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Nolan Gorman, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals Age: 20 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Gorman is inextricably tied to Matthew Liberatore as both are friends and Phoenix-area prep talents who went in the first round in 2018, both a little lower than expected, and after Tampa Bay traded Liberatore, they're now teammates with the Cardinals and are both on this Top 100. Gorman, like Casas (52nd), also offered easy plus raw power with game performance and exit velos to match in the 2018 draft, and the concerns on Gorman's contact rate in pursuit of game power was given a little more grace because he had a real shot to stick at third base long term. He fits the type to become a .250 to .260 hitter, with enough walks to have a solid OBP, and good enough pitch selection to get to his projected 70-grade raw power in games, which translates to 30ish homers annually. There's still some risk he has to move off third base, though playing there is going well so far, and his contact issues in Class Al (hitting .241 in low-A and .256 in high-A) don't give him a ton of margin for error going forward if that's about what he'll be doing in the big leagues. 51. Kristian Robinson, RF, Arizona Diamondbacks Age: 20 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Robinson is one of the most exciting upside prospects on this list, with some ridiculous tools and a physique at 6-foot-3 that would stand out at the NFL combine. He has plus speed, arm strength, and raw power right now, but as he fills out, the power may jump to 80-grade (some think it's already there) while the speed takes a step back and he slides from center to right field. He signed out of the Bahamas in 2017 and just turned 20, so he's a little behind his age peers in terms of game reps, but has performed well at the lower levels. His strikeout and walks rates are both high and he's getting to his power in games already, which is encouraging, but he's also excelling in part due to his physical gifts. The concern here is that his bat control plays below average and his pitch selection is just fine, so will more advanced pitchers tie him into knots and mute his physical gifts? If he can have even average pitch selection and 40 bat control that leads to a 40 hit tool (.240 to .250) but he then gets to most or all of his power (think 30-40 homers annually) and offers some real defensive value, that could be a perennial All-Star. And it's early enough that he could be even more than that. Reports from the alternate site were that he showed extreme ups and down, as you'd expect given the tools and facing near MLB-type talent. If you hear about GameStop's volatile stock and think about how cool that sounds, Robinson is for you. 52. Triston Casas, 1B, Boston Red Sox Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Casas is another prospect who first stood out as a prep underclassman, starring for Team USA clubs and playing for a powerhouse south Florida high school program at American Heritage that has produced Eric Hosmer among others. As the draft approached, Casas looked more like a first base-only prospect, but just kept hitting in games, showing a swing you could project to continue, and flashing plus-plus raw power with exit velos to match. The Red Sox took him 26th overall, and his stock continued to rise with a strong age-19 performance at low-A. He also continued to make progress in 2020 at the alternate site, showing up in great shape and performing well against older and more advanced competition. Drafting a prep first baseman in the first round seems like a bad idea, but Casas checked the boxes you need -- a track record of hitting, a swing for all fields, a strong approach, and in-game evidence of big raw power. He'll have to keep doing it, but he's staying on schedule to be an above-average regular, with some shot for perennial All-Star. 53. Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers Age: 24 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left Future Value: 50 Skubal was a notable name at Seattle University but didn't realize his draft potential as an amateur due to a Tommy John surgery in 2016 and extreme command issues in 2018, leading to Detroit scooping him up in the ninth round. He almost immediately started throwing more strikes in pro ball, with the signature mid-90s four-seam riding whiff-inducing fastball that's en vogue now. His off-speed stuff got a little more consistent, but was still average to a bit above, with his slider the best option. Skubal's command now projects as average to above, and he looks like he'll settle in as a bulk-inning lefty who is fastball-heavy in his usage. He had strong peripherals in his 2020 MLB debut but, as young pitchers throwing lots of high fastballs early in their careers tend to do, Skubal gave up a bunch of homers. Mize and Skubal likely both work out their issues in the next season or so and become steady options, with Manning just behind them. 54. Edward Cabrera, RHP, Miami Marlins Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Cabrera is a slightly forgotten member of the Marlins' embarrassment of upper-level starting pitching prospects, as Meyer was recently the third pick in the draft and Sixto Sanchez, Trevor Rogers, Braxton Garrett, and Nick Neidert all made their MLB debuts in 2020. Cabrera is seen as on the level or better than all of those except for Sanchez and he's on the 40-man roster, so he may get his chance in 2021. Some actually thought Cabrera was better than Sanchez before 2020 and it's easy to see why: Cabrera sits in the mid-90s and hits 99 mph, mixing in an above-average slider and changeup with enough command to start. He's probably not a front-line starter, but Cabrera could be a solid mid-rotation starter as soon as late 2021 in what is now a deep Marlins pitching staff. 55. J.J. Bleday, RF, Miami Marlins Age: 23 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left Future Value: 50 Bleday was a solid two-way prep prospect committed to Vanderbilt who had a little more upside at the plate, but couldn't get enough draft money out of high school to turn down school. Early at Vandy, his raw power made a jump with an improved physique and the underlying hitting ability made him a first-round prospect after a solid Cape Cod performance. He massacred the SEC in his draft year en route to going No. 4 overall to the Marlins, going straight to high-A after signing and holding his own. Bleday is now 23 and figures to spend the 2021 season in the upper minors with a shot to debut as early as late 2021. He's a deceptively good defender considering his below-average speed and has a plus arm from back in his pitching days. His raw power, pitch selection, and contact skills are all above average, but there's some question if there's a truly plus tool here aside from his arm strength. He's a good bet to be a strong regular along the lines of Josh Reddick or Andre Ethier with some chance that his wide base of skills adds up to even more. 56. George Valera, RF, Cleveland Indians Age: 20 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left Future Value: 50 At the time of signing, Valera was considered maybe the top hit/power combo in his July 2nd signing class with a loose lefty swing reminiscent of Kyle Tucker. That class included current Top 100 prospects Wander Franco, Julio Rodriguez, Kristian Robinson, Ronny Mauricio, and Liover Peguero, so some with either more raw power or more defensive value are his direct competition, but Valera still has above-average offensive potential. He projects for plus raw power, solid defense in a corner, and enough pitch selection and contact skills for at least average contact and on-base rates. There's still some risk in that he's only played 60 pro games and there isn't much room for error in that offensive projection, but he's passed every test so far. 57. Ryan Jeffers, C, Minnesota Twins Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Jeffers was a pop-up prospect at UNC-Wilmington in 2018, showing above-average raw power and arm strength behind the plate but there were some questions about his contact ability and defensive ability tied to his size: 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. He was seen as a third-round-type talent but the Twins' board blew up (a succession of players now worth well less than Jeffers) and they took him No. 59 overall. In pro ball, his contact and defense have both surprised, and posted strong numbers over 26 major league games in 2020 -- already beating pre-draft expectations. Jeffers is now a solid average defender due to some development work in the minors and will probably be a fringe-contact type who gets to at least average in-game power. In today's catching wasteland, that should be plenty to be a solid starter. 58. Xavier Edwards, 2B, Tampa Bay Rays Age: 21 | Bats: Both | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Edwards was acquired from San Diego in the deal that cost the Rays Jake Cronenworth and Tommy Pham, and he fits the general type of hitter Tampa Bay tends to collect: high-contact rate, up-the-middle defender. Edwards has at least plus contact skills, is a top-of-the-scale 80-grade runner and projects above average defensively at second base or center field -- but his arm is a little shy for shortstop. The issue, and why some suggested I should move Edwards to the back of this list, is the lack of in-game power. He has hit just one homer in two pro seasons. We've seen time and again that in-game power is the last tool to come for most prospects and good athletes with bat control are the type of player that tends to develop it in the big leagues. Teammate Vidal Brujan (26th) is a similar prospect in a lot of ways, and neither has to do much in terms of in-game power to become a versatile everyday position player. 59. Triston McKenzie, RHP, Cleveland Indians Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 McKenzie was well-known on the showcase circuit and a classic projection bet when he was selected No. 42 overall from a South Florida high school in 2015. He is still pretty lanky, but his velocity has progressed from sitting around 90 to averaging 92.8 mph in his MLB debut in 2020. He was steadily working his way up the minors before missing all of 2019 with back and chest muscle issues but appeared to be fine in 2020. His stuff isn't loud and his velocity tailed off throughout 2020 -- though he also hadn't pitched in a while, but it could also be to his slight frame. He has solid-average stuff and above-average command along with the benefits of an optimized four-pitch mix from Cleveland's pitching development machine. He is probably a mid-rotation starter if he can continue to stay healthy, yet another to come off of the organization's assembly line. 60. Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Rangers Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Jung stood out early in his career at Texas Tech because of his sure hands and an above-average arm at third base along with loud performance at the plate mostly via strong contact He also showed above-average raw power in batting practice, but rarely lifted or pulled the ball in game, so you wouldn't know by his in-game power numbers. The Rangers still took him No. 8 overall in the 2019 draft and he continued down this path in his pro debut, but there have been some indications that Jung made progress with his power attributes in 2020. His upside is an above-average offensive threat who is solid at third base. 61. Ronny Mauricio, SS, New York Mets Age: 21 | Bats: Both | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Mauricio is a classic upside play as a 6-foot-3, switch-hitting shortstop who projects for above-average tools across the board. He's still a teenager now and had some ups and down in low-A as an 18-year-old, but was obviously facing much older competition. His pitch selection is just OK right now, so his hitting tools are a bit obscured, but there's still some room for that to improve while may also grow into more power. It's easy to imagine Mauricio as another XL shortstop with plus offense when you watch how he moves on the field, but he has plenty of risk to go with that mammoth upside. 62. Heliot Ramos, RF, San Francisco Giants Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Ramos trended up down the stretch of his draft year as a prep prospect out of Puerto Rico, as a model-friendly 17-year-old with five average or better tools and loud exit velos. His arm may be his only true plus tool and he likely fits best in a corner-outfield spot, but he may get a big league look as soon as late in 2021. 63. Brennen Davis, CF, Chicago Cubs Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Davis is another toolsy prospect who most thought would take some time to produce stats that match his upside, but he handled himself better than expected in his first full season. He is 6-foot-4 with plus speed, a plus arm, and projects for plus raw power. He's had some nagging injuries and only has a small sample of (excellent) performance, along with limited exposure to playing baseball full-time, so there may be some ups and downs in the coming years. That said, he's easy to dream on and what information we have is almost universally positive, so his All-Star-level upside gives Cubs fans some hope during a cost-cutting time. 64. Alek Thomas, CF, Arizona Diamondbacks Age: 20 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left Future Value: 50 Thomas's father Alan is the White Sox director of conditioning, so it shouldn't be super surprising that Alek has grown into two grades more of raw power since entering pro ball in the summer of 2018. It's also not shocking that Alek has strong outfield instincts, with plus speed that plays as a plus defender in center field. Way-too-early 2021 MLB rankings With the hot stove still burning, Bradford Doolittle stacks up baseball's starting lineups and pitching rotations as they stand today. Lineups Rotations His hit tool has fallen back a bit amid the strength gains to where he plays something like a slightly lesser version of Cristian Pache: speed, defense, raw power, tools to hit, but questionable overall offensive impact. There's still a strong chance Thomas settles as a .250ish hitter with 15-25 homers and good defense, carving out a solid career along the lines of Brett Gardner or Kevin Kiermaier. 65. Daniel Lynch, LHP, Kansas City Royals Age: 24 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left Future Value: 50 Lynch was a personal favorite in the runup to the 2018 draft with his velocity spiking once he started pitching how he wanted (fewer sliders in the dirt) instead of how Virginia dictated. His velo has continued to rise, going from 88-92 early in his draft spring to touching the mid-90s pre-draft to finally reaching the upper 90s in pro ball. His above-average command from his softer-tossing pitchability days is still around, and his fastball and slider both play as 55s or 60s on the 20-80 scale depending on the day. His curveball and changeup are both around average, so he's got a real chance to be a mid-rotation starter, with some small chance to be a frontline power lefty if it all comes together. 66. Nick Gonzales, 2B, Pittsburgh Pirates Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Gonzales was the No. 7 overall pick last summer out of New Mexico and broadly fits into one of the best draft demographics: advanced college infielder with hit/power combination. Gonzales is unique within that group because the numbers he put up 1) in a smallish park 2) against weak competition and 3) at altitude for New Mexico are looked upon skeptically in the industry, and his brief 2020 spring looks against top competition (Asa Lacy and Christian Roa of Texas A&M, midweek versus Arizona State) weren't fantastic. His offensive tools and visual scouting still slot him in that aforementioned elite group, but the performance clubs are looking at is limited to 50 2019 games on the Cape. He hit .349 with good plate discipline and 28 extra base hits against the best amateur pitchers in the country. That's nowhere near as long of a track record as most other players in this group, usually with multiple years in top conferences, along with at least one notable, comparable summer, and often notable high school scouting track records. Gonzales is also a fringy runner and defender at second base, clearly below average for some scouts. So there's plenty of risk due to the background, but if he comes out and plays up to his draft position in high-A this year, most of that will fade into the background. 67. Hunter Greene, RHP, Cincinnati Reds Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 In high school leading up to the 2017 draft, Greene was one of the best right-handed prep pitching prospects in some time, eventually going No. 2 overall to Cincinnati. He was skilled enough to be a top-two round prospect as an infielder, threw 100 mph in high school, and had a silky smooth arm action, with strictly limited innings to keep him healthy. Ultimately, throwing 100 mph at that age is plenty of risk on its own, leading to a 2019 Tommy John surgery. Greene returned to the mound at the alternate site in 2020 and his stuff is back to normal (up to 102 mph) with some adjustments, like an improved changeup and greater use of his cutter, as a way of working around his inconsistent slider. It will be important to monitor Greene's arm slot and how his pitches play against live, rival hitters in 2021, to see how his raw stuff plays in games relative to the grades you'd throw on them in a vacuum. Greene's upside is a double-plus fastball with plus command, and above-average off-speed pitches, which adds up to a front-line starter, if not an ace. 68. Emerson Hancock, RHP, Seattle Mariners Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 At this time last year, Hancock was a stealth option to go No. 1 overall in the 2020 draft, as he'd shown three plus pitches, plus command, and a near ideal delivery and frame at various times in college, though rarely all at the same time, or at least for long stretches. He missed time down the stretch in 2019, then took the summer off. He came out of the gates a little wobbly in 2020, flashing some of his best stuff but his command faltered in the middle innings due in some part to early season stamina issues. The season was cut off right when Hancock was expected to take a step forward in conference play, so he lasted until the No. 6 overall pick. He didn't pitch competitively much in 2020 but has looked good in side sessions. There's front-line potential if Hancock can stay healthy and consistent, but the main concerns are around his fastball shape (more sinker than swing-and-miss pitch) and relying on a (very good, at least plus) changeup more than his breaking ball as a right-handed starter, as only a few in the big leagues do. 69. Garrett Crochet, LHP, Chicago White Sox Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left Future Value: 50 Crochet stepped onto the national scouting radar in his sophomore season at Tennessee, was widely seen that summer for Team USA, then hit 99 mph in one relief outing after a minor injury before the 2020 shutdown. He possesses some similar traits to Madison Bumgarner or even Chris Sale if you squint (low slot lefty, plus fastball/breaker combo, plays up in short stints), but there were enough questions about sticking as a starter or how his stuff played in games for him to last until the No. 11 pick. As you probably know, Crochet ran straight up to the big leagues in a relief role for the White Sox, like Sale did before him, and averaged 100 mph on his heater en route to striking out eight and walking none in six innings. He'll likely open 2021 in the bullpen again, with an eye toward moving to a starting role at some point in the near future. This could be a situation like Andrew Miller or Jonathan Papelbon where relieving just fits him better than starting, but the White Sox think the pieces are here to follow in Sale's footsteps again, hopefully with similar results. 70. Josh Lowe, CF, Tampa Bay Rays Age: 23 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Lowe was a dynamic two-way prospect in high school who reached the mid-90s on the mound and offered plus raw power, speed, and arm strength as a high-upside center field prospect. He was then drafted 13th overall by Tampa Bay to be a full-time hitter. Most of his pro career, Lowe has been a late-count, true-three-outcome hitter with lots of walks and strikeouts, and as of 2019, home runs. He made some progress at the alternate site in 2020 increasing his contact rate and overall offensive consistency. The upside here is still substantial: solid-average center-field defense paired with those still-plus raw tools -- now with a shot for average or better contact and power output and above-average walk rates. He'll likely open in Triple-A waiting for a spot in a crowded Rays outfield picture, but an MLB debut seems like since he is on the 40-man roster. 71. Deivi Garcia, RHP, Yankees Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Garcia's upside is limited due to his lack of size and bulk -- he's listed at 5-foot-9, 163 pounds -- as there aren't many perennial 180-inning starters with his frame. His raw stuff, command, and performance record, though, aren't in question. He has performed well at every level, has an easy plus high-spin curveball, a changeup that flashes plus, command that is at least above average and a fastball he can run up to 96 mph. Garcia's profile fits the direction pitching is trending as his nasty stuff may play best in three-to-five innings stints throughout the regular season and in a Swiss Army knife utility role in the postseason. 72. A.J. Puk, LHP, Oakland A's Age: 25 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left Future Value: 50 Puk has almost always had electric stuff from the left side (he ranked No. 20 on last year's list), and in the past few seasons has gotten his 6-foot-7 frame in better shape so he has the ability to stick in a rotation. What's been holding him back is arm health: a 2018 Tommy John surgery and 2020 shoulder surgery. Every indication is that he's on track to be back to his old self for Opening Day and GM David Forst said he expects Puk to open the season in the rotation. At his best, Puk is a potential front-line starter who sits 95-99 mph while mixing in a plus slider and plus changeup to go with average command. 73. Brendan McKay, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays Age: 25 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left Future Value: 50 In 2017, McKay was a rare two-way prospect who was a first rounder both ways -- and a top-half-of-the-first-round talent both ways for many teams. The Rays took him thinking he was slightly more likely to stick as a power-hitting first baseman, but would develop him both ways before pitching became the best option after one pro season. McKay made it to the big leagues in 2019, ranked 30th on this list last year because he is another rare type of prospect: a lefty with three above-average pitches and potentially plus-plus command. McKay missed all of 2020, eventually having shoulder surgery in the fall. Indications are he should also be back to his old form, though more in the first half of the season rather than a likely Opening Day assignment. McKay relies less on power than Puk one spot above him on the list and also coming back from surgery, so he may fare better in his return, but it's basically a guess on both of them at this point. 74. Keibert Ruiz, C, Dodgers Age: 22 | Bats: Both | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Ruiz is an elite framer but is just OK laterally behind the plate and his arm is just average so he fits into the same bucket of catchers as Alejandro Kirk (96th) in that they bring lots of defensive value now, but would be hurt by automatic strike-calling in the near future. Ruiz has average raw power but doesn't come close to tapping into it in games in part because he isn't that selective, which comes from having elite bat control. He may be a .300 hitter with minimal power and walks (but also strikeouts) who has big defensive value as long as framing exists. That means the shortage of capable big league catching makes him very valuable now, and potentially a little less over time than most prospects on this list. With Austin Barnes and Will Smith in the majors, the Dodgers could see Ruiz as a premium trade chip if their stacked roster is ever found wanting.

75. Jordyn Adams, CF, Los Angeles Angels Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 If you like upside, Adams is one of the best picks on the list for you. Adams has such absurd tools that he performed above league average in 2019 in low-A despite first focusing singularly on baseball just before he was drafted in the first round. He was an elite wide receiver recruit and also posted videos dunking on social media all while having a breakout 2018 draft spring showing Byron Buxton-level raw tools to go with a burgeoning feel for the game. Adams is a true 80-grade runner and projects for above-average raw power, with enough contact skills to be at least a 50-grade bat at maturity. His surface pro performance thus far has been shockingly good, but he also is still just scratching the surface in terms of getting his raw tools to show up on the field. 76. Tyler Soderstrom, C, Oakland A's Age: 19 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 I was bullish on Soderstrom all spring leading up to the 2020 draft because scouts I spoke with were grouping him in the top tier of prep hitters with Veen, Hassell, and Hendrick, while also giving Soderstom some chance to stick at catcher in pro ball. I ranked him No. 10 in the draft class, in the middle of that top prep position-player group, but he slid to late in the first round where Oakland had an above-slot bonus waiting for him. After a little shuffling over the last eight months, I still have him No. 10 among his draft class, in large part due to rave reviews from the Oakland staff about Soderstrom at the alternate site. That falls in line with a report of arguably the best prep hit/power (I'd call it 55 hit, 60 power) combo in the draft, progress defensively (but still some work to do), and his long-term outlook likely being helped if automatic balls and strikes becomes a reality. 77. Ivan Herrera, C, St. Louis Cardinals Age: 20 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 After a strong breakout season in 2019 across low-A and high-A, Herrera looked to be on the verge of jumping into the top echelon of catching prospects in 2020, but obviously didn't have the minor league season to make that move. The Cardinals are happy with his progress behind the plate and with the soft skills of catching, with enough in his average arm for a solid-average defensive package. Herrera has above-average raw power and contact skills, so 2021 will give us a better idea of exactly how they will play on the field. He was just added to the 40-man roster and another loud season at the plate will position him as the heir apparent to Yadier Molina. 78. Trevor Rogers, LHP, Miami Marlins Age: 23 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left Future Value: 50 Rogers is an under-the-radar arrow-up starting pitcher who made MLB debut in 2020. The report on Rogers at this time last year was above-average-to-plus fastball (sits 92-95 mph), changeup, and command, but some concern on his fringy breaking ball. It improved in 2020 to not hold back the rest of the package, and his high minor league strikeout rates were outpaced by a gaudy 12.5 K/9 in those seven MLB starts. Rogers is a solid candidate from this list to put up sneaky good numbers in the big leagues in 2021. 79. Travis Swaggerty, CF, Pittsburgh Pirates Age: 23 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left Future Value: 50 Swaggerty was an evolving prospect at South Alabama, showing a table-setter type skill set in the summer before his draft year for Collegiate Team USA, then morphing into a true-three-outcomes power threat during his draft spring. His raw power is still plus -- along with his speed, defense, and arm strength -- but the big question is on his contact ability, which maps nicely to how much effort is in his swing. The Team USA version of Swaggerty was underpowered, the South Alabama version was almost a softball slugger, and thus far in pro ball he's still trying to find the balance between the two. 80. Matthew Liberatore, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left Future Value: 50 Liberatore was generally seen as the consensus top arm in the loaded 2018 prep pitching class, losing a virtual coin flip with Ryan Weathers (99th on this list) to be first off the board at the No. 7 pick to San Diego. Grayson Rodriguez (30th) and Cole Winn (45+ FV) came off the board next before Tampa Bay took Liberatore and eventually dealt him to St. Louis in their ill-fated Randy Arozarena (10th) trade after the 2019 season. Liberatore has a two-seam/sinker action on his fastball so he likely won't post gaudy strikeout numbers, and he works more 91-95 mph range than at the flashy velo numbers of other pitchers on this list. The rest of the package -- three above-average off-speed pitches, above-average command, alternate site progress on multiple fronts -- has St. Louis excited about how quickly he could reach his mid-rotation potential. 81. Dane Dunning, RHP, Texas Rangers Age: 26 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Dunning was the headliner in return from the White Sox for Lance Lynn and his value was up in 2020, as he missed all of 2019 due to Tommy John surgery. Dunning posted seven big league starts of No. 3 to No. 4 starter quality, mixing four pitches and above-average command. His fastball sits in the low-90s and plays as fringe to average, while his off-speed pitches are above average. There is some risk in durability post-surgery and there isn't really front-line potential but, if Dunning can keep up this type of performance, the six years of control will work well for a rebuilding Texas club. 82. Francisco Alvarez, C, New York Mets Age: 19 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Last winter, I had Alvarez just off of the Top 100 essentially because we didn't have enough information even though what we knew (tools, pedigree, a little bit of lower-level performance) was in line with catchers on the list. We didn't get more minor league performance and the tools are about the same, but some players graduated and I sense a rise in value of catchers, either real or an adjustment to me undervaluing them in the past. Alvarez still shows above-average defensive skills and arm strength to go with a powerful frame that produces above-average raw power potential and the indicators of above-average contact skills -- though it's still a little early to say that with certainty. A full-season debut in 2021 will be key to moving Alvarez up or down from here. 83. Miguel Amaya, C, Chicago Cubs Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Amaya is 10th of the baker's dozen of catching prospects on this year's list, and he falls somewhere in the middle of a lot of them in almost every way. He has been up to high-A so he's probably at least another year away, but he's already on the 40-man so his clock is ticking. He's a below-average runner with above-average to plus defensive chops and arm strength, but his offensive game is a little harder to peg. He possesses above-average raw power but his swing is more geared for contact with solid plate discipline. A strong 2021 in Double-A and Triple-A could get him to where Tyler Stephenson is now, but Amaya could also fall into the many pitfalls we've seen young catchers fall into as they approach the big leagues. My best guess is he's one of the top 30 catchers in baseball for at least a few seasons of his career. 84. Taylor Trammell, CF, Seattle Mariners Age: 23 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left Future Value: 50 Trammel has already been traded twice (Reds to Padres in the Trevor Bauer three-way deal, Padres to Mariners in Austin Nola deal) and that, in combination with this ranking, explains his prospect stock a bit. He's still a Top 100 prospect, or just off the list for some, but not so elite that he's an off-the-table type for a team eyeing a huge trade. He looked like a plus left fielder with the tools for center who just didn't play there, ala Carl Crawford (with a below-average arm to match), but Seattle now thinks he'll be an average defensive center fielder if needed. Trammell projects as a hit-over-power type, but has above-average raw power he hasn't quite tapped into yet, with some concerned that he'll never get above 15ish homers annually. The overall package of a near-big-league-ready speed-and-defense outfielder with some offensive upside is probably enough to fill an everyday role. 85. Jose Garcia, SS, Cincinnati Reds Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Garcia probably wasn't big league ready in 2020 but the Reds needed a steadier glove and he's a good enough athlete that there was some thought in Cincinnati that he could be a fine bottom-of-the-order option. Garcia had a solid spring training and was ticketed for Double-A, so I'd expect one more season in the minors to set the stage for another shot at taking the long-term reins of the Reds' shortstop role. He has four plus tools (field, throw, run, raw power) with below-average contact skills that will also likely eat into that power production a bit as well. 86. Ha-Seong Kim, SS, San Diego Padres Age: 25 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Kim signed a four-year, $28 million deal with a mutual option, $4 million in incentives, and a $5.25 million posting fee paid to his Korean club, Kiwoom Heroes. The 25-year-old is a stats darling with strong performances in the KBO (between Double-A and Triple-A for translation purposes) while scouts are a little less bullish (he'll face greater velocity in MLB and raw hitting tools are just OK) but in the same general area projecting roughly average contact and power output. Most scouts think Kim will be good enough defensively to be around average at shortstop while others think he's more of a fill-in option who fits best at second or third. Kim's contract allows him to be optioned to the minors and with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, he'll likely fit at second base (with Jake Cronenworth) and filling in around the diamond depending on who's getting rest or has a bad matchup. 87. Quinn Priester, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Priester is one of a handful of pitchers who made real gains in terms of raw stuff behind mostly closed doors at the alternate site, instructional league, and in-person training. His velocity spiked to 99 or 100 mph depending on the source or specific outing, which was good to see so soon for one of the best projection bets in the 2019 draft class. Before that Priester was a projectable, northern prep arm with above-average traits across the board (three pitches, command, etc.) and the promise his stuff could be plus relatively soon. He's only made nine official pro appearances and we haven't seen the crisper stuff in games, but Priester could find his way into the top 25 prospects in the game if he continues down this path. 88. Michael Busch, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 If you squint, you can see a good bit of Max Muncy in Busch. Busch fits best at first base, is passable in a corner outfield spot, and can also fill-in at second base, particularly if you aggressively shift around him. At the plate, he has a solid sense of the strike zone, plus raw power, and solid-average contact skills, so it isn't hard to imagine a player like this moving pretty quickly and joining the legions of power hitters currently on the Dodgers' big league team. 89. Taylor Walls, SS, Tampa Bay Rays Age: 24 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 The Rays are a farm sytem-building machine because of their domestic and international amateur scouting, player development, and trades/pro scouting. One type of players they have most often created value with is seemingly limited-upside second-base types they are able to turn into potential everyday shortstops. They don't always end up that way, or may end up playing more of a utility role around the infield, but Walls may be the best example. He looked like a slam-dunk second baseman at Florida State with advanced plate discipline, maybe a Tommy LaStella type if it all worked out. He's now, for some scouts, a plus defensive shortstop with plus contact skills but more ordinary physical tools with average speed and arm strength and below-average power. Cleveland's Tyler Freeman is another similar prospect who just missed this list and fits the contact/gloves/defensive versatility type many progressive teams love. The odds of a number of 1-2 WAR seasons are high, and there's a shot at three-win seasons given how power can be developed in the big leagues these days. 90. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays Age: 20 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Woods Richardson probably isn't a front-line big league starter and, unlike most elite prospects chosen out of high school, isn't particularly physically projectable. Those are reasons he lasted until the second round in 2018. He was dealt by the Mets in the Marcus Stroman deal during a breakout 2019 season when, like No. 92 Balazovic, he went from low-A to high-A with crisper stuff and elite performance. Woods Richardson is also somewhat limited by not having a clear plus tool, but he has three pitches and command that are all arguably above average, so a No. 3 or 4 starter is a reasonable expectation. 91. Liover Peguero, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Peguero is endemic of the Pirates rebuilding approach under new GM Ben Cherington: lower level players with upside, particularly position players. Peguero was the headliner of the Starling Marte trade and, despite being a teenager at the time of the deal with no full-season experience, had already shown four above-average tools, with his power still below average. This profile is especially en vogue now and generally isn't available in trades once the prospect reaches high-A or Double-A. 92. Jordan Balazovic, RHP, Minnesota Twins Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Balazovic fits in the trend of later-blooming, steadily improving Canadian prep prospects of recent years. He made the jump in 2019 when his stuff got crisper and his performance metrics increased at a higher level. He's more of a 3rd-4th starter type since he has an arsenal of above average (55) pitches and potentially 55 command, but no plus tool. 93. Ryan Mountcastle, LF, Baltimore Orioles Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Mountcastle is just barely eligible for this list due to his 126 at-bat MLB debut in 2020 and due to that level of MLB experience and a pro track record dating back to 2015, he's pretty simple to break down. He's fringe to average in left field and also is fine at first base, but his below-average arm and glove limit where he can be played, even though he's a decent athlete. He has plus raw power and above-average bat control, but his swing decisions have always been below average, so his performance hasn't always been up to his raw tools. There have been some signs of growth, so there's still some chance he settles as an above-average regular, along the lines of Orioles teammate Trey Mancini. 94. Shane McClanahan, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays Age: 21 | Bats: Left | Throws: Left Future Value: 50 McClanahan has had a lot of ups and downs in his prospect career. He was in the mid-80s on the showcase circuit in high school, then spiked into the low-90s before opting to head to college. At South Florida, he had Tommy John surgery as a freshman, spiked to the mid-90s after he returned, then came out up to 100 mph looking like a top-five-overall pick in the first start of his 2018 draft year, before he slowly tumbled to the late first round throughout the season. He looked like a power lefty reliever to me in the draft and early in pro ball, then had a huge breakthrough 2019 where he reached Double-A and corrected almost every command and consistency issue. He made his big league debut in 2020 in the playoffs for Tampa Bay and pitched well out of the pen, capitalizing on a strong alternate site performance. Going forward, he's still straddling the starter/reliever border depending on team needs and the progression of his command. He has two easily plus pitches with his fastball and curve, which will both play in any role. 95. Shea Langeliers, C, Atlanta Braves Age: 23 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 I got the feedback that a lot of the catching prospects that might have been just outside the top 100 should move on because one of the current industry trends is teams looking for catching, pushing up the value of some of the top prospects at that position. Langeliers has the tools to be an average offensive threat along with above-average defensive tools and makeup/intangibles you like to see in an everyday catcher. His power stood out as a freshman in the Cape Cod League, then tailed off a bit around a hamate injury in his draft year, but it sounds like it's coming back. Pairing that with continued offensive performance in-line with his tools is why Atlanta sees him as their backstop of the future, ahead of Alex Jackson and William Contreras for when Travis d'Arnaud moves on. 96. Alejandro Kirk, C, Toronto Blue Jays Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Kirk is a fun prospect to like because he has a unique frame for a catcher and he's a really good hitter. There's long-term worries about how good of a catcher he'll be due to his size and lateral quickness. His big frame helps make him a strong pitch framer and he works well with pitchers, so a move to automatic strike calling in the coming years may also hurt his long-term value. His high contact rate means he'll always find his way into a lineup, but probably with average at-best in-game power. More than any other player on this list, Kirk is in demand now (the forward-thinking type clubs are especially interested, particularly given Toronto's surplus of good catchers) and projects to have a lot of trade value the next few years, but that may tail off near the end of his six-plus years of team control. 97. DL Hall, LHP, Baltimore Orioles Age: 22 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Hall flies a bit below the radar because he was a later first-round pick by a rebuilding club back in 2017, and isn't higher on this list because his walk rates have been high for his two-plus pro seasons. He fits where the league is going with four above-average pitches and among the best strikeout rates of any starting pitching prospect, along with being ready for the upper level of the minors in 2021. He's a solid athlete making adjustments to his repertoire (two distinct breaking balls now) and is one notch of improved control/command from being a potential mid-rotation starter, with a shot to be a front-line pitcher if the stars align. The two top decision makers in Baltimore (Mike Elias and Sig Mejdal) came from Houston, which has had a strong track record of developing pitching, so that could bode well for Hall. Baltimore had already seen Grayson Rodriguez (No. 30 on this list) improve notably, along with others that are lesser prospects. 98. Jackson Rutledge, RHP, Washington Nationals Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Rutledge is a classic power arm upside bet from the Nationals. He fits the new-age model of pitchers with high-octane stuff that love to monitor their pitch metrics and dive into pitch design while throwing bullpens. There's some injury risk given that Rutledge is at the top of the scale in size (6-foot-8, 250 pounds) and velocity (regularly up to 100 mph), along with a hip surgery that scared some teams pre-draft. There haven't been any issues in pro ball and it appears GM Mike Rizzo has already deemed him off-limits for most if any deals. He's one of a dozen or so pitching prospects with a real chance to be a potential ace (his slider flashes 70-grade), but he's ranked this low because the command, performance, consistency, and health are all still an open question while he's this far away from the big leagues. 99. Ryan Weathers, LHP, San Diego Padres Age: 21 | Bats: Right | Throws: Left Future Value: 50 Weathers grows on you the more you watch him. At first glance, he has an unimpressive frame for an elite young pitcher and, depending on when you see him, he may sit in the low-90s. But the son of former big league reliever David is deceptively athletic, able to dunk at a filled-out 6-foot-1. His prospect status took a leap in both spring training camps of 2020 as he was sitting in the mid-90s with a firmer breaking ball, but still with the above-average command and changeup from when he was sitting closer to 90 mph. There's still some concern that Weathers' velo backs up and he settles in as a back-end starter with solid-average stuff and solid feel, but even that may be Top 100 worthy as he made his big league debut in the 2020 playoffs, leaping ahead of MacKenzie Gore, and may be on the fast track to getting another look in the big leagues sooner than later. 100. Patrick Bailey, C, San Francisco Giants Age: 21 | Bats: Both | Throws: Right Future Value: 50 Fellow Giants catcher prospect Joey Bart is 37th on this list with an arrow down from last year, while Bailey brings up the rear with an arrow up. Bailey has a similar profile to Bart, just not quite as much upside: above-average raw power, defensive acumen, arm strength and intangibles, with some questions on the contact rate. He hasn't played a professional game yet, but there's some thought that Bailey is more of a power-over-hit type with solid pitch selection (chooses to have a lower batting average, with enough walks for a solid OBP), while Bart has trouble with pitch selection, which would eat into his contact, walks, and power output. It's still early to be sure about this, and 2021 will be a big year for both catchers to clarify whom the Giants will be putting their chips behind.

Right, he could've been optioned down to start the year?

The picks get moved automatically in trade through FT to the draft room, no worries there.

It's an ESPN Australia link, it should work. Maybe try http://www.espn.com.au Carlos.

https://www.espn.com.au/mlb/insider/story/_/id/30833166/kiley-mcdaniel-top-100-mlb-prospects-2021

Yes, what's the difference with Davis? I'm simply implying as depth for injuries, not a big deal, mate. Or move him for international money or something, I just think someone like Payamps or Waguespack would've been a better option to DFA at the time. We have loads of arms available this year.

I'm not saying he isn't any good, I'd say Vasilevskiy, Bishop, Rask, Keumper and Gibson are top 5. Quickly glazing over the last few years numbers.

It's a 5th OF'er, with Davis having an option is better depth in case of injury, holy f***. Not a big deal there, coach.

Damn, your team is sexy.

I hated dropping him, he's still a solid goaltender. I had to take a flier on Peterson, it seems to be the right move.

lol... shade again.

You getting a Mike Smith bone yet?

Davis has an option, he should've lasted much longer.

...

Davis had an option, it wasn't hard.

You fellas are wrong.

Do you know Fisher's profile, lol.

Dude, are you serious? lol

Of course we were, that'd have been nice.

Colour me surprised.

Thanks, I know what you're saying, and I strongly believe that you're incorrect. Right now Kirk >>> Thomas alone, who is Mason?

Well, "IF" he could get more is great and all, no homerism, but the answer is this guy... https://www.fangraphs.com/players/alejandro-kirk/22581/stats?position=C

I beg to differ. He's already projected as a 116 wRC+