King

#1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Dec. 2015 Rank: 4) Lowest on Vlad Jr: BBBB (#7) What The People Are Saying King: Vlad Jr. has the pedigree and talent to become a middle of the order masher in the MLB. The risk here is how young he is - a lot could become exposed as he moves up the minor league ladder, and the question marks surrounding his defense. If he can be an average defender at 3B then his future value goes way up. But the bat will be the carrying tool here. Bobthe4th: elite potential and he's 17. 17! Spats: I've been going to Dunedin for spring training for a number of years and usually stay well into April where I get a chance to see the younger players who haven't been assigned to full season clubs and watch some A ball. Of all the players I have personally seen over the years, no one excites me more than Vlad Jr...great plate discipline for a 17/18 year old and the ball jumps off his bat. You see a lot of players down there and most just blend in...he stood out. Pendleton: I'd usually have a tough time ranking a prospect this high without seeing how they adapt to the upper minors but the potential in this bat is too tantalizing to ignore. By most accounts he has the potential to be the best pure hitter the Jays have ever developed and that upside trumps his limited pro exposure. Jimcanuck: superstar potential Nafro: I'll start it now. "VGJ" or "Baby Vlad" as nickname for this potential monster masher. LetTheBallFly: Amazing set of skills offensively. Everything you want in a top prospect; power, contact, pitch recognition, ability to hit to all fields. Might make the Majors in 2018 (September callup). 43211234: Strong showing in the Appy league while being it's youngest player. The walk and strikeout rates are very encouraging. Reports suggest he's in much better shape than a year ago and there's at least a chance he could stick at 3B. P2F: Quite the debut for VGJ. Even though he will likely have to move from third base in the future, the power is legit and the hit tool is good enough. Likely a 1B in the majors. Comparable offensive upside to EE, but a long ways away still. Krylian: Hit tool and power potential is elite. Being able to stay at 3B for the entire season was an unexpected surprise. Maahfaace: Kid is all bat, I just wish he was more athletic, as it looks like he will probably be a DH/1B type which is really disappointing. TheHurl: Anyone who has followed what I like in a prospect has to know that I am huge on Vlad as I never give young un's their due KingKat: I really need to learn to be wary of numbers in the low minors but when all the reports on a player are so glowing; it’s really hard not to get carried away in the hype. There just don’t seem to be any real negatives here other than he’s still very young and it’s very early in his development. Doesn’t seem like this bandwagon is going to slow down anytime soon so might as well get on. Jonn: He will be our #1 prospect at some point its just difficult for me to place a 17 year old who hasn't played a year of full season ball any higher than 5 right now. His defensive future is unknown. Playing 3rd base right now. His power potential extremely exciting. His plate discipline at such a young age incredible. He's not the athlete his Dad was but looks to be a good base runner with a strong arm. He could be one of the best hitting prospects developed by the Blue Jays when its all said and done.

And your #1 Blue Jays prospect for the 2017 season...

#2. Anthony Alford, CF, Dunedin Blue Jays (Dec. 2015 Rank: 1) http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/images/players/head_shot/546990.jpg http://i.imgur.com/7m6qnmr.png Lowest on Anthony Alford: Todd (#11), LetTheBallFly (#9) What The People Are Saying King: Alford is an incredible athlete and has all the necessary tools to succeed at the MLB level. His speed and defense alone give him a floor of a 4th outfielder, and his bat will determine just how good he can be. Bobthe4th: concentrating on baseball only and injury free, looking forward to see what he can do in 2017 Spats: I have watched Alford since he made baseball his preference, including a few games in A ball last April. Unfortunately, he got hurt and I didn't get to see much of him until I went to the Arizona Fall League. I predict that he will be the Jays centre-fielder within 2 years...hope to see him in Buffalo this year. Jimcanuck: 5 tools, high floor, power increased in 2016 but needs to get K rate down Nafro: The new AA has the systems most exciting all round tools. NJH: He wasn't awesome in 2016 but he had some crippling injuries and he gets a complete mulligan from me. He has all the tools, and his walk rates make me giddy. High floor and a high ceiling. Proximity to the big leagues is the main reason he's above Guerrero for me, even though Guerrero's offensive upside blows Alford's out of the water. LetTheBallFly: Looks like he is healthy finally and really is putting it all together. 43121234: A surprisingly risky top prospect in a system suddenly as deep and solid as the Blue Jays'. Alford has a strong mix of speed and power. The strikeouts are high but he has shown the ability to take walks. The reports on his defense in CF are encouraging, yet such things are often a wildcard. P2F: Injuries de-railed his 2016 season, but the underlying talent was still evident. He turned it around in the second half of the season and looked more like the Alford of 2015. Big, exciting things are on the way. Krylian: 5 Tool Talent. The sky is the limit. Maahfaace: His 2nd half was nice to see, and he's tearing it up in the AFL. If he continues to develop he could see a cup of coffee in the show next september, his approach is so advanced that it would probably not overwhelm him. TheHurl: He's got to show that he's healthy and can improve the K rate. Until he does I won't give in to his upside. But I give in that he's got upside KingKat: I have been a huge Alford skeptic from the start. I’m still an Alford skeptic to some extent but he’s reaching the 1000 PA threshold in the AFL and coincidentally or not seems to be breaking out. The career 30% K percentage is an obvious red flag but comes with enough caveats for cautious optimism. I'm not so much endorsing him a hedging my bets by putting him this high (#2). Jonn: Late start to his Baseball career being a multi sport athlete. But his talent is off the charts. On upside alone he's probably #1 but after an injury plagued season people were a little down on him. However when he got healthy he put up great numbers and showed what he can do when healthy. This fall he's tearing up the AFL so he continues to impress and remains one of our most exciting prospects.

And then there were 2.

#3. Sean Reid-Foley, RHP, Dunedin Blue Jays/Lansing Lugnuts (Dec. 2015 Rank: 2) http://www.milb.com/images/656887/t424/180x270/656887.jpg http://i.imgur.com/NnjoZnt.png Highest on SRF: Jonn, Jimcanuck, Maahfaace, #1 Lowest on SRF: LetTheBallFly, #8 What The People Are Saying King: SRF is a prototypical power pitcher. He has the stuff to be a top of the rotation starter in the MLB. My main concern with him would be staying healthy, as he suffered an arm injury at the end of 2016 that went quietly unnoticed. Bobthe4th: high K/9 with mid-high 90's fastball Jimcanuck: Clicks on all parameters, K rate, age/level, control, size, demeanor Nafro: Finally figured out how to hit water if he fell out of a boat. 43211234: Reports are he's repeating his delivery much better. The command was vastly improved in 2016 while keeping the great K rate. Has a chance to be a very nice #2 or #3 starter. P2F: Strikeout machine. Made huge strides this season with his control, which was terribly inconsistent previously. Would love to see him repeat similar success in 2017 before moving him up the list. Looks like a #2/3 starter could be his ceiling. Should reach AA in 2017. Krylian: The stuff was always there, but in 2016 he added much improved control to the mix. Maahfaace: I love his make-up, he throws hard, slider is super slick out pitch, his change is progressing to be a useful pitch, although he needs to work on its deception. TheHurl: Move him quickly and get him to the back end of that pen by August (if they are competing still). Will Outpitch Osuna if they move him to the pen. KingKat: Pitching prospects are a fickle bunch. It’s really hard to predict which ones wills separate themselves from the crowd. All I can say is so far, so good for Reid-Foley Jonn: Best arm in the organization by far. Has dominated the minor leagues with electric strikeout numbers. Really excited about his future and feel he will move very quickly. Very deserving of the top spot.

Sorry fellas. No shirtless pics of Tellez.

#4. Rowdy Tellez, 1B, New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Dec. 2015 Rank: 5) http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/39/files/2016/07/mlb-fall-star-game-1-850x560.jpg http://i.imgur.com/1hMYJYT.png Highest on Rowdy Tellez: z3r0s, #1 Lowest on Rowdy Tellez: BurlingtonBandit, Jaysforlife19, Jonn, Maahfaace (#7) What The People Are Saying King: We all know that he can crush RHP - but his bat vs LHP is going to dictate whether he is an everyday player or a platoon guy. He doesn't have a lot of "WAR" upside as being a 1B, and a possible poor defensive one at that, will hurt his overall value. But it's the bat that is the calling here. Bobthe4th: with nothing significant in his way at 1B could be a September 2017 call up Pendleton: I understand there are some experts with concerns over whether or not Tellez will see his success translate against MLB pitching. Regardless, I can't ignore how impressive his numbers were for a 21 year old at AA. He shows middle of the order power potential and may not be far away from making his debut. Jimcanuck: K rate declining as he elevates through the system, huge power, would be #1 prospect if played any other position but 1B/DH Nafro: I may be the most aggressive of anyone on Tellez. I think he impacts the MLB team in 2017. NJH: Power, strike zone judgment and work-ethic. Before the 2013 draft scouts complimented Tellez on those three things and tabbed him as a top ~50 talent. Baseball America called him the best left handed power available on draft day. I think Tellez gets a bit underrated because of his draft slot. If he was taken in the first round and put up these numbers, at this age, he would get a lot more attention. I think the work-ethic and strike zone judgment have been better then most optimists would have expected. He could be a first division 1B. Think Freddie Freeman. He also brings nothing to the table aside from offense, so he could be absolutely nothing (looks at the graveyard of failed 1B prospects.) That's why he is fourth on my list. 43211234: 1B prospects are scary. Especially ones with fringe defense. It's so hard to expect the ~15% above average offence that's needed for such a player to survive. The numbers are encouraging, though. Tellez had a very strong 2016 where he cut the K rate, improved the BB rate and showed more in-game power. His makeup is said to be plus. z3r0s: I think I will have him ranked higher than most doing these lists, but there is a lot to like about Rowdy the hitter. Getting his first taste of AA ball as a 21 year old, all the numbers look solid. He increased his BB% while maintaining a perfectly acceptable K%. The power continued to trend upward, his ISO has increased each year. Starting the year in Buffalo is a real possibility, with the possibility of seeing some time in TO if he acclimates well. Reports continue to be critical of the defense, which could dictate when he reaches the majors with the Blue Jays locked in with a true DH in Morales for the next three years. P2F: Raked in the minors, and has a good batting eye to boot. 1B prospects rarely make an impact at the major league level, but there is so much to like in his game. Defense is fringy; could end up a DH. Starts at AA in 2017, but should move to AAA by the summer. He's getting close. Krylian: 1B/DH. Not athletic. Elite power and good hit tool. Maahfaace: I love this kids bat and approach, by not signing EE so far this off-season its allowed him at least a path to the majors in a season or two. Although he really looks like a full time DH at this point. TheHurl: He's a 1B prospect. No one likes those guys. Sorry Casuals like those guys. KingKat: Tellez just had a great season. He doesn’t have as many avenues to value as guys like Alford and Urena do. He absolutely has to hit but fortunately he’s doing exactly that. Jonn: From being a late round pick to "draft experts" not being that high on him all he does is hit. And yes he will be limited to First Base and that hurts his ranking. But he should be a top 5 guy and I would have liked to have found room for him. I took the conservative route. But I'm all aboard the Tellez bandwagon. I think he's going to hit and be our First Baseman of the future. He will probably break into the big leagues at some point this year. Kid can rake and has at every level. My expectations is that he will destroy AAA as well.

Sorry, had to get one shirtless picture in here.

#5. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., SS, Industriales de La Habana (Dec. 2015 Rank: N/A) http://i.imgur.com/Mcpnk6w.png http://i.imgur.com/ACXku3h.png Highest on Lourdes Gurriel Jr: NJH, #1 Lowest on Lourdes Gurriel Jr: Spats, #10 What The People Are Saying Bobthe4th: only player in our system I'd put money on having a MLB career (as prospects are such a lottery) LetTheBallFly: I think will be better than his brother. Worked on his game and swing over the last year and should make the Majors quickly, most likely in the OF. 43211234: A member of Cuban baseball royalty. Doesn't have a position locked down but is said to possess the athleticism to maybe serve time in the infield and outfield. Had a strong final season in Cuba before defecting with his brother earlier this year. P2F: The scouting reports range wildly for the younger Gurriel, but most scouts that have seen him seem to think he isn't an elite prospect at this point. He could be an above-average hitting, super-utility player in the majors when he gets there. Krylian: Super utility player in the making. Tall and lanky. 20HR potential. Good strike zone discipline. Maahfaace: Great signing by Shatkins, looks to be a solid utility type of guy that could play all over the diamond. NJH: He's the shiny new thing, but that's not why he's first for me. While scouting reports on Gurriel are limited, what is clear is that he has a very broad skill-set. In Cuba he's played nearly every position; he worked out at SS and CF for the Blue Jays. He posted good slash-lines in Cuba, especially relative to his age. He hit some homers and stole some bases. The numbers hold up well when compared to other Cubans that either did or did not transition their skills to the majors. He looks good on video - thin but strong, not unlike young star shortstops like Seager and Bogaerts. There are other prospects in the system with similar packages of tools and skills (Alford) and greater offensive upside (Guerrero), but the Blue Jays just invested $22M in this guy. And he might be in the Majors before anyone else on this list. TheHurl: Shake off the rust and he's 2017 major league ready and able to play multiple positions. KingKat: There’s not much to say about him at this point. The fact that he didn’t command crazy money should temper expectations but he’s a versatile player and should be close enough to the majors to contribute something fairly soon. Jonn: Difficult to place but once he entered the organization he was a top 5 prospect. Looks like he will start in AA playing SS not sure how that will work with Urena but I'm sure he will alternative positions and play a lot of CF as well. People think he can be a super utility guy and have even drawn comparisons to Ben Zobrist. If he taps into that power potential and his walk numbers transfer over hes an exciting player to follow. Versatility is becoming more and more important in Baseball. And it would be nice to have someone with his bat and defensive versatility on the roster later in the 2017 season preparing for a potential playoff run.

Who's ready for the top 5?

Spankys vote was the one who got him on the list, sir.

Top 5 will be unveiled at 8:00 PM! Predictions?

#6. Richard Urena, SS, Dunedin Blue Jays/New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Dec. 2015 Rank: 8) http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/images/players/head_shot/620446.jpg http://i.imgur.com/l9I3eux.png Highest on Richard Urena: Jonn, #2 Lowest on Richard Urena: Jimcanuck, #13 What The People Are Saying Bobthe4th: if Gurriel sticks at SS, Urena takes a hit as he's no longer the top prospect in that position Pendleton: I very easily could have placed Urena a couple spots higher on this list, and likely would have if he had more success at the plate in his first short taste of AA ball. If he succeeds in New Hampshire this season it would seem safe to call him our SS of the future, or perhaps a successor to Travis at 2B. Grant77: He has arm and range to be an above average shorstop, but makes far too many sloppy errors and mental mistakes. A more consistent defensive effort would do wonders for his prospect status because the bat is very promising. Jimcanuck: numbers do not support high ranking by others and defense is reportedly average at best, overrated despite young age LetTheBallFly: SS of the future 43211234: There's a lot to like about the idea of a 20 year-old shortstop in AA. Urena continued to show strong power, hitting 24 doubles and 12 triples to go along with the 8 homeruns he hit between his time in Dunedin and New Hampshire. Promisingly, Richard lowered his K% on the season to under 15% but it seems like he might be a player who rarely takes a walk, as his over-aggressiveness shows up in scouting reports and his BB%. If the defence and hit tool can play at the major league level he has the chance to be a very solid player. z3r0s: I ranked him at 7, which is probably lower than others will have him. I don't really know what to make of Urena. Scouts continue to have lots of postitive things to say about his bat, but the red flags are real. On the positive side, he got his first taste of AA in his age 20 season, and he managed to reduce his K% which had crept up in 2015. He improved his BB% in his stint at high-A, but was unable to replicate that success when called up. Its hard to get excited about a player who looks like he will need to carry a high BABIP to crack a .300 OBP. Many of these warts would be easier to accept on a plus defensive SS, but Richard doesn't seem to have drastically improved his reliability at short. I think an impending position change really hurts his prospect capital. P2F: Entering his age 21 season next year, Urena will begin the season in AA. He gets high praise for his defense, which will likely be his calling card. At the plate, he hits for average power and doesn't draw a lot of walks. Couple that with his propensity to strike out, and he has a fair bit to iron out yet. Krylian: Slick fielding SS, with a bat that could be very good if he can improve the plate discipline. Maahfaace: His play after his promotions this year really surprised me, he looks like he could turn into a solid 2/3 WAR SS King: It is difficult to put a lock on Richard Urena. His bat has been great at times (137 wRC+ in 2013 DSL, 129 wRC+ in 2014 Bluefield, 107 wRC+ in 2015 Lansing, 132 wRC+ in 2016 Dunedin) and bad at times (76 wRC+ in 2015 Dunedin, 81 wRC+ in 2016 New Hampshire). Looking at the splits, he has historically hit very well vs RHP and struggled vs lefties. Hit 290/310/430 against RHP in AA, and 194/194/290 against LHP which dragged down his overall numbers. He'll need to improve his bat vs LHP, as well as improve his approach/aggressiveness at the plate in 2017. On defense, it is impossible to say anything unless you have seen enough sample of games yourself, as the reports vary from great defense to poor defense in any given report. He's a wildcard, and a player that I will be watching closely in 2017. At least I will try to, as the broadcast in New Hampshire is terrible. TheHurl: Solid, likely to be to traded though KingKat: This is the second season in a row where Urena didn’t perform well after a late call-up but in both cases, the larger samples were quite good. He’s never really felt like a high percentage guy but a strong showing in AA could go a long way to changing that perception.

#7. Bo Bichette, SS, GCL Blue Jays (Dec. 2015 Rank: N/A) http://i.imgur.com/sLZsMKJ.png http://i.imgur.com/IDMoibU.png Highest on Bo Bichette: LetTheBallFly, #3 Lowest on Bo Bichette: BBBB, #13 What The People Are Saying Bobthe4th: Obv small sample size but I can't ignore his start to his career >.400 AVG, another teenager too Spats: I haven't seen Bichette in person but I'm excited to see him this spring..can't dismiss the start he has had before being shut down. LetTheBallFly: Should team up with Vlad Jr. to make one of the best offensive duos moving through the minors. Really played well this past summer. His swing isn't textbook, but it worked great to begin his pro career. 43211234: Took complex ball by storm after going in the second round of the 2016 draft. Only a burst appendix could slow down his assault on GCL pitchers, though he did return for the final two games of the season after missing over a month. Bo is said to have a mechanically unorthodox swing. Though he is currently playing both middle infield positions, it's not known where he'll end up defensively. If he is able to stick at shortstop, that would obviously greatly increase his value. P2F: Came out of the gate like gangbusters after questions surfaced at the draft about his swing. Prospect evaluators have since noted that his bat was incredible in the GCL, for now silencing those critics. A SS, he profiles at second or even third base in the long-term. Krylian: Hit hitting was his claim to fame, but no one thought it would be this good. Improved competition will tell the story. Maahfaace: Kid is still super young, but id like to see the Jays be aggressive in his development path and try and push him early. TheHurl: I'll buy in. Why not…I'm going all in on kids of big leaguers. Grant77: I'd guess I was a little more cautious than most in ranking Bichette 9th. That was difficult considering his historic debut, but I have a few concerns. There's a ridiculous amount of movement his his hands and lower half that he needs to clean up and that may lead to some struggles down the road. That being said, he keeps his head still and if he can simplify the leg kick more like Bautista then we may have something. He's a little too thick and doesn't have the agility to be a great shortstop from what I have seen and read, so I think he ends up at third base. The strong arm and bat will certainly play at the hot corner. KingKat: How much do you buy into a strong debut? I buy into it enough to rank tops amongst the new draftees but he’s not cracking my top five just yet. I might regret this.

#8. T.J. Zeuch, RHP, Vancouver Canadians (Dec. 2015 Rank: N/A) http://assets1.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Zeuch-web-image-1040x572.jpg http://i.imgur.com/76xDgYq.png Highest on T.J. Zeuch: TheHurl (#5), z3r0s, p2f #6 Lowest on T.J. Zeuch: Jonn, #14 What The People Are Saying Bobthe4th: encouraging start but still too early, if he keeps developing he could easily rank higher in six months SirBJay: A guy who can strike guys out at a decent clip and gets groundballs is a good thing, with some video showing a really good breaking ball. He likely starts in Lansing next year, so he won't be too old for the level. P2F: The 2016 first round pick got off to an electrifying start in the minors this summer, albeit over a very small sample of 34 IP across three levels. He will be fun to watch over a full season in 2017. Likely starts at High-A Dunedin. Krylian: Tall and lanky. Mid-90s FB with good curve. Could have a big 2017. Maahfaace: Giant with some swing and miss stuff potential, still at least 3 years away from contributing 43211234: A big dude. Zeuch stands 6' 7" with room to grow into his lanky frame. Zeuch had a solid but unspectacular pro debut, posting good K and BB percentages. TJ sports a heavy fastball that call touch the mid 90s but needs to refine his secondary pitches. He will probably start 2017 in Lansing. TheHurl: Repeatable delivery, Best bet in the Jays system to be a positive starter Grant77: It's always hard to comment on newly drafted players beyond the dated scouting reports, but I did get to watch Zeuch pitch once against the Eugene Emeralds. My first thought was how tall he was on the mound. He's a legit 6'7 (maybe more) and he pitches from a high 3/4 arm slot. I'd imagine that the ball is difficult for batters to pick up and also gets on them quickly. He liked to pitch up in the zone with his fastball and also had a slider, which scouting reports say flashes as plus. I didn't see many changeups, so that will be key to his development, like any young pitcher. KingKat: Seems like a good pick. GD: I think Zeuch is really gonna surprise people. Great mechanics, a good mix and pitched well this year.

#9. Conner Greene, RHP, Dunedin Blue Jays/New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Dec. 2015 Rank: 3) http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/images/players/head_shot/641632.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Jt5vFql.png Highest on Conner Greene: P2F, #3 Lowest on Conner Greene: GD, Todd (Not Ranked) What The People Are Saying King: Greene is one of the more polarizing pitchers in the Jays system. He insists that no one should worry about his 2016 numbers as it was a development year for him, but the longer he keeps putting up numbers like he has the tougher it is to believe. It's very odd as the numbers do not much the power stuff that he has. He's going to need to trim the walk rate and miss more bats (no more pitching to contact!) if he wants to be an MLB starter in the future. A move to the bullpen could be in the cards as well, and he has the stuff to provide a lot of value there. Bobthe4th: needs a good season to stay relevant Spats: I was high on Greene until I saw him in Arizona..not sure that he has the drive to be a top pitcher. Grant77: Greene found a lot of new velocity (almost 10 mph) in a very short period and the changeup is a very new pitch so his 2016 struggles should have been expected in hindsight. Still, he has an easy plus plus fastball and compliments it with a plus curve ball.That alone gives him a floor as a high leverage reliever and he still has top of the rotation upside if the changeup comes. We learned a lesson with Aaron Sanchez about how minor league pitching stats can be deceptive. I think that the case with Greene as well. Jimcanuck: step back in 2016, needs to rebound in 2017 or bullpen is his future NJH: I don't hate Conner Greene. I love the reports on his stuff, but the numbers he posted this year weren't just bad - they were awful. And then he went to the AFL and did even worse. Don't start buying stocks in bad ratio / good stuff pitching prospects just because Aaron Sanchez happened. For every Sanchez in baseball there are a dozen Kyle Drabeks. Greene is 11th for me because he took no steps forward this year while the system improved. He could climb way up the list next year if he puts it together though. The raw ingredients are there. LetTheBallFly: Dropping fast. Hit a wall this year. Next season will be big for him. 43211234: The only prospect in the system with his own IMDB page. Greene made huge strides in the stuff and results department in 2015 but the numbers took a step back this past season. Reports are that Greene possesses a plus fastball, sitting 93-97 and touching 98 at times to go with solid sink. He is still looking for a consistent secondary pitch but the slider, curve and changeup have all been said to have shown flashes of promise. Reports have suggested Conner has had trouble maintaining a steady routine and some makeup questions have been raised. Greene is still very young. He will only turn 22 as he starts the season in AA next year. P2F: One of the best fastball/changeup combos in the minors. There's plus potential in his curveball, but it's been inconsistent. There is lots to dream on here, despite the fact the results haven't caught up to the stuff yet. The question is: Does he really want to play baseball, or would he prefer acting/modelling? Krylian: Aaron Sanchez lite Maahfaace: I was expecting big things from Greene this year, but he took a step back and seems to have developed control issues. Hopefully he can refine his secondary stuff and harness better command because his fastball is 65/70 IMO TheHurl: Does the smile have everyone fooled? K'ing no one, walking plenty. Keeps the ball in the park…but has never pitched in a hitters park. KingKat: This guy seems pretty full of himself. This would bother me less if he was coming off a better season. Of course just because someone is easy to dislike doesn’t mean it’s sensible to do so. For better or for worse, I’m pretty bearish right now and there’s a baseball argument for that not just a knee jerk dislike.

#10. Jon Harris, RHP, Lansing Lugnuts/Dunedin Blue Jays (Dec. 2015 Rank: 6) http://www.milb.com/assets/images/1/5/6/139864156/cuts/Jon_Harris_dsukfguk_9ynccxak.png http://i.imgur.com/8JvYE1F.png Highest on Jon Harris: BBBB, #1 Lowest on Jon Harris: King, Jimcanuck, GD (Not Ranked) What The People Are Saying Bobthe4th: 4 pitches, with lots of potential for improvement Grant77: Harris had long stretches of absolute brilliance this year and someone watching him during one of these starts could be forgiven for thinking of him as a future ace. Unfortunately, he bookended those stretches with a bunch of low strikeout games. At his best, he mixes 3 average or better pitches and gets a lot of groundballs with his 93-95 mph sinker. He's clearly got the ability and he showed that in 2016. More consistency makes him a future fixture in our rotation, but he could end up as a reliever if it doesn't come together soon. 43121234: The Blue Jays nabbed Harris at the end of the first round in 2015 to the surprise of some who had begged him to potentially go in the early teens of the draft. He had a disastrous start to his professional career in the following months, but fatigue from a long college season was often given as a potential reason for the poor showing. Jon had a much better season in 2016 as he showed his decent mix of pitches and command that many scouts think will let him slot into the back-end of a starting rotation. After failing to miss many bats in his first several starts of the year, Harris threw consecutive starts with 11 Ks in mid-May, though he never showed that level of swing-and-miss again. P2F: The fastball, changeup and slider all flash above-average potential, but his delivery is high effort. If he can straighten out his mechanics, the upside could be that of a #4/5 in the majors. He has a lot of work to do yet. Not as polished as once thought. Krylian: Had a bounceback year in 2016. Could move quickly if he can build on that season. Maahfaace: Has decent control with his sinking fastball, but needs to improve on his secondary stuff's ability to miss bats if he wants to be anything more than a #5 TheHurl: Hated the pick. He's done little to impress me. But he doesn't walk guys so that moves him ahead of the next three KingKat: He definitely improved upon his weak debut but I’m not ready to jump aboard this train just yet.

#11. Reese McGuire, C, New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Dec. 2015 Rank: N/A) http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/images/players/head_shot/624512.jpg http://i.imgur.com/c6mk8hc.png Highest on Reese McGuire: BBBB, #5 Lowest on Reese McGuire: Todd, P2F, TheHurl, imsorry4beatinU (Not Ranked) What The People Are Saying King: McGuire has the makings of a future backup catcher in the MLB. His defense gives him that floor but it is his bat that will dictate his future. He currently has an advanced hit tool which could go a long way to helping him carve out an MLB career. Bobthe4th: another potential September 2017 call up Grant77: I ranked him 11th ahead of higher upside prospects because of his excellent contact ability and good defense. Even if the power never comes along, I think he'll project similarly to Kurt Suzuki, who put up 12.5 WAR in his first 6 seasons. Nafro: Let's hope this time next year Max Pentecost has taken back spot as top Catcher in the system. SirBJay: Proximity is the key here. A catcher who grades out plus defensively and a plus framer is going to make it to the majors. If his good walk rate can keep him up to 320 and 330 OBP, he's an excellent backup option who doesn't hurt you with the bat. 43211234: McGuire has a reputation of being a fantastic defensive catcher. Though he has posted excellent BB and K rates over his minor league career, the power and hit tools have been well below average. Framing ability is such a wildcard and it could be the factor in whether Reese has a long big league career or not. Krylian: Above average glove, below average bat so far...but there is upside in the bat. Maahfaace: Solid defense, light bat. Could be a cheap backup for years to come. TheHurl: I like Reese, but Defense only catcher who I've never seen. I’m just not going to push him KingKat: It’s easy to forget that both McGuire and Ramirez are only 21. They seem to be perceived as older than they actually are. Because he’s still pretty young, there might be more here than meets the eye. At the very least, he should be expected to clear that lowest of bars, MLB backup catcher.

#12. Harold Ramirez, OF, New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Dec. 2015 Rank: N/A) http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/images/players/head_shot/623912.jpg http://i.imgur.com/HRJkobJ.png Highest on Harold Ramirez: Cyborg, LetTheBallFly (#7) Lowest on Harold Ramirez: Todd (#15) What The People Are Saying Bobthe4th: nothing particularly exciting about his stats or profile Nafro: Apparently he can hit 0.300, while hitting off balance half the time. Imagine if he finds an approach allowing him to stay balanced a majority of the time! NJH: Ramirez has not posted loud minor league numbers but he's still only 22. He could be in AAA next year at that age, which is very good age vs. level. I've seen scouts give him 50+ grades across the board. Lines like "his feel for the barrel and ability to make hard contact makes him a name to watch" (2080) make me salivate. Hitters hit, man. Ramirez is an upper level sleeper. SirBJay: He's hit everywhere he's been at, and I've personally love guys who tend to keep their K rates well below 20%. Baseball America is convinced that he'll gain some extra power, even though it probably won't be much. But the fact that he's got plus plate discipline and proximity to the majors makes him solid. P2F: Young for his level, but he's not without his flaws. Average bat speed and a little long in his swing. There is potential here for him to become a plus hitter, but the absence of power in his game and that he is likely destined for LF don't exactly indicate a future star. 2017 will be a telling season for him. Krylian: No exceptional tools. Solid overall. Maahfaace: Zeke Carrera 2.0? 43211234: Harold's calling card and ticket to the big leagues is his hit tool. Ramirez has a good ability to make contact but has shown only middling power and below average walk rates. Though he has spent time in center field, some scouts see him more as a corner player. Though he's piled up the stolen bases in the minor leagues, Harold has done so very inefficiently (career 73 SB, 44 CS). TheHurl: He is the least exciting guy around…but he can get the bat on the ball. I learned to love Colombians during the Pan Am's I will come around. A fat Ben Revere..maybe that's not so bad though KingKat: Definitely a better hitter than McGuire at this point but he has a higher bar to clear to make himself useful.

#13. Justin Maese, RHP, Vancouver Canadians/Lansing Lugnuts (Dec. 2015 Rank: 10) http://i.imgur.com/bEXUlX4.png Highest on Justin Maese: King, Jimcanuck (#8) What The People Are Saying King: Maese is showing the early makings of a future starter in the MLB, in the mold of 50-55% GB, 7-7.5 K/9, 2.5 BB/9 profile. His fastball sits in the 91-93 range and has bowling ball sink which allows him to induce groundballs at an above average rate (67% in Vancouver, 55% in Lansing), and his fastball command is extremely advanced for his age. The key to Maese becoming a middle of the rotation MLB starter is the advancement of his secondary pitches. He currently throws a hard, tight slider around 87 MPH, which would grade out average and a changeup that he didn't throw much in the games I viewed. If he can continue to progress his changeup and slider in order to miss more bats, I have no doubt in my mind Maese will be a future MLB pitcher. Bobthe4th: another player who can improve now he's a one sport player P2F: He is a finesse pitcher with great command of his repertoire, and has been pitching deep into games. Pounds the zone regularly with a great sinking fastball, a changeup that steadily improved over the season, and uses his slider effectively as an out pitch. He may start the season in Dunedin in 2017. Maahfaace: Ground ball machine with fringy secondary stuff, has a chance to be a solid inning eater 4.5 FIP #5 type of pitcher 43211234: Justin Maese had several dominant starts during his stint in Vancouver this year. Hitters in the NWL were overmatched by Maese's heavy, heavy fastball. Justin will need to improve his secondaries if he wants to become a #3 or #4 starter. Hopefully Maese will be able to turn his slider into a swing and miss pitch. TheHurl: Young and showing a feel for pitching. I get the feeling I'll be 100% Maesenated by June Grant77: I doubt everyone ranked Maese, but I love guys with high velocity sinkers. He filled out a lot this year during his age 19 season and was able to maintain his mid-90's velocity later into games, which is very encouraging. That's what scouts mean when they say someone is projectable. We saw the same thing with Conner Greene in 2014. Maese attacks hitters from a low 3/4 arm slot, which is likely responsible for his extreme ground ball tendencies. His slider is still too loopy and he doesn't command it well and the changeup is a work in progress to put it nicely. Fortunately, age is on his side and he'll have time to work on those things. KingKat: He’s a pretty interesting 19 year old. It’s pretty much impossible to predict whether he’ll become a casualty of attrition or not. Hopefully we’re still talking about him a few years from now.

#14. Angel Perdomo, LHP, Lansing Lugnuts (Dec. 2015 Rank: #14) http://www.milb.com/assets/images/3/0/2/181010302/cuts/perdomo_1aw8bf5k_44a4f7ri.jpg http://i.imgur.com/QGwWAF4.png Highest on Angel Perdomo: Maahfaace, Todd (#9) What The People Are Saying Pendleton: A giant lefty who can throws in the mid 90s with deception and a couple potential average breaking pitches? That's always going to command some attention. If he can continue to harness his control while still missing bats, Perdomo has the potential to shoot up this list. If he doesn't end up cutting it as a starter he could be a very intriguing bullpen option in the near future Jimcanuck: My favourite and I am thankful he was too raw to be grabbed in the Rule 5. With so many LHP moved out of system, becomes top LHP prospect. z3r0s: One of the harder names to place on the list, but I ended up with him at 12. After years in rookie ball, Angel didn't disapoint in his first tour in A ball. Command has long been the sticking point for Perdomo, and he managed to improve his BB% significatnly despite facing more advanced compitition. The K's continued to show and the workload was increased in a big way. He'll have to continue to advance next season as he is not really underaged for his level. I can see him either jumping up the rankings for next year, or falling off of top 15's entirely. P2F: A towering lefty with command issues. He locates his fastball well, but the curve and slider lag behind, flashing average potential. He will continue to be developed as a starter next season, but he most likely ends up a reliever. That being said, if he can develop a second pitch, he could be a really good one. Krylian: Good K numbers. Low 90's. Tall, lanky lefty. Will be challenged this season. Maahfaace: Took huge steps this year, missing bats at a nice clip. Still has some command issue's from start to start but I really am excited to see where this big lefty is in 2 years time TheHurl: Lefties can't touch him. Grant77: Perdomo makes the tail end of my list for his great strikeout ability from the left side, but there are a lot of reasons to think he might not stick as a starter. His mechanics are very inconsistent and he can lose the zone for long stretches. The walk rate will only increase against better hitters if he doesn't find some consistency. While scouts still see projection in him, I see a fully grown man and the fact that his velocity wanes late in starts doubly concerning because he throws a ton of pitches. On the plus side, he gets tons of swings and misses with his slider and the changeup is also average. 2017 in Dunedin (I would guess) will be a telling season.

#15. Max Pentecost, C/DH, Lansing Lugnuts/Dunedin Blue Jays (Dec. 2015 Rank: #7) http://www.milb.com/images/596069/t435/180x270/596069.jpg http://i.imgur.com/g0y4DBH.png Highest on Max Pentecost: SirBJay, Jimcanuck (#11) What The People Are Saying Bobthe4th: Injuries mean he may not be a catcher any more, he was exclusively a DH in 2016 Spats: I ranked Pentecost fairly high but he is such a nice kid with a beautiful swing...just hope he can stay healthy. Grant77: Pentecost gets one more shot at the bottom of my list because of the excellent power that he showed in his two stops this year. That gives me hope that should returning to catcher not work out, he may have a future as a corner outfielder. I'm skeptical that he'll be a long term catcher with the shoulder injuries, but it looks like we'll try it. Jimcanuck: unlikely to be a catcher, athleticism and bat could allow switch to corner OF SirBJay: Depsite injuries he's hit everywhere he goes with decent ISO numbers. But those injuries hnnngggghhh P2F: Very much a wildcard at this point. Will be given the chance to catch next season. If he can show he can physically handle it, he could be something special yet. The bat is advanced, but not elite. Athletic enough to play a corner OF position or 1B if his body can't hold up to the daily grind of catching. Krylian: 2017 is a huge season. Can get get back behind the plate? If so, there is still upside with the bat...and potentially the glove. Maahfaace: Still a solid bat, but hoping he gets back to catching again next year which would vault him back into the top 5, that and him staying healthy of course. 43211234: Shoulder health and ultimate position are what's keeping Pentecost outside the top 10. After multiple shoulder surgeries since being drafted in 2014, Pentecost was finally able to play a full, healthy season. Though he did so exclusively as a DH to allow the shoulder to strengthen. If he has the arm strength to stick at catcher he could become a strong major league starter, with average tools across the board. If not, he at least has the athleticism to give other positions a shot, though his bat may not play at a non-premium defensive position. TheHurl: Has lost so much development time. He'll be 24 at season start and he's essentially going to take 2 years to get his catching abilities back. Is the bat good enough elsewhere? KingKat: I had my doubts even before he got injured. I’ll leave the door open but it’s the teeniest, tiniest little crack.

#16. Francisco Rios, RHP, Lansing Lugnuts/Dunedin Blue Jays (Dec. 2015 Rank: N/A) http://i.imgur.com/TxRLyD6.png http://i.imgur.com/751Z5aQ.png Highest on Francisco Rios: John_Havok (#8), GD (#9), Todd (#10) What The People Are Saying Bobthe4th: lottery ticket but has more upside than some other prospects, very low BB/9 rate Nafro: May possibly be the best pitcher on this list, when its all said and done. NJH: We got a good look at Rios in the Futures Game this year. From a compact frame and a repeatable, simple delivery, he displayed a fastball that was 94/95 (in one inning of work) and a promising breaking ball. I saw some components that bode will for his future control, command, and pitchability. His numbers this year were extremely good, particularly in Lansing. Not a lot of upside here but I think he could be a big league reliever, and a back end starter if he has a third pitch in the bag or if he can find one. TheHurl: Fast track to the bullpen or trade him.

#17. Joshua Palacios, CF, Vancouver Canadians (Dec. 2015 Rank: N/A) http://i.imgur.com/urI0p5Y.png http://i.imgur.com/PQDcOvX.png Highest on Josh Palacios: KingKat, #10 What The People Are Saying LetTheBallFly: All the tools in the OF. Jimcanuck: sleeper pick, surprising numbers in 1st pro season SirBJay: Does what you want a college draftee to do, hit all the way up to full season ball, with reports of plus plate discipline, and good speed to boot, but the baserunning is kinda shite. No power, but I like the 11% K rate. Could move pretty quickly as a safe pick to make the majors. 43211234: Drafted in 2016, Josh Palacios had a very good pro debut. Splitting time between the GCL, Vancouver and Lansing, Palacios hit for a high average with promising K and BB rates, though he showed almost no power in-game. Scouts think he has a chance to stick in CF. KingKat: At first I was going to be sensible and leave him out of my top 10 but then I thought what fun is that? The scouting reports aren’t amazing but then you wouldn’t really expect them to be for a 4th rounder. I’ll just place a bet that his strong debut is indicative of something the reports missed. King: I had him ranked at #15 for a while. The hit tool is advanced and his pro debut was impressive.. also, he looks like a young Dalton Pompey in that picture.

#18. Ryan Borucki, LHP, Dunedin Blue Jays/Lansing Lugnuts (Dec. 2015 rank: #12) http://i.imgur.com/p65XQFg.png http://i.imgur.com/E9IymMU.png Highest on Ryan Borucki: BBBB (#10), TheHurl (#11), z3r0s (#15) What The People Are Saying z3r0s: Borucki had a rough start to 2016 with an ill-fated promotion to Dunedin coming off an injury plagued 2015. He got back on track with Lansing. Borucki recaptured his trademark command while logging a respectable amount of innings considering the organization was monitoring his pitches fairly closely by seasons end. The numbers, however solid, don't jump off the page, but I like what I hear in reports I read. Fastball seems to be rounding back to a low-mid 90's range. He seems to have solid command of all his pitches with a real strike-throwing mindset. I also hear good things about his deception. 2017 will be a huge year for Borucki as he will have to stay healthy and maintain effectiveness as he is exposed to a higher level of completion. TheHurl: This is my pure no upside pick. Great control with an amazing changeup is the profile everyone misses. #5 guy that will probably be well timed for the Jays needs. Grant77: I didn't rank Borucki, but he's put himself back on the radar with a good 2016 season. The Jays were hyper aggressive to start 2016 and basically skipped him from R ball to Dunedin, which turned out to be a mistake. He was throwing high 80's with poor command. After returning to Lansing , he regained his velocity and also showed a changeup. If he can show he's finally healthy and can pitch well in Dunedin then he may be back on track to being a big league starter, but those are big ifs.