Every MLB Team's Top Prospect Left off the 40-Man Roster for 2013

The assembling of a 40-man roster for every MLB team can at times be a major balancing act.

Any player signed to a major league contract is automatically placed on the 40-man roster, which includes players already on the 25-man roster. Minor league prospects who signed a major league contract but are toiling away in the minors are on the 40-man roster as well.

The vast majority of prospects drafted are not signed to a major league contract. In fact, of all the prospects drafted between 2001 and 2010, only 31 of them signed major league contracts, and 16 of them were college pitchers.

It doesn't make much sense for high school players to even consider a major league contract. For one, it automatically starts their minor league options, meaning they've already used one of their three minor league options as soon as they begin their professional career. It also means their path to the majors will be on an accelerated course—not always the best option.

Here is a look at each MLB team's top prospect at the start of the 2013 season.

Note: Prospect rankings and current 40-man rosters courtesy of MLB.com. Player statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Archie Bradley

Taken with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 MLB draft, right-handed pitching prospect Archie Bradley is the No. 2 prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks' system and the No. 24 prospect in all of baseball.

The Diamondbacks have to be pleased with what Bradley did in his first full season, posting a 12-6 record and 3.84 ERA for the Single-A South Bend Silver Hawks.

Bradley will start this season at Advanced Single-A Visalia in the California League. Considered a hitters' league, that will be a test for the 20-year-old fireballing right-hander as he continues his slow ascent up the ladder for the Diamondbacks.

Atlanta Braves: Lucas Sims

The Atlanta Braves stayed local with their first-round pick in last year's MLB draft.

Hailing from Snellville, GA, Lucas Sims is still just 18 years of age. But the Braves fell in love with an arm that produces a mid-90s fastball and a free, easy delivery.

Sims stayed in Rookie League ball last year, making eight starts for Danville in the Appalachian League. He struck out 29 batters in 27 innings but also featured a 4.0 BB/9 rate.

Command will be the focus for Sims this season as he starts at Single-A Rome. The Braves' No. 3 prospect will be brought along slowly, but the upside is clearly there.

Baltimore Orioles: Kevin Gausman

Ranked as the No. 37 prospect in all of baseball and the second-highest prospect for the Baltimore Orioles, Kevin Gausman is clearly looked upon as a pitcher with a bright future.

Last year's fourth overall draft pick from LSU got a long look this spring in camp with the Orioles. Gausman impressed, posting a 3.86 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 16.1 innings.

He was given the extended look because of the longer spring training and the fact that the Orioles didn't want their regular rotation guys getting looks against a major dose of American League East opponents in Grapefruit League play.

Gausman will join top prospect Dylan Bundy in Double-A Bowie, but considering the impression he left on Orioles management this spring, it may not be terribly long before he's seen in Baltimore on a regular basis.

Boston Red Sox: Xander Bogaerts

The top prospect for the Boston Red Sox will start this season literally right under their noses.

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts, the No. 1 prospect for Boston and the 20th-ranked prospect in all of baseball, will start the season playing for the Portland Sea Dogs, just a 90-minute drive north of Boston.

Bogaerts had a busy spring, first getting an invite to spring training with the Sox and later gaining exposure in the global setting of the World Baseball Classic.

He played well for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, hitting .268 in seven games and batting .286 in limited action with the Red Sox.

Bogaerts is the real deal, and at just 20 years of age, the Red Sox won't look to push him. But Jose Iglesias should be looking over his shoulder.

Chicago Cubs: Javier Baez

Chicago Cubs top prospect Javier Baez put together a spring that had many wondering if he could be ready for major league duty sooner rather than later.

A first-round draft pick who was in high school just two years ago, Baez put up impressive numbers in Cactus League play, hitting .298 with four home runs and 10 RBI.

He made it to Advanced Single-A Daytona last year, hitting just .188 after hitting .333 at Single-A Peoria. Baez will be in Daytona once again, and the 20-year-old will look to build off an outstanding showing with the big boys this spring.

Chicago White Sox: Courtney Hawkins

The young man who did a back flip when he was drafted last year is the Chicago White Sox's top prospect.

Courtney Hawkins is not on the 40-man roster for Chicago, but he is absolutely considered a blue-chip outfielder. Taken with the 13th overall pick in the 2012 MLB draft, Hawkins showed off his skills following his selection.

He hit a combined .284 with eight home runs, 33 RBI and 11 stolen bases as he worked his way through three minor league levels last season.

Hawkins will start at Advanced Single-A Winston-Salem this year, and while he didn't earn an invite to spring training with the White Sox, fans can absolutely expect the young slugger to be on hand next spring.

Cincinnati Reds: Billy Hamilton

The top prospect for the Cincinnati Reds stole his way into the record books last year, but he has yet to steal a roster spot.

Billy Hamilton swiped a record 155 bases last year, but during spring training, he showed that plate discipline is not yet a strong suit.

Hamilton hit just .192, whiffing nine times in 26 at-bats. His penchant for striking even drew a rebuke from Reds manager Dusty Baker.

"He has no chance to do anything when he strikes out," Baker told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. "Probably half of those have been looking. Anytime he puts it in play, there's a chance of something happening."

Hamilton won't be far away—he's starting the season at Triple-A Louisville.

Cleveland Indians: Francisco Lindor

At just 19 years of age, Francisco Lindor is already raising eyebrows. The top prospect in the Cleveland Indians' system is also No. 14 in MLB's list of top 100 prospects, and it's easy to see why he was so highly regarded.

Lindor impressed this spring, hitting .292 during Cactus League play with just two strikeouts. He is already considered a top-notch defender at shortstop, and the bat is starting to develop as well.

Lindor will start the season at Advanced Single-A Carolina, and the Indians will be in no rush to move him too quickly. But considering his maturity and his rapid development, it won't be much longer before the Indians have him patrolling shortstop at Progressive Field.

Colorado Rockies: David Dahl

Colorado Rockies top prospect David Dahl will be starting the 2013 season at Single-A Asheville in the South Atlantic League.

Considering his impressive professional debut last season, he may not be there for very long.

Dahl was the 10th player taken overall in last year's draft. As a high school outfielder, he wasn't offered a major league contract, keeping him off the Rockies' 40-man roster. He raked in Rookie League ball, hitting .379 for Grand Junction with nine home runs and 57 RBI in just 67 games.

The Rockies will watch closely to see how Dahl reacts to better overall pitching at the higher levels. He certainly mastered it in the lower levels.

Detroit Tigers: Nick Castellanos

Detroit Tigers top prospect Nick Castellanos isn't currently on their 40-man roster, but if he can master left field and continue raking with the bat at Triple-A Toledo, that could change quickly.

Castellanos hit .360 with one home run and six RBI before being sent down by the Tigers. Ranked No. 21 by MLB.com, he will continue to develop his outfield skills while getting regular at-bats.

It may not be long before Castellanos is seen on a regular basis in the Detroit lineup. He has hit at every level he's played at, and the Tigers will eventually find a spot for that productive bat.

Houston Astros: Jonathan Singleton

Houston Astros top prospect Jonathan Singleton will have to wait to continue his development while he serves a 50-game suspension to start the 2013 season.

Singleton earned the ban late last year after testing positive for a banned substance. A stupid mistake, indeed, but there's no denying that he is a force at the plate.

Ranked No. 27 by MLB.com in its list of the top 100 prospects, Singleton hit .284 with 21 home runs and 79 RBI for Double-A Corpus Christi last year. When he returns from his suspension, he'll likely go straight to Triple-A.

If Singleton bounces back quickly from his late start, it's not out of the realm of possibility to see him in an Astros uniform sometime later this season.

Kansas City Royals: Bubba Starling

Outfielder Bubba Starling had a major choice to make when he was taken by the Kansas City Royals with the fifth overall selection in the 2011 MLB draft. He could either accept the challenge to play professional baseball or become a quarterback for the University of Nebraska.

He chose the former, and the Royals could be the beneficiary of that decision in the near future.

Starling is already their top prospect and the No. 26 top prospect in all of baseball. His efforts in Rookie League ball last year produced a .275 average, 10 home runs and 33 RBI.

Starling will start this season roaming the outfield at Single-A Lexington. The Royals have done an outstanding job in recent years in developing position-player talent. They'll take their time with him as he continues to work on his overall approach at the plate.

Los Angeles Angels: Kaleb Cowart

Third base prospect Kaleb Cowart got a chance to show his skills during spring training, and he took full advantage of the opportunity.

Cowart, the Angels top prospect and No. 67 on MLB.com's top 100 list, hit .348 with eight RBI in 12 Cactus League games.

He will begin the year at Double-A Arkansas. With Alberto Callaspo signed to just a two-year deal for the Angels, that could be perfect timing for Cowart as he seeks to become the starting third baseman in Anaheim by the beginning of the 2015 season.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Zach Lee

Los Angeles Dodgers No. 2 prospect Zach Lee will start this season where he ended up last year: with the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts.

Lee was 4-3 with a 4.25 ERA in 13 starts there last year, and the Dodgers will look for him to continue evolving.

"We're really just looking for him to continue evolving as a pitcher and understanding his mix," Dodgers player development director DeJon Watson said. "He just needs to continue to grow and log innings and understand the pace of the game."

The Dodgers still have several veterans who can fill in for the rotation in a pinch, but they would like for Lee to take the bull by the horns and step up his development this season.

Miami Marlins: Christian Yelich

It's fair to say that Miami Marlins No. 2 prospect Christian Yelich looks like a stud.

Yelich, the No. 13 prospect in all of baseball, did just about everything right in Grapefruit League action for the Marlins. He hit .364 with five home runs and 14 RBI before being assigned to Double-A Jacksonville.

It may not be long before Yelich is seen in Miami patrolling the outfield along with Giancarlo Stanton. At least Marlins fans have some hope for the future.

Milwaukee Brewers: Taylor Jungmann

Milwaukee Brewers No. 3 prospect Taylor Jungmann will start the 2013 season at Double-A Huntsville. He was 11-6 with a 3.53 ERA in 26 starts in his first professional season last year at Advanced Single-A Brevard.

Jungmann made three appearances in spring training, giving up three runs on four hits in 4.2 innings. He won't impress with a blazing fastball, but he has a solid offering of secondary pitches that can be of great benefit if he continues pounding the strike zone effectively.

Jungmann could make an appearance during September call-ups, and he could factor into the Brewers' rotation plans next season.

Minnesota Twins: Miguel Sano

Minnesota Twins top prospect Miguel Sano showed off a terrific power stroke last year at Single-A Beloit with 28 home runs and 100 RBI.

He will begin the 2013 season at Advanced Single-A Fort Myers. Already the No. 12 prospect in all of baseball, Sano is a bigger question mark with the glove—he committed a whopping 42 errors last year at third base.

The Twins love the bat, no question. But Sano's footwork and hand-to-eye coordination at a position that demands quick instincts is in need of a lot of work.

New York Mets: Noah Syndergaard

Included in the deal that sent Cy Young Award winning pitcher R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher Noah Syndergaard is now the No. 3 prospect for the New York Mets.

Syndergaard was impressive at Single-A Lansing last year, posting a 2.60 ERA in 27 appearances with a 10.6 K/9 rate.

He will move up this season to Advanced Single-A Port St. Lucie. The 20-year-old won't be fast-tracked, but another year like last season could see him in Double-A before the end of the season.

New York Yankees: Gary Sanchez

New York Yankees top prospect Gary Sanchez got a brief look in spring training before being reassigned. Sanchez was 1-for-5 in three games before being reassigned to Advanced Single-A Tampa.

He ended a stellar year at Tampa last year after hitting a combined .290 with 18 home runs and 85 RBI between Charleston and Tampa.

Sanchez is without question the Yankees' backstop of the future. However, there are still questions about his overall defensive work behind the plate. His work on those issues could be a major determining factor in his ascent to the majors.

Oakland Athletics: Addison Russell

Shortstop prospect Addison Russell did just about everything right last year in his professional debut.

The Oakland A's top prospect hit .369 with seven home runs and 45 RBI across three minor league levels in just 55 games last year. He also hit .250 with two RBI in limited action for the A's this spring as well.

Russell will start the 2013 season at Advanced Single-A Stockton, but a trip to Double-A Midland very soon is a distinct possibility if he continues his impressive showing at the plate.

Philadelphia Phillies: Jesse Biddle

Philadelphia Phillies top prospect Jesse Biddle has ascended slowly but surely up the minor league ladder, impressing at every level thus far.

Biddle was 10-6 with a 3.22 ERA and 9.5 K/9 rate at Advanced Single-A Clearwater last season. He'll move up one more level this year to Double-A Reading.

The Phillies have been more than content with keeping Biddle on a steady pace of development thus far. But with an impressive campaign in Reading, he could certainly get a long look in spring training next year.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Gerrit Cole

Surprisingly, the Pittsburgh Pirates' top pitching prospect, Gerrit Cole, is not on their 40-man roster.

That could very well change at some point this season.

Cole, the top pick in the 2011 MLB draft, gave up four runs on eight hits in three spring outings, striking out seven batters in 10 innings. He posted a 2.80 ERA in 26 starts last season, ending the year at Triple-A Indianapolis.

That's where he begins this season, and if any of the Pirates' current starters falter, they will absolutely give strong consideration to calling up Cole to begin his major league career.

San Diego Padres: Max Fried

Taken with the seventh overall pick by the San Diego Padres last year, high school southpaw pitcher Max Fried will be pitching for Single-A Fort Wayne to start the 2013 season.

Fried is the No. 2 prospect for the Padres and No. 53 in all of baseball. He is highly regarded for a three-pitch repertoire that includes a fastball, curveball and changeup. He's dabbled with a cutter as well that promises to be an excellent fourth pitch.

Fried likely won't be fast-tracked, as the Padres are typically careful with the development of their pitchers.

San Francisco Giants: Kyle Crick

San Francisco Giants top prospect Kyle Crick put up a solid showing in his first full professional season last year. Crick was 7-6 with a 2.51 ERA in 22 starts with a 10.3 K/9 rate at Single-A Augusta.

The 5.4 BB/9 rate was a bit troubling but certainly not unusual for a pitcher at 19 years of age. Crick will begin this season at Advanced Single-A San Jose.

He may not be there long, however. The Giants will look to see if Crick can command his secondary pitches to support an overpowering fastball. If successful, he will move along quickly.

Seattle Mariners: Taijuan Walker

The No. 5 prospect in MLB is not on the Seattle Mariners' 40-man roster, but that doesn't mean that Taijuan Walker isn't highly regarded.

Walker was somewhat inconsistent last year at Double-A Jackson, posting a 7-10 record and 4.69 ERA in 25 starts. He gave up four runs on seven hits with five walks and four strikeouts in seven innings during Cactus League play this spring.

Walker will be back in Double-A to start the season, and the Mariners would no doubt like to see him work on plate command before moving him up another level at this point.

St. Louis Cardinals: Oscar Taveras

Leaping all the way up to No. 3 on MLB.com's list of top 100 prospects, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras is just biding his time for a chance.

Taveras hit .289 with two home runs and 10 RBI for the Cardinals in Grapefruit League play. He hit .321 last season for Double-A Springfield with 23 home runs and 94 RBI.

It may not be long before Taveras is seen in St. Louis, especially if Carlos Beltran can't play his way through a broken toe.

Tampa Bay Rays: Wil Myers

Another fact that might seem hard to believe: Wil Myers is not on the 40-man roster for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Myers, the organization's top prospect and the No. 4 prospect in all of baseball, will begin the year in Triple A. The Rays don't want to rush him and start the clock on his service time.

However, if the Rays stumble out of the gates offensively and Myers continues to dominate Triple A pitching like he did last year, that thought process could be reversed.

Texas Rangers: Luis Sardinas

If you didn't think the Texas Rangers were already loaded at shortstop, you're not aware of No. 3 prospect Luis Sardinas.

Sardinas brings a different set of skills to the table in comparison to top prospect Jurickson Profar, but it's an impressive skill set nonetheless.

He hit .291 with two home runs and 30 RBI last year at Single-A Hickory with 32 stolen bases. He is considered a plus defensively and can hit well from both sides of the plate.

The Rangers will take their time with Sardinas, who won't be 20 until May.

Toronto Blue Jays: Aaron Sanchez

The Toronto Blue Jays' No. 1 prospect has never pitched above Single-A, but his makeup is off the charts.

Aaron Sanchez, the No. 35 prospect in baseball, posted an 8-5 record and 2.49 ERA last year with a 9.7 K/9 rate and 1.27 WHIP.

Sanchez already has a fastball-curveball combination that's major league-ready, and he's working on a changeup as well.

Sanchez will work at Dunedin in the Florida State League this spring. Command will be his focus—if he can command his pitches, Sanchez will continue to progress quickly through the Blue Jays' system.

Washington Nationals: Brian Goodwin

Taken in the supplemental round of the 2011 MLB draft, outfielder Brian Goodwin is the No. 2 prospect for the Washington Nationals. Goodwin shined in Single-A Hagerstown last year, hitting .324 with nine home runs and 38 RBI with 15 stolen bases.

He struggled following his promotion to Double-A Harrisburg, hitting just .223 in 42 games.

Goodwin didn't get an invite to spring training—certainly understandable given the fact that Washington was virtually set with outfielders.

He is back in Harrisburg to start the 2013 season, and the Nationals believe he has the tools to be a dominant force at the top of the order in the future.

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle.

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