MLB Next: B/R's Top 100 Prospect Rankings, Post-Draft Edition
The 2017 MLB draft has come and gone, and that means it's time for an updated look at the league's top prospects, including the top draft picks who are set to begin their pro careers.
So let's dive right into our updated prospect rankings—expanded from 50 to 100 this time around—for a look at where the latest crop of young talent falls and which established prospects have seen their stocks rise or fall.
Graduated Since Last Updated: 3. Cody Bellinger, LAD, 30. Amir Garrett, CIN
Stock Rising
19. RHP Triston McKenzie, Cleveland Indians
Few, if any, pitching prospects possess the combination of present stuff, future projectability and on-field results of Cleveland Indians right-hander Triston McKenzie.
Still just 19, McKenzie is already pitching at the High-A level where he's posted a 3.28 ERA and 1.04 WHIP while striking out an impressive 91 hitters over 71.1 innings this season.
He's already leapfrogged Francisco Mejia and Bradley Zimmer to take over top prospect honors in the Cleveland system, and if he keeps pitching the way he has, he'll be squarely in the conversation to be the top pitching prospect in all of baseball.
27. RHP Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers
The No. 24 pick in the 2015 draft, Walker Buehler underwent Tommy John surgery shortly after being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he entered the season with just five professional innings under his belt.
Buehler was the top draft prospect on the Vanderbilt roster entering his junior season—a roster that also included eventual No. 1 pick Dansby Swanson and No. 8 pick Carson Fulmer—and now that he's back to 100 percent, he's again showing why he was so highly regarded.
After a hot start at the High-A level, he was quickly bumped up to Double-A and in 12 combined starts, he's pitched to a 2.49 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with a 61-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 47 innings of work. A 2018 arrival in the big leagues is not out of the question, despite his limited minor league action.
36. OF Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox
The White Sox added another big piece to a farm system on the rise when they signed Cuban phenom Luis Robert for a $26 million bonus in May. That trails only the $31.5 million bonus given to Yoan Moncada by the Red Sox for the largest international bonus ever handed out.
The 6'3", 185-pound outfielder has a chance to be a legitimate five-tool star. His plus speed will likely give way to more power as he more muscle on to his frame, but there's a good chance he'll stick in center field defensively.
The 19-year-old is still developing, but after hitting .401/.526/.687 with 26 extra-base hits (12 home runs) in 232 plate appearances in the Cuban National Series last year, he could move quicker than most players his age.
40. RHP Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals
Luke Weaver got a taste of the big leagues last season and went 1-4 with a 5.70 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in eight starts and one relief appearance.
Now the 23-year-old is making a strong case to return to the St. Louis Cardinals rotation by going 6-1 with a 2.33 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and a 51/9 K/BB in 46.1 innings for Triple-A Memphis.
Weaver might not have the same ace-caliber upside as some of the other pitching prospects ranked inside the top 50, but his advanced command and strong fastball/changeup combination should help him carve out a lengthy career as a middle-of-the-rotation starter.
46. OF Juan Soto, Washington Nationals
Juan Soto doesn't receive the same level of attention as teammate and fellow teenager Victor Robles, but the 18-year-old outfielder is emerging as a dynamic prospect in his own right.
The Dominican native hit .368/.420/.553 with 22 extra-base hits in 207 plate appearances in his pro debut last season after receiving a $1.5 million bonus as part of the 2015 international free-agent crop, and he's made a smooth transition to full-season ball this year.
Now suiting up for Single-A Hagerstown, he's hitting .360/.427/.523 with five doubles and three home runs in 96 plate appearances. While he's currently on the shelf with a right ankle injury, Soto remains among the fastest-rising prospects in the game.
Stock Falling
34. OF Austin Meadows, Pittsburgh Pirates
Austin Meadows appeared to be on the cusp of reaching the majors after posting an .869 OPS with 25 doubles, 11 triples, 12 home runs and 17 stolen bases between Double-A and Triple-A in 2016.
However, he got off to a slow start in Triple-A, and when Starling Marte was suspended, it was Jose Osuna who got the call to the big leagues. Osuna has since settled into a bench role, with Adam Frazier taking over as the third starting outfielder, but the point still stands.
Meadows is hitting .249/.314/.360 with 20 extra-base hits and 10 stolen bases for Triple-A Indianapolis, and he may wind up spending another full season in the minors. The potential is still there for him to be an impact power/speed threat and the future everyday center fielder in Pittsburgh, but his stock is clearly trending downward.
45. SS Franklin Barreto, Oakland Athletics
Franklin Barreto was one of the "stock rising" prospects last time we updated these rankings, but his production has been trending steadily downward as the season has gone on.
- April: 99 PA, .333 BA, .928 OPS, 8 XBH
- May: 122 PA, .265 BA, .714 OPS, 12 XBH
- June: 77 PA, .236 BA, .596 OPS, 2 XHH
The 21-year-old is still ahead of the developmental curve playing for Triple-A Nashville, and he figures to team with Marcus Semien up the middle in Oakland in the near future.
However, his declining production is enough for a precipitous slide down the rankings, essentially leveling things out after his considerable climb earlier this spring.
51. RHP Yadier Alvarez, Los Angeles Dodgers
Armed with a 75-grade fastball and an impressive array of off-speed stuff, Yadier Alvarez was a man among boys in the lower levels of the minors last season.
After landing a massive $16 million bonus as part of the 2015 international class, the Cuban native posted a 2.12 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with a staggering 81 strikeouts in 59.1 innings between rookie ball and Single-A last year.
The jump to High-A Rancho Cucamonga has not gone quite as smoothly this season, though.
The 21-year-old has seen his hits-per-nine-innings climb from 6.1 to 9.7 and the rest of his numbers have followed suit as he has a 5.32 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with 47 strikeouts in 45.2 innings.
He still has as high a ceiling as any pitching prospect in the game, but there might be a bit more developmental time needed than originally thought.
60. RHP Jose De Leon, Tampa Bay Rays
Jose De Leon has all the tools necessary to be a front-line starter. Now he just needs to find a way to consistently stay healthy.
He got a late start to the 2017 season as a result of a flexor mass strain, then he hit the disabled list again earlier this month with a lat strain. Last season, it was an ankle injury and shoulder inflammation that cost him significant time.
The clock is ticking on the 24-year-old as far as his status as a top prospect is concerned. If the Tampa Bay Rays hope to come out on top in the Logan Forsythe trade, he'll need to shake the injury bug once and for all.
64. SS J.P. Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies
Most expected J.P. Crawford to take over as the Phillies' starting shortstop last season, but a mediocre .250 average and .688 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A kept him in the minors the entire year.
Now things have gone from bad to worse, as he's hitting .194/.308/.255 with just eight extra-base hits in 254 plate appearances for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The 22-year-old continues to show a solid approach at the plate with a 14.2 percent walk rate compared to a 17.7 percent strikeout rate, and he hasn't taken his offensive struggles into the field, where he remains a plus defender.
It's impossible to continue viewing him as a true elite-level prospect until he shows he's figured things out at the plate, though.
Knocking on the Door
In Bleacher Report's latest updated farm system rankings published earlier this week, a total of 121 prospects were given a "Tier 1" grade—leaving 21 top-tier prospects on the outside looking in for a spot in these rankings.
Included among that group were a pair of 2017 first-round picks in first baseman Evan White (SEA) and left-hander D.L. Hall (BAL), who might have been the biggest steal of the first round at No. 21 overall.
A pair of first rounders from last season also just missed the cut in catcher Zack Collins (CWS) and right-hander Matt Manning (DET), who recently made his pro debut by striking out nine over 4.1 scoreless innings.
Sluggers Miguel Andujar (NYY), Bobby Bradley (CLE) and Matt Chapman (OAK) all have middle-of-the-order potential, Kevin Newman (PIT) looks like a two-way contributor at shortstop and fellow shortstop Ryan Mountcastle (BAL) has shown the offensive skills to slide over to third base if needed.
Outfielder Yusniel Diaz (LAD) has the raw tools to live up to the $15.5 million bonus he landed as part of the 2015 international free-agent class and he could shoot up these rankings if everything clicks.
Right-handed pitchers Domingo Acevedo (NYY), Tyler Beede (SF), Luis Castillo (CIN), Grant Holmes (OAK), Sean Reid-Foley (TOR) and Brandon Woodruff (MIL) along with left-hander Yohander Mendez (TEX) are all pushing toward being ready to make an MLB impact.
Meanwhile, the likes of Oscar De La Cruz (CHC), Justin Dunn (NYM), Adrian Morejon (SD) and Thomas Szapucki (NYM) are still in the early stages of their development, but they've flashed enough high-ceiling potential to earn mentions as well.
All of these prospects have real chances of pushing into the top 100 by the time we next update these rankings, so keep an eye on their progress in the weeks to come.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and accurate through June 21.
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