MLB Prospects Update: Hottest, Coldest Players at Each Minor League Level
The top prospects in minor league baseball will be here before you know it, so it's always important to keep an eye on the stars of tomorrow.
Over the next few slides, we'll take a look at a few of those future major leaguers and discuss the hottest and coldest prospects at each level of minor league baseball.
This includes hurlers like Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz in Triple-A, Carlos Correa in Double-A and Austin Meadows in High-A.
After reading the next few slides, the minor league landscape should be much clearer. Let's find out how your favorite team's top youngster is faring so far this season.
Single-A: Who's Hot?
1 of 8
Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox
Devers is the sixth-best third baseman prospect, according to MLB.com.
At just 18, the youngster is already making a name for himself in the minor leagues. Devers is slashing .346/.365/.471 with 12 RBI and already has nine multihit games this season.
Forrest Wall, Colorado Rockies
High school second basemen aren't usually picked early in the draft, but Forrest Wall is showing why the Colorado Rockies took a chance on him in 2015.
Wall has been an extra-base machine with three doubles, four triples and two homers thus far. He's the fourth-best second baseman in the minor leagues.
Sean Newcomb, Los Angeles Angels
When you are striking out over 35 percent of the batters you are facing, your stuff must be pretty elite.
That's exactly what we're seeing from Sean Newcomb so far in 2015. The southpaw has allowed just six runs in 24 innings and is holding opposing hitters to a .184 average.
Stephen Gonsalves, Minnesota Twins
Very few minor league hurlers have been more dominant than Stephen Gonsalves.
The left-hander has posted an ERA of 1.33 through 27 innings. In his four starts, Gonsalves has struck out 38 hitters and walked just three.
Carlos Tocci, Philadelphia Phillies
Carlos Tocci is a 19-year-old outfielder making waves at Single-A to begin 2015.
Tocci has 36 hits in 24 games and has an on-base percentage of .467. He's also swiped nine bags.
Single-A: Who's Not?
2 of 8
Michael Mader, Miami Marlins
Mader is the No. 14 overall prospect in the Miami organization but has struggled in the minors after the Marlins selected him in the third round of the 2014 draft.
The left-hander's biggest issue has been his control. Mader has walked over 12 percent of the batters he's faced.
Brett Graves, Oakland A's
The Oakland A's also drafted Graves in the third round of the 2014 draft.
After a rough finish at Low-A in 2014, Graves has struggled again this season. The right-hander has allowed 35 hits and 19 runs in just 24.1 innings of work. He's not missing many bats, as opponents are mashing to a tune of a .333 average against him.
Alex Jackson, Seattle Mariners
Seattle's Alex Jackson has been one of the more disappointing prospects in all of minor league baseball.
Jackson is the 28th-ranked prospect in the minors but has just 11 hits in nearly 100 at-bats. The former first-round pick is also whiffing at an alarmingly high rate.
Ricardo Sanchez, Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves acquired Sanchez this winter, and MLB.com immediately inserted him into the organization's top 10 overall prospects.
But the teenager has yet to find his footing in Single-A. The strikeouts are there, but Sanchez has allowed 18 hits and 14 earned runs in 14.1 innings.
Brandon Downes, Kansas City Royals
Downes is currently the No. 14 overall prospect in the Kansas City organization, but he can't seem to figure out minor league pitching.
The outfielder's average has dipped into the mid-.200s while the strikeouts continue to pile up. After whiffing 21.8 percent of the time last season, Downes' encore has been a 30 percent strikeout rate in 2015.
High-A: Who's Hot?
3 of 8
Austin Meadows, Pittsburgh Pirates
Meadows was the ninth overall pick in the 2013 draft and is currently the seventh-rated outfielder in the minors.
After an impressive finish at Single-A in 2014, Meadows has picked up where he left off at High-A this season. The 20-year-old is slashing .298/.362/.383 and has nine multihit games on the year.
Clint Coulter, Milwaukee Brewers
It's not all bad news for the Milwaukee Brewers, as catching prospect Clint Coulter is destroying the baseball in 2015.
Coulter, Milwaukee's fourth-ranked prospect, has a ridiculous 210 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) and a .274 isolated power mark. Those numbers are due to 12 extra-base hits, including six long balls.
Manuel Margot, Boston Red Sox
Manuel Margot is one of the top overall prospects at High-A due to an assortment of talents.
His complete toolbox has been on display in 2015, as Margot is hitting .300 with 10 stolen bases on the season. The speedy outfielder has also only struck out three times in 80 at-bats.
Alex Reyes, St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals always seem to be loaded with top pitching prospects, and Alex Reyes could be the latest of the bunch.
The right-hander has struck out nearly 40 percent of the batters he's faced this season. Yes, you read that correctly. His swing-and-miss stuff has allowed him to put up a sub-2.00 ERA in his first five starts.
Edwin Diaz, Seattle Mariners
Edwin Diaz is the seventh-rated player in the Seattle organization.
The right-hander has allowed just 16 hits in 31 innings. He's fanned nearly 30 percent of the batters he's faced, but his eight walks have allowed him to post a 1.45 ERA.
.png?w=256)
High-A: Who's Not?
4 of 8
Franklin Barreto, Oakland A's
Franklin Barreto was a key piece in the Josh Donaldson deal this offseason, but he hasn't been at his best for his new organization.
The 19-year-old shortstop is slashing just .221/.261/.314 and is striking out over 20 percent of the time. Barreto has been a potent base-stealing threat throughout his career, but he's only managed to swipe just one bag this season.
Zachary Bird, Los Angeles Dodgers
Zachary Bird wasn't a highly touted draft pick, but he has maneuvered his way into L.A.'s top 10 prospects.
Bird's 5.23 ERA is less than stellar, but his enormous walk rate is the most alarming development this season. His 18.5 percent walk rate is the second-worst in all of minor league baseball among pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched.
Willy Adames, Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays have two shortstops in their top three prospect rankings, but Willy Adames may find himself further down the list if his struggles continue.
The 19-year-old is striking out nearly 33 percent of the time and has an on-base percentage of .327.
Javier Betancourt, Detroit Tigers
Javier Betancourt moved into Detroit's top 10 overall prospects with solid play at rookie ball.
But the 19-year-old shortstop has scuffled with his promotion to High-A. Betancourt has just 19 hits in 87 at-bats to go with a 4.4 walk percentage.
Tyler O'Neill, Seattle Mariners
19-year-old Tyler O'Neill is a free-swinging slugger who is currently the 12th-rated prospect in the Seattle organization.
But O'Neill is hitting just .214 in 2015. The main reason for his struggles are 32 strikeouts and one walk in 84 at-bats.
Double A: Who's Hot?
5 of 8
Carlos Correa, Houston Astros
It's only a matter of time before the Houston Astros call up No. 3 overall prospect Carlos Correa.
The shortstop is slashing .383/.458/.702 with five homers and 25 RBI. Correa has 13 multihit games and five three-hit games.
Kyle Schwarber, Chicago Cubs
With the abundance of top-tier young talent in the Chicago Cubs organization, Kyle Schwarber can often be overlooked.
But the 22-year-old is developing into quite the offensive force at Double-A. Schwarber is hitting .347 with five homers and 15 RBI. He's also walking nearly as much as he's striking out, which bodes well for continued production.
Matt Olson, Oakland A's
After mashing 41 homers in 2014, Matt Olson is continuing his torrid stretch in 2015.
The 21-year-old has gone deep six times and driven in 17 runs so far this season. The first baseman is still striking out over 24 percent of the time, but his 23.1 percent walk rate makes him a prototypical slugger.
Tyler Glasnow, Pittsburgh Pirates
Tyler Glasnow is inching closer to a major league debut, and he could become a dangerous weapon for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second half of the season.
The right-hander has allowed just two earned runs in 22 innings of work. Glasnow's 0.79 ERA is a result of improved command. The 21-year-old has decreased his walk percentage by 4 percent.
Julio Urias, Los Angeles Dodgers
Julio Urias might be the most talented pitching prospect in baseball.
The 18-year-old phenom is making light work of Double-A hitters. The southpaw ranks third out of all minor league pitchers in strikeout-to-walk percentage. Opposing batters have managed just a .179 average against him.
Double-A: Who's Not?
6 of 8
Hunter Renfroe, San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres made it a point to hold on to Hunter Renfroe during its winter of wheeling and dealing.
But Renfroe hasn't been able to capitalize off a terrific 2014 season. The outfielder's average has dipped under .200, and he's whiffing close to 30 percent of the time.
David Dahl, Colorado Rockies
David Dahl is the No. 58 overall prospect in the minors despite a slow start to the 2015 season.
Dahl's slash line sits at .223/.263/.309 through 22 games. After mashing 63 extra-base hits last season, Dahl has only managed five so far this season.
D.J. Peterson, Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners have one of the best third baseman prospects in the minors at their disposal in D.J. Peterson.
But the 23-year-old has just 16 hits in 20 games. After posting isolated power marks over .200 at each spot in 2014, Peterson has seen that number dip to a lowly .093.
Rio Ruiz, Atlanta Braves
Rio Ruiz is the ninth-best third baseman prospect in the minors.
Ruiz has struggled mightily to begin 2015 however, as the 20-year-old has 15 hits in 21 games. Only four of those hits have gone for extra bases, and he's yet to leave the ballpark this season.
Teoscar Hernandez, Houston Astros
Houston's Teoscar Hernandez is having an nightmare start to his 2015 campaign.
The outfielder has just nine hits in 21 games and has struck out 33 percent of the time.
Triple-A: Who's Hot?
7 of 8
Domingo Santana, Houston Astros
Santana is lighting up opposing pitchers, as the powerful slugger has mashed seven homers and driven in 14 runs to begin 2015.
He is striking out over 36 percent of the time but is still sporting a .367 on-base percentage due to an above-average walk rate. Twelve of his 22 hits have gone for extra bases, proving Santana is developing into the elite run producer many believe he can be.
Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets
The New York Mets are sitting atop the National League East due to one of the best rotations in baseball. But with the way Noah Syndergaard is pitching, it may be about to become even better.
The right-hander's 1.66 ERA is the fifth-best mark in Triple-A. Syndergaard is also fanning 31 percent of his opponents, the third-highest total among Triple-A hurlers. He's in the midst of allowing just six hits and zero runs over his last two starts.
Steven Matz, New York Mets
Not to be outdone by his fellow teammate, Steven Matz is nearing a major league debut as well with a sparkling start to the season.
Matz touts a 2.04 ERA and is striking out hitters in bunches. The southpaw ranks seventh in strikeout percentage and has scattered 27 hits across 35.1 innings. If Matz can cut down on his walks, he'll be deserving of an opportunity in Queens.
Maikel Franco, Philadelphia Phillies
Maikel Franco is Philadelphia's third-best prospect, and he continues to hit his way closer to the big league roster.
Franco is slashing .310/.343/.460 on the young season with 11 RBI. His high strikeout totals are more than usual, but he's always managed to keep those down at every stop of his minor league career.
Justin Nicolino, Miami Marlins
No pitcher has allowed fewer runs than Justin Nicolino. The southpaw has allowed just two in over 28 innings of work.
Nicolino has also gone six innings in four of his five starts and has allowed no more than five hits in each of those appearances.
Triple A: Who's Not?
8 of 8
Jon Gray, Colorado Rockies
Gray is one of the top right-handed pitching prospects in baseball, but he's currently enduring a dreadful start to 2015.
The right-hander is sporting the worst ERA in all of Triple-A. He's allowing over two baserunners an inning after allowing close to one in 2014.
Garin Cecchini, Boston Red Sox
Despite hearing his name involved in trade whispers, Cecchini has done little to increase his value so far in 2015.
The seventh-ranked third baseman in the minor leagues currently has the fifth-worst wRC+ mark in Triple-A. The 24-year-old is hitting just .183 on the season, but a significant dip in walks has destroyed his OPB.
Alex Meyer, Minnesota Twins
Alex Meyer figured to compete for a spot in the Minnesota rotation out of spring training, but the right-hander's struggles at Triple-A indicate he may need a little more seasoning.
The 25-year-old has posted a 5.61 ERA in five starts, but his biggest issue is a walk percentage of over 15 percent.
Matt Wisler, Atlanta Braves
Matt Wisler was the key piece in the Melvin Upton Jr. deal this winter, but the righty has yet to make much of an impression with his new team.
Opponents are hitting .326 against Wisler. He's allowed 15 earned runs in just 20 innings of work.
Christian Walker, Baltimore Orioles
Christian Walker remains in the top 10 of minor league first baseman prospects, but he's not making a compelling case for a roster spot in Baltimore.
Walker is hitting just .235, but his lack of power is the more alarming development this year. The 24-year-old has just six extra-base hits and is striking out close to 23 percent of the time.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
