top talent in San Francisco's farm system is concentrated at the lower levels—particularly with strong recent international signing classes, led by top prospect Marco Luciano. With so much of the Giants' talent still far from being major league-ready and C Joey Bart getting reps at the alternate site in Sacramento, not much has changed in their system this year, though they added catcher Patrick Bailey to their Top 10 prospects as a first-round pick.

 

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Oakland Athletics

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 15 | 2019 Midseason: 12 | 2019 Preseason: 11 | 2018: 18 | 2017: 17 | 2016: 18 | 2015: 19 | 2014: 23

 

 

Top 100 prospects (3): LHP Jesus Luzardo (9), LHP A.J. Puk (22), C Sean Murphy (43)

 

 

The Skinny: The A's will drop in our next update when Jesus Luzardo graduates, as the No. 9 prospect in baseball carries a significant amount of the value in Oakland's farm system, which falls off pretty hard after its top talent. The A’s added their No. 5 prospect through the draft with catcher Tyler Soderstrom, though another injury for LHP A.J. Puk—this one to his throwing shoulder—is a growing concern for a pitcher who has been electric when healthy but carries serious durability red flags.

 

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Kansas City Royals

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 18 | 2019 Midseason: 19 | 2019 Preseason: 27 | 2018: 29 | 2017: 26 | 2016: 21 | 2015: 13 | 2014: 8

 

 

Top 100 prospects (4): SS Bobby Witt Jr. (25), LHP Asa Lacy (38), LHP Daniel Lynch (41), RHP Jackson Kowar (86)

 

 

The Skinny: The arrow has been pointing up in the Royals’ system, which got a boost from the addition of lefthander Asa Lacy, the No. 4 overall pick in the draft. They have a pair of young hitters with huge ceilings signed in 2019 between SS Bobby Witt Jr. and OF Erick Peña, with an array of pitching still the biggest strength of the system. The stock of those pitchers has only increased, not just with the addition of Lacy but with righthander Brady Singer and lefthander Kris Bubic pitching in Kansas City.

 

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Los Angeles Angels

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 16 | 2019 Midseason: 18 | 2019 Preseason: 12 | 2018: 14 | 2017: 30 | 2016: 30 | 2015: 27 | 2014: 30

 

 

Top 100 prospects (3): OF Jo Adell (3), OF Brandon Marsh (45), LHP Reid Detmers (81)

 

 

The Skinny: The Angels have three Top 100 Prospects, but it's Jo Adell who's responsible for a huge chunk of the value here with superstar upside. With Adell now in the majors, there will be a big drop for the Angels once he gets enough at-bats to graduate. Adding LHP Reid Detmers with the 10th overall pick helps, and there are young players at the lower levels like OFs Jordyn Adams and Jeremiah Jackson and SS Arol Vera with breakout potential.

 

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New York Yankees

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 17 | 2019 Midseason: 21 | 2019 Preseason: 20 | 2018: 2 | 2017: 3 | 2016: 16 | 2015: 19 | 2014: 18

 

 

Top 100 prospects (3): OF Jasson Dominguez (40), RHP Clarke Schmidt (66), RHP Deivi Garcia (69)

 

 

The Skinny: RHPs Clarke Schmidt and Deivi Garcia give the Yankees two upper-level pitchers who are Top 100 prospects, but much of the Yankees system is high-risk, high-reward youngsters at the lower levels, led by OF Jasson Domiguez. C Austin Wells, the 28th overall pick in the 2020 draft, joins the organization's Top 10 prospects, giving them a bat to offer more balance to a system with pitchers for 10 of their top 15 prospects.

 

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Cleveland Indians

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 19 | 2019 Midseason: 10 | 2019 Preseason: 16 | 2018: 21 | 2017: 18 | 2016: 17 | 2015: 23 | 2014: 17

 

 

Top 100 prospects (2): 3B Nolan Jones (52), SS Tyler Freeman (74)

 

 

The Skinny: The Indians have just two Top 100 prospects and nobody in the top 50, but few systems can match the Indians' depth of lower-level breakout candidates with Top 100 upside. A strong 2020 draft netted five players from our top 100 draft rankings, with a nice mix of athletic, strike-throwing college pitchers and instinctive, hitterish high school position players. If you're looking for a system in the 16-30 range that could vault up these rankings one year from now, the Indians are a good bet.

 

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New York Mets

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 25 | 2019 Midseason: 28 | 2019 Preseason: 19 | 2018: 27 | 2017: 15 | 2016: 15 | 2015: 4 | 2014: 10

 

 

Top 100 prospects (2): SS Ronny Mauricio (70), C Francisco Alvarez (71)

 

 

The Skinny: The Mets have moved up in our farm system rankings from their preseason spot of No. 25. SS Andres Gimenez, who struggled at Double-A last year, has held his own as a 21-year-old in the big leagues and helped his stock. A strong draft also bolstered the Mets system, with the club coming away with two first-round talents (OF Pete Crow-Armstrong and RHP J.T. Ginn) and a third top 50 draft prospect in OF Isaiah Greene, with all three entering the team's Top 10 prospects.

 

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Chicago Cubs

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 22 |2019 Midseason: 29 | 2019 Preseason: 29 | 2018: 28 | 2017: 16 | 2016: 20 | 2015: 1 | 2014: 4

 

 

Top 100 prospects (2): LHP Brailyn Marquez (39), SS/2B Nico Hoerner (42)

 

 

The Skinny: Slowly but surely, Chicago’s system is improving. Breakout seasons from Brailyn Marquez and Brennen Davis in 2019 boosted its stock before the year, and the group got a talent injection from this year’s draft class. The draft group was led by SS Ed Howard, whom BA ranked as the No. 20 prospect available, and flanked by intriguing prospects like LHP Burl Carraway, RHP Koen Moreno, OF Jordan Nwogu and LHP Luke Little.

 

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Pittsburgh Pirates

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 23 | 2019 Midseason: 20 | 2019 Preseason: 18 | 2018: 16 | 2017: 7 | 2016: 11 | 2015: 7 | 2014: 1

 

 

Top 100 prospects (3): SS Nick Gonzales (57), 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes (60), SS Oneil Cruz (61)

 

 

The Skinny: RHP Mitch Keller’s graduation dents this system somewhat, but the addition of SS Nick Gonzales acts as a convenient counterbalance. Gonzales, who broke out as a sophomore at New Mexico State and then started 2020 red-hot, led an excellent draft class which also included RHP Carmen Mlodzinski, who ranked as this year’s No. 25 draft prospect. Pittsburgh’s draft haul also included RHP Jared Jones, the No. 40 draft prospect, and RHP Nick Garcia (56).

 

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Boston Red Sox

Notes:

2020 Preseason 20 | 2019 Midseason 22 | 2019 Preseason: 30 | 2018: 23 | 2017: 14 | 2016: 4 | 2015: 5 | 2014: 2

 

 

Top 100 prospects (3): 1B Triston Casas (75), 3B Bobby Dalbec (83), SS Jeter Downs (93)

 

 

The Skinny: The Red Sox’s system got a boost before the season through the addition of excellent infield prospect Jeter Downs and C Connor Wong in the trade that sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers. Boston lost its second-round pick as punishment for its sign-stealing scandal, then still added two of the draft’s top 100 prospects in 2B Nick Yorke (96) and 3B Blaze Jordan (90) with its four picks.

 

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Texas Rangers

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 21 | 2019 Midseason: 27 | 2019 Preseason: 25 | 2018: 22 | 2017: 23 | 2016: 7 | 2015: 11 | 2014: 9

 

 

Top 100 prospects: None.

 

 

The Skinny: The Rangers have a pair of prospects on the cusp of the Top 100 (and who have previously appeared on the list) in 3B Josh Jung and C Sam Huff as well as a group of solid, high-upside prospects led by SS Anderson Tejeda, OF Leody Taveras and RHP Hans Crouse. They left the draft with a class that led to a great deal of head-scratching after first-round pick 2B Justin Foscue, who ranked No. 36 on the BA 500.

 

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Cincinnati Reds

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 28 | 2019 Midseason: 23 | 2019 Preseason: 8 | 2018: 10 | 2017: 13 | 2016: 12 | 2015: 16 | 2014: 16

 

 

Top 100 prospects (3): OF Austin Hendrick (82), RHP Hunter Greene (84), LHP Nick Lodolo (85)

 

 

The Skinny: Cincinnati’s system entering the year was led by a pair of intriguing arms in RHP Hunter Greene (who missed all of 2019 recovering from Tommy John surgery) and LHP Nick Lodolo (who dominated in his pro debut) as well as powerful catching prospect Tyler Stephenson. The depth beyond that group is somewhat suspect, but the addition of OF Austin Hendrick (who immediately took the top spot in the organization and a spot in the Top 100) with a first-round pick gave the group a jolt.

 

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Philadelphia Phillies

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 26 | 2019 Midseason: 25 | 2019 Preseason: 23 | 2018: 7 | 2017: 6 | 2016: 8 | 2015: 22 | 2014: 22

 

 

Top 100 prospects (2): RHP Spencer Howard (28), 3B Alec Bohm (29)

 

 

The Skinny: In normal systems, having two Top 30 prospects would mean inclusion in the upper echelon of baseball. Aside from first-round picks RHP Mick Abel and SS Bryson Stott, however, the system’s quality takes a short, sharp dive. Third-round pick SS Casey Martin, who was among the most tooled-up players available in the draft, could give the group a boost with a strong pro debut in 2021, however.

 

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Colorado Rockies

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 29 | 2019 Midseason: 26 | 2019 Preseason: 24 | 2018: 19 | 2017: 10 | 2016: 6 | 2015: 8 | 2014: 11

 

 

Top 100 prospects (2): SS Brendan Rodgers (24), Zac Veen (73)

 

 

The Skinny: A great deal of the Rockies’ value is tied up in their top two prospects—SS Brendan Rodgers and OF Zac Veen—as well as LHP Ryan Rolison, OF Michael Toglia and 1B Grant Lavigne. Colorado also added one of the best catching prospects in the class in Drew Romo and Miami RHP Chris McMahon as part of its six-player draft haul. By selecting both McMahon (30) and Romo (39), the Rockies became the only team to grab three of the best 40 prospects available in the draft.

 

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Washington Nationals

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 24 | 2019 Midseason: 24 | 2019 Preseason: 17 | 2018: 15 | 2017: 19 | 2016: 5 | 2015: 12 | 2014: 21

 

 

Top 100 prospects (1): SS/2B Carter Kieboom (17)

 

 

The Skinny: The Nationals’ lone Top 100 prospect, Carter Kieboom, has earned a rep as one of the purest hitters in the minor leagues, albeit one without a true defensive home. Second baseman Luis Garcia has been ranked among the Top 100 at times, and could soon return to the list when more players graduate. Beyond those two players, however, the Nationals’ depth starts to wane. They boosted their pitching depth by adding RHPs Cade Cavalli (BA’s No. 22 draft prospect) and Cole Henry (No. 44) to go with high-end arms like Jackson Rutledge and Mason Denaburg in previous years. Lefty Seth Romero, who is among the team’s 60-man player pool, could be a wild card of sorts in this truncated, volatile season.

 

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Houston Astros

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 27 | 2019 Midseason: 15 | 2019 Preseason: 5 | 2018: 11 | 2017: 4 | 2016: 2 | 2015: 10 | 2014: 5

 

 

Top 100 prospects (1): RHP Forrest Whitley (26)

 

 

The Skinny: The system’s top prospect, Whitley, being injured is problematic enough. That the group doesn’t have much depth behind him, however, is worse. The strength of the system lies in its pitching, which has been called into action early and often during the 2020 season. Of the 10 Astros prospects to make their big league debuts in 2020, nine are pitchers. That group is led by RHP Blake Taylor, who has been impressive over his first six outings.

 

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Milwaukee Brewers

Notes:

2020 Preseason: 30 | 2019 Midseason: 30 | 2019 Preseason: 26 | 2018: 6 | 2017: 8 | 2016: 9 | 2015: 21 | 2014: 29

 

 

Top 100 prospects (1): Garrett Mitchell (78)

 

 

The Skinny: The Brewers added one of the most tooled-up players in the draft in UCLA outfielder Garrett Mitchell. Considering BA ranked him as the No. 6 prospect available, Milwaukee landing him with the No. 20 pick could wind up as a steal. Miami SS Freddy Zamora, who suffered a knee injury in preseason practice that would have shelved him for the year even in a normal season, could also provide excellent value if he returns from rehab at 100 percent. Beyond the new entrants, the Brewers are led by SS Brice Turang and 2019 first-round pick LHP Ethan Small, as well as promising catching prospect Mario Feliciano.

[BlueRocky]

So Pipeline doesn't have the Jays in the top 10, BA has them 4th and BP has them 6th? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

https://theathletic.com/1641139/2020/03/02/keith-laws-farm-system-rankings-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amp

[Spanky__99]

https://theathletic.com/1641139/2020/03/02/keith-laws-farm-system-rankings-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amp

 

It's a paywall, bro. Where does he rank us?

[KevinGregg]

It's a paywall, bro. Where does he rank us?

 

7. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays system remains in the top 10 thanks to a little of everything. Their past two drafts, in particular, look very strong. Their international scouting department has added some of the highest-ceiling prospects they’ve had since before I worked there. They added two more of their top-10 prospects in the Marcus Stroman trade. And they’re developing well, with their top two prospects improving since they entered the Toronto system.

[Spanky__99]

7. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays system remains in the top 10 thanks to a little of everything. Their past two drafts, in particular, look very strong. Their international scouting department has added some of the highest-ceiling prospects they’ve had since before I worked there. They added two more of their top-10 prospects in the Marcus Stroman trade. And they’re developing well, with their top two prospects improving since they entered the Toronto system.

 

Thanks, brosoff!

[43211234]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/blue-jays-farm-director-gil-kim-on-pitching-prospects-and-disparate-development-during-a-pandemic/

 

 

Maybe this was already known but Kloffenstein is playing Indy ball this year.

[Jonn]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/blue-jays-farm-director-gil-kim-on-pitching-prospects-and-disparate-development-during-a-pandemic/

 

 

Maybe this was already known but Kloffenstein is playing Indy ball this year.

 

That’s pretty cool I didn’t know you could play Indy Ball when signed to an organization. Hopefully it helps him to play with and against those older ball players. I hear the Texas Indy Ball circuit gets pretty competitive.

[King]

That’s pretty cool I didn’t know you could play Indy Ball when signed to an organization. Hopefully it helps him to play with and against those older ball players. I hear the Texas Indy Ball circuit gets pretty competitive.

Apparently you missed my Vlad to Indy Ball thread. Shucks.