John Sickels: Top 175 Prospects for 2016

[Angrioter]

1) Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade A

2) Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade A

3) Lucas Giolito, RHP, Washington Nationals, Grade A

4) Julio Urias, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade A

5) Dansby Swanson, SS, Atlanta Braves, Grade A

 

6) Yoan Moncada, 2B, Boston Red Sox, Grade A

7) Byron Buxton, OF, Minnesota Twins, Grade A

8) Alex Reyes, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade A

9) Jose Berrios, RHP, Minnesota Twins, Grade A-

10) Steven Matz, LHP, New York Mets, Grade A-

 

11) Orlando Arcia, SS, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade A-

12) Joey Gallo, 3B-OF, Texas Rangers, Grade A-

13) Blake Snell, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade A-

14) Jose De Leon, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade A-

15) Sean Manaea, LHP, Oakland Athletics, Grade A-

 

16) Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox, Grade A-

17) Alex Bregman, SS, Houston Astros, Grade A-

18) Andrew Benintendi, OF, Boston Red Sox, Grade A-

19) A.J. Reed, 1B, Houston Astros, Grade A-

20) Trey Turner, SS, Washington Nationals, Grade A-

 

21) J.P. Crawford, SS, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade A-

22) Nomar Mazara, OF, Texas Rangers, Grade A-

23) Franklin Barreto, SS, Grade A-

24) Jon Gray, RHP, Colorado Rockies, Grade A-

25) Robert Stephenson, RHP, Cincinnati Reds, Grade A-

 

26) Bradley Zimmer, OF, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+

27) Carson Fulmer, RHP, Chicago White Sox, Grade B+

28) Mike Clevinger, RHP, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+

29) Clint Frazier, OF, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+

30) Austin Meadows, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B+

 

31) Lewis Brinson, OF, Texas Rangers, Grade B+

32) Nick Williams, OF, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B+

33) Francis Martes, RHP, Houston Astros, Grade B+

34) Anderson Espinosa, RHP, Boston Red Sox, Grade B+

35) Jorge Lopez, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B+

 

36) Joe Musgrove, RHP, Houston Astros, Grade B+

37) Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B+

38) Brendan Rodgers, SS, Colorado Rockies, Grade B+

39) Max Kepler, OF, Minnesota Twins, Grade B+

40) Tim Anderson,SS, Chicago White Sox, Grade B+

 

41) Sean Newcomb, LHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade B+

42) Cody Reed, LHP, Cincinnati Reds, LHP, Grade B+

43) Aaron Blair, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade B+

44) Dillon Tate, RHP, Texas Rangers, Grade B+

45) Gleyber Torres, SS, Chicago Cubs, Grade B+

 

46) Hector Olivera, OF, Atlanta Braves, Grade B+

47) Kenta Maeda, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B+

48) Brett Phillips, OF, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B+

49) Jesse Winker, OF, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B+

50) Ozzie Albies, SS, Atlanta Braves, Grade B+

 

51) Michael Feliz, RHP, Houston Astros, Grade B+

52) Amir Garrett, LHP, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B+

53) Phil Bickford, RHP, San Francisco Giants, Grade B+

54) Brent Honeywell, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B+

55) Christian Arroyo, SS-2B, San Francisco Giants, Grade B+

 

56) Ryan McMahon, 3B, Colorado Rockies, Grade B+

57) Bobby Bradley, 1B, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+

58) Rob Kaminsky, LHP, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+

59) Kolby Allard, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade B+

60) Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies, Grade B

 

61) Nick Gordon, SS, Minnesota Twins, Grade B+

62) Jose Peraza, INF, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B+

63) Jacob Nottingham, C, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B+

64) Jeff Hoffman, RHP, Colorado Rockies, Grade B+

65) Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees, Grade B+

 

66) James Kaprielian, RHP, New York Yankees, Grade B+

67) Raul Mondesi, SS, Kansas City Royals, Grade B+

68) Jorge Mateo, SS, New York Yankees, Grade B+

69) David Dahl, OF, Colorado Rockies, Grade B+

70) Josh Bell, 1B-OF, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B+

 

71) Josh Hader, LHP, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B+

72) Alex Verdugo, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B+

73) Matt Olson, 1B, Oakland Athletics, Grade B+

74) Willy Adames, SS, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B+

75) Renato Nunez, OF, Oakland Athletics, Grade B+

 

76) Justus Sheffield, LHP, Cleveland Indians, Grade B+

77) Clayton Blackburn, RHP, San Francisco Giants, Grade B+

78) Manuel Margot, OF, San Diego Padres, Grade B

79) Anthony Alford, OF, Toronto Blue Jays, Grade B

80) Javier Guerra, SS, San Diego Padres, Grade B

 

81) Byung Ho Park, 1B-OF, Minnesota Twins, Grade B

82) Victor Robles, OF, Washington Nationals, Grade B

83) Michael Fulmer, RHP, Detroit Tigers, Grade B

84) Luis Ortiz, RHP, Texas Rangers, Grade B

85) Luke Weaver, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B

 

86) Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B

87) Edwin Diaz, RHP, Seattle Mariners, RHP, Grade B

88) Domingo Acevedo, RHP, New York Yankees, Grade B

89) Yusniel Diaz, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B

90) Dom Nunez, C, Colorado Rockies, Grade B

 

91) Antonio Senzatela, RHP, Colorado Rockies, Grade B

92) Ariel Jurado, RHP, Texas Rangers, RHP, Grade B

93) Jacob Faria, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B

94) Archie Bradley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade B

95) Jack Flaherty, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B

 

96) Grant Holmes, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B

97) Reynaldo Lopez, RHP, Washington Nationals, Grade B

98) Braden Shipley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade B

99) A.J. Cole, RHP, Washington Nationals, Grade B

100) Dylan Bundy, RHP, Baltimore Orioles, Grade B

 

101) Sam Travis, 1B, Boston Red Sox, Grade B

102) Jake Bauers, 1B-OF, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B

103) Triston McKenzie, RHP, Cleveland Indians, Grade B

104) Trey Mancini, 1B, Baltimore Orioles, Grade B

105) Raimel Tapia, OF, Colorado Rockies, Grade B

 

106) Cody Bellinger, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B

107) Forrest Wall, 2B, Colorado Rockies, Grade B

108) Frankie Montas, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B

109) Brandon Drury, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade B

110) Andrew Knapp, C, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B

 

111) Alex Blandino, INF, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B

112) Ian Happ, OF-2B, Chicago Cubs, Grade B

113) Ruddy Giron, SS, San Diego Padres, Grade B

114) Billy McKinney, OF, Chicago Cubs, Grade B

115) Hunter Renfroe, OF, San Diego Padres, Grade B

 

116) Daniel Robertson, SS, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B

117) Dominic Smith, 1B, New York Mets, Grade B

118) Isan Diaz, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B

119) Austin Riley, 3B, Atlanta Braves, Grade B

120) Cornelius Randolph, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B

 

121) Kyle Tucker, OF, Houston Astros, Grade B

122) Lucas Sims, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade B

123) Kyle Zimmer, RHP, Kansas City Royals, Grade B

124) Tyler Jay, LHP, Minnesota Twins, Grade B

125) Erick Fedde, RHP, Washington Nationals, Grade B

 

126) Beau Burrows, RHP, Detroit Tigers, Grade B

127) Mike Soroka, RHP, Atlanta Braves, Grade B

128) Daz Cameron, OF, Houston Astros, Grade B

129) Mallex Smith, OF, Atlanta Braves, Grade B

130) Christin Stewart, OF, Detroit Tigers, Grade B

 

131) Colin Moran, 3B, Houston Astros, Grade B

132) Tom Murphy, C, Colorado Rockies, Grade B

133) Jake Thompson, OF, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B

134) Pierce Johnson, RHP, Chicago Cubs, Grade B

135) Keury Mella, RHP, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B

 

136) Trent Clark, OF, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B

137) Spencer Adams, RHP, Chicago White Sox, Grade B

138) Derek Fisher, OF, Houston Astros, Grade B

139) Chance Sisco, C, Baltimore Orioles, Grade B

140) Roman Quinn, OF, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B

 

141) Amed Rosario, SS, New York Mets, Grade B

142) Tyler Stephenson, C, Cincinnati Reds, Grade B

143) Clint Coulter, OF, Milwaukee Brewers, Grade B

144) Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates, Grade B

145) Rowdy Tellez, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays, Grade B

 

146) Tyler Naquin, OF, Cleveland Indians, Grade B-

147) Socrates Brito, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks, Grade B-

148) Michael Kopech, RHP, Boston Red Sox, Grade B-

149) Matt Chapman, 3B, Oakland Athletics, Grade B-

150) Juan Hillman, LHP, Cleveland Indians, Grade B-

 

151) Hunter Harvey, RHP, Baltimore Orioles, Grade B-

152) Willson Contreras, C, Chicago Cubs, Grade B-

153) Mark Appel, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B-

154) Jorge Polanco, INF, Minnesota Twins, Grade B-

155) Tim Cooney, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B-

 

156) Austin Barnes, C-2B, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B-

157) Rob Refsnyder, 2B, New York Yankees, Grade B-

158) Colin Rea, RHP, San Diego Padres, Grade B-

159) Nick Burdi, RHP, Minnesota Twins, Grade B-

160) Harrison Bader, OF, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B-

 

161) Jomar Reyes, 3B, Baltimore Orioles, Grade B-

162) Oscar De La Cruz, RHP, Chicago Cubs, Grade B-

163) Brady Aiken, LHP, Cleveland Indians, Grade B-

164) Logan Allen, LHP, San Diego Padres, Grade B-

165) Jorge Alfaro, C, Philadelphia Phillies, Grade B-

 

166) Aledmys Diaz, INF, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B-

167) Mikie Mahtook, OF, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B-

168) Richie Shaffer, 3B-1B, Tampa Bay Rays, Grade B-

169) David Paulino, RHP, Houston Astros, Grade B-

170) Jeimer Candelario, INF, Chicago Cubs, Grade B-

 

171) Yadier Alvarez, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B-

172) Drew Jackson, SS, Seattle Mariners, Grade B-

173) Paul DeJong, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals, Grade B-

174) Tyler White, 1B, Houston Astros, Grade B-

175) Willie Calhoun, 2B-OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, Grade B-

 

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/3/28/11310760/the-top-175-mlb-prospects-for-2016

[Angrioter]

Conner Greene, RHP, Marlins?

[HERPDERP]

Joe Musgrove certainly has jumped a ton...

[Captain Adama]

Lol @ Crawford at 21

[burlingtonbandit]

Alford at 79 seems really low. He's not too far off from Zimmer who is in the 20s. Close to the same numbers in A ball last year and Alford is younger.

[Angrioter]

Alford at 79 seems really low. He's not too far off from Zimmer who is in the 20s. Close to the same numbers in A ball last year and Alford is younger.

 

Zimmer > Alford

[burlingtonbandit]

Zimmer > Alford

 

Yes. But not by 50 spots.

[z3r0s]

Don't Sickels lists usually not have an order and are just based on grades? Could be different this year.

[Angrioter]

Yes. But not by 50 spots.

 

Zimmer can hit, hit pop, run, catch the ball, blood line. He's a stud right now. Alford need to show that he can hit dingers.

 

IMO

Zimmer top-15

Alford top-50

[Spanky99]

Don't Sickels lists usually not have an order and are just based on grades? Could be different this year.

 

You don't see the grades?

[Angrioter]

You don't see the grades?

 

Tal vez, he's drunk

[z3r0s]

You don't see the grades?

 

I do, I just wonder if the numbers are actually reflective of where he thinks the players sit (as I don't think he's done that in the past). There are enough inconsistencies that it makes me wonder (like Glasnow at 2)

[Spanky99]

I do, I just wonder if the numbers are actually reflective of where he thinks the players sit (as I don't think he's done that in the past). There are enough inconsistencies that it makes me wonder (like Glasnow at 2)

 

He explains it here...

 

"Here is my current list of Top 175 MLB prospects for 2016. This revises and expands the Top 50/50 List published in the 2016 Baseball Prospect Book.. Grades here supersede previously published lists and rankings.

 

The rankings are based on a combination of sabermetrics; scouting reports (including publicly available reports and private reports from friends or contacts), video, in-person views when possible, and some measure of intuition. My lists weigh closeness to the majors and risk as well as pure upside. A list based on pure upside with less regard for risk would look quite different. I try to find a balance between the two factors.

 

Every list has quirks, of course, reflecting the filters and biases of the analyst. Ultimately these are my opinions and I take sole responsibility for them. Many of my rankings are in line with industry consensus, but some are not.

 

Thinking and analysis change constantly, so look at this as a snapshot of how things stand in late March. Such lists can be tinkered with forever but at some point you have to press the "publish" button. I will be around in the comments thread today to answer questions.

 

Once you get past the Top 100 especially, you should take a "neighborhood" tier approach rather than "this guy at 129 is clearly better than the guy at 130." "

[z3r0s]

so those are his actually rankings eh? seems like a pretty s***** list. He should stick to grades

[burlingtonbandit]

Zimmer can hit, hit pop, run, catch the ball, blood line. He's a stud right now. Alford need to show that he can hit dingers.

 

IMO

Zimmer top-15

Alford top-50

 

Last year in A ball

 

Zimmer 11% BB 23% K rate .185 ISO

 

Alford 11% BB 19.2% K rate .142 ISO

 

This is coming from a Zimmer owner in Fantasy too. Zimmer is better but not by much, certainly not by 50 spots.

[Pendleton]

Last year in A ball

 

Zimmer 11% BB 23% K rate .185 ISO

 

Alford 11% BB 19.2% K rate .142 ISO

 

This is coming from a Zimmer owner in Fantasy too. Zimmer is better but not by much, certainly not by 50 spots.

 

20 - 30 spots difference seems like it should be plenty. I really did not expect to see Alford so far out of the top 50.

 

I'm not worried about the farm though. A lot of our most intriguing guys are young and inexperienced, I think we can expect an upward trend. Shouldn't see a big hit from graduation or trades any time soon.

[Atothe]

Not gonna harp on Sickles too much but not a good list

[Sammy225]

Ummm is Crawford not a top 5 prospect????

[Laika]

The only guys above Crawford that absolutely shouldn't be are Bregman and Swanson. Like, there is no argument for them over Crawford.

 

Everyone else is high ceiling and upper minors, basically, so the other 18 names above him are at least defensible in different ways.

[z3r0s]

good old post draft hype!

[FrozenRopes]

Vlad Jr?

[Boxcar]

The only guys above Crawford that absolutely shouldn't be are Bregman and Swanson. Like, there is no argument for them over Crawford.

 

Everyone else is high ceiling and upper minors, basically, so the other 18 names above him are at least defensible in different ways.

 

Gallo too

[P2F]

With much hesitancy, I added this list to the all-encompassing prospect list I've been working on.

 

Even though many of these rankings deviate substantially from the consensus, I ultimately decided to include Sickels, as he is at least somewhat reputable in the prospects industry - relatively speaking, of course. What good is an aggregate list if it's just the exact same list published 7 or 8 times, I guess?

 

Without further adieu:

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AYHdbnvRKdiWSf40UwfPj37Stm7mZKCorcZCZZzNhSY/edit?usp=sharing

[Laika]

Gallo too

 

An upside argument supports Gallo over Crawford

[P2F]

As far as the most reputable lists go, we're now only waiting on FanGraphs to release theirs.

 

Farnsworth is going to be in tough to get six team lists (20+ prospects w/ write-ups per team) and a top 200 list published before Sunday - assuming they want it released before the start of the season, that is. He did Seattle's today, leaving him with five team lists left to do.

[Spanky99]

Vlad Jr?

 

He's 17 and hasn't played a pro ball game yet? Give him time, and he could move up rankings quickly.