B/R's Top 50 MLB Prospects at the Start of the 2018 Season
Established stars drive a team's success at the MLB level and put fans in the seats, but we're always looking to the future.
Who's next?
Ahead is a look at the top 50 prospects in baseball at the start of the 2018 season.
The following factors helped determine where each player fell in these rankings:
- Potential: Potential trumps production a lot of the time, especially in the lower levels of the minors and with recent draft picks. Skill set and overall tools are often a better indication of what kind of player a guy will be in the future.
- Talent: As for guys in the higher levels of the minors who are close to breaking through at the big league level, production and current talent level are the determining factors, as these players are viewed as more complete products.
- Eligibility: A player must still maintain rookie-eligibility status to be considered for inclusion. That means 130 at-bats for position players, 50 innings pitched for pitchers or 45 days on the active roster prior to roster expansion in September.
When it comes to who's next, the 50 guys to follow fit the bill.
The Next 50
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Right-Handed Pitchers
Albert Abreu (NYY), Domingo Acevedo (NYY), Chance Adams (NYY), Yadier Alvarez (LAD), Ian Anderson (ATL), Shane Baz (PIT), J.B. Bukauskas (HOU), Corbin Burnes (MIL), Beau Burrows (DET), Dylan Cease (CWS), Dane Dunning (CWS), Jon Duplantier (ARI), Alex Faedo (DET), Alec Hansen (CWS), Tyler Mahle (CIN), Matt Manning (DET), Adonis Medina (PHI), Nate Pearson (TOR), Cal Quantrill (SD), Mitchell White (LAD)
Left-Handed Pitchers
Max Fried (ATL), Stephen Gonsalves (MIN), Jay Groome (BOS), Jesus Luzardo (OAK), Adrian Morejon (SD)
Catchers
Carson Kelly (STL), Keibert Ruiz (LAD), Chance Sisco (BAL)
Infielders
Miguel Andujar (NYY), Franklin Barreto (OAK), Jake Bauers (TB), Michael Chavis (BOS), Nick Gordon (MIN), Jorge Mateo (OAK), Ryan McMahon (COL), Ryan Mountcastle (BAL), Austin Riley (ATL), Pavin Smith (ARI)
Outfielders
Yordan Alvarez (HOU), Yusniel Diaz (LAD), Monte Harrison (MIA), Austin Hays (BAL), Jahmai Jones (LAA), Kyle Lewis (SEA), Austin Meadows (PIT), Mickey Moniak (PHI), Tyler O'Neill (STL), Jhailyn Ortiz (PHI), Heliot Ramos (SF), Blake Rutherford (CWS)
Nos. 50-46
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50. RHP Michel Baez, San Diego Padres (Age: 22)
Baez landed a $3 million bonus out of Cuba as a 20-year-old and then dominated Single-A competition in his pro debut to the tune of a 2.54 ERA and a stellar 82-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 58.2 innings.
He needs to prove himself against older competition before climbing any higher, but with a 70-grade fastball, plus slider and workable changeup/curveball mix, the 6'8" right-hander has top-of-the-rotation potential.
49. OF Anthony Alford, Toronto Blue Jays (Age: 23)
While Alford was a third-round pick in 2012, he didn't turn his full attention to the baseball diamond until 2015, following the conclusion of his college football career.
A legitimate five-tool talent with the potential to be a catalyst at the top of the lineup and an everyday center fielder, Alford has seen his progression derailed by injury in recent seasons as he suffered a knee injury and concussion in 2016 and a broken hamate bone last year.
With a clean bill of health, he could make a significant impact in 2018.
48. RHP Kyle Wright, Atlanta Braves (Age: 22)
A candidate to go No. 1 overall last June, Wright slipped to the Braves at No. 5 where he was given a $7 million above-slot bonus.
The 6'4" right-hander backs his mid-90s fastball with a hammer curve, tight slider and a passable changeup that could develop into a fourth reliable pitch. He still has some physical projection remaining and should move quickly toward his ceiling as a front-line starter.
47. OF Jesus Sanchez, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 20)
Sanchez shot up prospect lists when he hit .329/.351/.549 over 226 plate appearances in his stateside debut, and then he backed that up with a stellar showing at Single-A Bowling Green.
There's still room to add strength to his 6'3", 210-pound frame, and he already has loud tools. He won't turn 21 until October, and after posting a .305/.348/.478 line that included 29 doubles, 15 home runs and 82 RBI in his full-season debut, he could quickly climb toward the top of these rankings.
46. 2B Luis Urias, San Diego Padres (Age: 20)
Thanks to a 70-grade hit tool, Urias finds himself well ahead of the developmental curve.
Still just 20, he hit .296/.398/.380 in a full season at the Double-A level last year, tallying more walks (68) than strikeouts (65) while showing the defensive chops to play on either side of the second base bag.
He'll never provide much in the way of over-the-fence power, but he'll hit plenty of doubles and has the contact and on-base skills to make an impact at the top of an MLB lineup.
Nos. 45-41
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45. LHP Kolby Allard, Atlanta Braves (Age: 20)
The No. 14 overall pick and first high school pitcher selected in the 2015 draft, Allard has moved quickly through the Braves system, posting a 3.18 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 129 strikeouts in 150 innings at Double-A Mississippi last year.
The 6'1" southpaw doesn't have a big fastball, but he commands it well and backs it with an excellent changeup and solid curveball. He's more high floor than ceiling, but he looks like a solid bet to carve out a spot in the middle of a big league rotation.
44. OF Willie Calhoun, Texas Rangers (Age: 23)
Calhoun can flat-out rake.
The 2015 fourth-round pick boasts an .868 OPS with 75 doubles and 69 home runs in 1,417 plate appearances over three minor league seasons, including a 31-homer campaign at the Triple-A level last year.
He'll likely be relegated to left field defensively and probably fits best as a designated hitter. His bat will drive his value, though, and he could make a run at AL Rookie of the Year honors with an early call-up.
43. RHP Fernando Romero, Minnesota Twins (Age: 23)
Romero turned heads this spring when he tossed eight no-hit innings over four appearances before being reassigned to minor league camp.
The 6'0" right-hander has always had a high ceiling; it's just a matter of staying healthy.
He missed the majority of the 2014 season and all of 2015 recovering from Tommy John surgery and ended last season on the disabled list with a shoulder impingement after throwing a career-high 125 innings.
With a 70-grade fastball and a good slider/changeup pairing, he could soon join Jose Berrios at the top of the big league rotation if he can prove durable.
42. OF Leody Taveras, Texas Rangers (Age: 19)
While Calhoun is clearly the most MLB-ready of the Texas Rangers' top prospects, it's Taveras who has the highest ceiling.
Signed to a $2.1 million bonus in 2015, the Dominican native made his full-season debut last year at the age of 18 and held his own with a .249/.312/.360 line that included 35 extra-base hits and 20 stolen bases.
With plus speed and plenty of room to add strength, he's just scratching the surface of his offensive ceiling, and defensively he should have no problem sticking in center field.
41. 2B Keston Hiura, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 21)
Viewed by some as the best pure hitter in the 2017 draft, Hiura posted an eye-popping .442/.567/.693 line with more walks (50) than strikeouts (38) during his junior season at UC Irvine.
A right elbow injury limited him to DH duties last spring, and there was concern he might need surgery, but instead, he hit .371/.422/.611 with 25 extra-base hits in 187 plate appearances in his pro debut.
Hiura has average power and speed and will likely never be anything more than a serviceable defender, but he could be a perennial contender for the batting title once he arrives in Milwaukee.
Nos. 40-36
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40. RHP Mike Soroka, Atlanta Braves (Age: 20)
A first-round pick out of Canada in 2015, Soroka was aggressively promoted to Single-A in his first full season. He went 9-9 with a 3.02 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 125 strikeouts in 143 innings.
He continued to move quickly last year, skipping over the High-A level to go 11-8 with a 2.75 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 125 strikeouts in 153.2 innings.
With a polished three-pitch mix and excellent command, he has as high of a floor as any pitching prospect in baseball and could make his MLB debut in 2018.
39. OF Alex Verdugo, Los Angeles Dodgers (Age: 21)
Verdugo hit .314/.389/.436 with 37 extra-base hits and more walks (52) than strikeouts (50) at Triple-A last season to secure his spot as the top position-player prospect in the Dodgers system.
He'll never have prototypical corner outfielder power, but he has the hit tool to be a perennial .300 hitter, and his rocket arm makes him an asset defensively.
There's no clear path to everyday playing time in the Los Angeles outfield or he would already be a big league regular.
38. RHP Jack Flaherty, St. Louis Cardinals (Age: 22)
An uptick in fastball velocity helped Flaherty establish himself as one of the game's top pitching prospects last season.
The 2014 first-round pick went 14-4 with a 2.18 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 147 strikeouts in 148.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, earning his first taste of MLB action in the process.
With an advanced four-pitch mix and 60-grade control, Flaherty has a chance to be a staple for the Cardinals. A spring injury to Adam Wainwright opened the door for him to break camp with a spot in the big league rotation.
37. LHP Luiz Gohara, Atlanta Braves (Age: 21)
MLB.com described Gohara as having "about as electric raw stuff as any left-handed prospect in the game" thanks to a fastball that can touch triple digits and a wipeout slider.
His changeup is still a work in progress, and his overall command needs fine-tuning. He'll also need to keep a close eye on his conditioning with a 6'3", 265-pound frame.
That said, his 147 strikeouts over 123.2 innings in the upper levels of the minors last season are a good indication of his potential. Expect him to be a regular part of the Atlanta rotation by season's end.
36. OF Taylor Trammell, Cincinnati Reds (Age: 20)
Trammell already looks like a steal after going No. 35 overall in the 2016 draft.
A two-sport star who was committed to Georgia Tech to play baseball and football, Trammell has proven to be more polished than expected on the baseball diamond.
He hit .281/.368/.450 with 47 extra-base hits and 41 stolen bases at Single-A Dayton last year, and while there's a good deal of swing-and-miss to his game, he also walked 71 times at a 12.4 percent clip.
If he can find a way to tap into his raw power potential, he has a chance to be a real five-tool threat.
Nos. 35-31
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35. LHP/1B Brendan McKay, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 22)
Here's the full scouting report on the 2017 Golden Spikes winner from MLB.com:
McKay operates with a 92-95 mph fastball that he commands well against hitters on both sides of the plate, though his velocity is prone to dipping as he works deeper into games. Both his curveball and cutter project to be above-average pitches, and he showed good feel for a changeup during his pro debut after using it sparingly at Louisville.
At the plate, McKay's smooth left-handed swing and mature all-fields approach led some evaluators to label him the best college bat in his class as a potential .300 hitter capable of hitting 20 homers per season. His lack of speed limits him to first base, but he proved a sound defender during his pro debut, and could become above average in time.
Make no mistake, he has a real chance to be an impact, two-way player.
34. LHP Justus Sheffield, New York Yankees (Age: 21)
Acquired as part of the return package in the deal that sent Andrew Miller to the Indians, Sheffield capped off a strong 2017 season with an impressive showing in the Arizona Fall League.
Over 20.1 innings against some of the best young talent in the game, the left-hander posted a 3.10 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with a sterling 22-3 K/BB ratio.
Improved command and the continued development of his changeup to back an excellent fastball/slider combination has allowed him to take a step forward. He's always had a middle-of-the-rotation ceiling, and now there's potential for more.
33. OF Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels (Age: 18)
This is admittedly an optimistic ranking for a teenager with 49 professional games under his belt.
However, there are not many players in any organization or at any level with the raw physical tools that Adell possesses.
The No. 10 overall pick last June hit .325/.376/.532 with 24 extra-base hits in 222 plate appearances, giving a glimpse into his considerable upside and sparking no shortage of excitement in prospect circles.
It's going to take him some time to arrive in Los Angeles, but it could prove to be well worth the wait.
32. LHP A.J. Puk, Oakland Athletics (Age: 22)
Puk was in the mix to go No. 1 overall in the 2016 draft before an inconsistent spring and nagging back issues caused him to slip to the Athletics with the No. 6 pick.
The big 6'7" southpaw has shown more consistent command with the same swing-and-miss stuff since beginning his pro career. He struck out an impressive 184 batters in 125 innings between High-A and Double-A last year, walking batters at a passable 3.5 BB/9 clip along the way.
Puk already has a dominant fastball/slider pairing. It's the continued development of his changeup and curveball as complementary offerings that will ultimately determine his ceiling.
31. OF Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox (Age: 20)
Playing in the top Cuban league at the age of 18, Robert hit .401/.526/.687 with 12 doubles, 12 home runs, 40 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 232 plate appearances.
That performance and his tremendous upside were enough for the White Sox to shell out a $26 million bonus and matching tax penalty to sign him last May.
He hit .310/.491/.536 with 12 extra-base hits, 12 stolen bases and nearly as many walks (22) as strikeouts (23) over 114 plate appearances in the Dominican Summer League.
The sky is the limit as he continues to mature physically.
Nos. 30-26
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30. OF Juan Soto, Washington Nationals (Age: 19)
Victor Robles is the headliner in the Nationals system, but Soto has a chance to develop into an impact slugger in his own right.
The Dominican-born outfielder has hit .362/.418/.535 with 32 extra-base hits in 330 plate appearances in his two professional seasons.
After an injury-plagued 2017 season that saw him miss time with an ankle injury, broken hamate bone and hamstring injury, he could take off in his first full season above the rookie ball level.
29. OF Estevan Florial, New York Yankees (Age: 20)
Florial was one of the breakout prospects of 2017.
Well off the top prospect radar when the season began, he hit .298/.372/.479 with 43 extra-base hits and 23 stolen bases between Single-A and High-A, all before his 20th birthday.
While his 31.9 percent strikeout rate gives some reason for pause, he also walked at a 10.5 percent clip to show he has a plan at the plate. He has the best collection of tools in a loaded Yankees system.
28. RHP Franklin Perez, Detroit Tigers (Age: 20)
Perez was the prospect centerpiece of the blockbuster deal that sent Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros last August.
He's as far ahead of the developmental curve as any pitching prospect in the game, with 32 innings at the Double-A level under his belt before his 20th birthday.
With a polished four-pitch repertoire, he has a middle-of-the-rotation floor. And with more room to grow into his 6'3", 197-pound frame, he has an ace-caliber ceiling.
27. 2B/SS Willy Adames, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 22)
Adames had yet to play above the Single-A level when the Rays acquired him from the Detroit Tigers in the David Price blockbuster back in 2014.
It's easy to see what the scouts saw even then.
He's been ahead of the developmental curve every step of the way, and as MLB.com wrote: "He has all the ingredients to develop into an All-Star-caliber shortstop capable of hitting in the middle of a lineup and could soon be ready for his first taste of the Majors."
After he hit .277/.360/.415 with 30 doubles and 10 home runs at Triple-A Durham last season, he should get the call at some point in 2018.
26. RHP Sixto Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies (Age: 19)
Sanchez was an under-the-radar international prospect when he signed for just $35,000 in 2015.
Three years later, it looks like the Phillies have found a real diamond in the rough.
He can touch triple digits with his four-seam fastball, pairs it with a good sinking two-seamer and can keep hitters off balance with a good curveball/changeup mix. That impressive repertoire—coupled with his advanced feel for pitching and plus command—gives him as high of a ceiling as any pitching prospect in baseball.
The Phillies have brought him along slowly, limiting him to 95 innings last season, but they could let out some leash in 2018 as the big league club pushes closer to contention.
Nos. 25-21
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25. OF Lewis Brinson, Miami Marlins (Age: 23)
In the course of trading off Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and Dee Gordon during an offseason fire sale, the best prospect the Marlins acquired was outfielder Lewis Brinson as part of the Yelich deal.
While he struggled in his first taste of MLB action last year, he absolutely crushed Triple-A pitching to the tune of a .331/.400/.562 line that included 39 extra-base hits and 11 stolen bases in 340 plate appearances.
It could take him some time to reach his five-tool ceiling, but he'll get every opportunity in Miami after breaking camp as the starting center fielder.
24. RHP Brent Honeywell, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 23)
The 2018 season will be a lost year for Honeywell as he recovers from spring Tommy John surgery.
While it's undeniably a setback in his development, he still has as high of a ceiling as any pitching prospect in baseball.
Armed with a mid-90s fastball, plus changeup and dynamic screwball among his five-pitch repertoire, Honeywell went 13-9 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 172 strikeouts in 136.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last year.
23. RHP Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds (Age: 18)
While his days as a two-way standout are now behind him, Greene has a chance to be a generational talent on the mound for the Reds, who gladly scooped him up with the No. 2 overall pick last June.
The 6'4", 197-pound right-hander has ample physical projection remaining, and he already possesses an 80-grade fastball that he can regularly run up to triple digits.
His slider and changeup both have a chance to be solid secondary offerings, and his plus athleticism helps him with a smooth, repeatable delivery.
The Reds will bring him along slowly, but he has enormous potential.
22. SS Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins (Age: 18)
The Twins surprised more than a few people when they passed on the aforementioned Greene to grab Lewis with the No. 1 overall pick.
He has the tools to shoulder the mantle, though.
Lewis hit .279/.381/.407 with 15 extra-base hits and 18 stolen bases last season, getting a taste of Single-A Cedar Rapids before his pro debut was over.
Whether he sticks at shortstop or eventually moves to center field, his advanced approach, plus speed and gap power give him all the makings of a future star.
21. RHP Alex Reyes, St. Louis Cardinals (Age: 23)
Reyes looked like a stud in the making before Tommy John surgery sidelined him last spring.
Over 46 innings in his first taste of the majors, he posted a 1.57 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 10.2 K/9 while tallying four wins, one hold and one save.
Prior to the injury, Reyes could routinely touch triple digits with his fastball, backing it with a devastating curveball and plus changeup.
The Cardinals will no doubt treat him with kid gloves once he returns to the active roster. But as long as there are no further health issues, he still has a chance to be a future ace.
Nos. 20-16
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20. SS J.P. Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies (Age: 23)
After a disappointing 2016 season and a slow start last year, Crawford caught fire and hit .285/.385/.544 with 29 extra-base hits in 61 games in the minors after July 1 before earning his first MLB promotion.
He primarily played third base following his call-up, posting 0.9 WAR in three games thanks in large part to his defensive work.
Now the everyday shortstop job is his after the front office shipped Freddy Galvis out during the offseason, and with his advanced approach, plus plate discipline and strong defense, Crawford still looks like a franchise cornerstone.
19. RHP Triston McKenzie, Cleveland Indians (Age: 20)
McKenzie was as impressive as any pitching prospect in the game last year, going 12-6 with a 3.46 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 186 strikeouts in 143 innings as one of the youngest pitchers in the High-A Carolina League.
He still has plenty of projection remaining in his lanky 6'5", 165-pound frame, and he already possesses a mid-90s fastball, plus curveball and solid changeup.
Throw in above-average control and how far along he already is, and it's easy to envision a future top-of-the-rotation starter.
18. 2B Scott Kingery, Philadelphia Phillies (Age: 23)
Kingery exploded for a .987 OPS with 18 home runs and 44 RBI in 69 games at hitter-friendly Double-A Reading last season, then backed that up with a strong showing following his promotion to Triple-A.
All told, he finished the 2017 season with a .304/.359/.530 line that included 29 doubles, 26 home runs and 29 stolen bases in 34 attempts.
It looks like he'll team with Crawford to form the Phillies' double-play combination of the future, and after hitting .411/.441/.786 with 10 extra-base hits—including five home runs—he surprised more than a few people by breaking camp with a roster spot.
17. LHP MacKenzie Gore, San Diego Padres (Age: 19)
Gore used a mid-90s fastball and excellent curveball to win Gatorade National Player of the Year last year at Whiteville High School in North Carolina.
He also throws a slider and changeup that should give him a legitimate four-pitch mix, and he commands all of those pitches better than most hurlers his age. Throw in a sturdy 6'3", 180-pound frame, and there's a lot to like about the 2017 No. 3 pick.
After posting a 1.27 ERA with a 34-7 K/BB ratio in rookie ball last year, his full-season debut will be among the most anticipated in the league this year.
16. OF Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros (Age: 21)
Tucker was viewed by many as the best pure hitter in the 2015 draft, and he wound up going No. 5 overall to the Astros.
While he always possessed a plus hit tool, the development of his over-the-fence power has made him an elite prospect and a potential future superstar.
The 6'4", 190-pound outfielder hit .274/.346/.528 with 33 doubles, 25 home runs and 90 RBI between High-A and Double-A last year, and a second-half debut could be in his future.
Nos. 15-11
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15. C Francisco Mejia, Cleveland Indians (Age: 22)
Mejia has rare offensive tools for the catcher position.
After posting a .342/.382/.514 line that included a 50-game hitting streak in 2016, he backed it up by batting .297/.346/.490 with 21 doubles, 14 home runs and 52 RBI at Double-A Columbus last year.
His receiving skills remain a work in progress, and he could wind up moving out from behind the plate as a way to get his bat into the MLB lineup quicker. That said, he has a cannon arm and the athleticism to develop into a solid defensive catcher later down the road.
14. RHP Forrest Whitley, Houston Astros (Age: 20)
A 50-game suspension for violating the MiLB drug policy cost Whitley a few spots in these rankings, but his future is still incredibly bright.
The No. 17 pick in the 2016 draft, he reached Double-A last season before his 20th birthday, going 5-4 with a 2.83 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 143 strikeouts in 92.1 innings over three levels.
The 6'7" right-hander pitches on a good downhill plane and can run his fastball up to 97 mph with good life. He backs that with a hammer curve, tight slider and quality changeup that can all be plus pitches when he's on his game.
He's been on the fast track to this point, and even with the suspension, a 2019 debut is not out of the question.
13. 2B/SS Brendan Rodgers, Colorado Rockies (Age: 21)
Rodgers will forever be linked to Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman, who were taken first and second overall in the 2015 draft before he went at No. 3 in the only draft to ever feature three shortstops at the top.
While the other two beat him to the majors, it's Rodgers who might have the highest offensive ceiling of the trio.
Splitting last season between High-A and Double-A, he hit .336/.373/.567 with 26 doubles, 18 home runs and 64 RBI, and it might not be long before he's pushing Trevor Story for the starting shortstop job in Colorado.
12. RHP Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates (Age: 22)
A second-round pick in the 2014 draft, Keller was slowed by a forearm strain early in his career. He entered the 2016 season with just 47 pro innings under his belt.
Once healthy, he quickly showed why the Pirates went above-slot to sign him, posting a 2.67 ERA with 254 strikeouts in 246.1 innings over the past two seasons.
With his combination of stuff and command, he has a middle-of-the-rotation floor with a chance to fill the void left by Gerrit Cole as the team's next homegrown ace.
11. RHP Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers (Age: 23)
Headed for Tommy John surgery, Buehler slipped to No. 24 overall in the 2015 draft after starting his junior season at Vanderbilt as a candidate to go at the top of the class.
He's quickly proven to be worth the wait for the Dodgers, holding opposing hitters to a .208 average while racking up 125 strikeouts in 88.2 innings over three minor league levels last year.
Buehler has seen his fastball velocity tick up to triple digits since returning from surgery, and he backs it up with a devastating curveball and tight slider. His stuff played up out of the bullpen last year, but he has a chance to develop into a front-line starter alongside Clayton Kershaw in the not-too-distant future.
Nos. 10-6
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10. RHP Michael Kopech, Chicago White Sox (Age: 21)
Few pitchers at any level of professional baseball throw harder than Kopech.
He complements his triple-digit heater with a lethal slider that's as good as any secondary offering in the minors.
The 6'3", 205-pound right-hander still has work to do refining his overall command (4.4 BB/9) and developing his changeup into a viable third offering.
But his stuff speaks for itself, and there's no ignoring his 172 strikeouts in 134.1 innings against upper-level competition last season.
9. SS/2B Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays (Age: 20)
MLB.com wrote: "There seems to be no limit to Bichette's offensive ceiling. His career-to-date points to a bright future as a perennial All-Star who could regularly compete for batting titles."
The 2016 second-round pick hit .362/.423/.565 with 41 doubles, 14 home runs and 74 RBI and snagged 22 stolen bases between Single-A and High-A last season.
There's a lot of moving parts to his swing, but to this point, he's been a steady offensive producer. Even if he never develops more than 15-homer power, he has a chance to be a star at the next level.
8. SS Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres (Age: 19)
The James Shields-for-Fernando Tatis Jr. trade might go down as one of the most lopsided in MLB history before all is said and done.
Signed for a $700,000 bonus in 2015, Tatis hit .278/.379/.498 with 27 doubles, 22 home runs and 75 RBI last season, earning a late promotion to Double-A before his 19th birthday.
There is some swing-and-miss to his game, and he'll need to prove himself against higher-level competition, but his 77 walks and 13.4 percent walk rate speak to a hitter with a plan.
With the defensive skills to also be a standout at the shortstop position, his future is as bright as any prospect in baseball.
7. 2B/SS Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees (Age: 21)
If not for an injury to his non-throwing arm that required Tommy John surgery, Torres likely would have already exhausted his prospect eligibility plugging a hole at the hot corner for the Yankees last season.
The offseason additions of Neil Walker and Brandon Drury mean he'll be afforded some further room for development, but it's only a matter of time before he breaks through and seizes an everyday role somewhere on the infield.
Prior to his injury last season, he hit .287/.383/.480 with 23 extra-base hits in 235 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A.
6. 3B Nick Senzel, Cincinnati Reds (Age: 22)
Senzel has moved quickly since going No. 2 overall in the 2016 draft, and it might not be long before he takes Great American Ballpark by storm.
A .315/.393/.514 hitter in parts of two minor league seasons, he's responded to everything thrown his way so far, hitting .340 with a .973 OPS over 235 plate appearances following a promotion to Double-A last year.
It's still unclear exactly where Senzel will land defensively once he reaches the majors. His bat will play anywhere, though, as he might be the best pure hitter in the minor league ranks.
Nos. 5-1
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5. OF Victor Robles, Washington Nationals (Age: 20)
The precocious Robles hit .352/.445/.507 with 20 extra-base hits and 24 stolen bases in 61 games in his stateside debut in 2015, and he's been one of the game's most promising prospects since.
MLB.com wrote, "From his athleticism to his immense physical tools and his baseball savvy, Robles has the makings of becoming a true franchise player for the Nationals, one who has the upside of a perennial All-Star and possibly an MVP candidate."
After hitting .300/.382/.493 with 55 extra-base hits and 27 stolen bases between High-A and Double-A last year, he has little left to prove at the minor league level.
He'll be instrumental in helping the Nationals deal with the expected departure of Bryce Harper in free agency next winter.
4. OF Eloy Jimenez, Chicago White Sox (Age: 21)
No prospect boasts more raw power than Jimenez.
The headliner of the 2013 international free-agent crop landed a $2.8 million bonus from the Cubs and rose to the top of the organization's prospect ranks before the Cubbies traded him to the South Siders for Jose Quintana last summer.
All told, he hit .312/.379/.568 with 22 doubles, 19 home runs and 65 RBI in 369 plate appearances between High-A and Double-A. He followed that up with a .368/.443/.676 line that included four home runs and 21 RBI in 19 games in the Dominican Winter League.
A starring role on the big league club could come by the second half of the 2018 season.
3. RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels (Age: 23)
Ohtani is a baseball unicorn with electric stuff on the mound and 70-grade power at the plate.
The Angels were the surprise winners of his highly anticipated posting this offseason, and he immediately slotted into the middle of the big league rotation and in a part-time DH role.
There hasn't been a prospect quite like him since the days of Babe Ruth, and his rookie season will be watched as closely as anyone ever to debut in the big leagues.
At the very least, he has the stuff to make a serious impact in the Angels rotation, even if he struggles to find consistency at the plate with sporadic playing time.
2. OF Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (Age: 19)
It's not hyperbole to say Vlad Jr. has a chance to be every bit the player his father was.
He played the entire 2017 season at the age of 18 and hit .323/.425/.485 with 28 doubles, 13 home runs and 76 RBI while recording far more walks (76) than strikeouts (62).
MLB.com gave him its first ever 80-grade hit tool, and he also has the raw power to be a perennial threat for 30 home runs once he reaches the majors. He doesn't possess the same athleticism as his father and he'll likely never be a plus defender, but he has superstar potential thanks to his bat.
1. OF Ronald Acuna, Atlanta Braves (Age: 20)
Acuna put together one of the greatest age-19 seasons in pro baseball history last year.
Despite beginning the season with just 40 games played above the rookie ball level, he hit .325/.374/.522 with 60 extra-base hits and 44 stolen bases to reach Triple-A by season's end.
He followed that up with MVP honors in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .325/.414/.639 with five doubles and seven home runs in 23 games.
The Braves shipped him to the minors to start the season to gain another year of team control, but it won't be long before he's patrolling the outfield and hitting in the middle of the lineup in Atlanta.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted.
