Ranking the Top 25 MLB Prospects Making Waves in Offseason Leagues

There’s only one game remaining on this year’s Arizona Fall League schedule, but it’s a big one.

The Salt River Rafters (17-11-4) and Peoria Javelinas (15-4-3) will play in the AFL Championship Game on Saturday, beginning at 3:08 p.m. ET and airing on MLB Network/MLB.com.

Meanwhile, the other notable offseason leagues, such as the Dominican, Puerto Rican and Venezuelan Winter Leagues, are in the middle of their respective regular seasons, with the postseason still roughly a few months away. And as it’s the case every year, some of this year’s AFL participants will head out to extend their seasons in one of the winter leagues.

Unfortunately, the overlap across the four aforementioned offseason leagues will soon end. But before it does, we’ve got you covered with an up-to-date look—based on our year-end top 100 rankings, but adjusted to reflect changes since the article was published—at the top 25 prospects playing winter ball this year.

25. Rio Ruiz, 3B, Houston Astros

Arizona Fall League Stats: 21 G, .187/.292/.227, 3 2B, 7 RBI, 12 BB, 17 K

Rio Ruiz had a consistent season in the hitter-friendly California League, as he batted .293/.387/.436 with 50 extra-base hits and 77 RBI over 131 games at High-A Lancaster. He also amassed 82 walks and 91 strikeouts on the season, an impressive total for a 20-year-old in his second full season of professional baseball.

The main question for Ruiz is whether his power will develop in order to turn his doubles into home runs. He always has been viewed as an extra-base machine with excellent plate discipline and an advanced approach, but the left-handed batter has 70 doubles compared to 23 home runs in 245 games between both Class-A levels over the last two seasons.

"He's very much one of our top infield prospects and has done a really nice job for us," general manager Jeff Luhnow said, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.

"He's 20 years old, so we're not going to rush him, but we very much see him as a legitimate big league prospect who can play third easily. He's done really well defensively for us at third base and could move to first if we needed him, but at this point we see him as a third baseman."

If Ruiz’s power does not develop and he is not good enough on defense to play third base, he would be a tough fit as a first baseman who hits .280 with 10 home runs. If everything clicks, he could be a third baseman who hits .300 with 20-plus home runs, which could turn him into a potential All-Star.

24. Brandon Drury, 3B/2B, Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Fall League Stats: 23 G, .219/.312/.375, 8 XBH (3 HR), 11 RBI, 13 BB, 21 K

Brandon Drury hit .300/.366/.519 with 35 doubles and 19 home runs over 107 games with High-A Visalia before a promotion to Double-A Mobile. The 22-year-old continued to rake in the Southern League, posting an .821 OPS with 11 extra-base hits (four home runs) in 29 games.

Drury’s Fall Stars Game batting practice was my favorite. The 22-year-old put on a show, driving sharp line drives to the deepest part of Salt River Fields—the kind of line drives that make it easy to envision many of his doubles clearing more fences as he develops.

Overall, Drury profiles as a solid defensive third baseman who hits .300 with 15-20 homers and 30-plus doubles. The Arizona Diamondbacks will want to see what they have in Jake Lamb next season, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Drury in the major leagues by the end of 2015.

23. Francellis Montas, RHP, Chicago White Sox

Arizona Fall League Stats: 6 GS, 23 IP, 3.52 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, .253 BAA, 10 BB, 19 K

My lone look at Francellis Montas came in the Fall Stars Game, when he featured a heavy fastball at 94-97 mph and a plus slider in the 87-89 mph range, though his command of the latter was inconsistent.

Jim Callis of MLB.com saw the 21-year-old right-hander’s final start, which turned out to be his worst this fall:

"

Montas made his final appearance of the season Wednesday evening against the Salt River Rafters, the AFL's best team, and he turned in his worst performance of the fall. After allowing just five earned runs in his first five starts, he gave up four in three innings. Montas allowed seven hits, a walk and a hit batter while throwing 39 of 64 pitches for strikes.

Montas' fastball registered 98 mph three times, though one of those resulted in an opposite-field ground-rule double by Peter O'Brien (D-backs). The Rafters repeatedly made hard contact against his fastball, which sat at 94-96 and found the strike zone 27 times in 43 tries.

Montas' heater generated two swings-and-misses, which resulted in his only two strikeouts of the evening, against Trevor Story (Rockies) and Taylor Featherston (Rockies).

"

22. Hunter Dozier, 3B, Kansas City Royals

Orlin Wagner/Associated Press

Arizona Fall League Stats: 24 G, .256/.390/.360, 7 XBH (HR), 11 RBI, 18 BB, 29 K

Hunter Dozier had an impressive first half of the season at High-A Wilmington, posting an .826 OPS with 22 extra-base hits in 66 games. However, the 23-year-old’s production dropped off considerably following a midseason promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, as his OPS dropped to .615 and was accompanied by 70 strikeouts in 64 games.

Dozier’s scuffles continued into the AFL, but he managed to turn things around this past week with a six-game hitting streak in which he’s batting .500 (11-for-22) with two doubles and five walks.

From Paul Casella of MLB.com:

"It's been a grind for sure," Dozier said. "But you come out here and just keep working and take advantage of the opportunity. It's really a good chance for all of us to prove ourselves and work toward reaching our ultimate goal of playing in the big leagues."

21. C.J. Edwards, RHP, Chicago Cubs

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Arizona Fall League Stats: 6 GS, 15 IP, 1.80 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, .154 BAA, 8 BB, 13 K

My only look at C.J. Edwards came in the Fall Stars Game, when he struck out two batters while working a scoreless third inning in relief of starter Archie Bradley. The wiry right-hander was as sharp as his line suggests, throwing a 91-94 mph fastball that jumps out of his hand, a swing-and-miss breaking ball in the 79-82 mph range and an 86-87 mph changeup.

Yet, Jim Callis of MLB.com wonders whether Edwards will have the durability as a starter to survive a full season: “The biggest question scouts have about him is whether his skinny 6-foot-2, 155-pound frame can withstand the rigors of starting. Edwards does have an athletic delivery without any red flags, so that should help.”

Beyond the physical concerns, Edwards’ changeup represents his weakest offering at the present, and he’ll need to develop it, as well as refine his overall command, as he continues to move up the ladder and faces better hitters.

20. Trea Turner, SS, San Diego Padres

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

Arizona Fall League Stats: 9 G, .400/.417/.400, 10 R, 7 SB, BB, 8 K

Trea Turner, the No. 13 overall pick in this year’s draft, got off to a slow start to begin his career, batting just .228 over 23 games in the Short Season Northwest League.

Despite his struggles, the San Diego Padres promoted Turner to Low-A Fort Wayne in mid-July, which in turn jump-started his bat. During his 46 games at the full-season level, Turner batted a robust .369/.447/.529 with 69 hits (22 extra-base hits) and 14 steals. He also hit safely in 35 of those games, highlighted by 22 multi-hit performances.

Turner, who’s on Surprise’s taxi squad, continued to post impressive numbers this fall, despite limited playing time, batting .400 with 10 runs scored and seven stolen bases in nine games.

The extra off days built into Turner’s weekly schedule allowed him to refine his swing and approach; the work he put in showed down the stretch, as the 21-year-old capped his season with a four-game hitting streak during which he was 10-for-19 with nine runs scored and five steals.

"Just changing my swing the whole time I've been here. Finally feel like I have a swing that I can stick with, and I got some pitches to hit, and I had the right timing tonight," Turner said, per Cash Kruth of MLB.com. "Hard to get the timing right when you don't play every day. Tonight everything clicked for me."

Turner’s bat proved to be better than expected after signing, so it’ll be interesting to see how aggressive (or patient) the Padres are with his development next season.

19. Tyrone Taylor, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

Arizona Fall League Stats: 21 G, .271/.315/.306, 2 XBH, 3 SB, 5 BB, 7 K

Tyrone Taylor’s numbers this season at High-A Brevard County were nearly identical to those he posted last year in his full-season debut at Low-A Wisconsin. The only difference between the 20-year-old’s two seasons is that the latter came in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League.

Taylor was moved up to Double-A Huntsville for the final week of the season after batting .278/.331/.396 with 45 extra-base hits (36 doubles), 23 stolen bases and a 63-40 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 130 games at Brevard County.

The toolsy center fielder has the makings of a 20-20 player in his prime, though he’ll likely need to turn on the ball more consistently to tap into his raw power.

18. Daniel Robertson, SS, Oakland Athletics

Arizona Fall League Stats: 20 G, .301/.398/.356, 2 XBH (HR), 12 RBI, 11 BB, 20 K

With the Oakland A’s decision to trade Addison Russell in early July, Daniel Robertson went from the "other shortstop" selected in the first round of the 2012 draft (after Russell) to the shortstop of the future.

That distinction had as much to do with Robertson’s performance as it did the trade, as the 20-year-old batted .310/.402/.471 with 15 home runs, 37 doubles and 60 RBI over 132 games at High-A Stockton.

Robertson hasn’t shown much power in the AFL, as two of his 22 hits have gone for extra bases, but it’s hard to discount the fact that he’s batting above .300 and playing shortstop regularly with more than 150 total games this season under his belt.

Robertson should start 2015 with Double-A Midland after getting his feet wet during the Texas League playoffs, though his estimated time of arrival in the major leagues will depend on whether the A’s sign a free-agent shortstop this offseason.

17. Nick Williams, OF, Texas Rangers

USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Fall League Stats: 27 G, .277/.296/.420, 10 XBH (2 HR), 19 RBI, BB, 32 K

Nick Williams hit .292/.343/.491 with 28 doubles, four triples and 13 home runs at High-A Myrtle Beach, but he also struck out 117 times compared to 19 walks in 94 games.

The 21-year-old outfielder is an aggressive hitter, with a lightning-quick bat, impressive barrel control and above-average power, but obviously there’s still reason to worry whether his free-swinging approach will allow those hitting tools to translate against advanced pitching.

Williams’ performance this fall is right on par with what we’ve come to expect: a solid batting average, thanks to a high BABIP (.368), plenty of extra-base hits (10) and a horrendous strikeout-to-walk ratio (32-to-1).

Williams moved up to Double-A Frisco for the end of the season and the Texas League playoffs and will likely return to the level to start 2015—a potentially telling year for the left-handed-hitting outfielder.

16. Dalton Pompey, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

Arizona Fall League Stats: 19 G, .257/.358/.371, 6 XBH, 2 RBI, 9 SB, 11 BB, 14 K

Dalton Pompey began the 2014 season with High-A Dunedin in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League before moving up to Double-A New Hampshire in late June. Pompey played in only 31 Eastern League games before he received another promotion, this time moving up to Triple-A Buffalo.

After batting .358/.393/.453 with 15 runs scored and six stolen bases in 12 Triple-A games, Pompey was officially called up to the major leagues, where he posted a .738 OPS with four extra-base hits in 43 plate appearances.

"He's very respectful, very intelligent," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said in September, per Jim Callis of MLB.com. "Carries himself like a pro, and you combine what he's doing on the field—he's flew through the system this year at a young age."

Pompey has a high-end combination of hit/speed potential while also playing a solid center field—all attributes he showcased during his time in the major leagues as well as in my looks in the AFL.

Though he’s young and relatively raw and would benefit from more time in the minor leagues next season, Toronto's decision on Wednesday to trade Anthony Gose, knowing that it's unlikely to re-sign Melky Cabrera and Colby Rasmus, means center field could be Pompey's to lose next spring.

15. Hunter Renfroe, OF, San Diego Padres

Arizona Fall League Stats: 26 G, .284/.345/.569, 16 XBH (6 HR), 20 RBI, 8 BB, 23 K

Selected with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2013 draft, Hunter Renfroe, 22, put up an impressive .295/.370/.565 line with 40 extra-base hits in the California League, which included a .343/.415/.636 line over his last 34 games.

However, Renfroe’s aggressive approach at the plate and swing-and-miss tendencies hurt his power frequency after moving up to Double-A San Antonio, as he hit just five home runs in 60 games after totaling 16 in 69 High-A contests.

Renfroe stands out for his enormous raw power and ability to punish mistakes, which is why he’s currently tied for the AFL lead with six home runs.

"I am seeing the ball well right now,'' Renfroe said, per Don Ketchum of MLB.com. "I am barreling the pitchers up, and when you do that, good stuff happens.

However, he also likes to swing, a lot, and he’s always going to strike out more than desired. But while his approach needs refinement, the 22-year-old’s ability to get the barrel to the ball is impressive, and he’s just missing a lot of pitches right now that he won’t in the future.

14. Mark Appel, RHP, Houston Astros

USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Fall League Stats: 7 GS, 31 IP, 2.61 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, .167 BAA, 8 BB, 24 K

Most reports on Mark Appel this fall have been positive, and his impressive numbers through seven starts and 31 innings would seem to support that. However, the 2013 No. 1 overall draft pick was not impressive in his Oct. 31 start, when he allowed six runs (five earned) on five hits and three walks over four-plus innings.

Appel cruised through the first two innings but then started to pick at the zone with his secondary pitches in the third inning, resulting in two runs on two hits and two walks. The same thing happened in the fifth inning when Appel turned over the lineup for a third time, as he put on the first three batters (two singles and a walk) before departing the game. 74 pitches, 43 strikes.

The right-hander bounced back in his next start, however, and looked more like the guy who dominated in previous weeks.

According to Jim Callis of MLB.com:

"

Appel notched strikeouts with each of his three pitches: Darnell Sweeney (Dodgers) swinging on 97-mph fastballs in the first and third innings, Shawn Zarraga (Brewers) looking at an 85-mph slider and Nick Ramirez (Brewers) out in front on an 84-mph changeup in the fourth. He created eight swings-and-misses, four on fastballs, two on sliders and two on changeups.

Appel worked from 92-97 mph with his fastball, touching 97 five times. His slider averaged 86 mph, though once again it stood out more for its power than its sharpness. Appel had more faith in his changeup than he showed in his previous two outings.

"

Appel certainly has resuscitated his prospect stock this fall, but he still has plenty to prove before it’s once again safe to consider him an impact-pitching prospect.

13. Brandon Nimmo, OF, New York Mets

Arizona Fall League Stats: 21 G, .202/.306/.238, 3 2B, 8 RBI, 12 BB, 28 K

Brandon Nimmo, the No. 13 pick in the 2011 draft, had his prospect stock take off this season, thanks to a breakout performance at High-A St. Lucie and now Double-A Binghamton.

Overall, the 21-year-old outfielder posted a .278/.394/.426 batting line with 40 extra-base hits, including a career-high 10 home runs, 14 stolen bases and a 105-86 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 127 games.

He hasn’t begun to fully tap into his raw power as hoped, but the left-handed batter continues to hit for average and get on base at a high clip, while also holding his own at multiple outfield positions.

Nimmo was impressive on both sides of the ball in my looks last week, so I’d imagine that his .544 OPS this fall has more to do with the 149 games he’s played on the season.

12. Maikel Franco, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies

USA TODAY Sports

Dominican Winter League Stats: 14 G, .281/.317/.544, 7 XBH (4 HR), 14 RBI, 3 BB, 12 K

Maikel Franco, 22, overcame a rough first half (.649 OPS in 87 games) at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and finally turned the corner in July, batting .324/.344/.579 with 30 extra-base hits (11 home runs) and 47 RBI over his final 54 games.

Franco’s second-half surge convinced the Philadelphia Phillies he was ready to be challenged at the highest level, so they called him up on Sept. 1 for the final month of the season. However, Franco’s hot bat didn’t carry over to The Show, as he batted just .179 (10-for-56) with 13 strikeouts while appearing in 16 games.

The good news is Franco’s showing more consistent power in the Dominican Winter League, with four home runs and three doubles in 14 games.

Third base should be his position to lose next spring—at worst he begins the season in a platoon with Cody Asche—though it still would be nice to see him put together a few more consistent performances down the stretch.

11. Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees

Arizona Fall League Stats: 24 G, .278/.377/.467, 9 XBH (4 HR), 15 RBI, 13 BB, 22 K

At 6’7”, 230 pounds (debatable), Aaron Judge is not the poorly coordinated ogre you’d expect him to be. In fact, he’s the exact opposite. With a physical presence comparable to Giancarlo Stanton’s, Aaron Judge is an impressive athlete with very promising baseball skills on both sides of the ball.

At the plate, the towering right-handed batter doesn’t feature a typical big-man’s swing; rather, Judge has a compact swing, keeping his hands close to his body throughout, and keeps the barrel in hitting zone for an extended period of time.

From Don Ketchum of MLB.com:

"My approach is that I just try to get a base hit from gap to gap. I figure that if you get 400-500 at-bats, you are probably going to run into 25 or 30 [home runs]. I am just trying to square the ball up and hit the ball hard. I'm sure that I will get my share."

There isn’t a lot of lift to Judge’s swing, but the guy is so damn strong (70 raw power) he’s able to effortlessly rope line drives over fences to the deepest part of any park. And if he can learn to get on top of pitches at the top of the zone, then the home runs should come in bunches.

10. Jesse Winker, OF, Cincinnati Reds

Arizona Fall League Stats: 19 G, .338/.440/.559, 8 XBH (3 HR), 18 RBI, 14 BB, 17 K

Jesse Winker posted a 1.006 OPS in 53 games at High-A Bakersfield to open the season, but his production fell off after moving up to Double-A Pensacola (.677 OPS in 21 games), likely due to the partially torn tendon in his right wrist that ultimately ended his season in late July (but didn’t require surgery).

Fully healthy for the AFL, the sweet-swinging Winker has been locked in at the plate.

"It seems like my hits are finding holes," he said, per Teddy Cahill of MLB.com.

"That's part of the game, though. I've gone through phases where they have and phases where they haven't. It seems like every guy throws in the mid-90s out here, so you just have to go up and try to battle them."

Winker flat-out rakes, so it’s really not surprising he’s currently second in the AFL with a .338 batting average. Meanwhile, the power to all fields he’s shown this fall is evidence that the wrist injury is behind him.

9. Tim Anderson, SS, Chicago White Sox

Arizona Fall League Stats: 23 G, .301/.343/.430, 8 XBH (2 HR), 6 SB, 4 BB, 28 K

Tim Anderson’s introduction to the Double-A Southern League this season was brief but successful, as he batted .364 with four extra-base hits in 10 games to conclude his first full professional campaign.

In general, Anderson made more consistent contact than expected and flashed good raw power this season, but his approach and pitch recognition was exposed and will require considerable refinement moving forward. That being said, Anderson does have plus bat speed and decent barrel control, which is why he’s able to hit for average despite swinging at a majority of the pitches he sees.

The 21-year-old shortstop got off to a rough start in the AFL, but his .333 clip with five extra-base hits over his last 10 games has pushed his batting average north of .300.

8. Josh Bell, OF/1B, Pittsburgh Pirates

Arizona Fall League Stats: 23 G, .214/.320/.310, 8 2B, 7 RBI, 12 BB, 13 K

Moved up to High-A Bradenton for his 2014 campaign, Josh Bell, 22, continued to make offensive strides in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League, batting .335/.384/.502 with 33 extra-base hits (nine home runs) and an improved 43-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 84 games. His red-hot bat carried over to the Eastern League for the final month of the season, as he batted .287/.343/.309 over his final 24 games.

Bell, a corner outfielder for his entire professional career, is working out at first base this fall, which explains why he’s tied for his team’s lead with five errors.

From Jim Callis of MLB.com, Bell, who started at DH for the East division in Saturday's Fall Stars Game, said:

"

The hardest part, I think, is just the quickness of it all. You have more reaction time in the outfield, and at first base you've got to react right away. There's some footwork I had to get used to, pickoffs, but it's starting to come more easily now with more reps.

It's not like you can just try harder and get better. You need the reps. It's awesome knowing I'll have another tool in my toolbox, another place for me to play in the Major Leagues.

"

The Pittsburgh Pirates will have one of baseball’s best outfields for years to come, with Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco, so it’s possible the organization is beginning to explore other ways to get Bell’s bat in the lineup.

7. Raul Mondesi, SS, Kansas City Royals

Arizona Fall League Stats: 17 G, .233/.233/.342, 7 XBH, 5 SB, 0 BB, 14 K

Raul Mondesi, one of the top up-the-middle prospects in the minor leagues, spent the 2014 season playing in the High-A Carolina League as an 18-year-old (he turned 19 on July 27), which makes the switch-hitter’s rough showing at the dish, including a .610 OPS and 122-24 strikeout-to-walk in 110 games, more understandable.

His AFL numbers don’t jump off the page, but Mondesi was impressive the few times I saw him last week, showcasing a loose but compact stroke from both sides of the plate, easy plus speed running from home to first base and excellent range at shortstop.

6. D.J. Peterson, 3B/1B, Seattle Mariners

Arizona Fall League Stats: 16 G, .169/.290/.288, 5 XBH (HR), 6 RBI, 10 BB, 15 K

D.J. Peterson is batting only .169 this fall and is 2-for-24 over his last six games, but he’s still shown decent power, with five of his 10 hits going for extra bases. His approach also has been consistent, highlighted by 10 walks against 15 strikeouts in 16 games, though 13 of his strikeouts have come in his last 10 contests.

While he’s manning the hot corner in the AFL, Peterson’s bat should be good enough to support a move to first base—his likely position at the highest level. And after hitting 31 home runs and 31 doubles in his first full professional season, it’s safe to say the 22-year-old has everyone’s attention next spring.

5. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Arizona Fall League Stats: 7 GS, 19.1 IP, 3.72 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, .278 BAA, 12 BB, 20 K

The Arizona Fall League has proved to be a good test for Tyler Glasnow, as he’s experienced both highs and lows while competing against stacked lineups.

Glasnow, 21, began the fall on a tear, allowing just one run with 13 strikeouts over his first 9.2 innings. His last 9.2 innings (three starts) haven’t been pretty, with the right-hander allowing seven runs on 11 hits and six walks.

His recent struggles shouldn’t come as a surprise, though, as Glasnow has now logged over 140 innings (143.2 innings, to be exact) on the year for the first time in his career. Meanwhile, Glasnow's performance this fall should strengthen his case for an Opening Day assignment to Double-A, though I wouldn't expect to see him in the major leagues anytime before 2016.

4. Joc Pederson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Dominican Winter League Stats: 19 G, .278/.358/.389, 5 XBH (HR), 7 RBI, 2 SB, 8 BB, 29 K

Joc Pederson received his first taste of the major leagues in September after being named MVP of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. The 22-year-old outfielder led the PCL in home runs (33), OPS (1.017), on-base percentage (.435), runs scored (106), walks (100) and total bases (259). He also became the first Pacific Coast League player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a season since Frank Demaree in 1934.

Pederson didn’t take the league by storm following his call-up, going just 4-for-28 (.143) in 18 games, but he’s bounced back this fall playing in the Dominican Republic. And with 150 games under his belt on the year, the fact that he’s still producing is a good sign.

3. Archie Bradley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Fall League Stats: 6 GS, 17.2 IP, 7.13 ERA, 2.21 WHIP, .364 BAA, 11 BB, 12 K

Archie Bradley spent a majority of the season on the disabled list due to a mild flexor strain in his right elbow, but the 22-year-old was given a clean bill of health in late June and returned to Double-A Mobile, where he pitched to a 4.12 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 36 walks over 54.2 innings.

The strike-throwing issues that plagued Bradley during the regular season unfortunately have carried over into the AFL, as he’s struggled to consistently pound the zone with his fastball and put away hitters like he did in previous years.

However, it’s worth noting that the 22-year-old recently added a slider to his arsenal, and he’s been focused on developing the pitch this fall.

"We started to put the slider into use, and it's been really good for me," Bradley said, per Jim Callis of MLB.com.

"Hopefully, I can keep building off of it. I got a couple of swings and misses, a strikeout on it. It keeps guys off my fastball, and I mixed the changeup in there, which is improving as well. I feel like I'm slowly starting to put things together."

2. Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers

Arizona Fall League Stats: 23 G, .281/.354/.472, 13 XBH (HR), 14 RBI, 9 BB, 23 K

Corey Seager struggled last year in the AFL, batting .181/.253/.306 in 79 plate appearances. His second tour of the league has been a different story, as Seager has hit for both average and power while holding his own at shortstop.

Seager, 20, has been especially hot of late, with a .316 batting average, six extra-base hits and seven RBI during his current 10-game hitting streak. (Note: His hitting streak might extend beyond 10 games, but MLB.com’s player page only shows his last 10 games.)

Beyond that, Seager has continued to rake against same-sided pitching this fall, posting .455/.478/.955 batting line and seven extra-base hits in 22 at-bats, and he’s committed only one error at shortstop.

1. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

Arizona Fall League Stats: 24 G, .265/.324/.429, 9 XBH (3 HR), 9 RBI, 8 BB, 13 K

After batting .276/.338/.389 with 31 extra-base hits and 28 stolen bases in 126 games between the Double- and Triple-A levels, Francisco Lindor likely would have been fine without a trip to Arizona. However, the slick-fielding shortstop has embraced the opportunity to continue refining his game against some of the top players in the minor leagues.

"I didn't come here to waste my time. I came here to work, and I came here to get better," said Lindor of getting to play in the Arizona Fall League, per Spencer Fordin of MLB.com.

"It's very exciting. I'm one step closer to one of my dreams. And that's not only to play in the Major Leagues but also to be there for a long time."

The 21-year-old switch-hitter—Friday, Nov. 14, just so happened to be his 21st birthday—has picked up where he left off in Triple-A, with 26 hits (nine extra-base hits) and a team-leading 15 runs scored in 24 games.

Lindor will likely be given the chance to win the everyday shortstop gig next spring. However, the Cleveland Indians have no reason to thrust him into such a role out of the gate, as Jose Ramirez and Mike Aviles are capable of holding down the position until Lindor is ready.